Outrageous sexism alert.

[derxa]

I was at an agricultural trade fair/show today (AgriScot). I went to look at quad bikes because ours is knackered. i asked the salesman about one of them. He said, 'Do you want it for a toy?' What would be the perfect MN response?

While you were laughing with him OP, did you actually point out that you thought his question was sexist?

they have models that are toys, and models designed for work No that wasn't the case there.

In his defence he did go on to explain the best quad for my needs

Well that will have been why he asked then, surely?

And 'outrageous sexism'? Seriously? Even allowing for hyperbole, you are definitely overreacting.

You did describe this as 'outrageous'. If so presumably you spoke to him about it.

Cheeky fecker - trying to establish the customer's requirements like that

Cheeky fecker - trying to establish the customer's requirements like that

If you were a sales person at AN AGRICULTURAL show, surely you'd assume that most people's requirements were for use on the farm until told otherwise?

While you were laughing with him OP, Of course. I'm a humorous type.
He knew he had been a bit silly and then we discussed specifications. However I won't buy a bike from them.

He's a twat. Buy from someone else.

But AgriScot is a technical agricultural show, it's not an "I've got a five acre 'farm' and I'm here to ponce about and look at the Joules stand and buy a quad bike to fool around with" type show.

You'd only go to the show if you serious about buying kit for practical farming purposes. So he wouldnt have asked that question of a man because he'd have assumed he was a active farmer and needing it for eg herding sheep. It was a sexist comment because he looked at OP and assumed she wasn't an active farmer and was just looking to buy one to play about on her husbands farm. It wasn't said outright but was certainly implied.

YANBU OP, I would have also been annoyed. It's better than it used to be but I get frustrated by the implication that I don't know anything about agriculture and ignored when I'm with my farmer DH.

Did they sell Land Rovers there? The sales person there would probably assume you wanted such a car for the Chelsea school run

If you were a sales person at AN AGRICULTURAL show, surely you'd assume that most people's requirements were for use on the farm until told otherwise?

You realise it's not exclusivly farmers there don't you?

"Looking at a quad eh? What's the matter love?? No vanity mirror?!"

That's outrageous sexism.

That's bad salesmanship. He should have asked: 'What do you need it for, Madam?' and gone from there. I guess that he would be unlikely to have asked a man if he wanted a toy, but you never know. There are some spectacularly inept people out there.

I'm surprised that people at a big farming trade fair behave like that. I have nothing to do with farming but I am aware that many farmers are women.

Then again, I'm not surprised. Some people are fucking idiots.

BTW I like this example of a man showing the right way to sell a traditionally male product to woman

So he wouldnt have asked that question of a man

Unless you can predict the future then you don't know this. It's a pretty standard question to be honest.

You realise it's not exclusivly farmers there don't you

But if the majority of people were farmers and the majority of farmers use quad bikes for the farm, why would you ask someone if they wanted it as a toy?

Unless you subconsciously assumed the person 'did not look like a farmer'

"If I wanted a toy I'd go to Ann Summers"

It's a pretty standard question to be honest

So if you were a sales person selling something that is mainly used as farm equipment at a farm show, you'd ask someone if they wanted it as a toy

why would you ask someone if they wanted it as a toy?

Becuase... Farmers are human and do use them for fun.

I know it's really hard to understand but it's true.

ClaireFraser Have you been there? You're right. In fact I'm not the professionally offended type.

ego147

It wouldn't be the first place I'd go.

If I wanted to register it as a works vehicle, claim back on the VAT and be able to fill it full of red diesel. Its where I would go.

if you were a sales person selling something that is mainly used as farm equipment at a farm show, you'd ask someone if they wanted it as a toy

If it was a milking machine... No

If it was a quad bike, or water pistol, or anything else with alternative uses then yes i'd ask.

If it was a quad bike, or water pistol, or anything else with alternative uses then yes i'd ask

Of course you would

Of course you would

Are you seriously telling me you haven't been to trade shows and been asked "business or pleasure."?

It was a day of great excitement topped off by a seminar on sheep diseases

I buy stuff all the time that is meant for businesses and museums.