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When i walk into a ski store

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RubberSoul
Posts: 11249 - Karma: 14,642
Sep 5 2012 6:12PM
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dan1080
Posts: 1293 - Karma: 913
lolol.  sometimes have felt that way, sometimes not.  depends where you go
Sep 6 2012 1:48PM
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FrysNation
Posts: 491 - Karma: 471
When i was building my summer setup i got my materials from home depot. When i was getting the astro turf they asked what i was using it for. When i told her i was making a little ski jump she just gave me this vlank stare . Like she was thinking why the fuck is this kid buying fake grass to ski on
Sep 6 2012 1:52PM
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FrysNation
Posts: 491 - Karma: 471
*blank
Sep 6 2012 1:52PM
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Skibumsmith
Posts: 5432 - Karma: 11,821
I'm always just "looking around" unless it's for boots. When it comes to boots you gotta find a pro. One exception was when I was with my dad and they tried to sell him Full Tilts. Full Tilts would not have worked for his size and skiing style. I had to shut em down right there.
Sep 6 2012 3:10PM
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nCrow
Posts: 1205 - Karma: 7,879
haha so true
Sep 6 2012 3:18PM
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Lick
Posts: 1927 - Karma: 518
Same fucking thing, I ordered my skis online, got my bindings from a diferent website, and the only place to mount skis in my area is MC Sports.. they wouldn't do it because "you're not supposed to mount them there"
Sep 6 2012 4:18PM
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CrotchKiller
Posts: 9037 - Karma: 6,943
o h k buzz Killington
Sep 6 2012 4:31PM
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Barmski
Posts: 4342 - Karma: 811

Dont come into any business with that attitude. yea its hilarious to watch that video I agree, but whe people pull that shit on me on a busy day when I working it honestly just puts me in a bad mood and I am likely to give them shittier service. At my ski shop kids would walk in actually like they knew it all and then I would just casually drop a terms, lingo, and names to get their respect. Then they would be cool, but I never recall them ever buying a thing. "Always looking." Retail is not free, only free to look at.

On another note being on the otherside, I walked into the biggest shop in Boston and  I told em I lived in Breck and it was fun to chat with them. They were stoked to talk with someone who was passionate about skiing. Don't be an asshole just to be an asshole. Its gets you nowhere. Just be real you never know what the person knows until you chat with them. And if you find out they are ignorant as fuck....then just walk away.

Sep 6 2012 5:42PM
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b_r_tregs
Posts: 298 - Karma: 204
YES!!!!!


so funny

Sep 6 2012 6:27PM
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SKI.ING
Posts: 2695 - Karma: 2,535
And that's why this is a comedy show on television. Nobody on here would actually do that (I hope not), but the clip personifies the idea that most store clerks, etc. act like they can help you with their "knowledge", but generally you know just as much, if not more than them.
Sep 6 2012 6:29PM
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SSteezle
Posts: 9297 - Karma: 7,709
somewhat true but the majority of skiing gear knowledge is learned on the hill.


I laughed pretty hard at that video though. At my local ski shop there's a black guy that's like 300lbs that tries to sell skis to me
Sep 6 2012 6:32PM
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Funnel
Posts: 7815 - Karma: 1,531
If I was the retail associate I'd probably let half of that in one ear and out the other. That's what I did this summer and I wasn't even selling skis (which I have more knowledge on). Some retail associates aren't as clueless as you think.
Sep 6 2012 6:34PM
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tomPietrowski
Posts: 7147 - Karma: 17,498

Selling skis it helps to have skied the skis for sure, but as far as fitting boots go, its your podietry knowledge, foot biology and mechacnical knowledge which will help you the most. Some of the best fitters barly ski any more.

In genrall the best skiers know the least about equipement, as they just allow the people who do know about it to sort it out for them.

Sep 6 2012 6:37PM
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Panda_with_Guns
Posts: 3040 - Karma: 1,620
larsons in wheat ridge right? ive been going there for years
Sep 6 2012 6:39PM
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Skibumsmith
Posts: 5432 - Karma: 11,821
It's just a a bummer that those of us that demand the perfect fit (not claiming mad skills but I do ski at work) can hardly afford it. A new pair of boots plus bootwork then custom footbeds and new liners every year gets fucking expensive. But yeah I've learned no matter how much you think you know about boots it's best to just to say mkay here's how I ski, tell me what to buy.
Sep 6 2012 9:43PM
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SKI.ING
Posts: 2695 - Karma: 2,535
I believe that this is a ripple effect though. The best skiers aren't spending even close to the same amount as the average skier. They generally have a sponsor for this, so the less research they need to do into the products they ride. Another plus to being the best in skiing, is that the top industry people want to work with you. I'm sure it would be much easier to fly Sean Pettit out to see you to get fitted then it is for me to spend money and get fitted by you.

I know we have debated on this topic before on NS, but it really is hard to find good, qualified bootfitters. There are a few diamonds in the rough, but they're are damn hard to find.

To the rest of the thread:
For example, I don't need someone in the store to regurgitate the ski catalog to me. I know the Alpha 1's have "Elf Shoe". That doesn't mean anything. By researching I can learn about sidecut, early rise/taper, dimensions, materials, and how this will affect it skiing. Without demoing the ski that's as close as I can get.


Sep 6 2012 11:01PM
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tripnip
Posts: 1882 - Karma: 482
yes its a great shop guys are awesome
Sep 17 2012 12:35AM
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396222687862
Posts: 0 - Karma: 350
this thread is filled with a bunch of know it all's.


i love it. to those of you who know your shit, right on. keep on keeping.


to those who think they know, good luck. learn how to turn outside of the park, you rat.
Sep 17 2012 1:36AM
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mitchk
Posts: 678 - Karma: 19
This is it a lot of the time in my eyes. I've been fitting boots for three years and I'm still learning new things here and there so I also agree with whoever said that the customers internet research is probly next to nothing compared to what an experienced bootfitter knows.

On the other hand if there is a shop employing a bootfitting rookie then yea theyre probably not going to know enough to do a really good job fitting the right pair of boots. Find a good shop though and they'll work wonders.
Sep 17 2012 1:40PM
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montanan
Posts: 1787 - Karma: 1,346
my shop is so bright, that they mounted my bindings backwards on a directional side cut powder ski. skis were 900 bucks. so pissed. luckily i made them do the right thing ( by being a dick ) and got some free benchetlers and my skis back. backward mounted holes and all. all i can say is fucking idiots . hard to find a good shop in my area. that why i do all my own shit now. period. i dont go to a ski shop unless i HAVE to. thats what the fucking internet is for. and dont get me wrong , id love to have a good shop and love to support a local bussiness. but when they cant even mount a pair of bindings in the right direction, then tell you theyll just remont them for a reduced cost and it willl be fine ; it makes you lose trust in a place fast.
Sep 17 2012 2:12PM
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B.Lyfe
Posts: 624 - Karma: 116
Sales people aka college kids. to broke to ski all the time.

you want to real info? goto the Ski Tech that trolls the basement...
Sep 17 2012 2:16PM
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Ryanvdonk
Posts: 12811 - Karma: 1,971
unless you're on hellbents that's pretty stupid...and i would say that to your face with my managers watching me.
Sep 17 2012 2:18PM
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Goku
Posts: 8119 - Karma: 4,223
I was always that guy, so i just ended up working there haha. Now I do the same thing at skate shops but can't find a job :(
Sep 17 2012 2:22PM
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maxwell666
Posts: 554 - Karma: 20
or some of the surface powder skis, or volkl chopstics, or ep pros, or SFBs, or YLEs, or any of the others among the legions freestyle oriented powder skis designed to have a close to, or true center mount.

This is why i hate going to a shop, the people always have such narrow views of what skiing should be, and how it should be done.
Sep 17 2012 2:33PM
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Jpurd
Posts: 3196 - Karma: 3,554
haha so true!
Sep 17 2012 2:56PM
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washy
Posts: 5 - Karma: 10
Feels good working in a shop where my boss is one of the best bootfitters in canada. I can understand why many of you grip though, ive gone in to shops before to talk about punching boots and they simply said " it cant be done".

Dont let those retards give all of us a bad name though, I might not know jack about boot fitting but If im ever in the dark i just ask one of the more experienced techs to come give me a hand. Skis are more my thing personally... you can still ride a pair of skis that isnt quite perfect but boots are a whole nother story.

If you want some good service and are going to come to Vancouver island this winter skip the shops in the valley and head straight to Mtn Tek! Cheers
Sep 17 2012 3:05PM
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Ryanvdonk
Posts: 12811 - Karma: 1,971
yep that's it, people who work in shops don't know the skis...or maybe just neglected to write the words "or something like it" because it was implied. if you want to center mount some mantras, or the other hundreds of directional focused big skis, be my guest, i've been requested it and i still think it's stupid.
Sep 17 2012 3:18PM
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maxwell666
Posts: 554 - Karma: 20
If you were trying to imply that, you failed. And no, I would not mount directional skis true center, unlike you, i was specific in what i thought should be center mounted, and if you take the time to read, traditionally shaped powder skis are not in that category..
Sep 17 2012 8:12PM
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Crispy.
Posts: 6109 - Karma: 7,683
The only person at my shop I trust more than myself is the tech.
Sep 17 2012 8:56PM
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uosdwiSrjewoH
Posts: 4220 - Karma: 122
this thread is terrible
Sep 17 2012 9:01PM
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Vitiligo
Posts: 535 - Karma: 1,126
Hahaha I didn't
Sep 17 2012 9:31PM
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Davin
Posts: 669 - Karma: 354
It goes both ways. For your case you have the normal buyer who you can show the correct boot or you can have what you explained. For us buyers, you can be a shitty tech who just wants to move products when in reality all you know is that burton is a snowboard brand or you can be an informed skiier/snowboarder who can actualy help with what you are looking for.
Sep 17 2012 9:44PM
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Ryanvdonk
Posts: 12811 - Karma: 1,971
my point wasn't that near symmetrical shapes shouldn't be centered, it was that i have way too many kids come in thinking that anything with a twin tip should be
Sep 18 2012 1:12AM
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mr.k2
Posts: 504 - Karma: 156
LMFAO
Sep 18 2012 1:47PM
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seward
Posts: 5233 - Karma: 2,174
this so works both ways.

there are just as many fuckin clueless skiers that read a couple of issues of freeskier a year and think they are know it alls as their is hot shot guys that work in a shop that think they invented skiing.

i dont buy alot of hardgoods from shops, so i get to avoid that shit, but i find the teck's are normally pretty knowledable. normally.
i had the og anthems mounted at a local shop. they managed to get them dead centre, but mounted one ski up side down causeing the graphic not to line up over both skis like it was meant to.
when i picked them up i was pretty pissed, asked the guy if he even bothered to look at the fuckin skis before drilling holes in them. he admitted that he didnt even notice the wolf graphic was split amoungst the two skis and offered to remount the one ski. i declined figuring it wasnt worth the extra set of holes just for the graphic to line up properly, exspecially considering it made no difference on a symetrical ski.
i ended up having an issue with those skis and got a new pair under warrenty a month of so later.
when i took them in to get mounted i wrote on masking tape ski 1, ski 2, tip, tail, and indicated extremely clearly where i wanted them mounted.
the shop guy started busting my balls being like come on brooo, im not an idiot.
i just explained that i have had way to many problems with mounts and he completely understood.

last year i listened to a guy tell me for atleast a half hour that mounting my s3's -2 from centre was retarded. "they have recommended mounting points for a reason".
i said "exactly, RECOMMENDED".
now i recommend you mount them where i ask before i slap ya wit ma dick.

basically i have come to the conclusion that all skiers are dicks.
the second skiing gets spoken about it just becomes a cock swinging fest.
unless youre on the hill to prove it, its just a one up fest, exspecially in shops.
ill tell a sales guy i have s3's, well he has s7's, i have fks, he has fks180, i have spk, he has spk pro, i can backflip, he can double, etc etc etc.
Sep 18 2012 2:48PM
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freeskibum82
Posts: 6355 - Karma: 5,055
and you are the punk kid that wants his line step ups and then complains they are expensive when in all actuality, they are probably the cheapest thing we sell.

everyone is an internet know-it-all.. please continue to shop online instead of wasting the time of people who work hard in the ski shops.
Sep 18 2012 3:05PM
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RubberSoul
Posts: 11249 - Karma: 14,642
i don't know if youre talking to me but i already said this thread is a joke, the butt of which is me, or in the video, ron swanson. don't take it seriously at all because it's not supposed to be taken that way. ive never behaved that way in a shop. laugh or don't and move on
Sep 18 2012 5:22PM
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