• Welcome to AlpineZone, the largest online community of skiers and snowboarders in the Northeast!

    You may have to REGISTER before you can post. Registering is FREE, gets rid of the majority of advertisements, and lets you participate in giveaways and other AlpineZone events!

Exclamation New Policy: Lift Ticket Voucher Sales No Longer Allowed

Greg

Moderator
Staff member
Moderator
Joined
Jul 1, 2001
Messages
31,154
Points
0
In general, we get pretty cranky when the skiing conditions kcus or we can't get out. :angry:

Ain't nothing sucky about ski conditions right now. Wait until May...
 

billski

Active member
Joined
Feb 22, 2005
Messages
16,207
Points
38
Location
North Reading, Mass.
Website
ski.iabsi.com
I’d take it a step further. It doesn’t matter if you’re ski buddies with industry reps or not. If it says on the voucher that it cannot be resold it would be unethical to promote that practice and it would set Greg up as being perceived unethical. I don’t think any ski area would want to advertise with someone promoting an illegal policy that is contrary to their best business interest.

Here's the fine print on some vouchers I have at the ready. There ARE options: read carefully.
Disclaimer: I do not support or advocate a life of crime...
 

ckofer

New member
Joined
Jan 8, 2006
Messages
2,635
Points
0
Location
Strafford, New Hampshire
Website
www.skicheapordie.com
You had to for the vouchers given out for the Warren Miller films. You printed the vouchers off from a website where you had to enter your ID number. Then when you redeemed the ticket at the resort, they matched the voucher to your license.

I guess there used to be a real problem with some people going to as many films as they could and selling off all the vouchers.

There were a bunch on Craigslist this year. Most resorts check your id too though some more scrutinously than others.
 

2knees

New member
Joined
Nov 17, 2004
Messages
8,330
Points
0
Location
Safe
In general, we get pretty cranky when the skiing conditions kcus or we can't get out. :angry:

you are right. its about the time of year when things get a little testy around here.
 

BeanoNYC

Active member
Joined
Feb 6, 2005
Messages
5,080
Points
38
Location
Long Island, NY
fair enough...perhaps I was a bit curt

Nice SAT word.


Ok...I've put some thought into this situation I agree 100% with deadheadskier and would like to add my .02.

Complaining over and over again is not going to change the situation. These are the rules of the site and we agree to follow the rules as a conditions of our membership. When the ban of political threads came about I voiced my opposition once, accepted Greg's decision and followed suit. In retrospect, this place has become a nice 'haven' to visit and I only have to tell people to pack salt once in a blue moon.

This decision is to benefit all of us. Nobody bitched and moaned when Win offered us discounted tickets on AZ day or the one dollar tickets on April Fools? Do you think he will continue such a generous policy for people that are selling non-transferable vouchers for profit? My guess is that the benefits of this decisions will eventually far outweigh any inconvenience.

Dealing with the different personalities and needs of members (Industry Reps Included) of a social site is a multifaceted task, to say the least. There is always PM's, Ebay and Craigslist is you're looking for a good deal. Lets be mindful of the big picture here folks...
 

deadheadskier

Moderator
Staff member
Moderator
Joined
Mar 6, 2005
Messages
27,921
Points
113
Location
Southeast NH
I think I should have name this thread "I need a Midol"

or Pepto Bismal


....for a bit, I'd classify it as more of a chitshow. :lol:


in general, it's been hyjack city round' these parts lately. Maybe Ed will pop in and sooth the drama with some heavy metal chat :lol:
 

Greg

Moderator
Staff member
Moderator
Joined
Jul 1, 2001
Messages
31,154
Points
0
This decision is to benefit all of us. Nobody bitched and moaned when Win offered us discounted tickets on AZ day or the one dollar tickets on April Fools? Do you think he will continue such a generous policy for people that are selling non-transferable vouchers for profit? My guess is that the benefits of this decisions will eventually far outweigh any inconvenience.

Great point, Beano. Hmm....wasn't GSS one of the ones that took advantage of that April Fools blog/forum dollar deal? His thinking truly is short sighted... :roll:
 

AdironRider

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 27, 2005
Messages
3,485
Points
63
My point, and Im assuming GSS's as well, is that vouchers get traded and sold all the time and the act of doing so does nothing to hurt the resorts bottom line. The voucher acts as a sunk cost to the mtn, by prinitng it out they assume they are losing a lift tickets worth of sales. By transfering the voucher, whether it be free or for cash, the mtn in question gets a skier visit which will more than likely result in buddies buying other tickets, food, et all. It doesnt hurt the mtn in any way.

On the flip side I can see how the site is supported by resorts and resort owners act as contributing members. I can see how they would be opposed and am prepared to follow the rules as such. Guess Im just in the Jackson mentality where selling a Jackson Hole voucher can pay for your bar tab for the week out here. Theyre next to impossible to come by and can fetch pretty much face value (well maybe 5-10 bucks less) than a regular lift ticket, especially during holidays. Us ski bums gotta make it work any way possible. Its the nature of the beast.
 

Bumpsis

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 25, 2004
Messages
1,088
Points
48
Location
Boston, MA
Since we Greg wants us to be thoughtful of how we part with vouchers here, may this will work. Post where you're looking to go and just plain beg for any spare voucher/discount coupon anybody may have to offer. The season ends in a few weeks so hoarding coupons right now is nearly pointless. Transactions should be via pm.

I like this suggestion. I definitely wouldn't want to encourage trafficking in non-legit voucher/tickets, but there is plenty of vouchers that don't have trasfer limitations and members of this community ought to be able to do these exchanges. Doing it as suggested by ckofer sounds good to me.

The essence of this board, at least in my opinion is to allow skiers/riders to share information that enhances the on-snow experience. From opinions about gear to actual ski conditions and other related information we give ourselves an edge that allowes us to look out for our interests as ski consumers. Being able to buy or offer a voucher (free or for sale) is very much in the same realm.

The "no voucher sale" policy is a bit of a sell-out and puts the industry's interests first, but I understand why it was put in place.
ckofer's suggestion offers a good work around.
 

billski

Active member
Joined
Feb 22, 2005
Messages
16,207
Points
38
Location
North Reading, Mass.
Website
ski.iabsi.com
If the forum crosses the line, wherein it becomes a mouthpiece for or a pawn of a resort, then user's liberty and freedom to bash or compliment any particular area is constrained. As long as Greg treats all resorts fairly and continues to allow freedom of expression, the group continues to add value to the greater community.

I see the voucher policy as fair, one where no particular resort is singled out or exempted. The policy also does it's ethical part in not promoting illegal activity, since almost every voucher in existence has restrictions with regard to trade or resale.
 

hammer

Active member
Joined
Apr 28, 2004
Messages
5,493
Points
38
Location
flatlands of Mass.
I think what a some members (myself included) have a beef with is not whether the policy is reasonable but what the reasons were for the policy being established.

From the second paragraph of the policy thread:

Reselling of vouchers is not looked at favorably by the industry and many feel this practice devalues lift tickets. Often times this results in fewer lift ticket deals in the form of vouchers and comps being offered. AlpineZone.com has built strong relationships with many ski areas and we would like to maintain that.

I know that AZ gains more credibility when it establishes good connections with the industry, but implementing forum policies in response to industry complaints is a slippery slope indeed...

(yep...I know I'm just :stirpot: but isn't that what forums are for sometimes?)
 

hiroto

Member
Joined
Feb 21, 2005
Messages
514
Points
16
Location
Newton, MA
Ski Vermont voucher
"Individual coupons are transferrable to the pass purchaser's designee but are not intended for resale outside place of business which purchases pass.... Ski Pass is not for resale and tickets issued may not be resold under any circumstance."

Ski NH Voucher:
"These vouchers are part of a ...pass which is being sold to a business for the use of its employees and families, customers and/or suppliers, or to an individual for use by his/her family and friends. Public resale to other parties via any form of advertising (including Ebay or Craigslist) or transfer of vouchers on the property of any Ski NH resort is strictly prohibited..."

Billski. How about vouchers puchased through ACE?
 

riverc0il

New member
Joined
Jul 10, 2001
Messages
13,039
Points
0
Location
Ashland, NH
Website
www.thesnowway.com
Just out of curiosity, any legal types know the exact legal aspects of resale of lift tickets? Just because a business makes a policy does not make it legally true. For example, what if publishers starting putting fine print on a book that it could not be resold (not an on par example as one is an item and the other is a service, but you get the jist). Lots of times business say you can't do something when in fact they do not have any legal ground to stand on. Just curious if the law backs this up when it comes to resale of lift tickets after they have been purchased or transfer of lift tickets at the same price.

I fully understand if site administration feels that there is a legal issue here and does not want AZ allowing black market trading going on. It seems that the law would support the ski areas claim on this item, I just wanted clarification regarding my question above.

This policy would be more respectable if it was explicitly being set forth as liability protection for AZ and not allowing illegal black market trading versus industry insiders setting an agenda based on good relations (which it appears to me). You have to wonder if that is a slippery slope, perhaps criticism of industry insiders who post here will be not allowed either eventually and so on down that line.
 

riverc0il

New member
Joined
Jul 10, 2001
Messages
13,039
Points
0
Location
Ashland, NH
Website
www.thesnowway.com
simply saying the participation of these guys outweighs the bucks saved by some people on the rather rare occasions these things get offered up for sale.
Personally, I disagree with that statement (having never used AZ to purchase tickets) but just my opinion, since everyone else is weighing in with theirs. But I am on board from a legal standpoint. If people are breaking the law on AZ black market style, then it is a no brainer to make the policy so that illegal activities are not occurring on the forum. I take no issues with the policy itself. I echoed hammer's thoughts and pot stirring in the other thread (where this discussion really should have taken place, sorry ckofer! :lol:
 
Last edited:

ckofer

New member
Joined
Jan 8, 2006
Messages
2,635
Points
0
Location
Strafford, New Hampshire
Website
www.skicheapordie.com
I know that AZ gains more credibility when it establishes good connections with the industry, but implementing forum policies in response to industry complaints is a slippery slope indeed...

(yep...I know I'm just :stirpot: but isn't that what forums are for sometimes?)

This isn't quite like being asked only to write nice trip reports and keep the grumbling to yourself. I'm sure most resorts dealing out vouchers hope you remember their names, go to their mountains, remember your money and forget the vouchers at home. I wonder if eventually some resorts will go to a mail-in rebate system where you have to send both your tickets and your receipts in for cash/vouchers (transferrable please).

Am I the only shameless one here to beg for a Killington pass before they close? :razz:
 
Top