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VAIL SUCKS

deadheadskier

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I just can't with these morons

I'm registered for a race camp in a couple of weeks at Stowe. Racers are typically offered steeply discounted tickets, but you handle that directly through the resort. Last one I did was two years ago at Mt Snow and lift tickets were $50.

So, I call the Guest Services number on the website.

"Hi, I'm calling to purchase lift tickets for a racing clinic I'm attending in a couple of weeks"

"Oh, you need to call Mountain Information to buy tickets, not Guest Services"

"May I have their number please?"

"Hang on. Does anybody know the number this guy should call to buy tickets? Okay. Sir, you need to call 802-253-3000."

Calls number

(In obviously a second language. Not that I have an issue with that, but this person could barely understand the language she was tasked to communicate with) "Hello, Thank You for calling Vail resorts"

"Yes, I'm trying to purchase discounted day tickets for an event in two weeks."

"Which resort?"

"Aren't I speaking with someone at Stowe?"

"No. This information for all of Vail. I can't help you with discount tickets at Stowe. I suggest you go directly to the mountain to speak with someone there."

"Miss, I live three hours away. Can you give me a local number to call?"

"802-253-3000"

"Um, that's the number I dialed and was connected with you"

"It is? Hold on, let me ask around. You sure you dialed 802-253-3000?"

"Yes I did"

"Okay, try 802-253-3001"

I just dialed it and it appears to be a disconnected number.

Fucking Epic I tell ya.
 

thetrailboss

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I just can't with these morons

I'm registered for a race camp in a couple of weeks at Stowe. Racers are typically offered steeply discounted tickets, but you handle that directly through the resort. Last one I did was two years ago at Mt Snow and lift tickets were $50.

So, I call the Guest Services number on the website.

"Hi, I'm calling to purchase lift tickets for a racing clinic I'm attending in a couple of weeks"

"Oh, you need to call Mountain Information to buy tickets, not Guest Services"

"May I have their number please?"

"Hang on. Does anybody know the number this guy should call to buy tickets? Okay. Sir, you need to call 802-253-3000."

Calls number

(In obviously a second language. Not that I have an issue with that, but this person could barely understand the language she was tasked to communicate with) "Hello, Thank You for calling Vail resorts"

"Yes, I'm trying to purchase discounted day tickets for an event in two weeks."

"Which resort?"

"Aren't I speaking with someone at Stowe?"

"No. This information for all of Vail. I can't help you with discount tickets at Stowe. I suggest you go directly to the mountain to speak with someone there."

"Miss, I live three hours away. Can you give me a local number to call?"

"802-253-3000"

"Um, that's the number I dialed and was connected with you"

"It is? Hold on, let me ask around. You sure you dialed 802-253-3000?"

"Yes I did"

"Okay, try 802-253-3001"

I just dialed it and it appears to be a disconnected number.

Fucking Epic I tell ya.
Sounds about right.
 

AdironRider

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Calling any place of business these days really is a generational divide.

Basically anyone under the age of 45 doesn't do it, and those over 45 generally have issues and are calling to complain (not you in this instance DHS but generally speaking). So lots of companies are just saying fuck it, go to live chat. AI will deem you worthy or not.
 

deadheadskier

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Well, except for the fact that these one off type deals for Masters Ski Racing events specifically require you to call the mountain. Its not a deal they load into their systems that a service bot can help you with.
Trust me, I'm not someone who uses the phone often for transactions like this. I'd rather just go to a website.
 

BenedictGomez

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Some years ago Vail booted all the individual customer service at the mountains and consolidated them in a foreign (India I presume) call center. I could basically copy/paste DHS' experience above only changing the specific incidentals and it's exactly the same experience I had. The customer service "expert" didn't even know Park City has two sides. Worthless.

Sidebar, what foreign customer service school do you go to where they teach you to respond to ever question with, "On that one" to begin your response? It's weird English, and I've never heard any foreigner say this to me in real life, but it's the go-to of all the foreign call centers. "On that one, sir, _______"
 

thetrailboss

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Well, except for the fact that these one off type deals for Masters Ski Racing events specifically require you to call the mountain. Its not a deal they load into their systems that a service bot can help you with.
Trust me, I'm not someone who uses the phone often for transactions like this. I'd rather just go to a website.
Yeah, as BG said "call the mountain" now means call Broomfield I guess.......
 

AdironRider

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Well, except for the fact that these one off type deals for Masters Ski Racing events specifically require you to call the mountain. Its not a deal they load into their systems that a service bot can help you with.
Trust me, I'm not someone who uses the phone often for transactions like this. I'd rather just go to a website.

Right I get that, and there are still valid reasons people would call, but by and large, that calculus has shifted for resorts. It used to be good customer service, but in talking with the people I know in this realm, post covid most employees (not just at ski areas) pretty much dread picking up the phone because for every guy like you just looking to buy a ticket, there are 10 more karens that just want to lay into someone and will never be satisfied.

Most racers I know get their tickets day of, either by a central contact for the team / group or at some designated point at the ski area, that not an option here?
 

deadheadskier

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Right I get that, and there are still valid reasons people would call, but by and large, that calculus has shifted for resorts. It used to be good customer service, but in talking with the people I know in this realm, post covid most employees (not just at ski areas) pretty much dread picking up the phone because for every guy like you just looking to buy a ticket, there are 10 more karens that just want to lay into someone and will never be satisfied.

Most racers I know get their tickets day of, either by a central contact for the team / group or at some designated point at the ski area, that not an option here?

Not with Masters. You just pay for the coaching and you either have a season pass to the host mountain or they offer a discounted day ticket. The mountain manages it, not the Masters org.

I'm fine with buying the ticket at the window vs over the phone. I'd just like to know what the cost is. I have a couple of days left where I could buy Epic Day Passes, but my suspicion is the discounted race tickets will be cheaper. Epic Day Passes for Stowe would be $254 total for two days. Mt Snow tickets were only $50 a couple of years ago.
 

2Planker

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My neighbor's kid is home from college for 6 weeks.... He went to ATT yesterday to see if any dept was hiring... TOTAL ghost town.....
Went on over to Black, and was hired by noon. Started today. Pay is better than what ATT was advertising...
 
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kingslug

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That was conventional wisdom, but I'm not so sure anymore.
Yesterday at solitude..2 girls get on the line and find out you actualy need one of those ski pass things..to ski there..so they get on the lift..for the first time ever I guess..and this is in a snow storm...then both fall off the lift at the top..and then walk down.
Average skier..hmm...
 
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