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Got a job at a local ski shop. What should I expect?

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3dressedupasa9
Posts: 445 - Karma: 113
Can anyone give me some tips and tricks?
Oct 4 2012 7:16PM
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TACO-DOG.exe
Posts: 11988 - Karma: 12,261
if you get a job at skiers you have to give me free stuff.
Oct 4 2012 7:18PM
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3dressedupasa9
Posts: 445 - Karma: 113
haha out of bounds
Oct 4 2012 7:27PM
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JsNeagle
Posts: 1405 - Karma: 1,576
1.  Ignore the urge to slack off.  When I first got a job at a ski shop many years ago it was such a chill, fun environment that it became too easy to slack off.  Work hard and it won't go unnoticed.

2.  You know more than you realize about ski equipment.  95% of the time you're going to know more about what you're selling the customer than they do, even if you don't realize it.  Don't be afraid to give your honest opinions, but don't lose a sale in doing so.  You'll be baffled by some customers who think they know everything, but actually don't know shit.  The trick is to educate them without being an asshole, which is harder than it sounds.  If you do it right, lifelong customer.

3.  If it's a somewhat cool shop, it should be fun.  Skiing is all about having fun and ski shops should reflect that.  If you're not having fun, ask yourself why and change it.

I could go on and on, but those are the 3 that came to mind first.
Oct 4 2012 7:28PM
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TACO-DOG.exe
Posts: 11988 - Karma: 12,261
ahhhhh skiers is hiring though too. out of bounds could use some better staff because their customer service is so shitty. i feel like they just try to sell you the most expensive ski and they don't really carry that many brands either.

btw where are you skiing this year?
Oct 4 2012 7:29PM
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3dressedupasa9
Posts: 445 - Karma: 113
word, those are some good tips thanks!
Oct 4 2012 7:34PM
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3dressedupasa9
Posts: 445 - Karma: 113
i know, i applied at skiers 7 weeks ago, called them and emailed them and they haven't gotten back to me :/ whatever though. I got a pass at valley this year again. Close to home yeno
Oct 4 2012 7:36PM
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.RYAN66
Posts: 5381 - Karma: 235
It's super chill. I'm at work now but it's super dead. Already broke into today's rack of pbr. Try and get all your certs so you can work in the shop it's so much better then working with people
Oct 4 2012 7:38PM
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.nasty
Posts: 10581 - Karma: 11,157
is it like a huge gaper product shop or a small freeski shop?
Oct 4 2012 7:58PM
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BirtDike
Posts: 1258 - Karma: 514
Get ready to not ski at all this season, should gotten a night job. Unless you live in Keystone then hell you can ski at night like 5 days a week.
Oct 4 2012 8:03PM
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FUUUCK
Posts: 18426 - Karma: 4,888
shadow the more experienced employees, see how they talk to customers, learn as much as you can from them. Always go out of your way be friendly to everyone.
Oct 4 2012 8:09PM
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3dressedupasa9
Posts: 445 - Karma: 113
small freeski shop, well not even that small
Oct 4 2012 8:24PM
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3dressedupasa9
Posts: 445 - Karma: 113
well im going to school... so it pretty well is a night job.
Oct 4 2012 8:27PM
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Nowison
Posts: 39 - Karma: 620
Be the most social, chill, down to earth person you can be, and clients will be looking for you next time they shop! Ask where they ski/skied, if they prefer park or pow, etc. If the client feels somewhat of a connection, it'll most likely be a sale.
Oct 4 2012 9:47PM
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Elmo.
Posts: 4317 - Karma: 663
i would say to just work hard and overall be a nice person. being happy is good in a place like a ski shop. no one wants to buy skiis from a pissed off sales person. buying skis should be happy and fun not mean and glum
Oct 4 2012 10:29PM
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sandybov.ill
Posts: 804 - Karma: 1,559
Be nice, work hard, and talk to people. Build some good relationships. You'd be surprised how much that will help you later on in life.
Oct 4 2012 10:32PM
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mitchk
Posts: 678 - Karma: 19
This exactly. When you work in a shop you need to get the work done but at the same time always chill with your co-workers and managers. My manager has pulled some strings for me in the industry to help me get where i wanna go!
Oct 4 2012 10:40PM
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zapadelic
Posts: 483 - Karma: 48
This, One guy at Pacesetters made fun of one my friends hair (he had lost a bet so it was bad) and it made doing business with him easier ended up buying a lot through him. not necassarly saying make fun of peoples hair though it may not go well
Oct 4 2012 10:44PM
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Parks.
Posts: 5612 - Karma: 1,093
dicks.....dicks everywhere
Oct 4 2012 11:14PM
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Gmart
Posts: 1634 - Karma: 273
You ride for free at certain mtns and get skis boots etc for a wholesale price aka shop or pro form
Oct 4 2012 11:20PM
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84west
Posts: 646 - Karma: 1,254
Be prepared to wax and scrape a fuck ton of skis if you're working in the shop. If you're on the sales floor the key is to get the customer on a ski they will love to ski on. If you can do that they will keep coming back(same can be said of all products). Don't sell some weekend warrior super dad a huge pow ski because he asked for the best ski. Most people who buy skis will buy the entry level package ski or a cheaper all mt. ski. This makes it that much sicker when you get to set someone up with a sweet setup, which is what the jobs all about.
Oct 5 2012 6:09AM
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steezyjibber
Posts: 15967 - Karma: 11,026
3point5

google it
Oct 5 2012 9:39AM
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Peach.
Posts: 3879 - Karma: 933
Your coworkers are going to bust your balls for the next 6 months. You might be boot bitch when it comes to rentals.
Have fun.
Oct 5 2012 11:26AM
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Pipe_Munky
Posts: 10888 - Karma: 2,184
1. remember that you will not be selling twins and pow skis all day long

2. check all attitude at the door

3. you will get the "bitch" work (ie outfitting kids)

4. show iniative at the end of the day by cleaning up before being asked

5. realize that you in fact know less than you think you do

6. make use of the sales reps. they're there to help you

7. do not make shit up to the customers. if you do, someone will eventually call you on it and they'll tell everyone they know. if you don't know, be honest and then ask someone else

8. don't be a push over...
Oct 5 2012 11:44AM
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Bumblesteeze
Posts: 3092 - Karma: 748
Just be friendly and don't be too pushy. I used to work at a ski shop and I miss it..
It was definitely a fun experience.
Oct 5 2012 12:05PM
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.RYAN66
Posts: 5381 - Karma: 235
haha this.


also dont expect to start selling skis on day 1. gotta earn it.
Oct 5 2012 2:25PM
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-ShredTheGnar-
Posts: 2038 - Karma: 111
Be prepared for people who think they know everything but don't..

Don't even consider the phrase "the customer is always right"

don;t be afraid to have fun. Judge clients properly and you can have some fun (I sell most stuff by taking the piss out of client in a jokey manner)
Oct 5 2012 2:31PM
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JzD.
Posts: 1615 - Karma: 153
God I wish I could work at a ski shop, my job blows
Oct 5 2012 3:41PM
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.nasty
Posts: 10581 - Karma: 11,157
I sold a pair of Opus' my first day! hahahahah
Oct 5 2012 3:45PM
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Dr.Dickless
Posts: 2620 - Karma: 1,392
Thank you, That's some solid advice
Oct 5 2012 4:44PM
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.Hansel.
Posts: 185 - Karma: 113
Idiots, lots and lots of idiots who think they know shit about gear, but really they have absolutely no idea.
Oct 5 2012 4:56PM
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Fonzy.
Posts: 216 - Karma: 30
Be prepared to fit people with 5-6 boots because they don't realize rentals feel like shit.
Oct 5 2012 6:44PM
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snocompton
Posts: 2014 - Karma: 268
lots of emphasis on #3 , 5 and 7. def the 3 things i learned quickly when i first started.


also, some ppl just dont want to be told otherwise when it comes to a product. but if they got some money in their hand and are gonna buy it regardless, just shut up and take the $. at the end of the day a sale is a sale.
Oct 5 2012 6:48PM
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Clark_Griswold
Posts: 1283 - Karma: 49
This. So brush up on some of the things people will be looking for in non twins or just the non free ski community in general. I work in the back waxing and tuning up skis so I don't have to worry to much about that unless we are swamped but the manager knows If we are swamped that it's to his benefit that I help someone that seems to be in the freeski side of the game because every time he walks back and I'm on break or waxing skis I have NS pulled up on my laptop watching edits as I work or browsing threads, so he knows my opinion of racers and such.
Oct 5 2012 6:57PM
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grams.
Posts: 7406 - Karma: 186
You will enjoy it and be stoked for the first 3 years then eventually you will grow up, just want to ski and hate the bro/brah ski industry. I'm jaded.

/EndRant
Oct 5 2012 7:14PM
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