Where do you usually get your gear?

[highpeaksdrifter]

Local Ski Shop
On-line ski shop
ebay, craig's list, etc.
guy at your local mountain who always has a deal
pro form
fall ski shows
other

Also, please tell us why.

 

[deadheadskier]

these days?

hard goods, online....always nowadays. why? price

soft goods....regular ski shop. why? I either forgot some gear and need new stuff for that day on the slopes or still find a decent enough deal. I would never buy a jacket or pants online without having the benefit of trying them on first.

If I could afford to, I'd probably support the local shops more with hard goods, but in general I cannot. If I ran across a pair of brand 'new' old equipment in the wrapper for 25-30% of the cost that they were when they were 'new', new...I'd buy them, but you rarely find those deals.

This past year I've purchased

Rossi B2's with Rossi Axial bindings from Backcountry.com for $300 delivered
Rossi Bx's from some online denver ski shop for $200 delivered...mounted old bindings I have for $25
Marker Helmet from Jack Frost ski shop in Jackson, NH ....$140
Dalbello Krypton Pros $375 (today )from back country, though I did check a pair of Rampages for fit at a local ski shop last week.

I do need new pants and gloves and under armor for the upcoming season. I'll probably pick those up at the ski shop I tried the Rampages at to kick them some business for their time if I can find a good deal.

 

[Moe Ghoul]

Local ski shop for 90% of my gear, the rest at mountain shops, usually something on sale or replacing broken stuff, like poles or goggles. I like to support the local biz and the mountain shops. Never bought any ski stuff on line yet, although I've seen some decent deals posted.

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

Online for skis and goggles...retail brick and mortar store for boots, softgear..

 

[riverc0il]

Big purchases ($100+) I purchase pretty much exclusively online for the price. I have used a variety of sources including discounters, close out shops, ebay, etc. Backcountry.com is my favorite for new gear. Though I have purchased the occasional pair of skis at a tent sale for last year's model on the cheap. Gloves need to be purchased in person but those are less than a hundred and preferably picked up at summer tent sale.

So if fit is an issue, I buy in person which is generally most clothing items that I am not familiar with the brand and the brand's fit. "Gear" is almost always purchased online due to price unless it is last season's stuff at a tent sale. Very price conscious here. If local shops offered more than just a product, that would encourage me to buy local but most local shops don't stock quality goods and I am more knowledgable about the product than most of the kids hired. Ski shops could really stand to re-earn people's business by offering one free ski tune a year for the life of the ski or some value added service like that. Otherwise, free shipping and lowest price wins every damn time.

 

[deadheadskier]

If local shops offered more than just a product, that would encourage me to buy local but most local shops don't stock quality goods and I am more knowledgable about the product than most of the kids hired.

Very good point. The woman who helped me try on the Dalbello Rampages last week knew basically nothing about the boots and I was trying to have her talk to me more about the Krypton and she new less than what I could figure out online about the Kryptons. If the Kryptons fit right, it will have served my purpose in going in there and I'll probably go back to give them some money buying gloves or pants.

Not saying shops don't exist with gear heads working there that have fantastic knowledge, but those shops seem to exist less and less as time marches on.

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

Very good point. The woman who helped me try on the Dalbello Rampages last week knew basically nothing about the boots and I was trying to have her talk to me more about the Krypton and she new less than what I could figure out online about the Kryptons. If the Kryptons fit right, it will have served my purpose in going in there and I'll probably go back to give them some money buying gloves or pants.

Not saying shops don't exist with gear heads working there that have fantastic knowledge, but those shops seem to exist less and less as time marches on.

Not shops in ski towns. You can't fake your way through in those. Too much local talent that will eat up the uninformed.

The shop you describe sounds like a Ski Market.

 

[Trekchick]

I actually have a couple Ski Shops that I deal with locally, but my on line purchases are mostly made with SkierShop or Sierra Snowboard, Whiteroom and Sierra Jim are tops to deal with and I like to support them, as B&M shops as well as On line resources.

 

[deadheadskier]

Not shops in ski towns. You can't fake your way through in those. Too much local talent that will eat up the uninformed.

The shop you describe sounds like a Ski Market.

This shop was, but even some of the ski shops in Stowe when I lived there were becoming a bit gentrified. Not all, but the major ones catering to tourists who had no care about money, so the owner could hire whomever for $9 an hour to half answer questions.

 

[Warp Daddy]

On line for skis and bindings
Ski shop for boots and soft goods

 

[wa-loaf]

All of the above, but mostly online these days. Took a chance and even bought my boots online last season.

 

[Johnskiismore]

Local shops where I live, the people who work at these places know their stuff! Knowing the owners and getting a discount doesn't hurt either!

 

[BeanoNYC]

Skis on Craigslist and Ebay.
I'll also try to size ski clothing in the store and find a better deal online.
Boots in store.

 

[severine]

It's a free for all! SAC, eBay, SierraSnowboard.com, and the local shops. Though the local shops only got my business for boots last season; skis were purchased on eBay and SierraSnowboard.com. I look for good deals and buy where I find them. I could have found better deals on boots online, but that's one thing that I think needs to be done in person.

 

[deadheadskier]

Took a chance and even bought my boots online last season.

Took the same chance with yesterdays Krypton purchase, though I did try on the Rampages in a store first. I'm fairly comfortable with my decision if for no other reason than backcountryoutlet offering a lifetime satisfaction guarantee. If I don't like them, I can send them back and try something else.

 

[WJenness]

All of the above, but mostly online these days. Took a chance and even bought my boots online last season.

A cautionary tale... DON'T BUY YOUR BOOTS ONLINE, YOU'LL TEAR YOUR ACL!!!
:razz:
avoiding snowboarders might help also

Kidding of course. How goes the rehab?

-w

 

[wa-loaf]

A cautionary tale... DON'T BUY YOUR BOOTS ONLINE, YOU'LL TEAR YOUR ACL!!!
:razz:
avoiding snowboarders might help also

Kidding of course. How goes the rehab?

-w

Haha . . . knees good. I'm way ahead of the PT protocol and have ditched my brace. Docs appt on Friday. I'll dig up the ACL thread and post an update.

 

[hardline]

It's a free for all! SAC, eBay, SierraSnowboard.com, and the local shops. Though the local shops only got my business for boots last season; skis were purchased on eBay and SierraSnowboard.com. I look for good deals and buy where I find them. I could have found better deals on boots online, but that's one thing that I think needs to be done in person.

SierraSnowboard.com has some great deals.
everthing i get is pretty much online. sometimes i get gloves and stuff at parragon in the city.

 

[bvibert]

Mostly online recently I guess. Steep and Cheap is evil I tell you!

 

[cbcbd]

Used to have pro forms... no more, but I already have plenty of gear and really don't NEED anymore. Ski stuff lasts a while, but bike stuff just goes when you ride hard... that I'll miss.

I'll try to live off of SAC and Chainlove since I know those are good prices, like I used to get.