Muhammad Ali taught her everything she needs to know in dealing with salespeople...
Rosemary and I were duped by a car salesman in 1992. It caused pain, anguish and left a permanent scar on our perceptions of salespeople. Rosemary developed a calling that day that is enacted every single time we do business that involves a salesperson - it's a call to battle, a call to war...a call to survive.
We recently began to shop for bicycles. So one day Rosemary dons her Kevlar vest, straps up her nine millimeter and sheathes her hunting knife in an ankle strap. Excessive? Yeah, a bit. She rarely uses these weapons though, as a good hand to hand dismantling of a salesman is much more rewarding.
We walked into University Bicycle Center that day and Eli approached to help. I realized in quick order that Eli did not fit the model of our stereotypical salesman. Still waters run deep however, and Rosemary did not. We put Eli through a good hour of information-providing and bike demonstrations. While Muhammad Ali parleyed with Eli, I took notice of the store's environment.
UBC was a bustle of activity. No downturns in the economy visible that day. There had to be four or five sales associates on the floor taking care of customers. In spite of this, no less than eight people approached Eli with questions. I suspect that he didn't want to take his eye off of Rosemary for a fear of a right hook, but he handled each inquiry with eloquence and respect.
Fast forward - we bought two bikes for the following three reasons:
- UBC ownership. Folks like Eli do not weave their magic in a vacuum. Someone (ownership) lets Eli be Eli. We have noticed this trait in subsequent visits to UBC in other associates as well. Rosemary and I do not view UBC as a one time shop. We plan on coming back. With a combined sixty plus years in retail experience, we have learned that we get superior customer service from well treated folks like Eli.
- Eli's patience with us illiterate, future bicyclists.
- UBC's willingness to go above and beyond. We had some logistics to work out involving the bikes after the sale. They called the owner's dad to come to the store (while he was in the middle of doing something else), pick up one of the bikes and deliver it to our house in a very restricted window of time. And Eli offered to meet us at the store on Sunday (UBC is closed on Sundays) to accommodate another need.
If you have any need whatsoever, that involves bicycles, from repairs to accessories to clothes to new bikes, Rosemary and I recommend that you go to UBC today! University Bicycle Center.