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Try Before You Buy - In Resort Ski Purchase
 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead

I can't remember what the usual deal involves when you try-before-you-buy a new pair of skis in a resort, e.g. Val d'Isere.

Which of the following is it?

A) Reasonable
1. Use a brand new pair of skis all week
2. If you hate them you only pay rental
3. If you want them you pay retail price (no rental fee)
4. If you want a pristine pair you pay extra (up to rental)

B) Reasonable Plus
3b. They are serviced for free before you take them away

C) Good
1) Use an evaluation pair of skis all week (hardly used)
2) If you hate them you only pay rental
3) If you want them you get a pristine pair at retail price (no rental fee)

D) Super Bargain
1. Use a brand new pair of skis all week
2. If you hate them you only pay rental
3. If you want them you get a pristine pair at retail price (no rental fee)
The shop keeps the skis you tried as rentals

Can someone tell me what the typical deal is? Does it just tend to be one of the above or can all of them be observed?

Or is it something you always have to haggle for right at the start?
snow conditions
snow conditions
 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person

From my experience the it's C with added extra 1a, keep changing them until you do find a pair you like!
ski holidays
ski holidays
 Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

Hi, crosbie, I got my pair last season from Twinners, I sort of knew what type of ski I wanted and they let me try a test pair (i.e. a rental pair they had of that model). Deal was that if I didnt like them after 3 days of skiing then I could just return them and pay for those days rental, in the end I was undecided and so tested them for 4 days and tested another pair for another day to compare - before committing to buy the first pair I tested.

I just paid for the skis and they didn't charge me for the extra days worth of hire and gave me a ski bag as well.

I guess it varies from one place to another, but generally shops will let you test skis - if you buy a set from them, then they won't charge for the days you tested them.

C
snow conditions
snow conditions
 You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.

I think most shops don't put you out on a brand new pair of skis all week, they have test versions of the skis they want to sell.
snow report
snow report
 Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

Thanks guys/gals for all the help.

So, it seems you can evaluate test skis as much as you want (within reason, i.e. not 2 pairs every day for 6 days like you're doing a mag's ski test). And presumably, on rare occasions the shop may decide to unwrap a new pair to top up their stock of test skis. snowHead

Once you've settled on the skis you want, you get a pristine pair with non-rental bindings, and only end up paying the retail price (no charge for renting the evaluation/test skis).

If you decide to buy online (to think about it at home), you just end up paying a rental fee.

So, yup, C+1a. Very Happy
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snow conditions
 You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.

If you are very lucky with timing you might get option E

Demo different skis for a day choosing those that have rarely been used during the season.
Buy demo skis at knock down price as its late in the season.

I managed this once in the US with a snowboard having delammed mine the day before.
ski holidays
ski holidays
 Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

Yep - option e works too - my wife is still on some volkls from that 2 years ago... (mid March)
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snow conditions
 After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
After all it is free Go on u know u want to!

Or go really early season, i.e. first week, and then option D probably applies Very Happy
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snow report
 You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.

I opted for "Rent" and "buy off ebay" and saved 200 euro (about 133 quid) in the process.....

At least in the jungfrau, retail prices are very high, even compared to physical shops back here in the netherlands....
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ski holidays



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