 Poster: A snowHead
|
So, we finish work pretty late. We love our jobs, because your holiday spirt keeps us topped up. "The Crisis, the environment, blah, blah, blah."
But folks, tonight it stuck and it struck hard.
Us "lucky" fellows at Footworks pay seldom for our beers, part of the infastructure i'm afraid and now i am sorry for that. My local bar charges 7,50€ for a beer, ok a guinness. But WTF. These short sighted, beery rip off merchants are having a laugh. And you know what, it's the brit Bars, the ones owned by Brits are the worst.
What are you guys doing? 500€ for a week enjoying a part of your holiday? No wonder the sales of equipment are down. Normally i see this stuff and think, " Yeah, Yeah" but tonight i really got angry. A couple of beers inside you, after a great day on the mountain where you progressed and enjoyed everything your friends only previously did, mean you are now de-sensitised to this kind of scam? WTF. I am appalled and ashamed to be a part of this movement. Watching you guys, in groups of 5, chug down 5 pints each, shots and a couple for the pretty girl stood next to you and maybe a local, only to go home between 150 - 200 euros lighter is a Fecking disgrace. While shops and Lift offices do what they can to help by way of discounts and assistance, i am watching Bars redistribute your wealth straight into their greedy pockets. I know you guys have been discussing this for a while, but honestly it's beyond a joke and unfortunately it's your Ex-Compatriots that are taking the god damn pi$$.
Yes i'm fuming, it matters feck all to me, i earn euros and haven't paid too much for a beer for years. But this is the end, i'm totally gutted for the people that keep the place ticking over. What next? We will wait and see, all said and done, it needs to be RADICAL.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
Somebody in the ski trade filled my ski boot with beer once, for a laugh (his laugh), but I'd be crying about his bankcruptcy today.
SMALLZOOKEEPER, thanks for your solidarity. Unhappy Hour in Chamonix.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
|
It's always a happy hour in Cham, i was just gutted to watch this happen. I take most of the changes with a pinch of salt but tonight was a massive eye opener.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
SMALLZOOKEEPER, What made you notice the difference tonight?
and yes I agree beer prices are horrendous. It seems just because the clientelle is captive on a mountain they take the mickey. I mean it is one thing to to pay a bit extra to have it carted up there but to have to pay 3-5 times (possibly more) as much for beer as we pay even in the UK (where it is pricey) seems to take the mickey - it surely can't cost that much to get the beer to the punters can it?. I am not the least bit surprised that people take a case with them if they can, but it is often part of a holiday to frequent a bar to enjoy apres ski and seems a bit OTT for the bars to charge what they do. Fast food is another case in point - that can be extortionate too. However, I have my doubts that anything can be done. Punters are hardly likey to boycott the bars and all do their own thing.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
SMALLZOOKEEPER, there's a goal for 'Radical', a bar at 1/2 the prices of the rip-off merchants . . . what you lose on markup will be more than compensated with turnover . . . though I'd give it 48 hours before it was torched 
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
|
Masque, Sadly, it might well be. Just reaffirms why I never ski in France.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I can't wait for the Le' Witherspoon to get in and open a few places in the resorts..... that would shake stuff up
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
SMALLZOOKEEPER,
Look at it this way. There is nothing to stop you from getting into the Bar business!
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
SMALLZOOKEEPER, done my bit for boot-fitters this season - at Lockwoods. And I was very careful where I spent my money on beer at LDA - almost solely at a French bar (the Lutins). I did notice that it was possible to blow enormous sums on alcohol - or soft drinks, come to that. daehwons, you never know - could happen.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
In Flaine in January a packet of crisps (walkers) €3.2 .....makes the beer look cheap 
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
|
I remember last year negotiating with a bar so that our clients paid 2.50 a pint of beer instead of 3.40, i'm not sure where this 6.50 and 7.00 cowdoo came from and as i say, here in Cham as long as you stick to the French bars or even CH9 you are not too bad. I just find this kind of thing so short sighted and will overtime serve to destroy the resort. Now i'm starting to side with the locals, no the Brits are not at fault for driving up property prices but they are responsible for taking the Pi$$ out of you in resort. w@ankers.
|
|
|
|
|
|
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
|
If you lose all your money in Chamonix's bars you can win it back in the casino.
You could even wager your ski boots on a horse, if it came to it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
SMALLZOOKEEPER, More the fools them. If folks have money to burn then fair do's. Many folks are hurting and I would suggest those spendong €200 a night on grog are'nt the ones struggling to afford new gear. Hope the season goes well for you little one and that the till keeps ringing.
There will always be a rich clientel and it must be those that the bars are aiming. Yes I can offord a couple at those prices but not with family in tow.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
Frosty the Snowman, No dude, it's the groups of young professionals that have a budget but will move it all over to party depite the prices, so yes, the shops suffer. After Xmas we decided to slash our ski prices by selling them at the exchange rate of your currency to the euro 2 years ago. Why cos we want to shift our stock for sure, but it was a desision we felt good about as it helped show our mobility.
Ok, so this weekend we intend to conduct a survey and speak to the bar owners, no doubt we'll make some enemies but we will give these people a chance to help us understand, there after we will happily name and shame these bars.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
SMALLZOOKEEPER, Perhaps that is the type of dudes that are attracted to Chamonix. I know some guys afrom our rygby club who go to expensive resorts and often dont start skiing till the afternoon and are straight on the lash at 4.30..bizzare.
You know your market and your resort, but if folks want beer rather than great boots and skis then there is little you can do to change that reality 
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
Why would anyone go abroad on holiday and then go to a British bar? I go on holiday to escape all that loutish chavvery...
I don't drink much these days. You can chat, dance and have a laugh without drinking. Not only does it save money, you feel fine the next morning too...
I guess the problem is establishments are struggling to make ends meet in this economic climate. I can't see how inflating prices is going to help but if there are some rich fools out there prepared to pay that much, more fool them...
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
Its a pattern and supply and demad..  .but I have had two of my most inexpensive weeks in that respect recently...alright, the lift passes etc were expensive due to the exchange rate but we ate sandwiches on the hill and ate in at night.
And that was why I could not be too bothered about being charged 11eu for 2 pints once or twice..and when that bar owner saw me a few times, he knocked it down to 4eu a pint and threw in 2 free pints...so it wokred out not so bad. BTW, that was Fench bar, AFAIK
The rates are killing us at atm... but you don't have to play that game
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
JT, I'm with you on this one with had 3 weeks in C1650 there is a brit bar we a suggested if we drank there would we get cheaper price's blank stare came the reply, off we went to the local french bar cheaper drinks the odd round thrown in, good conversation top man. 
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
At the Diable restaurant at Les Deux Alpes the meal was a bit pricey. A free genepy at the end of the meal took the sting out of it, though.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
So, SMALLZOOKEEPER, can I have your advice for my week in Chamonix next month?
I am all for maintaining local business and "keeping it real" by spending my savings on equipment and mountain guides, rather than getting lashed up. So, apart from CH9 (where I'm staying anyway), where can you positively recommend to go (just so you don't need to name and shame the bad boys  )?
Even better - is there a "best happy hour route" for a couple of drinks late afternoon to early evening?
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
Last beer I bought in a ski resort* was euro 1.70 for a 500ml bottleof peroni. Didn't think that was bad value. But then I don't drink out in the bars. A bottle of beer in the chalet after sking and some wine with the meal is about it. Did drink the odd beer on the hill in the dolomites - large glass was under 4 euros, so still reasonable value.
*actually thats not true last beer I bought in a ski resort was a bottle of Wildcat in the ptarmigan and that was £3.20 a bottle.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
There is this tiny place far far away that nobody has ever heard of where the large beers are between 3.30 and 3.80 Euros almost everywhere. They are served in classy, rustic surroundings by cheerful and polite ladies dressed in national costume. The beer is pure as a mountain stream, the elegant glass as clean as ice. You feel relaxed and not ripped-off. It's called A U S T R I A.
France has great mountains, no doubt about it. But eight quid for a half-litre of Euro fizz is a total joke. Being surly and nicking skis are national passtimes. Anyone paying hard-earned cash for this treatment only has themselves to blame.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I was amazed how much more money and ski time I had by staying virtually t-total in December. Had a drink with an evening meal on a couple of nights... and that was that 
|
|
|
|
|
|
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 agree with Bode Swiller about Austria and also Italy. There are some great ski areas, friendly resorts, good snow, affordable catered accommodation and reasonable prices elsewhere. Although I have loved conditions and sheer piste mileage in France before, I haven't been back since 2000 and I haven't really missed it. I found what I was looking for in Austria and Italy, saved money and discovered this thing called 'après ski'...
Having said that, I'd like to move to France one day when I'm too old to party...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I dont know how people have the time or energy to drink
I had my first week in the alps in Jan. Up at 7:30, at the lifts by 9:30, last lift at 4:30, back at 5:00-5:30.
With a day like that, by the time Id had dinner at 8, Id be unwinding in bed with a book by 11.
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
|
I agree 100% with Austria and Italy. Cham is Sham
|
|
|
|
|
|
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
|
|
Bode Swiller, where in Austria? Last season I didn't gain the impression that St Anton was cheaper than France - mind you, I was staying in the Sport Hotel. Where would you go looking for good off-piste - and a reasonable piste area in case the off-piste is crap - and cheapish beer?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
achilles, you have a point there. I'd really like to go to St Anton or Ischgl but have been really put off by catered accommodation prices...
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
| achilles wrote: |
| Bode Swiller, where in Austria? Last season I didn't gain the impression that St Anton was cheaper than France - mind you, I was staying in the Sport Hotel. Where would you go looking for good off-piste - and a reasonable piste area in case the off-piste is crap - and cheapish beer? |
Sure, the off-piste is more accessible and extensive in France than in Austria but it is also more tracked-out. I've had amazing off-piste experiences in places like the Otztal (Solden, Obergurgl etc), Zillertal, Saalbach and some out of the way unheard of places on either side of the Grossglockner. The Arlberg is THE best but very different to the rest of Austria and i confess I wasn't paying too much attention to the beer price last time there. When it snows a lot in places like Kitzbuhel and Soll you find that you get all the off-piste all to yourself because the holiday skiers don't go there. Most people reading this don't do much off-piste either. However, this thread is about the far more important subject of beer isn't it?
France is great... they empty your wallet inside the bar and, when you get out, you find they've half-inched yer skis too.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
|
Everyone is feeling squeezed, punters whose right it is to prefer beer to gear, and obviously gear merchants too. When no-one is squeezed though, who supports you? Just you.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
