Buying Demos

[Dr Skimeister]

I've done this in the past and am thinking about it as this season draws to a close-demo skis that I've had my eyes on and then working a deal with the shop to purchase them late March. Last time I did this, I picked up Atomic Betacarve 9.16's that had been used as demo rentals for the one season, base/edges in very good condition, a few top scratches. Sold for $850+ new during season, got them for $300. Any thoughts?

 

[SkiDog]

I've done this in the past and am thinking about it as this season draws to a close-demo skis that I've had my eyes on and then working a deal with the shop to purchase them late March. Last time I did this, I picked up Atomic Betacarve 9.16's that had been used as demo rentals for the one season, base/edges in very good condition, a few top scratches. Sold for $850+ new during season, got them for $300. Any thoughts?

I rarely buy new....if I buy new its because I know the guy at the shop and am getting a KILLER deal...otherwise its ebay or demo purchases for me....seems to work just fine..

I personally HATE demo binders, but you can swap those out EASY..

M

 

[Rushski]

All depends on the condition...

Top scratches are not an issue. Any other problems would be an issue.

 

[SKIQUATTRO]

no problem buying demos...get some great deals.....

 

[MarkC]

I hate buying new boards because I trash them so fast. In a few days on the hill with a new stick the value is cut in half (and sometimes the board). I will usually look for demos on ebay right around this time of the year. Also I will look on ebay in the summer for used stuff.

 

[BeanoNYC]

I've done this in the past and am thinking about it as this season draws to a close-demo skis that I've had my eyes on and then working a deal with the shop to purchase them late March. Last time I did this, I picked up Atomic Betacarve 9.16's that had been used as demo rentals for the one season, base/edges in very good condition, a few top scratches. Sold for $850+ new during season, got them for $300. Any thoughts?

ALLSKIING gave me a good bit of advice on purchased demos. Be sure to lock them up on the mountain as the demo bindings that can be quickly changed to someone's boot size are especially attractive to would be thieves.

 

[mishka]

I personally HATE demo binders, but you can swap those out EASY..

M

I have several pairs of skis and all with demo binding and have no complaints....please explain what's wrong with demo binders...

 

[Hawkshot99]

I have several pairs of skis and all with demo binding and have no complaints....please explain what's wrong with demo binders...

They are usully much heavyier than regular bindings. Other than that cant think of anything.

 

[RIDEr]

You have to be careful when buying demo boards or skis. Depending on what you want it might be reasonable to wait until the year end sales and get a pair of skis or board during the year end blowouts... brand new.

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

. Any thoughts?

They are a great deal. Shop/techs and rep/techs keep them in very good shape. Skis depreciate in value, but taking that into consideration, you get more value for what you pay for demos when compared to new IMO. I hope I wrote that right.:blink:
Of course theres nothing like getting brand new skis, so to each his own.

I personally HATE demo binders, but you can swap those out EASY..
M

Back just a couple of years ago I would agree with you, but with rail system binders things have changed for the better. For example: Marker XBI bindings adjust with levers on the toe peice and heal piece so there is no need for a seperate demo binding. For example: If you owned a pair of Mach 3 Powers you could let your friend with a different sole length try them with about a 60 second adjustment.

They are usully much heavyier than regular bindings. .

Again, not anymore, at least not with Marker.
I know you work in a shop so I'm sure you know what you're talking about.

 

[Hawkshot99]

Again, not anymore, at least not with Marker.
I know you work in a shop so I'm sure you know what you're talking about.

Yea you are correct in that they have gotten much lighter as compared to the past. The markers are pretty light actully. The Rossi's that we have we just use the regular production binding on them, as they are a cinch to adjust. As far as I know the Atomic's are very heavy. The Neox demo has a ton of metal in it that the production doesnt have.(But for some reason we didnt get demo Atomic bindings, and just use production ones. Its easy enough to adjust them quickly.)

 

[Dirk109]

Neox Demos aren't that much heavier. Maybe a pound between the 2 skis. As for demo skis, Just watch out for how much the ski has been tuned. Good shops tune thier demos after every use. There are only so many "Tunes" in a ski. Look for edge depth and base wear.

 

[MarkC]

Just watch out for how much the ski has been tuned. Good shops tune thier demos after every use. There are only so many "Tunes" in a ski. Look for edge depth and base wear.

You bring up an excellent point. A good quality ski will only take between 10 and 14 stone grinds. Less for a race ski. A good rule of thumb is to look for a shop that hand tunes instead of feeding through a machine all of the time.

 

[drjeff]

As far as I know the Atomic's are very heavy. The Neox demo has a ton of metal in it that the production doesnt have.(But for some reason we didnt get demo Atomic bindings, and just use production ones. Its easy enough to adjust them quickly.)

On the flip side, if you get a pair with them (I've got a 2 year old of B5's with the demo neox on them for my rock skiis), you'll have a killer set of biceps for the beach in the summer from lugging them around all winter!

 

[SKIQUATTRO]

my Metrons are really heavy, but they are great ski, blasts thru anything...

 

[Dirk109]

There are only a handful of shops that I would trust with "Hand Tunes". None of them are south of the VT/MASS border. PTC, being the exception.