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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

12 years ago
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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
12 years ago
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stupendous-man
Posts: 8637 - Karma: 13,297
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
12 years ago
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a_burger
Posts: 5252 - Karma: 21,016
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)


12 years ago
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corona
Posts: 12845 - Karma: 33,283
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.
12 years ago
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broto
Posts: 9040 - Karma: 25,671
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.
12 years ago
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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
12 years ago
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YoungJ
Posts: 447 - Karma: 883
Same. The Durability would be the decision maker

12 years ago
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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


12 years ago
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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?

 
12 years ago
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corona
Posts: 12845 - Karma: 33,283
why would you worry about being sued? so long as you don't call your skis "Great Scotts"
12 years ago
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roddy116
Posts: 10654 - Karma: 7,732
if they lasted and had a decent topsheet
12 years ago
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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.
12 years ago
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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?

12 years ago
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Toaster-Tony
Posts: 3531 - Karma: 5,850
I'm guessing warranty would void if the ski touched the park?
12 years ago
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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.
12 years ago
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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
12 years ago
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stupendous-man
Posts: 8637 - Karma: 13,297
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
12 years ago
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NinetyFour
Posts: 8650 - Karma: 13,410
Any product pictures?
12 years ago
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HolySchimmel
Posts: 1601 - Karma: 1,295
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.
12 years ago
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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
12 years ago
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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
12 years ago
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dompuch
Posts: 1456 - Karma: 1,209
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!
12 years ago
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Cleapster
Posts: 622 - Karma: 1,402
For sure if it is onl 200 - 300 dollarsa
12 years ago
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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.
12 years ago
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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
12 years ago
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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.
12 years ago
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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. 
12 years ago
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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. 
12 years ago
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Good_Deed
Posts: 1260 - Karma: 1,321
ah no.
12 years ago
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NinetyFour
Posts: 8650 - Karma: 13,410
Uhh, yeah. Trust me, Kyle knows very well what he's talking about.
12 years ago
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RudyGarmisch
Posts: 25444 - Karma: 13,855
I agree with you and Kyle. Also, be careful what you name your models.
12 years ago
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El_Barto.
Posts: 11661 - Karma: 24,358
Great Scott FTW
12 years ago
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corona
Posts: 12845 - Karma: 33,283
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."
12 years ago
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snakerton
Posts: 2434 - Karma: 1,977
I'm thinking Shuksan Skis...
12 years ago
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Randy_Quench
Posts: 5447 - Karma: 4,348
have you really had issues with lawsuits over model names in the past?
12 years ago
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corona
Posts: 12845 - Karma: 33,283
ON3P had a lawsuit or similar from Scott for naming a type of skis Great Scotts, named after an employee (founder?).
12 years ago
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Randy_Quench
Posts: 5447 - Karma: 4,348
welp I just lost a whole lotta respect for scott. never heard about that.
12 years ago
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snowfinder
Posts: 2935 - Karma: 34,863
Do you have any pics of the skis you have already made?
12 years ago
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NinetyFour
Posts: 8650 - Karma: 13,410
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
12 years ago
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Randy_Quench
Posts: 5447 - Karma: 4,348
yes scott skis haha
12 years ago
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Pipe_Munky
Posts: 10888 - Karma: 2,185
this is it right here
12 years ago
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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.
12 years ago
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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.
12 years ago
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RudyGarmisch
Posts: 25444 - Karma: 13,855
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.
12 years ago
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TheClap.
Posts: 21684 - Karma: 4,240
lol who remember 333 skis
12 years ago
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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?
12 years ago
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hot.pocket
Posts: 4237 - Karma: 10,745
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.
12 years ago
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snakerton
Posts: 2434 - Karma: 1,977
Or less
12 years ago
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KyleA
Posts: 865 - Karma: 510
lolz. 
12 years ago
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KyleA
Posts: 865 - Karma: 510
double lolz.
12 years ago
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