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KilaTsunami
October, 2024

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Looking for some feedback from you guys.

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feedbacker
Posts: 543 - Karma: 14

As we prepare to start getting in 09 skis in (already), I have been trying to brainstorm on what makes people buy from the websites they buy from.

Obviously, price is surely the biggest issue, but skis should be the same price everywhere, give or take a few bucks, so why do you buy from the site you buy from?

and, what kind of offers/deals outside of discounts would make you stoked?  Free shirts? stickers?

I have considered offering a free hot wax on the skis before we ship them, but I didn't know how someone would feel about some dude opening their skis and touching them..  would you be stoked on that? 

our website is www.decadesnow.com

We opened the shop because we wanted a shop where all kids could go in and not get vibed by the cool guy sitting at the front counter, and obviously saw the need for a twin tip only ski/snowboard shop.  We have one location, here in Ogden, Utah.  we are owned and operated by skiers/snowboarders/skateboarders.  we don't carry any ski that isn't twin tipped, and we've been here for 4 years now.  We have been soley a twin tip shop from day one.. (just some background on Decade)

Any ideas, suggestions feedback appreciated.  Thanks.

-Coultin

Jun 27 2008 3:50PM
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Malcolm
Posts: 15951 - Karma: 9,451

if i owned a ski shop id let ppl try out some skis. not rent them but like try before you buy type of thing

Jun 27 2008 3:56PM
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Aaaron.
Posts: 11817 - Karma: 903
best price and free shipping
also free stuff doesn't hurt.
but main the money spent is the most important thing.
Jun 27 2008 3:57PM
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feedbacker
Posts: 543 - Karma: 14
man that would be awesome.. you would have to be rich though, to be able to buy one of every ski just to let people demo.. that would cost thousands of dollars..

if you had that budget.. that would be sick.
Jun 27 2008 4:03PM
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dave44
Posts: 11052 - Karma: 113
Reputation - Noone wants to buy from a store that ships the skis 3 weeks after the order is placed, or messes up the order. Be consistent and stay that way.

Variety of products - it's easier to buy the skis, bindings and boots you want all from the same shop than to buy from different dealers. People often take that into consideration and are willing to pay a bit more if it's easier for them.

Price - be competitive.

Free swag's cool, but often a store that gets me the stuff in good time for a good price is the one that get's me back as a customer. You shouldn't feel like you need to give out free stuff to get customers back.

Jun 27 2008 4:06PM
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Malcolm
Posts: 15951 - Karma: 9,451
oh shit i didnt think about that.
Jun 27 2008 4:09PM
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spiegel
Posts: 945 - Karma: 7
Low price is nice but to actually make a decent cashflow, you need customer support to back it up. Friendly service, good contact, and quick shipping are key. Take a look at getboards, they have mad cheap prices and deals but they can't sell a lot of it because they have inconsistency problems.
Jun 27 2008 4:15PM
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396222687862
Posts: 0 - Karma: 350
I think free stuff like shirts or hot waxs are small things that may help someone buy the product, but definitely arn't deciding factors.

I know if i found a place that could ship my skis for free, compared to one that offered a free shirt and wax, i'd take the shipping. I want what im buying, as soon as I can, for a good price.

That said, 90% of the time, I will buy from a store based on the price of the ski im looking for. The other 10% is reputation, if its 30 bucks less at somewhere less reputable, then i may just stick to the more expensive.

Like someone else said, carry products that are similar, but also variety.
Jun 27 2008 4:15PM
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feedbacker
Posts: 543 - Karma: 14
thanks man. good call on the free stuff.. good service should always be way more important..
Jun 27 2008 4:16PM
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dave44
Posts: 11052 - Karma: 113
Yea, I didn't really wanna name drop but Getboards was one of the inconsistent shops I was thinking of. I've had good experiences with them but a lot haven't.

Apparently though, the problem is the warehouse kid who's pretty bad at following orders. The owner's mad chill. So I guess the point is feedbacker, you want good staff too.
Jun 27 2008 4:21PM
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Scott~
Posts: 2551 - Karma: 49
For me I like a company I feel I can get behind.  I buy most of my stuff from EVO because I support them and am thankful for all of the sweet events they help put on, and what they give back to the sport. Maybe this wont make up for a 100 dollar price difference, but it will make up for a small one. If you can try to hook up some licensing for some film companies so you can show some premiers come fall, and maybe try putting on an event. It doesnt need to be anything expensive. Shit if you give me free hotdogs on the mountain and play some tunes I will be stoked on your shop lol~
Jun 27 2008 4:29PM
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b-kul
Posts: 4350 - Karma: 1,111
i really like to my skis and bindings from the same place. obviosly a good price is important. i would be stoked on free stickers.
Jun 27 2008 4:35PM
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Clifford996
Posts: 1288 - Karma: 28
throw in stuff with new skis, i know that my shop always has a ton of new gear from previous seasons just sitting in the back room, toss in some of that stuff with new 09 ski orders

shirts
hoodies
gogs
poles
anything
Jun 27 2008 4:37PM
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dave44
Posts: 11052 - Karma: 113
Shirts maybe, but not every owner has enough money to start giving away free gogs/poles/hoodies, etc
Jun 27 2008 4:39PM
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feedbacker
Posts: 543 - Karma: 14
not that it helps you if you are outside of Utah, but we do at least 2 huge rail jams every year, that always go off.  we also do a lot of comps in the season..
I agree, events are huge.

I was thinkin that we could start throwing decade tees in with every order, we have one design that Eric Pollard designed for us, that I think peeps would be pretty stoked on..

good advice so far guys.

keep it coming
Jun 27 2008 4:51PM
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wordzofwizdum
Posts: 476 - Karma: 448
the free hotwax imo is a bad idea, peeps don't want unknown peeps touchin there brand new hard earned pair of sticks no what i mean..... i think a free vid, or maybe  taking 50 bucks of if they buy a whole setup. (boots,skis,bindings) is a great promotional idea.

also just make ur stuff like 15 bucks cheaper than anywhere else and u'll sell like crazy
Jun 27 2008 4:55PM
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