What is WITH people, anyway?

[PeteInLongBeach]

I just say it's not insured for other riders, and if you hurt yourself, someone else, or damage property, where does that leave us? If they persist, I ignore them and go on my way.

[Cube128]

I recall one time I was gliding down the sidewalk and a minivan pulls up alongside me and a girl of about 13 yells out the window and asks if she can have a ride. I yell back sorry, but I have to get home. I had been riding for about an hour as it was to downtown and back and was eager to get home. No matter, the girl's mother accellerates, pulls into a driveway across my path and blocks me, and the doors of the minivan open and the kids pile out and the girl runs up to me and asks again for a ride. I'm kinda shocked at this point, but I really don't see any option other than relenting. She got her ride, the mom got a picture of her on the Segway and they all left happy.

[wwhopper]

I was on the National Mall meeting a long lost Segway Chat bud for a glide. It was the early days, and he was very happy to offer demos to anyone who showed an interest. Some busty young thing, who was used to getting what ever she wanted from men, came up to me and demanded a ride on the Segway.

I said "NO, I don't give Demos," she got very upset and was quite miffed. She never got her ride, from either of us, as she became more obnoxious the longer she did not get what she wanted. Poor thing she was so used to getting her way!

[quade]

Originally Posted by Cube128

I'm kinda shocked at this point, but I really don't see any option other than relenting. She got her ride, the mom got a picture of her on the Segway and they all left happy.

I guess that's the difference between where you live and where I live.

A van pacing me and engaging in conversation, then stopping and blocking my path would be enough for me to pull out the cell phone and start dialing 911.

[Mr_Laurenzano]

Originally Posted by PeteInLongBeach

I just say it's not insured for other riders, and if you hurt yourself, someone else, or damage property, where does that leave us? If they persist, I ignore them and go on my way.

...Not to mention the monopoloy game peice, but the wowwee line, I park my seg up aganist that big picture window and low and behold, six little munchkins one that said, bumb against the glass. [It parks there],c'
Mommy look!!!!, {jumpedonandstoodstill}, blink...
I bought the power converter for my stabiscope, and thanked mom, with a smile,
Crash
"Damn kids."; gotta love um they will pay your SS someday.
Mr_L

[Five-Flags]

Originally Posted by Mr_Laurenzano

..."Damn kids."; gotta love um they will pay your SS someday.
Mr_L

The ones raised like that one will most likely be living off the rest of us rather than being productive.


Who, me? Cynical?? Naaaaaaahhhh!!!

[Desert_Seg]

I'm with Pete on this.

We do (as you can imagine) many, many, many events. Some allow us to give demos, others don't. We also, for obvious reasons, glide everywhere we can.

We have found that the surest way to get people to stop asking is to tell them that for insurance reasons we are not allowed to allow others to use the machines (this is true, btw) in that environment.

We then encourage them to come to the showroom or meet us at one of our regular demo periods.

That will, most of the time, deflect all questions and keeps everybody happy.

Steven

Originally Posted by Desert_Seg

... (w)e have found that the surest way to get people to stop asking...

Steven,

I think you may have missed it here, just a bit.

Had the child, or the woman, been asking for a demo, I would have patiently explained why I don't let people do that.

This child, and her mother, didn't ask. They didn't demand. They didn't assume.

They issued an order.

"My mommy said I could ride that." Then, the way she stood there, directly in front of Gilligan - It was quite clear I was supposed to just step off and hand Gilligan over to her. Period. And for me to do anything else but step off and hand Gilligan over was a "big deal."

When did it become acceptable for children, when they don't get their way, to simply begin screaming (and tossing out one or two minor colorful words in that screaming)? This isn't the first instance of seen that indicates there are quite a few families where children have the final say-so in family matters.

Had I, or any of my sisters, behaved in such a way - in private, let alone in public! - there would have been some form of punishment... not a parental rebuke to the mean "old man."

[Desert_Seg]

Eric,

I understand what you are saying and I didn't miss the point. I may have not been clear my reply.

My point is that we have learned over 3 years to use that simple reasoning, regardless of how the person acts, and trust me, we've seen as bad as what you encountered, and worse.

So, rather than creating a scene and / or getting people mad at us (you), we have found a method that works most of the time and defuses the situation immediately.

I know what your saying about acting in that manner, I couldn't imagine doing that nor having my kids do that. Unfortunately some folks haven't yet grasped the parent vs friend concept.

Steven

[nickyboy]

Like so many dealers we do the events circuit and have had the "why won't you let my child ride" scenario. 99% of the time the weight issue cures the problem, especially when I explain it may be that they can go forward, but cannot "transfer" enough weight to be able to stop.

Another thing that happens here in the UK is that we get requests to take a Seg to someones house for a demo. I did it once, in my early naieve days, and 3 of his mates all appeared and wanted a ride! Now, we "charge" to visit anywhere over 30-40 miles away. Usually £35 -£45 which is fully refunded with the purchase of the Segway. That sorts the serious from the free gliders.