Unique Elements of the Ski Industry

[AdironRider]

So, I was thinking today that ski industry is one of the few where its possible to never pay retail price. I cannot remember a time when I paid retail for a lift ticket, gear, etc.

I must admit that I dont consider 25 dollar opening day tickets like Sunday River "paying retail", same for buying a season pass. So I guess if you want to nitpick you can call me out, but I still think my theory holds water. Without any effort at all a skier can go ski for a discount, every time. Buy new skis for 40% or more off, every time. Where else is the pricing structure way out of line with actual face value?

What other unique elements of the ski industry and resulting ski economy do you see?

 

[speden]

With skiing there seems to be a constant influx of inexperienced people that maybe just want to try skiing once or twice. They won't know the ropes or what's really available and will just pay full price for things.

Also there are probably a lot of impulse buys at the last minute, where people just get the idea to go skiing and just roll up to the ticket window. Lift ticket prices are a little bit like airline prices in that way. If you plan ahead and watch for specials you can get much cheaper airfare than when you have to buy a ticket and all that's left is the business class seat that costs five times as much.

 

[riverc0il]

I suspect the average skier or rider pays full retail more often than not, excepting discount lodging packages. Especially for gear. If the typical skier or rider were not buying full price from the ski shops, then all ski shops would be out of business excepting for services as knowledgeable skiers and riders generally are shopping online more and more and finding great discounts. I suspect at least half of the customers in the business are still paying full retail.

Hey, I just paid full retail for a pair of boots. So even folks in the know do so when they need the right product at the right time. The deals are out there but plenty of people still pay full price. The system works because the people paying full price subsidize those that are getting discounts. Take away people paying full price and the discounts would likely go away.

 

[PomfretPlunge]

I have to say that ski shops are often one of the few places where really solid, personal customer service still exists. I went through a lot of gear problems last season - broken ski, gloves that got holes in every finger, boot cracks etc. Our local ski shop replaced every single item under warranty, no questions asked. Also great recommendations on boards & things from several places both down here in DC and up in VT. These folks really care.