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OK, somebody tell me how it was SS yesterday for demo days. Tell me I didn't make a mistake in canceling my leave and going to work instead of going to SS.![]()
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OK, somebody tell me how it was SS yesterday for demo days. Tell me I didn't make a mistake in canceling my leave and going to work instead of going to SS.![]()
It's tough to demo skis in marginal conditions on limited terrain. Last season, I demoed skis on big mountains under a variety of conditions. That's the only way to test a ski. Otherwise, you might as well just read the reviews carefully and skip early season demo days altogether.
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John,
My understanding of the economy as it is right now (for most niche consumer markets like skis sold in this area) is you B&M retailers and you ahve online retailers. Basicly B&M can never compete on price w/ online because of their invantory and the limited size of the markets.
However local B&M have a great advantage in terms of service and support for their products. This is where people are wiling to pay more for products because of value added from the retialer that is above and beyond the value of the product in its self. I am one of those BTW.
Every one I talk to here and on epic basicly say you have to demo. However, as I have noticed over the years the demo options in this area stink. So I have to ask what level of service I am getting for my dollar. And what precisly am I paying for? If you look at the online competition, you have a ton of options. Ebay / REI.com and reioutlet.com / evogear / copola (maybe not so good any longer...) wherever... for 2/3 the price of local retialers (or less).
It is true that the "best" skis seem to sell out quick. But thats not a good reason to buy a product that the customer doesn't even know what it is and hasn't tried it out. Ski Center seems good and I have some loyaty to them, but I am not going to be bullied into buying a product if the only reason is that it might sell out. There are other places and other stores and it is much easier to find a ski that you know you want than it is to remedy the situation after you ahve skied it and found out that its not what you wanted.
My idea of the best option is to find a ski you think you will like and guess a good size. Then buy the ski if you think it will sell out (ski only and save that reciept) if you think it will still be arround then you have nothing to worry about. Then don't drill and them and try to demo that same ski later on. If you don't like the ski after all you can sell it as new on ebay and lose a small fraction and if the ski did in fact sell out probably make a little. If you decide you like it you can go back with bindings to skicenter and they will mount 'em for free. It is a total PITA... but you do what you can.
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Tim
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However local B&M have a great advantage in terms of service and support for their products.