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Sketchy feelings about mounting

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Toaster-Tony
Posts: 3531 - Karma: 5,850
So I dropped my skis off at my local shop today to get my bindings mounted. I have been going to this shop for the past few years and haven't had any problems.

Today when I walked in, I was confronted by the man behind the counter with him asking me why I am getting my skis mounted in August. I simply replied with I am going off to college and would like to mount them before I head off. I then realized that he was sour because I did not buy my new skis and bindings at his shop when he mentioned something about how I am bringing my online purchase to be mounted in his shop. I simply asked him to show me their selection of Liberty skis and Salomon binding that I could have picked from prior to buying my new setup. He replied that they didn't carry those brands. I smiled and said "Center-mounted please".

But now I am sitting at home feeling uneasy about the shop mounting my skis. Not that they would intentionally screw up the mount, but since I did not buy the skis through the shop, I don't believe they would be covered.

Has anyone ever had incidences where they had a mount that went wrong?

I'm thinking about taking them back and dropping them off at another shop a little further away since they won't be done until a few days.

Any advice?



Aug 1 2012 9:09PM
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Blake.P
Posts: 9894 - Karma: 3,585
i dont see why it would be an issue, i mean you are still paying them to mount them. and if anything goes wrong or they fuck it up, they will still be responsible, because they are the ones that mounted it. the only issue i could see is for the bindings, they might not have the correct jig if they dont carry solomon/atomic bindings, but it still shouldnt be an issue
Aug 1 2012 9:40PM
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bighomieflock
Posts: 2040 - Karma: 2,445
Did you draw a line with a sharpie where you want them mounted?
Aug 1 2012 11:30PM
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Toaster-Tony
Posts: 3531 - Karma: 5,850
Liberty's have pre-drawn lines. I'm just worried about the guy fucking up my skis since we were pretty short with each other when I walked in today.

I'm probably overreacting but I'm a poor college kid and spent too much money on my stuff to hand to a pissed off guy to alter them.
Aug 1 2012 11:53PM
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TheClap.
Posts: 21669 - Karma: 4,151
its still what a $50-75 dollar mount?

youll be good
Aug 1 2012 11:56PM
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Kreech
Posts: 4178 - Karma: 3,024
I doubt it will be a big deal, but in the future make sure to draw your own lines because the lines printed on the skis are on the topsheets which can easily be misprinted. My pipe cleaners have one topsheet about 2cm in front of the other.
Aug 2 2012 12:27AM
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Toaster-Tony
Posts: 3531 - Karma: 5,850
Thanks for the advice, man. I'll make sure to do this from now on.
Aug 2 2012 1:26AM
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jaredmdub
Posts: 2229 - Karma: 564
Pretty sure either way it goes down, good or bad, you're covered. i do enjoy your story though. The guys at my shop are kind of dicks too but its whatever, they're getting paid to do a job I have requested and if they don't want to play nice, ill take my shit elsewhere.

As for the jig comment above, if they didn't have the proper jig, they wouldn't even accept to mount the skis (i'm pretty sure). I know one of my shops doesn't have a lot of jigs, so I have to take my skis to the more expensive one that has a bunch of jigs.

Easy solution, and I know people are soooo against it, but I have mounted my own skis the past 2 years, and have had no problems. No ACL tears and no knee damage yet, knock on wood.  Forward pressure on all of my mounts have been perfect and I have never pre-released or not released when i should or shouldn't have. Bash on me all you want I guess, I know the risks I take but I am willing to accept that if I do it to myself, I deserve it.
Aug 2 2012 3:17AM
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llambert
Posts: 1005 - Karma: 81
yeah i got fucked at my local shop
last year i bought a pair of look bindings there, good call on their part and they mounted them for free then this year my mom bought a pair of salomon lords there and when she went back they charged her $50 for brakes and $50 for mounting which left me a little pissed, then i go back because the sidewall is falling apart and the guy just screams at me the skiing park is retarded blahblahblah then told me how to fix them with epoxy then continued to be a dick so i told him to fuck off and left
spark notes
1. Overcharged my mother
2. Was a dick
3. Never going there again
4. Mounting my own bindings
Aug 2 2012 9:41AM
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bighomieflock
Posts: 2040 - Karma: 2,445
Ya, I see what you mean. It seems like you should be fine, but good luck.
Aug 2 2012 4:24PM
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rozboon
Posts: 1642 - Karma: 868

If they wanted to really mess with you they could drill the holes oversize by a mil or 2 so they would rip out really soon and nobody would ever be able to tell... but that's just being paranoid.

However if you pissed the guy off I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't do his best work mounting them.

Aug 2 2012 4:35PM
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84west
Posts: 646 - Karma: 1,254
You're probably fine, the most I've ever seen done to fuck with someone was writing "cunt" in sharpie under her heel piece. But she had it coming. No sane person would fuck your mount up intentionally because that could possibly be expensive.
Aug 2 2012 4:45PM
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Toaster-Tony
Posts: 3531 - Karma: 5,850
Thanks for the posts guys! I'm feeling a little better about not picking them up haha.

But I think you bring up a good point. In this case, the guy behind the counter was not a park skier by any means, and I have the feeling it may piss off some people who don't understand freestyle skiing to see someone buy a $500+ ski and bang the shit out of it on pipes. I know I don't fully understand it and I'm nothing short of a park rat.

Also, I have a feeling that the guy that I took a couple shots at doesn't work on skis too often since he's working in a board shop during the summer which is currently stocked with wakeboards and skateboards. At least that's what I'm hoping haha.
Aug 2 2012 11:52PM
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.Hugo.
Posts: 17360 - Karma: 28,488
Tony what shop did yo bring them to?
Aug 3 2012 10:34AM
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Toaster-Tony
Posts: 3531 - Karma: 5,850
Hi-tempo
Aug 3 2012 1:14PM
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.Hugo.
Posts: 17360 - Karma: 28,488
Oh you're fine. That's where I always go and I've never had a problem. Also the guy that does the mounting is never behind the counter so you don't have to worry about that.

By the way they used to sell Liberty skis there. Thats where I got mine.
Aug 3 2012 1:45PM
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seanahue.
Posts: 2142 - Karma: 3,375
god, i really shouldn't get started with mounting fuckups because it makes me feel like an idiot (for how much goddamn money i've wasted!), but i hope i can save you a few dollars by sharing some of my experience...

first and foremost, unless you actually work there or have some good homies that do, don't go to a shop to mount unless you absolutely have to. let's be real: no offense to anyone on here who works in a shop, but 90% of the shoptechs i have encountered are burned out morons, and that number jumps to like 98% when it comes to knowledge of park/freestyle skiing. of the 6 or 7 pairs of skis i've had mounted in the last 2 years (all at various shops, i've moved around a lot for college/postgrad too), when i put them to a tape measurer only ONE was done properly, and that was because i did what someone said above and drew them a fucking diagram (also good advice).

i know its august and we all have raging skirections from trailer-season, but the best thing i can tell you is to wait it out, find someone that you know/trust who owns or has access to a jig, bust out the tape measurer, draw some lines, and drill it yourself to whatever specifications you want... or if you're uncomfortable just going for it your first time (and you really shouldn't be, it's just like sex: everyone makes a big deal about how complicated it can be but all you're doing is drilling out a hole), go through the process step-by-step with a knowledgeable friend so you're good to roll solo next time around!

best of luck!
Aug 3 2012 2:05PM
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Toaster-Tony
Posts: 3531 - Karma: 5,850
Good to hear! I also like to offer to bring in lunch for the guys in the back when I pick up, it usually ensures they do a good job haha. I didn't get to talk to them this time but I haven't had a problem in the past there either. And I definitely know they sell salomon too. Im thinking the guy was just trying to be a ass that day.
Aug 3 2012 2:07PM
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Thick.Black.Gurl
Posts: 492 - Karma: 28
Like said above but highly unadvised by others, I've mounted my skis before with out problems. I had my heal binding rip out, being broke I did a ton of research online. However I went under my house and grabbed 3 children's skis that were trashed and i practiced mounting bindings multiple times before I did it on my skis. Practicing on trash skis really taught me what can go wrong mounting it yourself and eventually I can do it now, but god is it nerve racking!!! Doing it yourself gives you piece of mind too, knowing exactly what has been done, correct materials, perfect mount, etc...
Aug 3 2012 6:11PM
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Toaster-Tony
Posts: 3531 - Karma: 5,850
I would definitely do this but it's something I don't like messing around with too much. It could save you a bunch of money over time and give you piece of mind but I just wouldn't want to risk the injury. It sounds like you know what you're doing though, as long as it's done correctly, I see no problem in it.

Maybe someday I'll get into it, but for now, I'm comfortable with giving it to the shop.
Aug 3 2012 11:00PM
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edai
Posts: 4990 - Karma: 4,677
Yeah my local shop overcharged me for sure. Last year I cracked my break and it was like $45 to get replaced. (Ridiculous, but not awful) This year I had to get them both replaced so I would be covered for Windells in case anything happened while I was there, and it was like $170. That was absurd, the guys in the shop are awesome, smart, and super nice, but that is definitely an overcharge. Needless to say in the future I'll be ordering parts and doing the job myself, which literally takes 45 seconds.

The shop is still great though and I will continue to go there for mounting/major purchases as I trust the employees skill and knowledge. Just sharing my misfortune.
Aug 3 2012 11:07PM
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jerm
Posts: 947 - Karma: 1,061
never had to do it but from watching friends use paper jigs or other jimmy rigs and do it themselves i would just do it myself if i had to. sounds like the best way to go. you can take all the time you need and then you have no one to blame. just go by the motto measure twice cut once.
Aug 4 2012 4:28AM
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Toaster-Tony
Posts: 3531 - Karma: 5,850
Quoting for emphasis.

One of the better posts I've seen on NS. Thanks man.
Aug 7 2012 1:15PM
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FreezerKid
Posts: 744 - Karma: 274
i feel super lucky now that a good mate of mine who is a tech mounts my skis for free and i completely trust him, would feel sketched out going to a random shop now
Aug 7 2012 1:47PM
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PeteMez
Posts: 611 - Karma: 103
I'm sketched to fuck now about getting mine mounted. Bought Armada AR7's and Griffons from Freeze in UK, but I'll probably get them mounted in France in a resort as they know what they're doing more than most English Racers (I'd guess) is this a good shout?

Also, how do you draw these "diagrams", just draw a line where the center of the boot needs to be or the nose and heel peice too?
Aug 7 2012 7:08PM
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FreezerKid
Posts: 744 - Karma: 274
just where true center is, i would say your better off getting them mounted at freeze pro or somewhere in the uk that a random shop in france
Aug 8 2012 5:00AM
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PeteMez
Posts: 611 - Karma: 103
First off, i want them at like -3 or -4, so i'll draw a line there? and Freeze Pro is like 5 hours drive from where I am my parents aren't down for that... know of any good shops around Gloucestershire? And i thought that a ski-hire shop or just ski shop in a resort like Val D'isere would be a good bet? :S
Aug 8 2012 5:06AM
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FreezerKid
Posts: 744 - Karma: 274
yer just mark them where u want the centre of your boot to be, up to you man only issue is you might get ripped off, got charge 75 euros in france but its only 20 as snow and rock (before my friend was a tech)
Aug 8 2012 5:16AM
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LC.
Posts: 5952 - Karma: 2,423
EB Bristol. Measure & draw your own midsole line first and speak to whoever will be mounting them.
Aug 8 2012 5:24AM
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PeteMez
Posts: 611 - Karma: 103
EB?
Aug 8 2012 5:27AM
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PeteMez
Posts: 611 - Karma: 103
Ellis Brigham, I'm dumb.
Aug 8 2012 5:38AM
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PeteMez
Posts: 611 - Karma: 103
Also, how long would the turn around be at these shops, cause I don't wanna be doing 4 long trips as opposed to 2?
Aug 8 2012 5:50AM
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LC.
Posts: 5952 - Karma: 2,423
Call ahead and be polite. They should be able to do it on the spot in 15 minutes during summer.
Aug 8 2012 8:54AM
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WI_Personallty
Posts: 881 - Karma: 161
yeah what happens if they mount the bindings wrong or they place them wrong? +k for help.
Aug 8 2012 10:02AM
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.cam.
Posts: 1852 - Karma: 48
Whenever I get my bindings mounted I bring in a case of beer for the shop techs and they always do a great job haha
Aug 8 2012 11:42AM
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DosasNMimosas
Posts: 1701 - Karma: 664
they didn't have the ski you wanted.. so you bought it online
Aug 8 2012 12:08PM
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