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New Lifts at Jay for 2011 - 2012 Season

JPTracker

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From Jay's Facebook page and their blog.

Curious - how many folks out there are interested in the creation of a lift ticket product that would allow you to purchase in advance, at a discount, then go directly to a lift? We're looking at the integration of RFID technology as a precursor to putting in a new lift for the 2011-2012 season and we're interested in feedback. Let us know your thoughts.

Good news - New lifts are only one season away.

Bad news? - RFID Lift Tickets. Anybody use these? Does anyone else in the east use these?
 

riverc0il

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Park City Had RFID for tickets and fast passes years ago. I liked it. Better than a liftie looking for your ticket to scan!
Exactly. As long as it is an automated gate, this could increase efficiency and ensure max capacity while creating a good service for skiers and preventing freeloaders from using the facilities without paying. I see nothing bad about RFID so long as the gates are automated and there are no scanners.
 

speden

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We used electronic tickets at Copper. They were nice because they basically let you cut the line and get right on the lift. The only downside was periodically someone would get in the electronic lane and not know how to use it, so you'd get stuck behind them. You had to put the ticket on the side of your body that has the scanner, otherwise it wouldn't always register.
 

thetrailboss

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OK. So replace those and West Bowl in the future. Makes sense considering that Jet and Bonny are getting up there in age.
 

TheBEast

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Interesting idea. I'd be game for that. Sounds good. Echo what others have said about the stupid scanners. What a pain!
 

Puck it

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I like the RFID tix. I does make the queue better as long as people once they are through fill the seats.
 

thetrailboss

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Update:

As seen in Jay Peak Magazine, that I just picked up, RFID technology is coming to Jay this season. The magazine is also very interesting. Lots of change up there.
 

JPTracker

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Update:

As seen in Jay Peak Magazine, that I just picked up, RFID technology is coming to Jay this season. The magazine is also very interesting. Lots of change up there.

When I was up there last weekend they had the footings with conduits in place at each of the lifts for the scanners. So they will definitely be there this season.
 

thetrailboss

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I read some more and they are going to sell folks a $5 "J-Card" that will be able to be recharged and used for multiple venues (ice arena, water park, lifts).

They are also introducing a $99 card which gets you $50 lift tickets the rest of the season and one free ticket.
 

riverc0il

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They are also introducing a $99 card which gets you $50 lift tickets the rest of the season and one free ticket.
Sounds like they are just revamping the Passport program but increasing the price substantially (I think it was $25 before?). It used to break down to around $45 per ticket if you skied just six times. This new offering would actually cost you $66.50 per ticket for six uses due to the $99 cost of the card. At ten uses, you are still only down to $54.90 per ticket. This is not much of a deal if they have increased the cost of the card to $99...
 

umby

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Used the RFID tickets at Steven's Pass out in Washington... They were pretty sweet. No annoying ticket or pass to get snagged on trees or lifts as you could keep them in an exterior pocket.They were rechargeable so you didn't have a stack of lift tickets on your coat.
 

thetrailboss

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Sounds like they are just revamping the Passport program but increasing the price substantially (I think it was $25 before?). It used to break down to around $45 per ticket if you skied just six times. This new offering would actually cost you $66.50 per ticket for six uses due to the $99 cost of the card. At ten uses, you are still only down to $54.90 per ticket. This is not much of a deal if they have increased the cost of the card to $99...

How are you getting these numbers?

6 uses = 1 free ticket (well, after paying $99) + 5 days @ $45 = $324 total. Divide $324 by six days and I get a cost of $54 per day.

10 uses = 1 free ticket (well, after paying $99) + 9 days @ $45 = $504 total. Divide $504 by ten days and I get a cost of $50.40 per day.
 

riverc0il

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How are you getting these numbers?

6 uses = 1 free ticket (well, after paying $99) + 5 days @ $45 = $324 total. Divide $324 by six days and I get a cost of $54 per day.

10 uses = 1 free ticket (well, after paying $99) + 9 days @ $45 = $504 total. Divide $504 by ten days and I get a cost of $50.40 per day.
I must have done the math wrong for the six tickets but my 10 tickets is right. TYur math is a bit off too as you typed $50 per ticket, not $45. I wrote that $45 was about the average ticket price of the old passport. Assuming $99 for the card and $50 per ticket with one free ticket....

6 days = $250 (5x50) + $99 + Free Ticket / 6 = $58.17

10 days = $450 (9x50) + $99 + Free Ticket / 10 = $54.90

After ten or eleven days or so, you are better off just getting a season pass at the early rate. So the lowest per day rate with this new program is significantly higher than the former passport program.
 

thetrailboss

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6 days = $250 (5x50) + $99 + Free Ticket / 6 = $58.17

10 days = $450 (9x50) + $99 + Free Ticket / 10 = $54.90

That looks right. I did accidentally drop in the $45 figure....either way they were pretty close.

After ten or eleven days or so, you are better off just getting a season pass at the early rate. So the lowest per day rate with this new program is significantly higher than the former passport program.

You know it is really interesting how resorts are really segmenting the market into 1-3 day a season skiers, like 3-9 day a season skiers, and the 10+ crowd and pitching different products to each class to get them in increase their volume.

At Jay, the people who ski at Jay one or two days will get spur of the moment deals that they run every now and then.

For the once in a while folks they are pitching the $99 card.

And for the folks who right now are on the edge when it comes to justifying a pass, Jay is trying to push them to go for the pass.

As you said, I would not do this program if I was going to ski more than a few days there. Thus, what is left? Buying a season pass. This locks me and my wife into come more than ten days or so a season and buying food, beer, etc. Looks like they really want more 10+ day a season skiers and really don't want the folks who come a handful of days. And it looks like those that do 15 or so days they want to push them to do more like 20 by making them feel guilty for buying a pass and making them use it.
 

Hawkshot99

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And it looks like those that do 15 or so days they want to push them to do more like 20 by making them feel guilty for buying a pass and making them use it.

Once I got a season pass it greatly increased my skiing. no longer did I have to go on great days and be there long enough to justify all the money that the single day ticket cost me. I could now go and ski for a fe hours, or on a less than desirable day. On days when I am bored at home, I can just go skiing for a bit, without going broke.
 

thetrailboss

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Once I got a season pass it greatly increased my skiing. no longer did I have to go on great days and be there long enough to justify all the money that the single day ticket cost me. I could now go and ski for a fe hours, or on a less than desirable day. On days when I am bored at home, I can just go skiing for a bit, without going broke.

So let me ask you this, do you think that the pass prices and products pushed you into skiing more? And do you think you spend more money at the mountain than you did skiing just on day tickets? For instance, do you now spend more time in the bar or the restaurants/shops because it is not so much about skiing as much as you can on your day ticket?
 
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