So what is everyone going to do this upcoming season for passes?

[pepperdawg]

Picked up the Stratton-Okemo-Sunapee Midweek pass back in April for like $269....Not my ideal choice as a ASC and/or Sugarbush pass holder for almost every year since 1997...but times and circumstances change....sigh

 

[eastcoastpowderhound]

My comeback is simple...the people who will buy incrementally who bought a discount pass will buy a more expensive pass too. They have the money. Of course they will buy a discounted pass if available, why pass up a good deal? .

I think you're generalizing too much here...I know people who will buy the expensive pass...and did when there were bronze, silver, gold, plat options...who have the money and more to spare...but won't spend another dime in the lodge...will brown bag lunch, will look for a deal on equipment all the time, always tune their own skis, and even sneak in their own beers for apres. Sitting right beside them in the lodge is someone who isn't making 6 figures, bought the bronze...lunch at the cafeteria, equipment at the resort shop...and IS spending incrementally. Some of the tightest folks here in Maine are the ones with the largest bank accounts...hell, Stephen King drives a beat up old Subaru all over Bridgton and looks like he's pinching pennies...but owns a multi million $$ estate on Kezar Lake and could be driving a Porsche Cayanne Turbo and gardening in Armani if he wanted to. Some of those other folks with the $$ will not only buy the passes, but with the money they've saved they'll put their kids in seasonal programs, etc...you can see it unfold on the SR forum...folks who've had the discounted passes before, looking at paying more for a pass this year (even though its still a great price) are now considering dropping the kids programs, putting off a new ski purchase, etc.

And chances are they will continue to buy incrementally even if the pass costs more. So I get both benefits..

But now you're trying to get fewer people to spend more money.

The skin flints will always be skin flints...but you will have more of them if you offer discounted passes.

Chances are you'll have more of all types with the discounted passes...some of them will be skin flints, rich ones and poor ones, and some of them will be incremental spenders...both well heeled as well as those on a tighter budget...the more people you get to the hill, the better chance you've got to get more $$ out of them. As long as the mtn has the capacity, its in their best interest to seek a strategy that allows them to maximize their visits and revenue potential.

 

[JimG.]

I think you're generalizing too much here...I know people who will buy the expensive pass...and did when there were bronze, silver, gold, plat options...who have the money and more to spare...but won't spend another dime in the lodge...will brown bag lunch, will look for a deal on equipment all the time, always tune their own skis, and even sneak in their own beers for apres. Sitting right beside them in the lodge is someone who isn't making 6 figures, bought the bronze...lunch at the cafeteria, equipment at the resort shop...and IS spending incrementally. Some of the tightest folks here in Maine are the ones with the largest bank accounts...hell, Stephen King drives a beat up old Subaru all over Bridgton and looks like he's pinching pennies...but owns a multi million $$ estate on Kezar Lake and could be driving a Porsche Cayanne Turbo and gardening in Armani if he wanted to. Some of those other folks with the $$ will not only buy the passes, but with the money they've saved they'll put their kids in seasonal programs, etc...you can see it unfold on the SR forum...folks who've had the discounted passes before, looking at paying more for a pass this year (even though its still a great price) are now considering dropping the kids programs, putting off a new ski purchase, etc.


But now you're trying to get fewer people to spend more money.


Chances are you'll have more of all types with the discounted passes...some of them will be skin flints, rich ones and poor ones, and some of them will be incremental spenders...both well heeled as well as those on a tighter budget...the more people you get to the hill, the better chance you've got to get more $$ out of them. As long as the mtn has the capacity, its in their best interest to seek a strategy that allows them to maximize their visits and revenue potential.

Like you said, there is alot of generalization going on here. Some on my side, some on yours. It's probable we could go on about it until the snow flies, but we're reaching a point where we need to see some results to make the discussion valid. Although I like discussing all the possible business models.
My guess is that the truly successful operation will have a combination of the programs we are discussing.

One thing I can say for sure, there was alot of money left on the table regarding how those discounted passes were priced in past years. I'll bet you could have charged $50 across the board more and not impacted unit sales at all.

And, as a business person, that would bother me.

 

[eastcoastpowderhound]

Like you said, there is alot of generalization going on here. Some on my side, some on yours. It's probable we could go on about it until the snow flies, but we're reaching a point where we need to see some results to make the discussion valid. Although I like discussing all the possible business models.
My guess is that the truly successful operation will have a combination of the programs we are discussing..

Yup...somewhere in the middle lies a great strategy.

One thing I can say for sure, there was alot of money left on the table regarding how those discounted passes were priced in past years. I'll bet you could have charged $50 across the board more and not impacted unit sales at all.

And, as a business person, that would bother me.

I agree on both counts...whoa, shocker!:beer:

 

[JimG.]

On to another thread!

 

[jimmer]

On to another thread!

this was a good thread, nice simple question, you guys kinda got off the track a little. but that b cool.

 

[JimG.]

this was a good thread, nice simple question, you guys kinda got off the track a little. but that b cool.

A little...and DEVO is right, alot of areas are jacking prices up.

So to go back to his original question, I guess it depends on how much you ski. In my case, I try to get in at least 50 days a season. If I didn't have a season pass, I'd spend a fortune on lift tickets and that doesn't work for me. I also try to budget so I can go to other areas for about 10 -12 of those 50 days. And I try to make last minute choices depending on where the best snow is. I'm lucky I make enough to be able to afford that option too.

I guess I'm a "have your cake and eat it too" type of guy.

 

[eastcoastpowderhound]

this was a good thread, nice simple question, you guys kinda got off the track a little. but that b cool.

Jim and I are divergent thinkers LOL.

 

[JimG.]

Jim and I are divergent thinkers LOL.

The best run companies have a mix of divergent thinkers.

Not too surprising that those companies are also the most fun to work for.

 

[Mildcat]

I'm going to get a Silver Maine pass for SL and Sr and a bronze century pass for Wachusetts. I should get a lot of days in with the Wachusetts pass because it's so close to my house and I work nights so I can go for a couple of hours during the day.

 

[skibum9995]

I'll be getting a NH Resident Pass at Cannon.

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

Season Pass at Booter mountain