 Poster: A snowHead
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I'm told that Edge 2 Edge in Crawley have gone under. Sad but true, a sign of the times. Lots of peeps used to hire boxes, chains and gear there. Apparently, the liquidator chucked all the hire snow chains in a skip outside the premises. That was on monday so, you never know, your perfect chains might still be sitting there waiting to be rehoused. Just a heads up if skip fishing is your thing - I don't advise lengthy journeys from the north on the off chance!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Bode Swiller, sad news  I know quite a few people have used them in the past.
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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?
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Edge2Edge provided all the gear for the Mountainsun Autumn camps. In fact they were a partner, free test gear is part of the deal. I wonder how they will handle that, no test gear or another partner.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Popped in a few weeks ago - there seemed to be lots of hands on deck organising inventory (I assumed for autumn sales). Bit of a surprise because they're not exactly in premium high street rents location but I guess no material cashflow between May and September doesn't help them if they'd had a bad winter. They had a big demo rental fleet to flog off so will be interesting to see who picks that up on a shoestring to flog on ebay.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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That's a shame. I'd used them a few times and they always provided a friendly and efficient service. Picking up skis from Gatwick at 4 a.m. was a joy (well, it got me another half days skiing anyway!). Another reason to buy my own skis I guess.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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achilles, yes, that always happens doesn't it, they shut the door but don't pull the plug on the web. Probably find they'll emerge under same name somewhere else... the betting is France where they had/have an operation.
Evidently there have been around 6 ski shops go under since the season end. More to come.
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This is sad news indeed - they provided a great rental service - does anyone know another company hiring skis to take overseas please?
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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.
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Bode Swiller, The thing that hurt them most was the introduction and escalation of carriage charges for skis which to an extent, proper airlines had been subsidizing: It was only when Nastyjet began charging for everything on the menu, including using your own debit card, that full service airlines began the inevitable recovery of thee variable costs. This simply rebalanced the economic argument (business viability) v the effort of hiring here and carrying back down to near zero. Let's keep our fingers crossed they survive.
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Jivebaby, that's why they started an operation in France last winter. Think in Albertville with deliveries direct to your chalet/hotel etc. I imagine that part of the business is separate from the UK side and maybe that'll continue. But, for definite, the Crawley bit is gone.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Unfortunate indeed, they were really useful being so close to Gatwick as its our transit airport. I could fly in, get on bus, go to shop, back on bus to airport. They were mega helpful and used them quite a bit in the past, even stayed open late to fit some bindings for me.......
nearest ski shop to gatwick now is....?
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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.
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.......Edge and Wax in Partridge Green?
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Biggest PITA for me is the ski transport service I'd only just become aware of and thought I might well use next winter. Interestingly the roofbox/tent hire business seems to have been hived off to another company presumably because there was some active business with summer holidays approaching.
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You know it makes sense.
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Steve Sparks,
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| .Edge and Wax in Partridge Green? |
Factually correct, but this is a bit like comparing the Edge and Wax Audi/Lexus/Waitrose against the Ford Escort/Lidl of E2E.
Whilst I visited E2E for the odd purchase, I'd lust after almost the entire stock at Edge and Wax. 
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Jivebaby, I agree, I've never been to Lidll or E2E! Very satisfied customer of E&W though. I'm sure Scottydog will be along to reward you with an E&W ski strap any second now!
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Poster: A snowHead
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There was nothing fundamentally wrong with E2E or what it stocked from the POV of a consumer - they stocked a decent selection of gear apropriate to the target market and were very competitive with sale pricing and ex-hire stock (compared to say S+R & EB's inflated view of the value of season old demos).
I'd say they did a good job for their target customer base and had occasional real bargains for those in the know.
I'm curious as to what pushed them under other than perhaps an overinvestment in infrastructure for services that hadn't really driven volume in winter 10/11. I'd guess at the general UK consumer downturn, fewer ski holidays being taken by new or casual skiers, late Easter and poor snow making for low turnover 2nd half of the season. If the latter predominate I wonder how many indies will be there by next year unless owners are keeping them up through their own capital.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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fatbob, E2E users hiring skis may have been more exposed to the current, and ongoing economic circumstances versus those skiers who own their own skis and perhaps their own ski property too. They seemed have built the excellent Crawley based business on the ability to hire and ship (FOC) -that part changed, then their own target market suffered a kick in the economic goolies. Technically known as a double whammy!
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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?
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Sad news. Got my first boots from them when they were at Knockhatch and have been to Crawley a couple of times, always very helpful. OH works around the corner but I imagine the chains have gone by now!
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Great sadness from me, too. They had a northern outpost in Bolton where I picked up my skis. That was independent and will be unaffected.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Farley Goode, if you mean Rivington, I hear they have also gone under very recently 
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This is sad very news indeed, some may might think as we are the nearest competitor that we would not be saying this, but we sent a LOT of customers making their first steps into skiing to Edge2Edge, and in the distant past I even used them for hire equipment before setting up Edge & Wax, and was always looked after. Wouldn't wish this on anyone in any business in these tough financial times, and we are none the wiser to Mark's future plans but wish him and his team well, and hope they are able to continue in some format in the future, the overseas based rental seemed like a really smart move considering what the airlines have been doing with carriage charges.
As fatbob says ski shops are VERY seasonal, to the extent I returned to my roots last month and added a bike shop to our business to help smooth things out a little. Anyone loving two wheels can see us at www.blissbikes.co.uk.
It is a fight out here in planet retail right now, so just a reminder to support the small independents out there as without them (us!) products available in the UK could become very monotone. Everyone needs a little variety and choice!
And thank you for the positive comments regards what we are doing. It is always nice to hear for the team here.
ScottyDog
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| Quote: |
Mark's future plans
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Continuation of the French operation and rental of roof boxes and chains from a new UK premises... so I'm told.
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| Bode Swiller wrote: |
| Farley Goode, if you mean Rivington, I hear they have also gone under very recently |
Have they?!!! Dangerous rumour if not!
Do you mean the whole store, with Graham's excellent boot fitting service? Or just the rental part (I think they were just an agent for E2E)?
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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.
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Very sad news, we too compete in the same market place, delivering skis all over the Tarentaise valley and would just like to wish all at e2e the very best of luck.
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Bode Swiller, I was at Rivington Alpine on 4th July, having ski boots altered by Graham, and there was no mention of any imminent closure. He did however confirm that the Edge2Edge service was no more.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Bode Swiller, He has moved fairly recently to a bigger store in an industrial unit, hopefully its just someone looking at his old location.?
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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.
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Hi guys just thought I'd add on to this old thread as I have just had some boots fitted at what was edge2edge in hailsham (now called Snow Lab). I was surprised to find there was also a dry slope there which seems to be having a new surface laid. The guy who fitted my boots (Tom I think?) told me they had separated from edge2edge years ago but like rivingtons were a booking location for the e2e hire service. They seemed to be well stocked with new kit and gave me a decent fitting. I guess the slope seeing some investment is a positive sign and good to see with all the economical doom and gloom around!
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Ted shred, yup Snowlab separated form edge 2 edge about 2 or 3 seasons ago, best move they ever made
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You know it makes sense.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Poster: A snowHead
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Whatever happened in the north with Rivington they're definitly still up and running, we were in the new shop last week and its looking great! much better than the old place in the town centre. I'm just waiting on a call when they get the last deliveries in for new boots, it'll be my 3rd pair from Graham and they've always been spot on. looked like the roofbox side of things was still going as well, they had a drop off and a pick up while I was there.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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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?
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Dwarf Vader, +1 (or how ever mentioned) Rivington is very much open and doing great. Still one of the best boot fitters in the north.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Mountainsun Ltd have taken the Edge2Edge French Ski rental business under its wing and will be offering deliver to the door equipment hire in France this winter. We are also offering a unique delivery service - getting your own equipment delivered to you in resort and returned - cheaper than airline carriage. We're called Skis2U and the website is www.skis2u.co.uk . At the moment the delivery service is online but the rental will be on there soon too. If you're interested in getting information about the rental side of things contact details on the website. We hope some of you will support this new venture starting out in difficult times and we can make it a success - especailly those who enjoyed the service that Edge2Edge provided over many years!
Thanks!
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Joanne Mountainsun, So are you anything to do with the dodgy looking resurrection of the Edge 2 Edge website with an address near Heathrow
http://www.edge2edge.co.uk/ seems to link to skis2u????
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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fatbob, Nope the Edge2Edge site is nothing to do with us. We bid for the E2E name, website and some stock and didn't get it. There are links on the site to Mountainsun and Skis2U on the site - we paid them to link us, figuring old E2E customers might find us that way. But to confirm - THIS IS NOT US! It's the people who bought the name, etc.
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Joanne Mountainsun, Where are your UK Warehouse and affiliated drop-off locations? Can't seen to find the details on your site!
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anarchicsaltire, Please contact skis2U for enquiries - I don't deal with the bookings/enquiries! Sorry. If you want some information about the rental service you can email me and I can send you info about the service in an attachment as the website doesn't have that part on yet. (Warehouse for rental stock is in France not UK)
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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.
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Sorry to jump in but I'm afraid you are misinformed, you are certainly not unique! We also provide a ski carriage service, amongst other companies. We are also very competitive compared to the airlines and offer a full door-to-door service - no drop-off or collection points and no third-party carriers. We are busy preparing for our second season providing an alternative to high charges and long queues. Search Google for 'ski carriage' and have a look at all the options, or failing that I could just blatantly plug the fact we give Snowheads members 10% discount over at www.pisteofmind.com
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Piste_of_Mind_Andy, not the best of opening posts - but heigh ho, onwards and upwards
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