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Negotiating prices at a ski shop

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RedBaron882
Posts: 823 - Karma: 126
with the current economic hard times hitting retail busineses are ski shops willing to make deals. would it be worth my time to go in and try and deal, barter, haggle etc whatever you call it, in order to get a better price. anyone who works in a shop i would like to have your input. are stores willing to knock off a few bucks in order to make a sale and move items out of the shop. im not exactly rolling in the money but i cant just give up skiing since that would be like The Count giving up counting random shit. what do you all think.
Jan 14 2009 8:22PM
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slottyboom
Posts: 439 - Karma: 40
give it a try
worst they will do is say no
but giver bro i always ask and get 10-20 off random shit or skis
Jan 14 2009 8:43PM
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Aaaron.
Posts: 11817 - Karma: 903
find it cheaper on the internet and tell them.  don't over do it though.
Jan 14 2009 8:47PM
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BigMeech621
Posts: 1257 - Karma: 16
just tell them that you could get it on the internet for a cheaper price but you would like to support their shop if they are willing to match it. thats what i do. it works.
Jan 14 2009 8:51PM
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grams.
Posts: 7406 - Karma: 186

Please don't. Don't be one of the cheap fucks who goes in the store and gives those guys a hard time by trying to haggle.

if you really do though, just kindly ask for no more than 10% off or something. or ask if they have any discounts or coupons available at the time. cause really i think they would just say no if the next guy who walks in could easily buy those same twins for his son at 100% retail (even with today's economy)

Jan 14 2009 9:15PM
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matt.rad
Posts: 1813 - Karma: 303
The best way is to find it cheaper from a reputable online store, print out a copy of the webpage showing the product you want in the size you want for a price cheaper than at the shop, and say you'd rather support your local shop. I work at a shop and this is about the only way that will work at pretty much any place.
Jan 14 2009 9:17PM
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brenker
Posts: 3188 - Karma: 71
most of the prices ski shops would drop significantly are those of left over (08 and earlier) skis that have been there too long or something. The shop i work at usually discounts new (09) skis like 10% off automatically just to compete with prices locally, they dont drop prices on new stuff too often unless it was brought it on a special deal or something or isnt selling at all.

Jan 14 2009 9:28PM
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Pipe_Munky
Posts: 10888 - Karma: 2,184

for canadian shops, simply telling a shop that you can get it cheaper online will not help your cause. with shipping, the dollar and duties, you'll end up paying more.

if you're a good customer and they know you at the shop they might do something for you. simply walking in and saying "i can get it cheaper online" will do nothing but piss off the guy you're talking to and make him not want to help you.

for the most part (shops i know of), shops aren't really open to negotiation. if you're dead set on paying less, wait until the end of the season

Jan 14 2009 11:16PM
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duophunkin
Posts: 156 - Karma: 10
I know at my shop we keep prices pretty low.  We price match anything in the area, but not online...skis purchased online do not have a warranty. Yes you can get around that if you fake a sales reciept, but they are not supposed to have one.  Plus you factor in shipping and cost to mount (up to $50 at some shops).  With that being said, free lift tickets are easier to come by that are given to shops, and thats a better deal than %10 anyday.
Jan 14 2009 11:27PM
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skipocketrockets
Posts: 201 - Karma: 30
Dont haggle man...ask if they would give you a "locals" discount instead usually they'll do atleast 10% off in most places
Jan 15 2009 12:43AM
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gnarrr
Posts: 823 - Karma: 12
i got 30% off 08/09 spk kaos's and 50% off 07/08 arv's. there were locals discounts, and i was only planning on buying skis, but knew i needed new boots then i just said if i can get a huge discount on these skis i'll buy boots too.
Jan 15 2009 1:38AM
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grambo
Posts: 1125 - Karma: 93
Fail. You get a receipt when you buy from an authorized retailer such as Backcountry.com. If you buy from eBay you probably won't since it's unilkely an authorized retailer (but you never know). You can warranty skis as long as they are from an auth'd dealer or you find a shop willing to help you.

Don't be a dick to shops. I buy stuff online when it's cheaper and when I know what I want and don't need the service of a shop. I buy apparel etc. at shops since I want to try it on and see it in person. I don't need some 120lbs highschool kid telling me what skis to buy. The reason to buy from a shop is to avoid online hassles, get free mounting, better service etc. Try to bargain by buying multiple items and asking for a total discount, free mounts, free full tunes (if they can tune worth a shit).
Jan 15 2009 3:01AM
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Msully
Posts: 575 - Karma: 21
I work at a local resort and got my setup stolen, went to a local shop told them i worked at the resort and ended up getting up's sth 16's and full tilt bumbles for 900 with free waxings and tune ups  so its really depends on your relationship with the store and how you present yourself
Jan 15 2009 4:11AM
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Silence
Posts: 16030 - Karma: 150
There is no way our shop would ever match an online price.

In saying that, we will charge as much as we can for things like bootwork when someone buys the boots online and then comes in looking for tech work to make a boot fit..

Same with mounting cost when the skis + bindings are bought elsewhere


Shops will often compete if a competitor is offering the same product at a discount, but not against the internet.
Jan 15 2009 6:03AM
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k-rob
Posts: 14217 - Karma: 2,891
like you said, we're going through some hard economic times, and the end doesn't seem to be getting any nearer. you wanna save some money, the shops wanna make some money. in the end, the more you have to give to your shop, the more you can expect to get from them in future. but if you don't have enough to give, then just save what you have until you can give the shop the price they charge. bartering isn't going to help anyone in the long term.
Jan 15 2009 7:26AM
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LC.
Posts: 5952 - Karma: 2,423
Do you ask for money off your groceries at the checkout? I didn't think so. And by the way, "I shop here all the time" and "I'm paying cash" will only annoy staff even more.
Jan 15 2009 9:25AM
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skiP.E.I.
Posts: 7841 - Karma: 22,134
if you're a student, ask if they do student discounts

Jan 15 2009 9:27AM
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RedBaron882
Posts: 823 - Karma: 126
alright i will take all this advise into consideration next time i buy gear
Jan 15 2009 2:18PM
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brenker
Posts: 3188 - Karma: 71
o believe me, it sure does...
Jan 15 2009 8:54PM
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BigM1218
Posts: 998 - Karma: 13
I work in a shop and I get these people every freakin day, "well, I was shopping online and I found this ski for a lot cheaper. Can u beat it??" No mother fucker, we can't becuase we are a small shop that can't compete with a large online retailer!
But seriously, If you buy from a shop you get better service and mounting and free lift tickets and shit. As far as discounts go, try to buy something they have a lot of, whether its a current model or not. For example, today I had an old guy lookin for an intermediate all mountain ski for about $600. So he wanted a Salomon xwing8, but instead I got him to buy an Elan Magfire78 because we had a shitload of them and I gotta get them out of the store. I told him he could have an extra 15% off the elan, but I would never take that off the the Xwing because we only have a few left. So go for something thats plentiful or old and you're sure to get a good deal. Trying to bargain for a better price on a good selling ski is a waste of both yours and the employee's time. Don't do it man, its just annoying.
Jan 15 2009 11:39PM
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BigM1218
Posts: 998 - Karma: 13
ohh and btw, I don't know about the rest of you guys' shops, but mine definitely is not feeling the recession or whatever at all. Our business is just as good, if not better than last year. So please don't expect every shop to have sales or lower prices because of that. Skiing's a sport for people who have money, so a recession's not going to slow them down.
Jan 15 2009 11:42PM
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BigMeech621
Posts: 1257 - Karma: 16
y would they give u a locals discount? arnt most people who shop at the "local ski shopo" from the area? our shop is hella expensive and discounts are few and far between. kinda sux. :(
Jan 15 2009 11:57PM
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Luc.
Posts: 7540 - Karma: 59
doesnt do jack shit in most cases.

normally if the customers family spends alot of money in the shop on a regular basis then we will give like 10% off or something...free tune ups, free service,shit like that. but usually thats only for people that 'know' the owner...which alot of people claim to do just to get free deals.

come in cash in hand and be prepared to spend. mention if there is anything the shop can do on the price but usually we know that (in most cases) people are going to buy the skis/boots/ w.e if we give a deal or not.


if u are buying a performance ski/boot combo, THEN. you should be able to get like a free footbed, 10% off, something along those lines.
Jan 16 2009 12:38PM
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