Shop PROBLEMS

they dont listen then they try to go fast and mount lots of skis and dont read the slips and mount them wrong stupid mistakes that they make by going fast.

while people claim many shops are at fault i have read too many thread where kids go into a shop and just say "i want these center mounted" and then leave. BAD PLAN. when i first brought my old scratches into the shop i work at so i could tune them, my shop owner said "oh i see you center mounted them". i was like no i mounted them at the modern line(about 7cm back from center). i explained to him that true center mounting was much further up and at the dead measured center of the ski. HE HAD NO IDEA THAT CENTER MOUNTING MEANT DEAD CENTER OF THE SKI. he knows now but it made me realize that many older people who run shops might not know too much about our industry and could easily think that mounting a pair of skis at the recommended point closest to center would mean "center mounted"

so my advice to everyone is to measure up your skis and MARK them at true center, if thats where you want them mounted, and be sure to explain this to the shop so they know exaclty what you mean.

i just measure the skis myself, and mark a line on the ski wherever i want them mounted , take them to the shop and tell them to munt them there

I have heard a few stories where the kid did that and they still screwed it up....its such bullshit how some shops dont give a fuck about other peoples stuff, especially when its their job

I just had this conversation last night... There just aren't enough good techs around. Especially in places like the midwest. It must suck to live there.

Actually, I find it to be a bit of both. The techs need to have the right attitude working on other people's equipment. A few of the techs that I've had work for me, they either don't pay attention or feel that they'll get paid no matter how well they do a job, so they'll do things half-assed despite having shown them how to do things properly (like mounting bindings flush to the topsheet).

And yes, it helps to have all the specifics, that I absolutely agree on.

Personally, I feel that most places don't spend enough time with the hiring process. Just spending more time with the interviews and training will prevent a lot of costly mistakes.

Its horrible.

if i want my skis center mounted i should sasy true center right?

Get the shop tech to measure it in front of you and mark it. Someone at my store thought K2's Core center marking was true center, so it can be mistaken.

If they don't want to, just tell them you want to see what it looks like with your boot sitting on the ski.

The problems that are popping up with tech work, especially mounting, related to freestyle/freeride skiing are actually symptoms. The problems run much deeper.

Basically, you better hope skiing gets its act together and starts figuring out mounting standards (think snowboarding), or we're all in for a world of frustration.

I have a story.

Okay. So I went into sportschek to see about mounting my skis. I went to the back where the service desk is and asked to speak with a tech. The service person went and got one of the techs. A lady came from the back and I started talking to her about mounting my skis, I had a couple of questions, one of which was about one of my bindings (Scratch 100s) that I ripped out of a ski last year. It was slightly bent. Once we began discussing it, I soon realized that she was an idiot. She was like oh I think I have one of these heels in the back, a scratch 200. I was no, that is an axium bindings, I have an axial binding. She was like oh they are the same, and she went in the back to get them. When she came back with the box and opened them they were axiums and I was like I told you. I was okay okay whatever I need to ask you about foward mounting. These were a pure park ski I was mounting and was wondering what a techs opinion would be. She began telling about how she foward mounted her Nancy's and loves it. I was like, your serious? You mounted you k2 Nancy's infront of centre. And she was like yeah. She continued to tell me how well they preformed for all mountain skiing. At this point, I realized there is no way I'm getting my skis mounted here. I told her that I'm sorry but I doubt her skis are mounted infront of centre and that she did not understand what I was talking about. And on my way out I stopped by amd talked to the manager just to let him know that he should consider training the techs more thoroughly.

Of course, then there's the customers.....

YOU WENT TO SPORTCHEK. Let me repeat in case I wasn't clear: YOU WENT TO SPORTCHEK.

Shops and techs might be fucking up left right and centre, and there are even bigger issues that are potentially at play, but YOU WENT TO SPORTCHEK. You're a consumer, and it's up to you to educate yourself a little, and go to a SKI SHOP, as opposed to a clothing and shoe store that sells hardgoods.

Remember: You pick the shop.