2 for 1 by yourself

[Smellytele]

Well, lots of people basically do just that.

Lets say the ticket is $60. They sell the "free" ticket for $40 to someone else that was just about to pay the mountain another $60, thereby bringing their cost for skiing on the day down to $20, and blocking the $60 sale the mountain was about to effect.

Lets say the ticket is $60. and I give them a 1/2 off coupon so their price is $30. What can be the law that I am breaking? I would fight it in court saying they (the mountain) are the ones who handed out the BOGO as well. I agree I can not out right sell it and make a profit - which some people do on ebay and Craig's list.

What if grocery stores busted people for give someone a coupon for something?

 

[Geoff]

Huh? You'd get fired for offering the deal that your company is offering? I was at a convenience store earlier today buying a drink. The sales clerk told me that those drinks were actually 2-for-1 so I should grab another bottle. I hope the she didn't get fired for saying that.

If the clerk had been instructed to not point out the 2 for 1 offer, then yes, they could be fired for it.

Ski areas would go out of business without the full boat walk-up day ticket business. I realize that a state-owned ski area with state employees doesn't deal with this particular issue. If I owned a ski area and my employees were doing it, it would only happen once.

 

[deadheadskier]

If the clerk had been instructed to not point out the 2 for 1 offer, then yes, they could be fired for it.

Ski areas would go out of business without the full boat walk-up day ticket business. I realize that a state-owned ski area with state employees doesn't deal with this particular issue. If I owned a ski area and my employees were doing it, it would only happen once.

correct, but I also think Cannon realizes that they need to discount the product midweek to get the skiers. Finding a discount on the weekends at Cannon is impossible. The only weekend day of the year you can get a discount at Cannon is Superbowl Sunday.

I was there Wednesday for NH resident day and there was a fair amount of people on the hill, appreciably more than were at Sugarbush on Monday. The weather was a bit better, but I think Cannon marketing midweek deals plays a big difference.

 

[mlkrgr]

correct, but I also think Cannon realizes that they need to discount the product midweek to get the skiers. Finding a discount on the weekends at Cannon is impossible. The only weekend day of the year you can get a discount at Cannon is Superbowl Sunday.

I was there Wednesday for NH resident day and there was a fair amount of people on the hill, appreciably more than were at Sugarbush on Monday. The weather was a bit better, but I think Cannon marketing midweek deals plays a big difference.

True; and I find it interesting that most resorts have plenty of spare capacity midweek and do little to discount. Wildcat, although they have some discounting, it's nothing like it used to be. I noticed plenty of empty chairs going up even on just the quad when I was there last year even though it was mostly open and conditions were good. Most of the traffic that was there were passholders and just a few day tickets were bought. $55 to select groups two days of the week for lift, less, and rental is not bad if you are 50+ or a lady; but not applicable to most of us and the bring a friend 50% off Wednesday is a deal if you know/can hook up with a vertical value cardholder or a season pass holder. And then of course a $75 adult and junior ticket (what junior is on the slopes midweek for the most part anyway?). But if you're two people just wanting to ski there for the day on a Wednesday which is the only deal that's really somewhat applicable to me, it is of little savings ($79+$31.50=$110.50 vs $63+63=$126); at that rate, I'd go to BW for their 2 for 1 day should I be in that situation. And of course, they have the $30 half day on Sundays, but all in all, that isn't much of a deal on a price per hour skied; but I guess if you were only to last that amount of time, it would be great so I could see how it's good for some people.

 

[abc]

And for the people saying they wouldnt ski there if they didnt let them do this. Really? I find this a bit difficult to believe, and think it far more likely you'd just return another day with the BOGO.

Is it so hard to believe?

When liftopia is offering 60% price on a lot of mountains, the twofers aren't that attractive as what they used to be!

And given many GOGO are only valid during the week, a lot of people having the coupon will have a hard time finding anyone to use it with. Once they get used to skiing another mountain at 60% full price, they won't bother finding anyone to come back, BOGO or not!

 

[BenedictGomez]

If I owned a ski area and my employees were doing it, it would only happen once.

This.

I find it interesting that most resorts have plenty of spare capacity midweek and do little to discount.

It does seem like more could be done, but I think the major issue isnt one purely born of price and demand, but simply that people CANT ski during the week due to work.

Is it so hard to believe?

When liftopia is offering 60% price on a lot of mountains, the twofers aren't that attractive as what they used to be!

And given many GOGO are only valid during the week, a lot of people having the coupon will have a hard time finding anyone to use it with. Once they get used to skiing another mountain at 60% full price, they won't bother finding anyone to come back, BOGO or not!

Well in an instance where primary market discounters are offering tickets at 60% off, there's no reason to use a BOGO in the first place, because you'd be losing money.

But FWIW, and as someone who considers himself a "BOGO whore" (it really is my favorite ski discount), the vast majority of BOGO offers I find are not "midweek only". I have seen some MC BOGO's this year that are midweek or weekend from 3pm to close, but that tends to be the exception, I'd say. For all the places I ski (Jay, Smuggs, Plattekill etc.... they're unrestricted). I've also seen unrestricted Magic, Jiminy Peak, Belleayre, this year.

 

[abc]

Well in an instance where primary market discounters are offering tickets at 60% off, there's no reason to use a BOGO in the first place, because you'd be losing money.
.

Not 60% OFF. Just 60% of full price.

There're many places you can get more than 50% off and that's where I go mid-week. Exclusively liftopia. Weekend trips, I tend to either use other discount or just ski a cheap place (Magic, Platty etc). And yeah, if there're twofers, I can take advantage of that too. But I basically got out of the habit of hunting down twofers because so many of them are mid-week only!

Out west, I used to use twofers a lot. On some mountain, there're twofer days, and folks will be waiting at the ticket office. Knowing that being the case, everyone who can have that day off WILL!

 

[steamboat1]

Sometimes people aren't to smart. Not a 2 fer deal but this is a true story. A few years ago I had 3 discount coupons for K that I didn't need. I don't remember exactly but the coupons were a substantial discount off the walk up rate. I asked a group of guys if they wanted them (no charge). The guy turns to me & says we can't use them because there are 4 of us in our group. DUH!!!!!

 

[jrmagic]

yup

and I definitely tend to spend more in the bar / food court when I'm skiing at a discounted rate. I don't believe Waterville's strategy is better for their bottom line. It just encourages people to take their business elsewhere.

Exactly. I had never been there and figured I would some day (even without a twofer) but when this topic came up last year or the year before I basically wrote them off forever. Stupid is as stupid does.

Speaking of stupid.....

Sometimes people aren't to smart. Not a 2 fer deal but this is a true story. A few years ago I had 3 discount coupons for K that I didn't need. I don't remember exactly but the coupons were a substantial discount off the walk up rate. I asked a group of guys if they wanted them (no charge). The guy turns to me & says we can't use them because there are 4 of us in our group. DUH!!!!!

:dunce:

 

[bousquet19]

More perspectives on solo-BOGOs, from 2009:
http://forums.alpinezone.com/showthread.php?t=56750

Woody

 

[2knees]

If the clerk had been instructed to not point out the 2 for 1 offer, then yes, they could be fired for it.

Ski areas would go out of business without the full boat walk-up day ticket business. I realize that a state-owned ski area with state employees doesn't deal with this particular issue. If I owned a ski area and my employees were doing it, it would only happen once.

That is kind of silly. Most businesses run promo's with the idea that the product or service will get the customer to return again. To suggest they hide these or pretend they don,t exist is a bit off base

 

[bram]

I do it all the time. I just buy both and then sell one to the next person in line for 1/2 price. I have never had an employee say a word to me about. Of course, i never go to waterville...

 

[rocojerry]

I do it all the time. I just buy both and then sell one to the next person in line for 1/2 price. I have never had an employee say a word to me about. Of course, i never go to waterville...

That route may be against the terms... but I usually have no trouble pairing up before buying asking the person in line behind me... small detail, but one that may matter to the mtn if you are not discrete...

 

[steamboat1]

Another not a 2 fer story but kind of relates to the talk about ticket clerks making a customer aware of deals. Last year I was going to ski on a rare weekend day (I usually only ski during the week). I went to K on a Sunday with full intentions of purchasing a regular day ticket. I parked at Ramshead which is also a rarity for me. I go to purchase a ticket & the clerk just happens to ask me if I've ever skied K before (guess I looked like a beginner, lol). I tell her yes & that I happen to be a mid-week pass holder but since it was a Sunday my pass was no good. She tells me oh your a mid-week pass holder, your entitled to one free weekend ticket. Evidently they were offering a free ticket to pass holders because they had closed early the previous season. I didn't know anything about this deal but because of her making me aware of the deal I got to ski for free that day.

 

[Cannonball]

Another not a 2 fer story but kind of relates to the talk about ticket clerks making a customer aware of deals. Last year I was going to ski on a rare weekend day (I usually only ski during the week). I went to K on a Sunday with full intentions of purchasing a regular day ticket. I parked at Ramshead which is also a rarity for me. I go to purchase a ticket & the clerk just happens to ask me if I've ever skied K before (guess I looked like a beginner, lol). I tell her yes & that I happen to be a mid-week pass holder but since it was a Sunday my pass was no good. She tells me oh your a mid-week pass holder, your entitled to one free weekend ticket. Evidently they were offering a free ticket to pass holders because they had closed early the previous season. I didn't know anything about this deal but because of her making me aware of the deal I got to ski for free that day.

Hope she didn't get fired. Fortunately Geoff doesn't own Killington so she's probably OK.

 

[Cornhead]

I skied Platty on their, season pass weekend last year, I was not asked if I had a pass at another mountain. I found out while talking to someone on the chair. I went back to the ticket counter, but they would not refund my money. It would have been nice if they'd asked before hand. Live and learn. I now ask if there is a discount for passholders of other mountains. I believe Jay still gives such a discount, no?

I have two twofers to Platty this year. I'll either go with someone else, or sell a ticket for half price to someone when I get there.

 

[FishingEd]

Did it at Gunstock last year with the Warren Miller 2 fers. Didn't really have a problem. The biggest thing is explaining to someone that your ticket is legitimate and not part of some scam. Ppl these days have their guard up so much it seems.