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?

If the rural farming OP thinks it wouldn't be asked of a man, she's probably right, because she in actually part of the farming community. At times, this thread has been as cringetastic as watching a crowd of UK MNers insisting to a US MNer that the word "fag" only means cigarettes and doesn't have homophobic connotations, and she therefore can't have experienced a homophobic incident. Sometimes, "it would be innocent conversation here" just isn't relevant.

I am a townie. However, you don't need to be rural to parse questions.

If we're talking about a work tool that can be used for leisure, successful salespeople would never lead with asking "is it for leisure?" unless they were confident that the answer was yes. Why? Because if the answer is "no", you've just started your sales-pitch by openly voicing that you didn't think they looked like they were a professional. Hey presto, you've just lost a sale.

Now, I wonder why the chappie thought Derxa looked like she would be pratting about on it... Derxa, did you wear a burberry check mini-skirt and an Ascot hat? It's the only explanation! Has to be that, surely? What muppet would assume women didn't farm? Oh. Wait. A sexist one.

What i don't understand about the current logic here is that people insist (Assume) the place will only be full of farmers buying equipment...

that's fine...

But it's a contradiction to then say the person didn't think the op was a farmer...

If it was all farmers surely it would be all farmers, nobody would question anyone buying anything.

Clearly there are people there who are not there for farming, like every trade show.

Now, I wonder why the chappie thought Derxa looked like she would be pratting about on it... Derxa, did you wear a burberry check mini-skirt and an Ascot hat? Heaven forfend Maybe I had a bit of a vacant look on my face. He didn't make any eye contact so his communication skills were shit.

Clearly there are people there who are not there for farming, like every trade show. I can spot a farmer at fifty paces. They were all farmers.

I can spot a farmer at fifty paces. They were all farmers.

Right
thanks for clearing that up.

In that case he probably knew you were a farmer then

Right thanks for clearing that up. I've had nearly 60 years' experience.

What i don't understand about the current logic here is that people insist (Assume) the place will only be full of farmers buying equipment

It's probably a safe bet to assume a customer is going to be buying equipment rather than buying 'a toy' - given the circumstances.

I'm sure some people will be buying quads as toys at such a show but I would assume a customer would be buying a quad for the farm.

If they are that easy to spot it's clear you were all farmers.

How could he think you were not?

I think the problem was that he wasn't a farmer.

I'm sure some people will be buying quads as toys

Okay, so why was it sexist to ask?

I really son't understand.

I think the problem was that he wasn't a farmer.

No that's true, he probably sells quads at lots of shows and asks it as a standard question.

Maybe he's not as good as spotting farmers as Derxa, and falls back on "male visitor=farmer" and "female visitor=farmer's wife"? Bit like the ELC catalogue, actually.

Derxa as a fellow sheep farmer I totally understand, I get this shite all the time too.

No that's true, he probably sells quads at lots of shows and asks it as a standard question

Maybe it was his first agricultural trade show and didn't realise most people were farmers and would be using quads for farm work - rather than people who just want to use them for fun

Oh, sorry, I was planning on using it as a giant vibrator.....

And then run.

I think I'll phone up his firm on Monday. Just to clarify. It will certainly be an interesting conversation.

Thanks WellErr

Maybe he's not as good as spotting farmers as Derxa, and falls back on "male visitor=farmer" and "female visitor=farmer's wife"?

Maybe, but unless we know what he said to male customers we don't know it was this do we. It's a massive assumption to go from 'toy or work' which is a very standard question for quad bikes, to sexism.

And I always call them on it.

I would have just looked him in the eye and said 'what do you mean by that?'

Oh, sorry, I was planning on using it as a giant vibrator..... Best answer In fact I know some women who would have said that.

Ask if they have a standard sales script, if so, tell them they need to change it for certain events.

I worked selling medical equipment by phone, we had a general script and one for use with high end clients.

It sounds like standard sales patter but out of place for the trade show.

Okay, so why was it sexist to ask?

I really son't understand.

For it not to be sexist, he would have to ask everyone that, regardless of sex. However, if he did do that to everyone who approached his stall at an agricultural show, he is astoundingly incompetent.

You don't risk pissing customers off! Consider anything that can be used by professional tradespeople and people doing a hobby. Professionals do not like to be treated as hobbyists! The very idea. They stomp off muttering, "what does that pillock think I want it for?"

For it not to be sexist, he would have to ask everyone that, regardless of sex.

Right i get that, but we don't know what he said to other people.

Maybe, but unless we know what he said to male customers we don'tknowit was this do we. It's a massive assumption to go from 'toy or work' which is a very standard question for quad bikes, to sexism.

See my previous post. Also, big social difference between "do you want it as a toy?" and "toy or work?"