No Tribans allowed. In Decathalon. A true and verbose story
Jun 28, 2014 12:25:11 GMT
Spoakes likes this
Post by stan on Jun 28, 2014 12:25:11 GMT
Hi
This is my first ever post on any internet forum. So do be brutal so I can be encouraged to spend more time cycling.
Today was a high and low point in my first year as cyclist (red Triban) after thirty years of sloth.
High point
Admired the red rimmed tyres on a fellow Triban owners bike whilst waiting in queue for Decathalon Surrey Quays workshop. Said Triban owner introduced himself to me. Steve encouraged me to get involved in this fantastic site and gave me some tips on going clip less. Cheers, Steve. And thanks to the fantastic Decathalon workshop guys who fixed my back brake.
Low point
Walked my bike into the Decathalon store next door to check out the sale. Looking at an item when the security guard approached 'no bikes allowed'. Charmed and relaxed by his gaze and proximity, I put back the Β£27.99 bag and made for the exit. I quietly filled in a feedback form querying the policy and suggesting they advertise it. I then notice the security guard and asked him where the sign was. No answer but he had nice eyes so I met his extended gaze. He walked away to the exit, wordless. He had a look at the entrance. No sign. 'Would you like to speak to the manager?' Sure. The manager explained that no bikes have been allowed in the building for a year. I asked him why it wasn't advertised. 'We don't want to clutter up the front of the store.' I explained I was upset to have my shopping trip be ended by a guard telling me 'no bikes allowed'. I asked him why bikes weren't allowed. He said the policy wasn't supposed to be upsetting and it was a long story. I explained that I have spent time already so was willing to hear it. He said 'the fire brigade spotted a customer had left their bike in front of the fire exit so since then no bikes are allowed.' I said now that you've given me an answer that's health and safety at least I have your reasoning, even though I don't think it's correct, and isn't effectively communicated.
Some of you will think - you pedant, what kept you so long from internet forums? To you and the others I say - this is an altruistic heads up on Decathalon's policy - no room for Triban's at Europe's largest sports shop. To anyone from Decathalon security I say shop policy is beyond most of your control. But your demeanour to customers when you approach them is your responsibility. To the managers I say when a member of the public asks to see you consider if it is appropriate to apologise if they have been asked to leave the store for failing to adhere to a policy that you have not published and you have not trained your staff to communicate.
A nice post-script to my self-righteous riposte is on the way home I got my first ever tyre blow out. Managed to do a ten meter hop skip and jump so all okay but I won't be going clip less for a while, Steve.
Thanks for a fantastic, supportive, and fun forum.
Stan
This is my first ever post on any internet forum. So do be brutal so I can be encouraged to spend more time cycling.
Today was a high and low point in my first year as cyclist (red Triban) after thirty years of sloth.
High point
Admired the red rimmed tyres on a fellow Triban owners bike whilst waiting in queue for Decathalon Surrey Quays workshop. Said Triban owner introduced himself to me. Steve encouraged me to get involved in this fantastic site and gave me some tips on going clip less. Cheers, Steve. And thanks to the fantastic Decathalon workshop guys who fixed my back brake.
Low point
Walked my bike into the Decathalon store next door to check out the sale. Looking at an item when the security guard approached 'no bikes allowed'. Charmed and relaxed by his gaze and proximity, I put back the Β£27.99 bag and made for the exit. I quietly filled in a feedback form querying the policy and suggesting they advertise it. I then notice the security guard and asked him where the sign was. No answer but he had nice eyes so I met his extended gaze. He walked away to the exit, wordless. He had a look at the entrance. No sign. 'Would you like to speak to the manager?' Sure. The manager explained that no bikes have been allowed in the building for a year. I asked him why it wasn't advertised. 'We don't want to clutter up the front of the store.' I explained I was upset to have my shopping trip be ended by a guard telling me 'no bikes allowed'. I asked him why bikes weren't allowed. He said the policy wasn't supposed to be upsetting and it was a long story. I explained that I have spent time already so was willing to hear it. He said 'the fire brigade spotted a customer had left their bike in front of the fire exit so since then no bikes are allowed.' I said now that you've given me an answer that's health and safety at least I have your reasoning, even though I don't think it's correct, and isn't effectively communicated.
Some of you will think - you pedant, what kept you so long from internet forums? To you and the others I say - this is an altruistic heads up on Decathalon's policy - no room for Triban's at Europe's largest sports shop. To anyone from Decathalon security I say shop policy is beyond most of your control. But your demeanour to customers when you approach them is your responsibility. To the managers I say when a member of the public asks to see you consider if it is appropriate to apologise if they have been asked to leave the store for failing to adhere to a policy that you have not published and you have not trained your staff to communicate.
A nice post-script to my self-righteous riposte is on the way home I got my first ever tyre blow out. Managed to do a ten meter hop skip and jump so all okay but I won't be going clip less for a while, Steve.
Thanks for a fantastic, supportive, and fun forum.
Stan