It appears Stowe has joined the RFID game

[Cannonball]

My problem with RFID is the same problem I have with conveyor loaders. It's a costly infrastructure add-on that isn't needed. And the cost is passed on to the consumer. So now if I go ski Jay it costs me more than it did before and I get nothing additional for it.

 

[Smellytele]

The less information about me on the world wide web that can be hacked the better.

Maybe they could just use that ankle bracelet you wear

 

[BenedictGomez]

While I agree with your premise, Riv, you do get something, which IMHO, is worth something for the 5 bucks..... you can reload online and then go straight to the lift, eliminating standing in line. That is cool in my book and worth something... perhaps a one time charge of about $5.

What's the longest you've ever waited in line for a lift ticket? I doubt I've ever waited more than 4 minutes, not worth $5.

I have not paid attention to the $5 fee and guess I should be more careful.

Which is part of why the cards exist.

My feelings about EZ Pass are much the same. Here in NJ they have an EZ Pass reader on one highway I know of that IS NOT a toll road. Privacy is gettng harder.

What road is that?

 

[jimmywilson69]

I have absolutely waited longer than 4 minutes for a lift ticket at places all over the country. 4 minutes is not that long.

I agree that the $5 is kind of BS, but you do get the ability to reload online and go straight to the lift.

EZPASS scanners on a regular road, are you sure? there are regular traffic scanners that look very similar.

 

[Glenn]

The idea works for me. I think it could smooth out the lift lines...in theory.

 

[jimmywilson69]

agreed.

I don't think anyone has a problem with the technology, as much as they do the aditional $5.

that make's Stowes Weekend ticket $97:-o:angry::???:

 

[bvibert]

I think RFID is a solid idea. The $5 fee is an annoyance, particularly if you day trip to multiple places and/or only visit the RFID place once. I think we'll see a lot of places who are using barcode scanners now switch over to RFID in the next few years.

 

[marcski]

What's the longest you've ever waited in line for a lift ticket? I doubt I've ever waited more than 4 minutes, not worth $5.



Which is part of why the cards exist.



What road is that?

Man, for someone that lives in Manhattan, you sure are cheap! :lol::lol:

And, I've definitely waiting substantially longer than 4 minutes for a lift ticket.

 

[Smellytele]

do you have to get a new one every year?

 

[ERJ-145CA]

The only place I've been to with RFID is Blue and there was no fee last season. So when I go this season I'll just reload it on the internet before I leave, put on my gear and go to the lift. I went on a weekday so there were no lines at the gates, I don't know how it works out on a busy weekend.

 

[BenedictGomez]

Man, for someone that lives in Manhattan, you sure are cheap! :lol::lol:

I just dont like to piss money away, whatever the amount.

I also do a lot of things on principle, like return my bottles for the 5 cent refund fee, which virtually nobody does (which is exactly what the government counts on to make money).

 

[4aprice]

What road is that?

Rt 24 in the Chatham/Madison area. Source: Paul Mulshine Star Ledger. Was around the time they were exploring tolling more roads, could be gone now but they were definately collecting data.

Alex

Lake Hopatcong, NJ

 

[bvibert]

do you have to get a new one every year?

No, you shouldn't have to.

 

[AdironRider]

Rt 24 in the Chatham/Madison area. Source: Paul Mulshine Star Ledger. Was around the time they were exploring tolling more roads, could be gone now but they were definately collecting data.

Alex

Lake Hopatcong, NJ

You realize this is not that big a deal right? Ever see two black cables stretched across a road at an intersection. They are effectively doing the same thing. They are just measuring how much traffic flows through that section on a given day. Lay off the conspiracy theories for a bit.

 

[soposkier]

You realize this is not that big a deal right? Ever see two black cables stretched across a road at an intersection. They are effectively doing the same thing. They are just measuring how much traffic flows through that section on a given day. Lay off the conspiracy theories for a bit.

Agreed. Traffic counts are also performed by utilizing bluetooth transmissions to get real time travel data for certain stretches of roadway. As long as your ezpass statement doesnt have extra charges, I wouldnt be too worried about it.

 

[4aprice]

You realize this is not that big a deal right? Ever see two black cables stretched across a road at an intersection. They are effectively doing the same thing. They are just measuring how much traffic flows through that section on a given day. Lay off the conspiracy theories for a bit.

I'm not a conspiracy guy but your analogy loses me. Two black cables cannot tell you what car has passed over them. With EZ Pass they know who you are (or a least what car has passed by). What they use the data for I don't know but they have collected it.

Alex

Lake Hopatcong, NJ

 

[soposkier]

I'm not a conspiracy guy but your analogy loses me. Two black cables cannot tell you what car has passed over them. With EZ Pass they know who you are (or a least what car has passed by). What they use the data for I don't know but they have collected it.

Alex

Lake Hopatcong, NJ

true, but put a video data collection system with those pneumatic tubes and it can tell what vehicle is driving over. The overall issue of privacy is still there, but just saying that this is not unique to using ezpass for data collection.

 

[marcski]

I'm not a conspiracy guy but your analogy loses me. Two black cables cannot tell you what car has passed over them. With EZ Pass they know who you are (or a least what car has passed by). What they use the data for I don't know but they have collected it.

Alex

Lake Hopatcong, NJ

I kind of agree with Alex on this one. Makes you think about putting the EZ Pass tag in the glove compartment and only take it out when its toll time!

 

[riverc0il]

My problem with RFID is the same problem I have with conveyor loaders. It's a costly infrastructure add-on that isn't needed. And the cost is passed on to the consumer. So now if I go ski Jay it costs me more than it did before and I get nothing additional for it.

Let's see some numbers from Jay and Stowe on this theory. Is there year to year bump any higher than usual? Assume 5% is normal, perhaps? Where is billski when you need a year to year ticket price comparison? :lol:

 

[Cannonball]

Let's see some numbers from Jay and Stowe on this theory. Is there year to year bump any higher than usual? Assume 5% is normal, perhaps? Where is billski when you need a year to year ticket price comparison? :lol:

That's a legit way to assess it. But I doubt you need to take it that far. Installing new equipment = money and that absolutely will get passed on to the consumer in one form or another. And most likely it gets passed on with additional profit built in. Do you think those RFID cards cost exactly $5 to the mtn? That would be an amazingly convenient cost. My guess is that $5 covers the extra cost to the mtn....plus a fair bit of overage. It's just the amount they feel they can get away with. Meanwhile the cost of the system will get rolled into the overall infrastructure costs and will need to be covered by increased revenue.

I'm sure someone will argue that RFID might represent a cost savings as compared to ticket checkers. Maybe, but I would still have 2 problems with that 1) the cost savings most likely doesn't get passed back to the consumer, and 2) I'd rather see a person with a job than a machine with a job.