VAIL SUCKS

[BenedictGomez]

I mean I'm basically married to Vail with one of their hills 4 miles from me. What would be the benefit to locking me down for 3 years at a discount?

I'm so confused; you literally just stated the benefit. lol

 

[cdskier]

I'm so confused; you literally just stated the benefit. lol

I interpreted it as he's buying it anyway so what would be the benefit for Vail to offer that to someone like him. Sure there's a benefit from Vail's perspective to lock in people that have flexibility to change back and forth between different passes. But I don't know what percentage of their passholders that would be. There's no benefit for Vail to lock in people that are buying anyway. I kind of feel that might be the bigger group, so they stand to lose more than they would gain (but I also imagine they have the data to make this decision).

 

[raisingarizona]

Vail is trying to make their yearly numbers to not look so poor. It’s a short term bandaid but probably not a great move looking longer term.

 

[BenedictGomez]

I interpreted it as he's buying it anyway so what would be the benefit for Vail to offer that to someone like him........There's no benefit for Vail to lock in people that are buying anyway.

Because Vail cant offer a discount to people with a zip code >= 45.5 miles or whatever away. I mean, technically I supposed they could, lol, but that isnt going to happen.

I kind of feel that might be the bigger group, so they stand to lose more than they would gain

There's no way there are more EPIC passholders who are mountain locals than there are passholders who are not locals.
I dont even think it's remotely close, I think the latter is a massively larger group than the former.

 

[jimmywilson69]

CDSkier confirmed what I was trying to say. I'm buying a pass no matter the cost. Why would they give me a "bulk" discount? That goes for pretty much everyone in the south central and western PA and DC Metro area. If you live in those areas you don't have skiing within an 1-1.5 hours that isn't vail. So it really doesn't make any sense to give any discount. They have a monopoly and they know it. acquiring Peaks bought them the DC market and buying the western PA places further locked down the DC market and all of western PA.

 

[eatskisleep]

CDSkier confirmed what I was trying to say. I'm buying a pass no matter the cost. Why would they give me a "bulk" discount? That goes for pretty much everyone in the south central and western PA and DC Metro area. If you live in those areas you don't have skiing within an 1-1.5 hours that isn't vail. So it really doesn't make any sense to give any discount. They have a monopoly and they know it. acquiring Peaks bought them the DC market and buying the western PA places further locked down the DC market and all of western PA.

They need more cash now. They will worry about later… later.

 

[thebigo]

CDSkier confirmed what I was trying to say. I'm buying a pass no matter the cost. Why would they give me a "bulk" discount? That goes for pretty much everyone in the south central and western PA and DC Metro area. If you live in those areas you don't have skiing within an 1-1.5 hours that isn't vail. So it really doesn't make any sense to give any discount. They have a monopoly and they know it. acquiring Peaks bought them the DC market and buying the western PA places further locked down the DC market and all of western PA.

you have 3800 posts on a ski forum. think about the locals that would buy a multi year pass then move away, get tired of skiing, get injured, die, get sick, relocate for work, get pissed at vail, etc.

 

[Edd]

Vail has an image problem and likely the worst reputation in skiing, and they hired an executive last year to specifically address that. Maybe the 3 year thing is one of the fixes. Also, companies love to lock customers in longer term.

 

[AdironRider]

I find this line of thinking amusing, given the Epic pass's existence is literally built on being a volume discount to begin with.

Vail also currently has 601 million in cash on hand as of their last quarter. Define "need" in they need more cash now.

 

[drjeff]

I find this line of thinking amusing, given the Epic pass's existence is literally built on being a volume discount to begin with.

Vail also currently has 601 million in cash on hand as of their last quarter. Define "need" in they need more cash now.

And likely starting in a few weeks, they'll start selling next years Epic Pass Products and get the revenue boost associated with that as well

 

[thetrailboss]

I'm actually surprised they never installed a multi-year renewal with a discount.

Well, aren't they still requiring folks to affirmatively elect out of renewal?

 

[jimmywilson69]

think about the locals that would buy a multi year pass then move away, get tired of skiing, get injured, die, get sick, relocate for work, get pissed at vail, etc.

They've already driven away most of the local/value seeking people who used to only ski on the night pass. Interesting enough they did start offering a local night ticket and rentals deal ($39/$12) and the place has been mobbed in the evenings. So there are still "deal seekers" and it has been quite busy after work when I swing by for a few runs around 4 PM.

 

[BenedictGomez]

I'm buying a pass no matter the cost. Why would they give me a "bulk" discount? That goes for pretty much everyone in the south central and western PA and DC Metro area. If you live in those areas you don't have skiing within an 1-1.5 hours that isn't vail. So it really doesn't make any sense to give any discount.

I understand that, but my belief is the net "non local" pool is way bigger than the net "local pool". Like massively bigger.

Just the people in Texas or TX + Florida alone I think could maybe swamp the entirely of people who specifically (this is key) bought EPIC passes to ski these areas.

.

But I'd love to hear what others think about this, maybe I'm just totally wrong in that mathematical / population dynamics thinking

 

[AdironRider]

Well, that includes basically all of the southern Acela corridor, which has a population of approx 10 million. Now tack on the more inland areas, and that population continues to grow.

There are a lot of Texans that ski, but I just can't see them outnumbering people within realistic driving distance. (Supposedly there are 800k Texas skiers according to the SIA). Obviously not all of those Texas skiers are Epic.

 

[oldfartrider]

Vail already offers all sorts of discount options. Northeast pass, midweek NE, senior etc. Also they aren’t getting a big boost at renewal. It’s $50 to renew and pay in September.

 

[BenedictGomez]

It's way worse than Vail's preannouncement.



EDIT: And apparently they copied Alterra, and this one predates it a few days.

 

[thetrailboss]

It's way worse than Vail's preannouncement.

View attachment 67969

EDIT: And apparently they copied Alterra, and this one predates it a few days.
View attachment 67970

I wondered if Vail was going to follow suit.

BTW I hit my five-days at Snowbird and just got my bounty from them.

 

[kingslug]

So..sign up as a ski instructor..get a free pass..40% off all the crap you can buy..and 9 dollar food..then get called off 80% of the time...winner winner..chicken dinner..

 

[jimmywilson69]

So..sign up as a ski instructor..get a free pass..40% off all the crap you can buy..and 9 dollar food..then get called off 80% of the time...winner winner..chicken dinner..

I've thought about working at my local hill just for this. The thing is they have so many return workers they almost never hire. Zero chance I teach someone how to ski. that's not in my DNA...

 

[ThatGuy]

So..sign up as a ski instructor..get a free pass..40% off all the crap you can buy..and 9 dollar food..then get called off 80% of the time...winner winner..chicken dinner..

Thats also cause this season has been so shit that they don’t even have hours for the full time people. They’re having instructors in lift ops and F&B…