Intermediate on 'expert' skiis

Ranchero_1979 wrote:Well have to say disagree. You would not be first person to take skis back (have done before, pair of Rossignol something from Snow and Rock around 1996, skied on them once for 30min and knew they were not for me).

After skiing on a dry slope? Why would anyone try to make a decision based on dry slope skiing? Unless they were skiing 100% there.
That makes no sense to me, why not try them out in the conditions you bought them for?

Ranchero_1979 wrote:

Right now you can take back and will lose a small amount based on them being drilled. However shop also has excess 2013 stock they need to shift so you are in decent bargaining position to pick something else out.

Really? i would say the store has the upper hand here. They have nothing to loose.

Never having purchased my own skis, I'm interested to know how the testing process works: is it normal that a shop will allow you to "snow test" them before buying ? Do they have test skis of the different types for this purpose, or can you test the actual ones you might buy ? Seems strange if so, as if you decide not to go ahead, you'll be giving the shop back a pair of used, potentially scratched and damaged skis.

The shop owner today inferred that I could exchange them after my alps trip next week if I was unhappy with them. As they don't offer any way of testing them I guess that's fair. I told him if I dIdnt like them I'd rent some. He is convinced however that I will simply adore them!

It does make you wonder what the shops do with all the returned skis they've sold!
Do you think they clean out the scratches etc. and sell them as new again, or do they sell them as second hand?

Jadavi- it sounds very generous of the shop if they're prepared to let you bring them back and exchange them after you've been ski-ing on them for a week!

Winning in negotiation has nothing to do with having the upper hand, same as poker. They have skis they need to shift (everything in stock is worth a little bit less every day), he basically has limited or no loss especially if he can upsell. Selling skis is a pretty niche market definitely not worth getting a bad reputation over for what I would suggest amounts to about 50 GBP.
Of course now he is relying on you skiing them deciding not so bad and hence never returning and being stuck with average skis.
Obviously only you know how they felt but first impressions are rarely wrong. If you have ski often (few x a year) on dry slope I would trust first impression.

I am reserving judgement for the snow on Friday :)

Ranchero_1979 wrote:Winning in negotiation has nothing to do with having the upper hand, same as poker. They have skis they need to shift (everything in stock is worth a little bit less every day), he basically has limited or no loss especially if he can upsell. Selling skis is a pretty niche market definitely not worth getting a bad reputation over for what I would suggest amounts to about 50 GBP.
Of course now he is relying on you skiing them deciding not so bad and hence never returning and being stuck with average skis.
Obviously only you know how they felt but first impressions are rarely wrong. If you have ski often (few x a year) on dry slope I would trust first impression.

Mate, your average ski shop ain't Argos with a 16 day no quibble refund.
I am not sure where you get your 'no loss' assumption from. A retailer cannot sell skis that are used as new, i am sure that would be a breach of trading regulations, unless they advertise them as used.
Sure he can upsell but unless its significant it will only offset the loss on the returned items.

Its a downer for the buyer but IMHO its their own problem. I do not buy anything just because others tell me to, whether thats an online review or word of mouth.
You surely must test for yourself in the environment you require. End of, or you have only yourself to blame.

jadavi wrote:I am reserving judgement for the snow on Friday :)

Agreed. After that you can make your decision. Keep, sell, or attempt a return.