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Who would buy custom homemade skis?

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snakerton
Posts: 2434 - Karma: 1,977
So I build skis and I am thinking about starting to make more and sell them.

My question is, would any of you buy homemade skis if they were reasonably priced. They would be 200-300 dollars and you could choose the dimensions. Then profile and length would not be custom but the tip/waist/tail would be you're choosing.

Would you rather buy a park or pow ski?
What length?

Just looking for some input
Thanks

Jun 24 2013 7:48PM
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LAME.
Posts: 5795 - Karma: 2,446
with so many skis on the market today, basically coming in every sensible dimension possible, i doubt anyone would be willing to pay $200-300 on homemade skis...

unless they come in 181-200
Jun 24 2013 7:53PM
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stupendous-man
Posts: 8637 - Karma: 13,293
My mind automatically jumped to ON3P when you said home made skis, and they have one of the best reputations in the biz for making super durable skis. If your skis were comparable in quality to ON3P and you got to choose graphics, dimensions, shape etc. then I would buy them in an instant
Jun 24 2013 7:59PM
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a_burger
Posts: 5240 - Karma: 20,806
This, change your wording to "Home Crafted" op, for 200-300 they will sell like crazy (skis with custom width and stuff can get up to 1000 from what I've seen)


Jun 24 2013 8:02PM
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corona
Posts: 12804 - Karma: 32,822
how do you expect to make money selling a pair of hand made skis for 200?

it would be dope if you could, but considering the setup costs and probably 50 bucks for materials if you're not buying in bulk and all the test pairs that fail at the beginning etc etc. you probably wouldn't start making anything until after the 10th pair.

unless of course you're planning on selling a lot.
Jun 24 2013 8:13PM
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broto
Posts: 9039 - Karma: 25,664
first of all ON3P are handmade, not home made. his name is fine.

second, he's just one person. he has no company name to back up the legitimacy of his product. why would someone be inclined to purchase a ski for even half of what you're saying ($500) from someone with no reputation? that is basically the definition of a brand name. he offers customization but with all the ski companies out there today, the gaps between different skis widths, lengths, etc are slimming once you realize how many models are out there.

plus are you offering custom rocker profiles? cause for every one you'll need a new mold to press the ski on and that's taking away from your profits also. that is also quite a crucial part of customization.

i think if this was feasible or more profitable there would be more companies/people doing it.
Jun 24 2013 8:21PM
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B-Right-On
Posts: 570 - Karma: 532
I would definitely purchase some homemades if they had been tested and were remotely durable. If they were good quality, I would buy a pair of park skis and some pow planks
Jun 24 2013 8:33PM
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YoungJ
Posts: 447 - Karma: 883
Same. The Durability would be the decision maker

Jun 24 2013 8:43PM
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Toaster-Tony
Posts: 3531 - Karma: 5,850
I'm definitely interested.

I would love to have some homemades but the price would have to be right, it wouldn't make sense to spend the money on these if they costed the same as a pair of name brands.

Also, park would be preferred.

Length: 171-178cm


Jun 24 2013 9:05PM
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Good_Deed
Posts: 1260 - Karma: 1,321
things to worry about.

1. Getting sued how would you protect your self from a lawsuit?

2. Where would you store all the different molds?

3. 333skis.com guy is kind of doing what you want to do.

4. Warranties , how long what would they cover, and going back to mold storage are you going to keep every single one just in case a ski breaks?

 
Jun 24 2013 9:33PM
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corona
Posts: 12804 - Karma: 32,822
why would you worry about being sued? so long as you don't call your skis "Great Scotts"
Jun 24 2013 9:35PM
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roddy116
Posts: 10635 - Karma: 7,506
if they lasted and had a decent topsheet
Jun 24 2013 9:36PM
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Good_Deed
Posts: 1260 - Karma: 1,321
If the ski breaks, you could be sued for selling a faulty product. If the person breaks a bone while on your skis you could be sued. You would be amazed to what people will sue other people over I use to work in a ski shop and people would come in asking for a ski company contact info to sue them.
Jun 24 2013 9:39PM
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snakerton
Posts: 2434 - Karma: 1,977
Thank you everyone for the responses!
To answer a few questions I read:

The first 5 or so pairs I sell would be full warranty for 2 seasons. If they break you get your money back.

There would probably 2 molds at most. The tip/waist/tail would be the only customizable parts. The rocker/camber would stay the same but there might be 2 lengths or a park and pow ski.

What would I get sued for?

Jun 24 2013 9:42PM
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Toaster-Tony
Posts: 3531 - Karma: 5,850
I'm guessing warranty would void if the ski touched the park?
Jun 24 2013 11:17PM
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snakerton
Posts: 2434 - Karma: 1,977
No not necessarily. The warranty wouldn't cover edges wearing down but if the ski snapped, edge separated, blown sidewall and all that kind of stuff would be covered.
Jun 24 2013 11:27PM
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KennyD
Posts: 264 - Karma: 537
I would definitely buy a pair of park skis especially of its a good price. It would be so dope to ride a pair of skis that very few other people have. As for length I would say high 170s.

Also, I don't think you have to be too worried about getting sued as long as there is a warranty
Jun 24 2013 11:28PM
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stupendous-man
Posts: 8637 - Karma: 13,293
Can we choose graphics too? That would be so dope to be able to do that, but you would obviously have to have a special printer and it wouldn't be as cheap
Jun 24 2013 11:45PM
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NinetyFour
Posts: 8650 - Karma: 13,411
Any product pictures?
Jun 24 2013 11:52PM
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HolySchimmel
Posts: 1601 - Karma: 1,297
nice to see a fellow skibuilder :D I would buy some homemade skis for sure because I know from my own experience that they are really durable and work just as good as "normal" ones. Also I would rather focus on pow skis (they tend to be more expensive and dont always have to take the hard beating a park ski takes). Also I think rather long skis (190-200, or even longer) would be awesome. You would have to try to offer something that other companies dont offer in that way. Self-choosen graphics and sizes/shape would be  a great start.
Jun 25 2013 12:04AM
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snakerton
Posts: 2434 - Karma: 1,977
stupendous-man- there will probably be a few graphics to choose from

ninetyfour - soon to come
Jun 25 2013 12:05AM
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Stose
Posts: 7109 - Karma: 4,123
I'll be honest, and I don't mean any disrespect or anything, I just wouldn't buy a pair of homemade skis. I would buy from a bigger brand just because I know exactly what I'm getting. Again, just trying to give my honest opinion to help
Jun 25 2013 12:19AM
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dompuch
Posts: 1451 - Karma: 1,192
Seems like the price is cheap, I live in crested butte Colorado and a lot of locals make skis and they sell for 600-700+ dollars, depending on your quality id say go for it!
Jun 25 2013 1:29AM
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Cleapster
Posts: 622 - Karma: 1,402
For sure if it is onl 200 - 300 dollarsa
Jun 25 2013 1:37AM
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Fun_dip
Posts: 2623 - Karma: 913
For that price yes, assuming you were using legit materials and knew what you were doing, however I bet you would quickly change your mind about the pricing as it just doesn't seem reasonable.
Jun 25 2013 1:56AM
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nagger
Posts: 1576 - Karma: 883
that's wack as fuck. I would have an overwhelming urge to tell those people to eat a dick and learn to ski
Jun 25 2013 1:32PM
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The_Polock
Posts: 345 - Karma: 1,280
Go for it Lloyd!.  I think that 200 to 300 is completely reasonable for Hand made ski's.  If they perform really well you could even get more.  I would go for a rocker/camber/rocker style and offer various lengths and width.  If you build the ski right it could work for both park and powder(Vapos work well in both).  Dont listen to any of the butt hurt teenagers  that reply to the thread.
Jun 25 2013 4:50PM
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jared_mocha
Posts: 85 - Karma: 30
that sounds crazy cheap ,, aren't skis really expensive to make? Hence them usually being like $300+ starting at really shitty skis?

I wonder if you could test them too, you're just a guy with a hobby so there's not much street cred here. 
Jun 25 2013 5:05PM
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KyleA
Posts: 865 - Karma: 510
Materials cost to only make a few pairs of skis a year would be more than $300 per pair. 
Jun 25 2013 5:08PM
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Good_Deed
Posts: 1260 - Karma: 1,321
ah no.
Jun 25 2013 5:36PM
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NinetyFour
Posts: 8650 - Karma: 13,411
Uhh, yeah. Trust me, Kyle knows very well what he's talking about.
Jun 25 2013 7:02PM
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RudyGarmisch
Posts: 25443 - Karma: 13,844
I agree with you and Kyle. Also, be careful what you name your models.
Jun 25 2013 8:36PM
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El_Barto.
Posts: 11661 - Karma: 24,340
Great Scott FTW
Jun 25 2013 8:44PM
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corona
Posts: 12804 - Karma: 32,822
name your skis collectively "a line of skis on the forefront of nordic, ah, no, alpine technology that'll give you the liberty of skiing a blizzard without loosing your head for a moment. fit for an armada of Scots storming a castle."
Jun 25 2013 8:52PM
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snakerton
Posts: 2434 - Karma: 1,977
I'm thinking Shuksan Skis...
Jun 26 2013 10:07PM
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Randy_Quench
Posts: 5447 - Karma: 4,343
have you really had issues with lawsuits over model names in the past?
Jun 26 2013 10:12PM
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corona
Posts: 12804 - Karma: 32,822
ON3P had a lawsuit or similar from Scott for naming a type of skis Great Scotts, named after an employee (founder?).
Jun 26 2013 10:37PM
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Randy_Quench
Posts: 5447 - Karma: 4,343
welp I just lost a whole lotta respect for scott. never heard about that.
Jun 26 2013 10:41PM
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snowfinder
Posts: 2885 - Karma: 34,217
Do you have any pics of the skis you have already made?
Jun 26 2013 10:43PM
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NinetyFour
Posts: 8650 - Karma: 13,411
Ha, please be talking about Scott Skis, and not Scott Andrus. This is confusing. I'm just going to leave now.

Click for larger image
Jun 26 2013 10:54PM
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Randy_Quench
Posts: 5447 - Karma: 4,343
yes scott skis haha
Jun 27 2013 11:48AM
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Pipe_Munky
Posts: 10888 - Karma: 2,184
this is it right here
Jun 27 2013 1:09PM
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ShredMasterPlus
Posts: 1159 - Karma: 807
I'd buy a pair for 200bucks for sure, How stiff are you planning to make them. I want some 2 bi 4's.
Jun 27 2013 1:49PM
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fortyvalve
Posts: 1442 - Karma: 1,573
PM me if you're considering custom topsheet graphics, i'll send you some previous designs.
Jun 27 2013 1:59PM
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RudyGarmisch
Posts: 25443 - Karma: 13,844
It was something that their corporate European offices did, the North American's didnt know about it. Its all in the past and the ski got renamed.
Jun 27 2013 2:08PM
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TheClap.
Posts: 21671 - Karma: 4,158
lol who remember 333 skis
Jun 27 2013 2:14PM
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theblackrod
Posts: 2162 - Karma: 575
is 333 the one you can go to the class and make your own pair, pick your own dimensions and everything?
Jun 27 2013 2:59PM
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hot.pocket
Posts: 4231 - Karma: 10,670
After start up costs, and if you buy materials in bulk and not just enough to make 1 pair, then the materials cost about $150 for one pair of skis.
Jun 27 2013 5:41PM
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snakerton
Posts: 2434 - Karma: 1,977
Or less
Jun 27 2013 5:50PM
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KyleA
Posts: 865 - Karma: 510
lolz. 
Jun 27 2013 6:35PM
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KyleA
Posts: 865 - Karma: 510
double lolz.
Jun 27 2013 6:36PM
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