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March, 2024

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Dumbest thing a customer has said to you (shop guy)

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beer.
Posts: 3096 - Karma: 44
"these boots don't feel tight enough"
"thats because you need to buckle them, sir."

"your machine chewed the hell out of my board. I demand a refund"
"our machine doesnt touch the top of the boards. that is clearly due to wear and tear." "I want my money back NOW"

"what is emmay reeka?"
"thats emerica"

Sorry saw the other thread and had to make this. wish I could remember more. Prob the worst part was just having people come in and abuse your bootfitting expertise, then bail and buy the boots you picked out online for $20 less. fuck those cheap motherfuckers. especially this one guy from texas, helped him for over 3 hours, and helped him pick out a good restaurant in town. yeah im bitter.
Sep 4 2007 1:37AM
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Pipe_Munky
Posts: 10887 - Karma: 2,165
as long as you're telling the guy straight up and there's no other customer's in the store i'll help. there's nothing more frustrating than spending time with people that have no intentions of buying and having people that want to buy walk out (yes i have seen it).

sorry if i came off as a dick but the whole online boots thing has driven me nuts for years. i've had people come back wanting us to take back boots they bought online because they were not the right size and we sized them up, i've had to do hours upon hours of boot work to boots that were bought online (sure they're paying but they're not paying me).



Sep 4 2007 4:38PM
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shoenice22
Posts: 646 - Karma: 11
i know this girl who works at one and the customer asked her

"where do you guys put the moguls during the summer?"
Sep 4 2007 4:47PM
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Pipe_Munky
Posts: 10887 - Karma: 2,165

when they start asking me if i'll match online prices i stop helping them and walk away. they can help themselves and get the wrong sizing



Sep 4 2007 5:00PM
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skibum193
Posts: 3737 - Karma: 33
Even just working in a shop for a few months gave me a whole new outlook on the type of people that ski... there are some who I could talk to for an hour and they would be sooo stoked on their stuff that was gonna work great for them. Then there were the physco parents who insisted their kid have 130 cm "performance skis" (bogus really) and wouldn't compromise until we mounted up a fresh pair.
Sep 4 2007 5:04PM
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hemlockjibber8
Posts: 5953 - Karma: 3,450
you can always tell an australian ski instructor in whistler, and they always order their boots. I may help them a little bit if its slow even though i know they won't buy. I had one call back and ask me again what size boot he was trying on. I told him 2 sizes bigger. fucking twinkies
Sep 4 2007 5:13PM
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.KYLE.
Posts: 1891 - Karma: 59
hahahaha that is the funnest thing ive ever heard
Sep 4 2007 6:51PM
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duhamelski
Posts: 3842 - Karma: 192
the guy that sold me my boots last year gave me 29s and refused to bring out a smaller size after i talked him down to a 27.5. so my boots are still half a size to big. and the whole time he was like "im an expert skier and i know what im talking about" so boot fitters dont be snobby when kids walk in who look like they know what they're talking about
Sep 4 2007 6:58PM
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MarkieR
Posts: 5337 - Karma: 98
this retard last weekend was giving me the hardest time with helmets.  the only helmet we had that really fit him well was the giro nine mx.  but the dude wouldn't have it because he was totally convinced that the visor would cause so much drag that he would hardly be able to get down the hill.


oh and last year a kid came in complaining that his snowboard wouldn't slide down the hill.  upon closer inspection, i discovered that this little aspiring shredder had applied his stomp pad right between his bindings...  ON THE BASE OF HIS BOARD!!!!!!!!  so he had this gigantic plastic burton B diggin into the snow.  i don't understand how that could possibly make any sense.
Sep 4 2007 7:27PM
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jack.whelan
Posts: 1504 - Karma: 122
that is 100% my dad. guys at the store get annoyed in the end cause he tries to get them to explain every technical piece of jargon in the shop. not to test them. just so he knows...
Sep 4 2007 9:31PM
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Download-My-Apps
Posts: 5069 - Karma: 1,017
I'm an expert skier wanna 190cm "parabolic" carving skis and the only boots I will use are my 20 year old rear entry boots which I have worn down to perfection!
Sep 4 2007 11:26PM
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Gnarshred
Posts: 5670 - Karma: 18
I mostly do rentals so there is endless waves of people who will put on a boot:

"This is too tight"
"Have you tried buckleing it? The buckles actually pull your heel into the pocket, allowing more space for your toes"
"Nope, I can tell already, they are too small"
"Sir, those boots are a full size larger than you measured"
"Well they are too small, please bring me a 30!"


Fuck its annoying!
Sep 4 2007 11:46PM
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milkdud951
Posts: 960 - Karma: 21
well when i went in to get fitted for boots, the guy immediately gave me some lange comp 100s and started ranting about how they were perfect for me, blah blah blah, wouldnt even let me try on other boots, and was trying to get me to pay almost 700 for em. I did the evil, horrible, and absolutely wrong thing and got the exact same ones online for 200 that same night. THEY WERE HORRIBLE. I had to take them off in the middle of a run because they hurt so bad. I wore them for a season, and packed them out so they were bearable, but now they're hurting again so I just bought new boots. I had shinbang, toebang, and sore feet a lot of the time, and they were obviously not the right boots. Anyways, the bootfitter guy sucked, was gonna charge me almost 500 more than they are online, and didnt even recommend me the right boot. 
Sep 5 2007 12:24AM
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strode
Posts: 7549 - Karma: 14
you have absolutely got to be fucking kidding me.

hi fucking larious
Sep 5 2007 1:40AM
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holyDINOSAURS
Posts: 7038 - Karma: 639
i dont want to be racist, i really dont, but GOD FUCKING DAMNIT! I AM NOT YOUR PERSONAL SLAVE! I AM A HUMAN BEING AND YOU DO NOT DESERVE A 10% DISCOUNT! IN FACT, IM GOING TO CHARGE YOU AN EXTRA 10% BECAUSE YOU HAVE SERVANTS AT HOME
Sep 5 2007 1:54AM
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HOMME
Posts: 70 - Karma: 10
After putting a ski pole to his shoulder like a shot gun...
"Do you guys carry scuba equipment?"
Sep 5 2007 1:58AM
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The_Oakley_Kid
Posts: 3128 - Karma: 179
i don't know about shop guys half the time, one tried to sell me marker bindings after I told him I wanted p12's(perfect binding for me) And then when I got my spks the shop people didn't have the right size in stock so they tried to sell me two sizes too big... shop are shady, so you just gotta know what you need and don't let some little punk who is trying to move crappy merchandise tell you otherwise.
Sep 5 2007 2:25AM
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titsLOL
Posts: 7485 - Karma: 396
actually... it pretty much always is. the retail price is generally about twice what shops pay for it. If mark up wasn't 200% then how could shops afford to have 50% off sales...
Sep 5 2007 3:25AM
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Worst.NS.Member
Posts: 703 - Karma: 11
Idea: Since retail shops will rarely be able to compete with online stores due to overhead and amateur management, don't try.
Offer bootfitting services and professional ski advice on a cost-per-minute basis, then let the cheapasses go off and buy where they please. You stock one or two pair of the big sellers in their sizes, fit them, then take your money and say have a nice day. Then you sell off the boots at the end of the season in a massive sale, or you offer to sell the boots at price X and if the person says no, you just say 'okay, have fun online' and wait for someone who will. No need to worry about inventory liquidation if youre only selling a service. Retail shops just can't match online prices, it's pretty much a fact of life.

Tramdock doesn't have to pay rent on a storefront and there is no way on earth you could possibly dream to match their purchasing power with big ski companies who sell them shit at HUGE volume discounts.
Sep 5 2007 3:41AM
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R.GISH
Posts: 231 - Karma: 25
what the hell do you do for a living cause you kinda sound like the typical ass that i have to deal with everyday.
Sep 5 2007 4:29AM
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LC.
Posts: 5952 - Karma: 2,423
You guys need to stop bitching. Dealing with ignorant people politely and giving them good service is a MAJOR part of working in a shop, however annoying it may be.
Sep 5 2007 6:31AM
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tride
Posts: 1038 - Karma: 26
-"So, how much does the mountain weigh?"

-"Umm, with or without all the trees and snow?"

-"Oh........"
Sep 5 2007 11:55AM
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bfnradford
Posts: 921 - Karma: 100
thread banger? couldnt agree more
Sep 5 2007 7:51PM
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mrmarks
Posts: 393 - Karma: 143
(texas accent) "lemme get some 'a them pegs" (poles...wow)

"did i rent these here?" "well, does this look like the shop u were in this morning?"

(not a quote, but pretty fuckin dumb): putting the boots on w/ sneakers still on...
Sep 5 2007 10:26PM
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BK
Posts: 2353 - Karma: 1,122
yo i got a dumb thing that a fuck tard ass shop worker has said to me and my friend (its a two way street).

Homie Dillon: "Yeah I threw a cork seven and came in a little steep and this trouble maker tip snapped on the landing. I am gonna need to get these replaced."
Shop Worker: "Oh well, first of all troublemakers aren't a park ski, so i don't think dynastar will warrenty on that explanation."

I wont say what shop exactly, but it will say it is in mammoth and it is one of the biggest ones.
Sep 6 2007 5:21AM
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Pipe_Munky
Posts: 10887 - Karma: 2,165
awesome dude! i agree, don't waste your money in shops! spend it online and when you need something real quick because you're skiing the next day that shop won't be there because everyone bought online and the shop went under! all becuse you wanted to save a buck!

what am i blaming on the customer? intentionally wasting my time? sorry but i don't just sit there for every yahoo that wants to try on gear and then tell me he's going somewhere else while a PAYING customer walks out the door because i was busy helping him! we don't need people like you coming into shops simply to kill time!

get a fucking job in a shop and see what im talking about before you start running your mouth! people like you are exactly why stores don't really give a rats ass about twin tips. too fucking cheap to support your local shop so the local shop wont support you but they will support racers who know a thing or two about service and what it takes to be properly setup by the shop!


 
Sep 6 2007 9:52AM
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SkierX
Posts: 16253 - Karma: 538
There's already a thread on what shop employees have said to you as a customer.

Get your claim-post out of this thread.
Sep 6 2007 10:19AM
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Aasert
Posts: 1583 - Karma: 9
"If you are gonna center mount the bindings it will be impossible to ski"

-Was with a friend who asked about advice on where to mount his bindings, at a regular sport shop. God bless local skishops!
Sep 6 2007 10:25AM
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ijibgoremtn
Posts: 4221 - Karma: 13
some shops don't deserve business, theres one shop by me called Plaines, they are terrible, they sell skis that are over 2 seasons old for full retail, they have shit service, they dont know anything, and they always try to push shit on you, now i go to this shop called Goldstocks, they are always really good prices, the put the ski+binding package a little under retail so its a real good deal, they always help, now if i only had that first shop, i would only buy things online but i have a reputable shop so... basically if your shop sucks dont support them
Sep 6 2007 12:18PM
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edd1e
Posts: 679 - Karma: 16
I once had a guy who came in to get his skis waxed. After the job was done, he inspected his tips and proceeded to ask me what the hell I'd done to his skis as they were chipped up from being a gaper when he snowploughed. total asshole.
Sep 6 2007 1:15PM
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beer.
Posts: 3096 - Karma: 44
funny because the wholesale price is more than the pro-form price. our shop makes about a 100-200 profit on a pair of skis. that isnt a 200 markup. shops can afford to have 50 percent sales because the old gear that they have is worthless if it doesnt sell. its like selling your used car, you don't make a profit, but if the car sits in your garage then you're making nothing.

show me a pair of this years skis with a 50 percent off sticker, please.
Sep 6 2007 1:26PM
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Pipe_Munky
Posts: 10887 - Karma: 2,165
normal mark-up on a pair of skis is usually anywhere from 40-65%

shops have 50% off MSRP sales, not off the stickered price. This way they still make about 10% since yes it is a business and yes they need to make money.


Sep 6 2007 2:09PM
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meggers
Posts: 2094 - Karma: 70
i dont know if it is cuz i am a girl, or becuase i look like i am 16, im really 23, and parents will let me size their kids up and set them up with all new expensive stuff, then they ask my what i would recommend for them and they get all weird and like well i donno about that, ill have someone come over and say the exact same thing and they will be like o ok ill take them.

then one day we had a lady bring her kid in sleeping and put him on the ground and was like "ok can you size him up for his seasonal rentals now?" she refused to wake him up, im measure the ski ont he gournd but told her he would have to wake up if she wanted me to do the boots.
Sep 6 2007 2:23PM
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Hedekar
Posts: 1816 - Karma: 15
"Would you like a lower price on those skis?"

-customer: "yes"

*peel the price tag off, and place it back on the ski closer to the floor*

"how's that, we can go lower if you wish"
Sep 7 2007 1:45AM
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SkierX
Posts: 16253 - Karma: 538
Okay, I can understand getting fed up with people looking for cheap gear all the time, but that type of shit is lose-lose for everyone. Sure you get a laugh, but then that person spreads bad publicity all over the place about how poor the customer service is at that shop.
Sep 7 2007 9:46AM
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Hedekar
Posts: 1816 - Karma: 15
its more of a joke between shop friends, or dedicated loyal customers that would understand the joke. Were not assholes.
Sep 7 2007 12:39PM
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skogenjake
Posts: 6685 - Karma: 511
i drove 5 hrs to go to a shop that i used to go to before i moved to buy skis because of this right here

fuck online
Sep 7 2007 1:54PM
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rockymountainmilitia
Posts: 2706 - Karma: 12
listen, a shop buys its product for a wholesale price. there is a price delegated by the brand that shops are recommended to sell the product at. It is usually double for clothes and a mark up of 40% for skis and ski gear. The retail industry is difficult. You gamble on which products to take into the store and if you dont have a good buyer you are left with alot of stock that you have to discount to hopefully get rid of.

A internet store has no overhead costs. That dont have high property taxes to pay. minimal employee costs, no heating, electricity or water bills. They can sell for less because it costs less for them to be a business and still be profitable.

I work in a freeride ski store. we specialize in twins and only carry a few single tip pow skis. Everyone who works here does it because they love skiing. Its what we do. I love the freeride part of our sport and when someone comes into the store and wastes my time just to go buy the product online, they aren't just saying fuck you to me and the store, they are saying fuck you to the small freeride ski industry which we support. The money customers spend in the store goes to making the store better, carrying more and more equipment that benifits freeskiing. We also throw local events, ski movie festivials and sponsor comps. You dont see any online stores doing that around here.

If that doesnt change your mind on supporting your local shop, just remember warrantying your skis through an online store is a bitch, and after shipping costs and taxes you really arent that much ahead of what you would be if you just bought your shit from a good ski store.
Sep 7 2007 3:02PM
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J.D.
Posts: 21362 - Karma: 5,141
Anyone in this thread who has commented to the effect of, "fuck you let them spend their money however they like" is, I would bet large sums of money, under the age of 18 and with no fucking clue about anything. The online shopper is basically pure evil. Even if we're not on commission, we still (hopefully) value the notion of the place we work for doing well. I've always checked sales totals at the end of the day even if it doesn't affect my paycheck. That, and no one wants to waste their time. Boots are the one thing you MUST buy from a shop, even if you know what you're doing. If you want to come in and ask a couple questions about various skis then buy them online, that's alright, but don't go through a whole fitting, find the boot you want, and walk out. As for shop guys: work on closing too, cause a lot of these guys can be talked into buying for more.

PS I've seen someone do the "lower-the-price-sticker" thing. Hilarious.
Sep 7 2007 3:45PM
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powfoka
Posts: 2709 - Karma: 160
after tuning skis for three years being one of 15 people in the country able to run na wintersteiger microjet pro and over 20 grand worth of training from swix wintersteiger and us ski team tuners invested in me!! it turns out there are a lot of 60 year old men on 20 yeor old straight skis that know more about tuning them then i do!
Sep 7 2007 4:43PM
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BK
Posts: 2353 - Karma: 1,122
gooooofus
Sep 7 2007 4:44PM
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powfoka
Posts: 2709 - Karma: 160
had a kid bring in a pair of line invaders last year.. i mounted them dead center! he tells me i mounted one ski backwards!
Sep 7 2007 4:44PM
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freeskibum82
Posts: 6355 - Karma: 5,055
this is true, partly. I worked in one where we had like 65% off at the very end of season because all skis are basically given to companies on terms. like 30, 60, usually 90 day terms. so in order to pay for them in full to salomon etc you have to liquidate the remaining stock at a lower price to pay them off (if thats the case) or to just get rid of them. They make a lot on skis so it doesnt matter at the end of year if they only make 5-15% if any at all because storing merchandise and transporting back stock costs money.. btw.. best thing ever asked/said: "how do i stop on parobolic skis?"
Sep 7 2007 5:15PM
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LineGhettoBlaster
Posts: 774 - Karma: 11
i will always buy online to save money i am not going to pay almost twice as much to support some shop when i have to support myself and since when is it good to spend more money on something i dont get how you could get mad at someone for saving money plus most shops are online now anyways
Sep 7 2007 5:31PM
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joshbryant
Posts: 2133 - Karma: 228
Our store started out as in-store only sales, but we moved into online as well, as it's hard to find a big enough local market to support a freeskiing only store. I can see positives and negatives with both arguments.
Sep 7 2007 5:41PM
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518
Posts: 187 - Karma: 10
i never worked in a shop, although i do teach skiing at the local mountain, and ive heard some dumb shit

but the worst was at my job LAKE George NY
some idiot asked me where the best place to go whale watching was

the waters fuckin fresh, no salt, not even a single seagul and you can se the other side of the lake

lookes like gaypers came out early this year
Sep 7 2007 5:54PM
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edd1e
Posts: 679 - Karma: 16
having worked in whistler this season, I have to agree I hate the fucking mexican holidays.


It sounds so racist but I don't care. A large proportion of the mexican population which comes to whistler (the filthy rich) are assholes and totally ignorant.
Sep 7 2007 6:55PM
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[]Soul_Steeze[]
Posts: 2357 - Karma: 60
i took my wards in to get mounted and the shop guy comes upto me and askes me bout my skis and so i didnt wanna be a complete dick so i just talked to him for a while and turns out he had demoed some in tahoe earlier that season

now keep in mind, this guy is like 5'9'' 5'10'' max!!! and no more than about 160 lbs

and i had the 190 bloods and i can only guess that is the same ski he was referring to cuz he was dead serious and he was lookin at my skis like he was familiar with them. so anyway after we talk for a while he says "man i hope you like those skis cuz when i demoed them they just would not cooperate with me and they made my legs tired as hell...and then he mumbled somethin bout the edges slowin him down or somethin like that. i dont remember.

but anyway i was like duh you dipshit!!! your 5'10'' 160 lbs and your skiin on 190 bloods!!! of course your gonna suck.

i didnt actually say that but i was about to and then he ran off to go "help" somebody wit a question

but yea i just thought that dude had no buisnees workin at a shop if he cant even pick out the right size ski for himslef...

Sep 7 2007 7:09PM
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hemlockjibber8
Posts: 5953 - Karma: 3,450
what if he skis hard. i know people who are 5'5 that ski on 189s and 194 squads? I know what you are getting at but you kind of sound like a prick
Sep 7 2007 7:39PM
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J.D.
Posts: 21362 - Karma: 5,141
^You're just sensitive on the issue of small people skiing.
Sep 7 2007 7:48PM
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