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April, 2025

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Cost to get bindings mounted?

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CabbyArrant
Posts: 780 - Karma: 4,129
So my local ski shop wants $50 to mount my skis. Do most shops charge this much?
10 years ago
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Swandog7
Posts: 4957 - Karma: 9,033
I know a guy who works at my shop and he mounted for $25. The average shop tends to cost $30-$50, can depends where you live, and how big the ski population is
10 years ago
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colder152000
Posts: 589 - Karma: 1,176
if you shop locally, the shop hooks up the mount for free. if you buy online and bring skis into a shop, they can charge you whatever they want cause its a service most consumers cant do on their own. mine charges 50 but thats cheap for the area. most are 60-75. moral of the story: SHOP LOCAL
10 years ago
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CabbyArrant
Posts: 780 - Karma: 4,129
frankcolderif you shop locally, the shop hooks up the mount for free. if you buy online and bring skis into a shop, they can charge you whatever they want cause its a service most consumers cant do on their own. mine charges 50 but thats cheap for the area. most are 60-75. moral of the story: SHOP LOCAL


honestly for the deal that I got on the bindings it was worth it. I got a brand new pair of jesters for $189
10 years ago
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DBack1321
Posts: 410 - Karma: 485
$30 if you buy the gear at the shop and $45 if you don't. I always get charged the $30 for some reason and I've never bought skis or bindings there. I have dropped some serious money on boots though.
10 years ago
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HenriksDreads
Posts: 332 - Karma: 327
$50 is pretty fair. my "local" (see: big box) ski shop does it free if you buy skis and bindings there, 50% off if you buy one of the two there, and $80 + tax if you buy neither from them. i refuse to buy gear from them because their prices are on often anywhere from $50-100 above retail, yet marked as "sale price." For example, they're selling last years line masterminds at the sale price of $350, with the MSRP marked as like $500. Mind you they retailed at $350. and they're last years skis. fuck them. i will never support them.

so to sum up, $50 is pretty reasonable. if you don't wanna shell that much out, either find a different shop to do it cheaper, which will be hard to do, or mount them yourself, which isn't hard if you know how to use a drill.
10 years ago
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404404
Posts: 11358 - Karma: 21,035
$50 isn't, "fair".

This really pissed me off about shops. Cool I get it your a local shop I want to support you but $50 for 10 min of work?
10 years ago
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ThaLorax
Posts: 21104 - Karma: 8,584
All it cost is a nice 6 pack and/or some weed if you know them, or a $15-20 tip. If you don't, it's going to be $40-50.
10 years ago
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HenriksDreads
Posts: 332 - Karma: 327
ParryWithAnA$50 isn't, "fair".

This really pissed me off about shops. Cool I get it your a local shop I want to support you but $50 for 10 min of work?


i agree but at the same time i think part of it is the liability that if they fuck up and you rip a binding out, they should replace it
10 years ago
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404404
Posts: 11358 - Karma: 21,035
nick_ai agree but at the same time i think part of it is the liability that if they fuck up and you rip a binding out, they should replace it


That's not what the cost is based off. They know they can charge people $50+ so they do.

No one took data from the last 20 years and came up with a formal that included the cost of the equipment, man hours, historical costs of messing up skis, ect...
10 years ago
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Shoey-Ski
Posts: 1649 - Karma: 6,199
I payed 80 last year and they f'd up the mount, this year I went to a different shop bought boots and the mount was still 60 bucks at least it was done right
10 years ago
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colder152000
Posts: 589 - Karma: 1,176
In order to properly set bindings you need to test them. the machines from wintersteiger and their service cost roughly $40,000. lets see you pay that off on 20 dollar mounts. unfortunately shops arent out there as a charity service and they need to cover overhead, pay for labor, as well cover the cost of the machine.
10 years ago
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ThaLorax
Posts: 21104 - Karma: 8,584
frankcolderIn order to properly set bindings you need to test them. the machines from wintersteiger and their service cost roughly $40,000. lets see you pay that off on 20 dollar mounts. unfortunately shops arent out there as a charity service and they need to cover overhead, pay for labor, as well cover the cost of the machine.


Except nobody uses those machines.
10 years ago
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Swandog7
Posts: 4957 - Karma: 9,033
Used to know a guy who was manager? at a shop and mounted this kid's skis at the hill free of charge, took maybe 10 mins, 15 mins tops. He had marker jig in his car haha. He also raised my dins for me last season while at the hill because i pooped out and broke a brake. He's a real g.
10 years ago
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colder152000
Posts: 589 - Karma: 1,176
ThaLoraxExcept nobody uses those machines.



everytime i get my skis mounted i have recieved a copy of my binding release results. screw risking knee injuries, i want my shit tested
10 years ago
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tedmgee
Posts: 1502 - Karma: 111
i remember a couple years ago my shop cost 20-25. skied on the same pair for about 3 years. i went in again and the price was like 35-40. i was pissed, like seriously that much for drilling? fuuuucckkk that
i couldnt imagine 60 or 70 like the guy above was saying. i would shit in front of the shops front door
10 years ago
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Squirrel_Murphy
Posts: 2195 - Karma: 1,165
ThaLoraxExcept nobody uses those machines.


A good shop will and SHOULD use an ASTM torque test machine. I'd say $25-35 is the most fair price for a shop that does a good job. $10-20 for the mount $10-20 for the torque test. The drill bits and drill aren't that expensive, but the mounting jigs and especially the torque machines are.

People don't realize what a shop SHOULD do in order to cover their ass and to do a good job. I've worked for a shop that has been sued by a customer that tore the shit out of his knee and claimed we didn't set it up right. That binding company sent one of their lawyers out to cover our asses because they know we do a legit job. A good shop should examine everything before doing the mount, ski, binding, and especially the boot. I can't tell you how many times people come in with boots that have the heel and toe so ridiculously worn down or a boot that's so old that you know the first time they flex into it, that it's just going to explode. I could have easily turned so many people away but instead I turned those into sales, which may seem like I'm taking advantage of the customer but overall, it's the right thing to do and the safest thing to do.

Too many shops just mount, test, and give the ski back to the customer. Advising people about the age of their boots, the worn out heel and toe, and not only that but when people come in with a killer deal they got on a binding that's 7 years old and just to be able to tell them that it more than likely won't be on the indemnified list in 5 years. There's way more people that get skis mounted that aren't part of the "newschool" movement than there are that are part of it and those are the ones that need the most education with the exception of all us gear whores that need new shit all the time or literally just wear the crap out of our gear.
10 years ago
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Squirrel_Murphy
Posts: 2195 - Karma: 1,165
Or just stop being a financial pussy.
10 years ago
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HenriksDreads
Posts: 332 - Karma: 327
Swandog7Used to know a guy who was manager? at a shop and mounted this kid's skis at the hill free of charge, took maybe 10 mins, 15 mins tops. He had marker jig in his car haha. He also raised my dins for me last season while at the hill because i pooped out and broke a brake. He's a real g.


Yeah it's super easy if you have the right jig and drill bit. Also do people here not set/change their own dins?
10 years ago
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TheRancor
Posts: 51 - Karma: 78
ParryWithAnA$50 isn't, "fair".

This really pissed me off about shops. Cool I get it your a local shop I want to support you but $50 for 10 min of work?


Andy I was just charged $85.00 + tax at the Ski Company on Jefferson rd. in Rochester, NY! price gouging near your home town... if only there was a wizard super hero to police this injustice!
10 years ago
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Mingg
Posts: 14038 - Karma: 50,729
I JUST PAID $100 FOR A MOUNT AND REMOUNT AND THEY WAITED TILL I PAID TO TELL ME THAT THEY WON'T BE DONE UNTIL DECEMBER 10TH AND I'M SO FUCKING PISSED. I GOT RIPPED THE FUCK OFF.
10 years ago
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skebumw
Posts: 190 - Karma: 444
ThaLoraxExcept nobody uses those machines.


No actually most shops test.
10 years ago
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corona
Posts: 12845 - Karma: 33,290
MinggI JUST PAID $100 FOR A MOUNT AND REMOUNT AND THEY WAITED TILL I PAID TO TELL ME THAT THEY WON'T BE DONE UNTIL DECEMBER 10TH AND I'M SO FUCKING PISSED. I GOT RIPPED THE FUCK OFF.


that's not cool. Try and talk to the manager/owner/whoever and explain that if you're paying that much for a mount you expect it to at least be done in reasonable time and you wouldn't have paid that much knowing how long it would take. You may get it a couple weeks earlier.
10 years ago
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HenriksDreads
Posts: 332 - Karma: 327
TheRancorAndy I was just charged $85.00 + tax at the Ski Company on Jefferson rd. in Rochester, NY! price gouging near your home town... if only there was a wizard super hero to police this injustice!


Fuck ski company. And fuck snow. Seriously. The price gouging in those two stores is outrageous. It's gotten to the point where I refuse to buy anything at either. It's shitty though because there's no other options really
10 years ago
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Mingg
Posts: 14038 - Karma: 50,729
nick_aFuck ski company. And fuck snow. Seriously. The price gouging in those two stores is outrageous. It's gotten to the point where I refuse to buy anything at either. It's shitty though because there's no other options really


Oh god....Snow sure is something else. The one in Buffalo can't be any better than Rochester.
10 years ago
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gr4
Posts: 1499 - Karma: 945
mount your own! it is really easy.
10 years ago
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saskskier
Posts: 4774 - Karma: 10,005
frankcolderif you shop locally, the shop hooks up the mount for free. if you buy online and bring skis into a shop, they can charge you whatever they want cause its a service most consumers cant do on their own. mine charges 50 but thats cheap for the area. most are 60-75. moral of the story: SHOP LOCAL


If I buy locally, I pay $3-400 for bindings. If I buy online, I pay half that. Even if I get ripped off and pay $80 to mount, I'm still ahead.

I want to buy local and support local shops, but (with the exception of my boots this year), I've never found a local shop that has anywhere close to the same deals on gear I've found online.
10 years ago
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eheath
Posts: 61941 - Karma: 126,560
A normal mount is anywhere from 30-50 based on the area. For example, you can get a mount in slc for 30 but in PC its hard to find under 45. If a shop is too expensive, try another. If it's the only shop in 100 miles then sorry boss.
10 years ago
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TheRancor
Posts: 51 - Karma: 78
nick_aFuck ski company. And fuck snow. Seriously. The price gouging in those two stores is outrageous. It's gotten to the point where I refuse to buy anything at either. It's shitty though because there's no other options really


I dont even live out here, I go to school. I need my new Js mounted up before I went back to Albany this weekend and had no other choice. Definitely the worst prices ive seen since head shops in downtown denver
10 years ago
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404404
Posts: 11358 - Karma: 21,035
The testing element someone was talking about also comes as a hand tool. It maybe costs $80.

A few years ago the tight asses at The Ski Company screwed me over with pizzas at the Toggenburg TAFT. Thanks Togg for being heros and covering the pizzas.

Buy local? Not if they are ass holes.

Other wise click here! And PM me for a 11% discount code!

http://theskimonster.com/
10 years ago
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littleman34
Posts: 1404 - Karma: 4,252
DIY. siriously, I did
10 years ago
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HenriksDreads
Posts: 332 - Karma: 327
ParryWithAnAThe testing element someone was talking about also comes as a hand tool. It maybe costs $80.

A few years ago the tight asses at The Ski Company screwed me over with pizzas at the Toggenburg TAFT. Thanks Togg for being heros and covering the pizzas.

Buy local? Not if they are ass holes.

Other wise click here! And PM me for a 11% discount code!

http://theskimonster.com/


Ski company is the exception to the rule when it comes to buying local. I'll never support them
10 years ago
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SFBv420.0
Posts: 2539 - Karma: 3,126
ParryWithAnAThe testing element someone was talking about also comes as a hand tool. It maybe costs $80.

A few years ago the tight asses at The Ski Company screwed me over with pizzas at the Toggenburg TAFT. Thanks Togg for being heros and covering the pizzas.

Buy local? Not if they are ass holes.

Other wise click here! And PM me for a 11% discount code!

http://theskimonster.com/


you can't even get a vermont calibration device calibrated for $80
try 5 grand for a hand held ski system
but strong work lookin professionally stupid
thank a lawyer for your overpriced mounts
and find a skibum w/ jigs or a caliper who can and would do it for a greenery nuggages or adult beverages.
or dyi it aint rocket science
10 years ago
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bdarb207
Posts: 3057 - Karma: 443
Anything more than 35 is a ripoff imo, including if you have the machine. You need to do some networking. I haven't paid the last five times I mounted my skis. I'll usually buy the shop guys a decent bottle of scotch in the beginning of the season. After that, they'll mount/fix/ptex.. whatever my skis on the spot when I walk in.

Also, if you buy a pair of skis or bindings at a shop and they try to charge you to mount them after, I would promptly tell them to screw themselves. If that isn't a service they include, that's probably not someone you want to do business with/they're hosing you. And to whoever paid 100 AND had to leave them there... I would have flipped. 100 dollars, the LEAST they could do is mount them on the spot for you.
10 years ago
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.lencon
Posts: 6753 - Karma: 17,197
nick_ai agree but at the same time i think part of it is the liability that if they fuck up and you rip a binding out, they should replace it


ParryWithAnAThat's not what the cost is based off. They know they can charge people $50+ so they do.


Andy is exactly right. $50 doesn't cover liability, that why you usually sign something along the lines of "if we mess up that sucks to be you"

On another note my shop is decently reasonable. About $40 for a mount, and go down from there if you bought something from them. I think I've paid for $20 total in mounts at my shop just from knowing the people
10 years ago
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corona
Posts: 12845 - Karma: 33,290
frankcolderIn order to properly set bindings you need to test them. the machines from wintersteiger and their service cost roughly $40,000. lets see you pay that off on 20 dollar mounts. unfortunately shops arent out there as a charity service and they need to cover overhead, pay for labor, as well cover the cost of the machine.


I don't believe 40 grand for a second. It's a machine that measures torque. Essentially a really fancy torque wrench. It's really not that complicated at all. 5-10 grand for a really fancy machine I could see. Never 40 grand.

In the 40 grand range you can buy a really fancy top of the line CNC milling machine or like a 2 kW CNC laser cutter.
10 years ago
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KravtZ
Posts: 6637 - Karma: 2,629
i've cross shopped bindings around my area. Usually get the price down a little bit. One store is very fair in their pricing. Usually if you buy the bidings at the store they only charge $20 bucks to mount or with skis for free. Very reasonable.

Usually buying bindings online then getting them mounted in the store cuts out all forms of discount you think you get buying online.
10 years ago
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corona
Posts: 12845 - Karma: 33,290
SFBv420.0try 5 grand for a hand held ski system


this is actually ridiculous.

If there's a market for these things I'll get cracking on making them right away.

All it is is a torque wrench with boot fitting and some fairly straight forward math to figure it all out.

A nice and accurate torque wrench: $150
materials for boot fitting: $50
labour for manufacturing: $400
figuring out math: $150
design costs: $100

I'll sell you the first for $850. $600 for every one after.

Dunno how much a torque sensor costs, but for $300 extra plus sensor costs I'll have something you can plug into your computer for the readout.

All you need is to be able to clamp your ski really well and know what the release values are for your specific binding.
10 years ago
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Squirrel_Murphy
Posts: 2195 - Karma: 1,165
VinnieFthis is actually ridiculous.

If there's a market for these things I'll get cracking on making them right away.

All it is is a torque wrench with boot fitting and some fairly straight forward math to figure it all out.

A nice and accurate torque wrench: $150
materials for boot fitting: $50
labour for manufacturing: $400
figuring out math: $150
design costs: $100

I'll sell you the first for $850. $600 for every one after.

Dunno how much a torque sensor costs, but for $300 extra plus sensor costs I'll have something you can plug into your computer for the readout.

All you need is to be able to clamp your ski really well and know what the release values are for your specific binding.



A vermont ski calibrator is the least expensive and ASTM certified way to go. They're only as accurate as the person operating it though since it relies on a person literally grabbing a handle and pulling in the correct motion. Your ass wouldn't be covered in a lawsuit if you go outside of the ASTM rules whether your method is accurate or not. Shops buy the machines that are 20k+ because they're thee absolute most accurate and very time efficient. And when you're doing 5-10 a day and say charging $20 each in a short 4 month winter. 5 a day x 7 days a week x 30 days in a month x a short winter of 4 months. That's $84,000 in ONE SEASON let alone places that do higher volume and have longer seasons than 4 months. I'd take that with little to no chance of getting sued then cheap out thinking you'll save a buck. And those machines last a very very long time, Wintersteiger, German Engineered baby.
10 years ago
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bdarb207
Posts: 3057 - Karma: 443
VinnieFthis is actually ridiculous.

If there's a market for these things I'll get cracking on making them right away.

All it is is a torque wrench with boot fitting and some fairly straight forward math to figure it all out.

A nice and accurate torque wrench: $150
materials for boot fitting: $50
labour for manufacturing: $400
figuring out math: $150
design costs: $100

I'll sell you the first for $850. $600 for every one after.

Dunno how much a torque sensor costs, but for $300 extra plus sensor costs I'll have something you can plug into your computer for the readout.

All you need is to be able to clamp your ski really well and know what the release values are for your specific binding.


you don't know what you're talking about. http://www.vermontskisafety.com/files/PRICE14b.pdf

The machine we have here at Sunday river must have cost at least 30-40K. It's completely automated. If you can do better, good luck, there's your million dollar idea. Get cracking.
10 years ago
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FridgeBangers
Posts: 138 - Karma: 1,042
$50 seams about right, maybe its just me.
10 years ago
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DBack1321
Posts: 410 - Karma: 485
MinggI JUST PAID $100 FOR A MOUNT AND REMOUNT AND THEY WAITED TILL I PAID TO TELL ME THAT THEY WON'T BE DONE UNTIL DECEMBER 10TH AND I'M SO FUCKING PISSED. I GOT RIPPED THE FUCK OFF.


Sweet lord baby Jesus. Three weeks to mount bindings? They are ether extremely shitty or extremely busy. Im going with the first. I've literally sat at my shop as they mounted bindings. It took like 15 minutes each time and they can get slammed.
10 years ago
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corona
Posts: 12845 - Karma: 33,290
bdarb207you don't know what you're talking about. http://www.vermontskisafety.com/files/PRICE14b.pdf

The machine we have here at Sunday river must have cost at least 30-40K. It's completely automated. If you can do better, good luck, there's your million dollar idea. Get cracking.


What do you mean? I've looked at the thing and that's the price breakdown for what I think it would cost me to build an equivalent machine (minus the ski clamp) that would be just as accurate and reliable (minus it being certified). Maybe the certification costs 5 grand a year and they only sell a few each year so that's why the costs are so high, but I don't think that's the case. Probably 5 grand 1 time fee.

They just inflate prices significantly because they can. I mean that 'special' hammer for tapping on the boot they're selling for 100 bucks. A rubber mallet does not cost 100 bucks.

A torque screwdriver for 385!!!! HAHAHAHAA.. . oh man. Is this company a joke? half that can get you a good one.

Their prices are completely over the top for what you're getting. I guess it's just such a niche market


And I don't care how fancy and automated your machine is or what its country of origin is, 40k is absolutely way way way too much for such a simple device. Like I said, a kickass CNC milling machine can cost you 40k. Go play with one of those machines for a bit then tell me your fancy automated torque wrench should cost the same.
10 years ago
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bdarb207
Posts: 3057 - Karma: 443
VinnieFWhat do you mean? I've looked at the thing and that's the price breakdown for what I think it would cost me to build an equivalent machine (minus the ski clamp) that would be just as accurate and reliable (minus it being certified). Maybe the certification costs 5 grand a year and they only sell a few each year so that's why the costs are so high, but I don't think that's the case. Probably 5 grand 1 time fee.

They just inflate prices significantly because they can. I mean that 'special' hammer for tapping on the boot they're selling for 100 bucks. A rubber mallet does not cost 100 bucks.

A torque screwdriver for 385!!!! HAHAHAHAA.. . oh man. Is this company a joke? half that can get you a good one.

Their prices are completely over the top for what you're getting. I guess it's just such a niche market


And I don't care how fancy and automated your machine is or what its country of origin is, 40k is absolutely way way way too much for such a simple device. Like I said, a kickass CNC milling machine can cost you 40k. Go play with one of those machines for a bit then tell me your fancy automated torque wrench should cost the same.


I'm not saying it should, I'm saying it does. If someone could do it cheaper than the VT company, I'm inclined to think it would have happened by now. If you could undercut them by 4000 dollars, I can't see how they'd stay in business. If you can do this, it seems silly for you not to.
10 years ago
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corona
Posts: 12845 - Karma: 33,290
bdarb207I'm not saying it should, I'm saying it does. If someone could do it cheaper than the VT company, I'm inclined to think it would have happened by now. If you could undercut them by 4000 dollars, I can't see how they'd stay in business. If you can do this, it seems silly for you not to.


It could easily be done cheaper. But it's probably such a small market with such low sales that it's just not worth the time and effort to find buyers. So if you're even making 2 grand per sale but only get a few sales a year it's not really worth the certification costs and marketing effort.

but it doesn't mean their prices aren't over the top for what you're actually getting.
10 years ago
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TACO-DOG.exe
Posts: 11990 - Karma: 12,272
Swandog7He also raised my dins for me last season while at the hill because i pooped out and broke a brake.


Must have been a wicked large poop.
10 years ago
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Swandog7
Posts: 4957 - Karma: 9,033
DACO-TOGMust have been a wicked large poop.


Yah. Shat myself sliding a rail. It left a stain but it made the rail slide faster than before.
10 years ago
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Squirrel_Murphy
Posts: 2195 - Karma: 1,165
VinnieFWhat do you mean? I've looked at the thing and that's the price breakdown for what I think it would cost me to build an equivalent machine (minus the ski clamp) that would be just as accurate and reliable (minus it being certified). Maybe the certification costs 5 grand a year and they only sell a few each year so that's why the costs are so high, but I don't think that's the case. Probably 5 grand 1 time fee.

They just inflate prices significantly because they can. I mean that 'special' hammer for tapping on the boot they're selling for 100 bucks. A rubber mallet does not cost 100 bucks.

A torque screwdriver for 385!!!! HAHAHAHAA.. . oh man. Is this company a joke? half that can get you a good one.

Their prices are completely over the top for what you're getting. I guess it's just such a niche market


And I don't care how fancy and automated your machine is or what its country of origin is, 40k is absolutely way way way too much for such a simple device. Like I said, a kickass CNC milling machine can cost you 40k. Go play with one of those machines for a bit then tell me your fancy automated torque wrench should cost the same.



You're a fucking moron.
10 years ago
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corona
Posts: 12845 - Karma: 33,290
Squirrel_MurphyYou're a fucking moron.


explain to me how a rubber mallet should cost 95 bucks and a torque screwdriver 385 bucks, then explain to me how I'm a moron.
10 years ago
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cobra_commander
Posts: 16909 - Karma: 4,681
$40-$70 is pretty standard if you didn't get any of your gear from them. Generally a 1/2 priced or no charge mount if you buy your gear from the shop. No one is getting rich mounting skis, I can tell you that much.

Or you could mount the skis your self, not that hard.
10 years ago
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Mingg
Posts: 14038 - Karma: 50,729
DBack1321Sweet lord baby Jesus. Three weeks to mount bindings? They are ether extremely shitty or extremely busy. Im going with the first. I've literally sat at my shop as they mounted bindings. It took like 15 minutes each time and they can get slammed.


yeah i got butt fucked
10 years ago
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