It appears Stowe has joined the RFID game

[steamboat1]

I'd rather see a person with a job than a machine with a job.

Machines don't pay taxes either.

 

[riverc0il]

I didn't notice any price jump at Jay last year (at least any more than is typical for Jay or compared to every other mountain in New England that goes up 5%/year) which is why I suggested a price comparo. I don't think these costs are being passed on to customers aside from the $5 up charge for the card (which I don't think is right... personally, I'd rather see everyone pay an extra buck per visit).

 

[Smellytele]

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!

Ours still works while in the glove compartment - sometimes

 

[Smellytele]

Machines don't pay taxes either.

They could also put in ticket kiosks and get rid of more people and charge you more as well.

 

[skidmarks]

Put it on the zipper for your ski pants

What a great idea! Hope they have more cute Columbian Coeds this year VS VT Woodchucks.

 

[Glenn]

I could see something like this being integrated into a ski coat. Or better yet, your smartphone.

 

[Smellytele]

Need to contact my criminal genius friends who can figure out how to manipulate these to my advantage. All joking aside someone will figure out how to just like people have with all other technology - ATM cards, cable boxes etc.

 

[C-Rex]

I'm sure it's only a matter of time until someone figures out how to hack them as well. It'll decrease theft, for sure, but some clever people will figure out a way around it.

I like the idea of being able to trade the card for a beer at the end of the day. They should let you use them like gift cards in the restaurants, bars, or shops. Then they could be "returned" anywhere on the mountain.

 

[BenedictGomez]

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.

RFID is mainly about profit, plain and simple, as the RFID cards are cheap. Once they hit breakeven on the technology via $5 fees, does anyone think they're going to remove the $5 fee? Of course not. And as others have stated, it reduces paychecks etc...

 

[Black Phantom]

RFID is mainly about profit, plain and simple, as the RFID cards are cheap. Once they hit breakeven on the technology via $5 fees, does anyone think they're going to remove the $5 fee? Of course not. And as others have stated, it reduces paychecks etc...

The technology probably produces higher paying, skilled jobs in the back office.

Do you actually think that a ski area should operate without a profit or just break even?

 

[BenedictGomez]

The technology probably produces higher paying, skilled jobs in the back office.

Do you actually think that a ski area should operate without a profit or just break even?

No.

Anything else?

 

[Smellytele]

The technology probably produces higher paying, skilled jobs in the back office.

Do you actually think that a ski area should operate without a profit or just break even?

No but the Occupy wall street people do.

 

[Cannonball]

The technology probably produces higher paying, skilled jobs in the back office.

How so?

 

[nashuaskibum]

I've used the RFID at both Snowbird and Jay, and never had any problems with it. At Jay I was on a throw away comp voucher though, so no $5 fee for me. But I also lost out in the deal in some ways. It was my only day this season at Jay, and if you had the re-loadable card and read their newsletter through march-may they were blowing out great deals if you loaded the card online. They were offering like $25 Fridays and $45 Sat+Sun. So when you break out the costs that way, its not a bad deal.

Also I've always been told a lot of places in Europe use the RFID setup, and in-regards to interoperability, I know a swiss girl who's got a swatch watch with the chip built in all she had to do was load the ticket up on to it and hit the slopes.

 

[mlkrgr]

I didn't notice any price jump at Jay last year (at least any more than is typical for Jay or compared to every other mountain in New England that goes up 5%/year) which is why I suggested a price comparo. I don't think these costs are being passed on to customers aside from the $5 up charge for the card (which I don't think is right... personally, I'd rather see everyone pay an extra buck per visit).

Jay did increase by $2 last year vs the year before. Now, it will be another $6 increase to make the cost of a regular priced adult ticket $75.

 

[riverc0il]

Jay did increase by $2 last year vs the year before. Now, it will be another $6 increase to make the cost of a regular priced adult ticket $75.

$2 is below average, $6 is above average, and a two year averaged increase of $4 which seems about average these days. $72 reload on the card so $5 increase over two years if you have their card already. I just don't see these price increases as being tied to RFID. Jay is still cheaper even at full walk up rate compared to the big name resorts in New England. Not saying its cheap but I just don't see how you can point to a $5-8 increase over two years (especially compared to other resorts doing the same damn thing) as being due to RFID.

Jay ain't going to pay for RFID by day ticket price increases. That is just silly thinking. RFID is going to get paid for by kids and families using the RFID card tied to their credit card to buy for stuff without paying cash out of hand or handing someone a credit card. This type of thing is typical across many channels. It increases purchases when you have a captive audience. It may increase lift ticket sales. So RFID may increase sales but it is the increased sales, not a small price bump (who pays full walk up these days, any ways?) that is going to pay for RFID. At Jay, Stowe, or where else adopts it next.

 

[Smellytele]

$2 is below average, $6 is above average, and a two year averaged increase of $4 which seems about average these days. $72 reload on the card so $5 increase over two years if you have their card already. I just don't see these price increases as being tied to RFID. Jay is still cheaper even at full walk up rate compared to the big name resorts in New England. Not saying its cheap but I just don't see how you can point to a $5-8 increase over two years (especially compared to other resorts doing the same damn thing) as being due to RFID.

Jay ain't going to pay for RFID by day ticket price increases. That is just silly thinking. RFID is going to get paid for by kids and families using the RFID card tied to their credit card to buy for stuff without paying cash out of hand or handing someone a credit card. This type of thing is typical across many channels. It increases purchases when you have a captive audience. It may increase lift ticket sales. So RFID may increase sales but it is the increased sales, not a small price bump (who pays full walk up these days, any ways?) that is going to pay for RFID. At Jay, Stowe, or where else adopts it next.

At what point is RFID paid for with the $5. Those cards don't cost them 5. Kind of like the toll system in MA. It was put in to pay for the construction of the the turnpike but became a cash cow, now they can't get rid of the tolls. Same with income tax put in place to pay for WWI.

 

[Black Phantom]

At what point is RFID paid for with the $5. Those cards don't cost them 5. Kind of like the toll system in MA. It was put in to pay for the construction of the the turnpike but became a cash cow, now they can't get rid of the tolls. Same with income tax put in place to pay for WWI.

No one is forcing anyone to ski at Jay. Stay away and do not buy into their scheme to defraud you of your skiing dollars.

Great analogies BTW

 

[luvinjaycloud]

Rfid

it also amazes me how much complaining about the 5 dollar ONE TIME charge that goes on re: RFID at Jay. Granted there is margin on the card itself, that's not where they are trying to pay for the system. i would guess it's more of the "burn" or "melt" or whatever they call it of non paying riders that can't beat the electronic gates. I heard it could be as much at 10-15%. plus the ability to track the analytics behind season pass usage and day rider usage must be pretty valuable.

 

[Smellytele]

it also amazes me how much complaining about the 5 dollar ONE TIME charge that goes on re: RFID at Jay. Granted there is margin on the card itself, that's not where they are trying to pay for the system. i would guess it's more of the "burn" or "melt" or whatever they call it of non paying riders that can't beat the electronic gates. I heard it could be as much at 10-15%. plus the ability to track the analytics behind season pass usage and day rider usage must be pretty valuable.

Then give the card out for free