Lost his job

[Cajunrider]

My son was telling me that a friend of his who is a salesman at a local dealership in Houma, LA lost his job recently. He was fired because he refused to sell a Hayabusa to a teenager who had no riding experience! His mother asked to speak to the manager after he refused to sell the bike and he was later given his walking papers! This store manager has neither common sense or any type of conscience. The salesman is jobhunting because he did the right thing. What a shame. :(" title="" border="0"/>

[cactusjack]

That's disgraceful. He may have saved the young man's life. His mother is an idiot for even considering getting the kid a 'busa. Why not just give him a .44, a box of shells and a big jug of tequila. Cheaper, and the end result will probably be the same.

I hope the "salesman with a conscience" finds a new job soon.

[MarkG]

Unfortunately with the present economy this is probably going to be more common. The manager's sole job is to "Maximize the profits of the shareholders." This will be accomplished regardless of who it offends, hurts, etc. If a manager is incapable of doing this because of common sense or a conscience then he is out of a job. The corporations will get every last penny for the shareholders or watch their stock tank. Considering the tight margins, any sale is a good sale. So what if the customer has no experience, that is his problem. These same corporations cannot understand why they get negative press every time somebody crashes using their products.

The salesman will make out alright. He showed an ethical side that is sadly lacking in many areas. Somebody is going to get a gem of employee when they hire him for the right reasons. He can look at himself in the mirror and go to bed with a good feeling. He did not kill that teenager. He did everything he could to prevent it. Unfortunately there is nothing that can be done to prevent the stupidity shown by the mother and the manager.

[ringadingh]

I wonder how the mother will feel after something happens to her son, time will tell. The saleman will most likely come out of it ok.

[coacha]

I read a post either here or on another board where a salesman wouldn't sell a high performance sport bike to a teen. I told my local Kawa dealer about it and he actually said they try to dissuade young riders from getting the higher CC models. He didn't say they turned anyone away but at least they are trying.

I applaud the salesman that has the b*lls to do the right thing. I hope he gets a job soon and sells the crap out of some bikes for someone by doing the right thing.

terrebonne,

You need to send that into The Advocate. They just ran an article Monday or Tuesday about the increase in deaths on sport bikes. Most of them involve inexperienced "squids" ( acronym for " squirrely" and " kids" ) doing wheelies, speeding, darting in and out in heavy traffic, etc. Warren Broussard of MAC ( Motorcycle Awareness Campaign) was particularly tough on inexperienced young riders. If anyone wants to read the article, it can be found at 2theadvocate.com .

Here's the link to the article.

http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/24054839.html

Perhaps the mother,I use that term loosely in this instance, should explain her lack of concern for her son's well being to CPS.

[rlfaubion]

Thanks for the link Frank - quite interesting to read..... I like to always ride a little scared myself....

[misunderstood]

Originally Posted by CoachA

I read a post either here or on another board where a salesman wouldn't sell a high performance sport bike to a teen. I told my local Kawa dealer about it and he actually said they try to dissuade young riders from getting the higher CC models. He didn't say they turned anyone away but at least they are trying.

I applaud the salesman that has the b*lls to do the right thing. I hope he gets a job soon and sells the crap out of some bikes for someone by doing the right thing.

That was on the VR. I emailed the dealership aplauding their ethics. That was their policy. Forget the dealership now.

Originally Posted by Valdez (lone Juan)

Thanks for the link Frank - quite interesting to read..... I like to always ride a little scared myself....

+1, Valdez. I am the same way. Ridin scared is a good thing. Keeps me on my toes.

[cactusjack]

I wonder if the salesman did sell the Haybusa to the kid and if he was injured or killed, would the mother sue the dealership for not informing them of the (obvious) dangers of selling a 200 HP motorcycle to a teenager?

Originally Posted by cactusjack

I wonder if the salesman did sell the Haybusa to the kid and if he was injured or killed, would the mother sue the dealership for not informing them of the (obvious) dangers of selling a 200 HP motorcycle to a teenager?

Ahh, very interesting question. In these days of " I'm never at fault, it's someone else's fault", I'm sure a lawsuit against the dealer would follow an accident. Gotta blame somebody , right ?

[ringadingh]

Originally Posted by bankerfrank

Ahh, very interesting question. In these days of " I'm never at fault, it's someone else's fault", I'm sure a lawsuit against the dealer would follow an accident. Gotta blame somebody , right ?

Make the customer sign a waiver, to exclude liability on behalf of the deafership. Warn them of the consequences and sign the waiver, then if they still want the bike , take their money.

[coacha]

Originally Posted by Misunderstood

That was on the VR. I emailed the dealership aplauding their ethics. That was their policy. Forget the dealership now.

I knew I saw it somewhere. Thanks for sharing the story. I have used it a couple times.