billski
Active member
I've always felt uncomfortable buying equipment from a ski shop. Why? Mostly because it feels like they are just trying to sell "what's on the truck" rather than to meet my needs. It gets worse, later in the season once they start having sales.
Once I have described my skiing intent, almost all of them are quick to grab one pair and say "these are perfect for you." They tend to be high priced. Classic selling technique. It's only when I push that s/he pulls out any other comparable models. Sometimes they are not comparable. Again, back to "sell what's on the truck."
I also just can't be sure they have the breadth of inventory to meet everyone's needs.
It all comes down to the competency of the salesperson and developing a relationship with them.. And it's still really hard for me to tell, even after all these years, since I don't go in anymore.
It's easy to say "go research it on the web" and buy it from the web. I'd much rather "buy local".
I also hate brick and mortar store shopping. I like buying local, but I don't want to spend 100 gallons of gasoline to go from store to store and figuring out for myself who has the best ski for me. I know, that's the way it is, like buying a pair of shoes, but with the myriad of skis for sales, it's a complex combination of variables that meet to make the ski for me.
There ARE excellent sales people, knowledgeable and helpful, but they are hard to find.
What do you think?
Once I have described my skiing intent, almost all of them are quick to grab one pair and say "these are perfect for you." They tend to be high priced. Classic selling technique. It's only when I push that s/he pulls out any other comparable models. Sometimes they are not comparable. Again, back to "sell what's on the truck."
I also just can't be sure they have the breadth of inventory to meet everyone's needs.
It all comes down to the competency of the salesperson and developing a relationship with them.. And it's still really hard for me to tell, even after all these years, since I don't go in anymore.
It's easy to say "go research it on the web" and buy it from the web. I'd much rather "buy local".
I also hate brick and mortar store shopping. I like buying local, but I don't want to spend 100 gallons of gasoline to go from store to store and figuring out for myself who has the best ski for me. I know, that's the way it is, like buying a pair of shoes, but with the myriad of skis for sales, it's a complex combination of variables that meet to make the ski for me.
There ARE excellent sales people, knowledgeable and helpful, but they are hard to find.
What do you think?