We had a customer in who insisted he had to talk to the owner about the issues with his bike.
So when my boss came back from his break, I told him and he got really annoyed. The customer came back a little later, and told my boss the issues. My boss got really annoyed and said couldn't the customer tell me that himself? And he mentioned an incident with his previous mechanic in the old place. The customer insisted on making the boss come up for a second opinion because he didn't trust the (female) mechanic's quote. So my boss told him the exact same thing the mechanic told him, and added a tenner to the quote for wasting his time! 😆
So now I know my boss has hired at least two female mechanics before me (one of them was the lady with us at the bike show. I do wish my boss would tell me how he knows a person when he introduces them!).
You know, I've experienced general bullying, racial abuse and religious abuse, but the only time I've experienced overt #sexism is in my current industry.
In my previous job, I'd frequently be ignored by male customers who would walk past me and look for a man. Once, both I and a female colleague asked a customer if he needed help, he blanked up both, went to a male colleague and was promptly told, "ask one of the two ladies there."
Once I had a customer completely ignore me, then actually walk into the back room. I ran after him and told him he can't just walk into staff areas. He said he needed help. I said I asked you twice if you need help, I could have helped you. When he did eventually get the male member of staff he so desired, he decided to shout at him as well. "Why are you asking be what's wrong with my bike! You're paid to do it! Why don't you tell me!"
I bet when he goes to the doctor, he just sits there refusing to tell the doctor what's wrong.
Later I told one of my homies and he gave him a lecture, and when I said" yes, actually I'm a technician and I could help you if you didn't ignore me", he basically talked over me. I told him, "You're literally ignoring me when I'm talking to you!" He didn't learn. I think women are just invisible to him.
Once I was helping a male customer choose accessories as he was planning on starting to cycle to work. There was another male customer looking towards us. He then asked the CUSTOMER if he can help him. I said, he isn't staff. The second customer ignored me and again asked my customer for help. When the customer said he doesn't work there and that I'm the staff member, he walked off to the till to my male colleague.
Once I was actually building a bike, and a lady came up to the till area asking if someone can help her choose a bike. The supervisor was busy doing admin stuff on the till, so I got up and said I can help. The lady then said, I mean I need someone who knows about bikes.
I WAS LITERALLY BUILDING A BIKE FFS.
Instead I said, yes I know about bikes and went on to show her our range and help her choose the best bike for her. At the end, she's like, you really know a lot about bikes... but of course you do, you work here!
I'm used to men patronising me, but it was a bit weird getting sexism from a female customer. She was fine at the end though. So at least I got a teachable moment out of that.
There was an interview in the trade magazine where a female mechanic had a customer who expressed surprise at seeing a female mechanic. And she thought, he was going to say something about how it's a pleasant surprise or something, instead he said she should do the repair for free since she's a woman.
#bikemekanik #bikerepair #bikeindustry #sexismatwork #mechanics
