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BallClapper
September, 2024

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Shopping with prodeals

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speednstyle
Posts: 5 - Karma: 94
Many of us. Or most of us, whatever the statistic, have a form of prodeals from working in the industry. When going into shops to try on gear, it creates an awkward scenario when you want to save money but the employees are either people you know or friends. Especially boot work where you are almost expected to buy the boot from them since they are expected to help with that whole complexity and it gives them commissions. Thoughts on kicking tires in shops when you have the discount?
Nov 17 2023 9:47PM
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speednstyle
Posts: 5 - Karma: 94
Ahh. Gear talk. How do I delete this. I'm dead. I guess it will work in this section

**This post was edited on Nov 17th 2023 at 9:52:18pm
Nov 17 2023 9:48PM
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switchlip2
Posts: 2045 - Karma: 24,176
Solid first thread
Nov 17 2023 9:49PM
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snowsharedealer
Posts: 11 - Karma: -50
idk
Nov 17 2023 10:00PM
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hamsauce
Posts: 271 - Karma: 2,394
I feel much less bad just going in and trying stuff on when its a place like rei or a big online retailer.
Nov 17 2023 10:33PM
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tdollo
Posts: 3750 - Karma: 18,172
There's no problem going into a shop to try on boots and then buy them elsewhere, as long as you let them know you're not gonna purchase the boots. Nothing like wasting 45 minutes fitting only for the client to fuck off and buy online.
Nov 17 2023 11:22PM
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animator
Posts: 4550 - Karma: 26,231
I feel like if you have access to deals you should some have some idea of what works for you, and you certainly shouldn't be taking up someone's time asking questions and shit. Also, if you have deals, you probably work for a shop or a mountain, in which case you should usually be able to accomplish what you want to at your place rather than wasting someone else's time
Nov 18 2023 12:06AM
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McDanielsprite
Posts: 210 - Karma: 991
I feel like the workings can respect that if they know or see if they can match their discount. I did that trying on different Arc’teryx products at their Seattle store. And even though I have a pro account, they wouldn’t honor it but 100% understood.
Nov 18 2023 12:13AM
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maaattt
Posts: 2453 - Karma: 29,983
McDanielspriteI feel like the workings can respect that if they know or see if they can match their discount. I did that trying on different Arc’teryx products at their Seattle store. And even though I have a pro account, they wouldn’t honor it but 100% understood.


Lol do not ask shops if they'll match a pro deal discount
Nov 18 2023 8:21AM
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vroskii
Posts: 948 - Karma: 5,891
snowsharedealeridk


Is your air fan still for sale????
Nov 18 2023 10:30AM
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snowmosexual
Posts: 1931 - Karma: 9,973
The one time I got fitted then bought online with a pro deal, I told the fitter exactly that when we first started talking and paid him directly for his time. I gave him $20 he was stoked.
Nov 18 2023 12:59PM
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.nasty
Posts: 10581 - Karma: 11,133
I appreciate when people tell me that they have a pro deal before needing something extensive like a boot fit. That doesn’t mean I’m going to give them any less attention when helping them, but there are certain points in the conversation I can leave out which saves time. At the end of the day, I approach any situation in the shop with the same mindset, that if you give someone the help they need they will come back for other things. It’s as much for practicing good business as it is for simply wanting to get a skier in the right gear for them.


If a shop employee doesn’t have the same general attitude I do, well they should probably just find another job. Even though retail is retail, we get to sell gear we’re passionate about and that’s awesome.
Nov 18 2023 1:12PM
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partyandBS
Posts: 4168 - Karma: 64,032
if you go in and say exactly what your doing and clearly give them an option to decline helping you with no hard feelings, it should be fine

”hey i work at XX and i get prodeals through XX but i havent been able to try on the fit. would you mind if i just tried them on now or some other time that works for? i totally get if that’s not worth your time but figured it couldnt hurt to ask”

if your cool they’ll probably be cool. thank them a lot and refer people to them. if you ho mid day on a weekday day when they dont have rentals coming in or out would probably be a better time and mentioning that you intentionally picked that time to be the least disruptive will probably be favorable. they probs like talkin with industry peeps anyway
Nov 18 2023 1:18PM
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icy_park_jump
Posts: 249 - Karma: 1,891
I felt bad about it until the guy told me that the 700 dollar boots are selling like crazy
Nov 18 2023 3:29PM
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CantThinkOfaName
Posts: 415 - Karma: -964
At my shop we don’t make commission, either way I’m clocking out at 6 so don’t really gaf. Not sure how many shops are like this though
Nov 18 2023 3:58PM
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TBONE902
Posts: 266 - Karma: 709
partyandBSif you go in and say exactly what your doing and clearly give them an option to decline helping you with no hard feelings, it should be fine

”hey i work at XX and i get prodeals through XX but i havent been able to try on the fit. would you mind if i just tried them on now or some other time that works for? i totally get if that’s not worth your time but figured it couldnt hurt to ask”

if your cool they’ll probably be cool. thank them a lot and refer people to them. if you ho mid day on a weekday day when they dont have rentals coming in or out would probably be a better time and mentioning that you intentionally picked that time to be the least disruptive will probably be favorable. they probs like talkin with industry peeps anyway


Definitely the way to go if you really need to try on some boots - I wouldn’t go in expecting much service beyond them getting the boots out and you make your own judgement on fit especially if there’s paying customers there, but if it’s quiet I think any cool shop would be more than happy to chat and give some recommendations. If they help you out, pick up a bar of wax, ski socks, or some other 20-30$ item you need anyways and everyone will be stoked.
Nov 18 2023 4:09PM
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BallClapper
Posts: 2217 - Karma: 7,345
maaatttLol do not ask shops if they'll match a pro deal discount


It sometimes pisses me off that a brand specific shop won't do that. Some are super chill and will but its hard to find.
Nov 18 2023 7:49PM
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tdollo
Posts: 3750 - Karma: 18,172
BallClapperIt sometimes pisses me off that a brand specific shop won't do that. Some are super chill and will but its hard to find.


Bro how?? For instance, Salomon store in Whistler is owned by Vail Resorts; therefore they make their own orders and can't just match the pro deal price. That's not how this works. For someone in the industry this really should be common knowledge.
Nov 18 2023 7:58PM
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BallClapper
Posts: 2217 - Karma: 7,345
tdolloBro how?? For instance, Salomon store in Whistler is owned by Vail Resorts; therefore they make their own orders and can't just match the pro deal price. That's not how this works. For someone in the industry this really should be common knowledge.

Through my industry affiliation I can get deals direct from some shops. Not going to name names.
Nov 18 2023 8:11PM
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Juviticus
Posts: 348 - Karma: 1,814
tdolloThere's no problem going into a shop to try on boots and then buy them elsewhere, as long as you let them know you're not gonna purchase the boots. Nothing like wasting 45 minutes fitting only for the client to fuck off and buy online.

Ay say it louder for the people in the back. I would've put it a bit more diplomatically but yeah this is it. Like tell the guy you get deals, he'll get the product you need, but then don't expect the same level of attention. They'll happily help you if you ask, and chat industry with you if they have the time

**This post was edited on Nov 19th 2023 at 2:10:57am
Nov 19 2023 2:09AM
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kalle.
Posts: 746 - Karma: 4,664
my favorite thing in the shop i work at is when people just come and hang out and shoot the shit about gear. we don’t have that big of a selection of boots for example and i always tell customers that i’m not trying to sell you a boot just cause it’s my job but i want you to buy a boot that 100% works for you, and refer them to a bigger shop that has more selection if we don’t have something for them.
Nov 19 2023 10:56AM
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iDontHitRails
Posts: 195 - Karma: 1,611
What you should be doing is buying stuff from homies on snowshare and reselling it there to make a profit! Just like @snowsharedealer a real entrepreneur
Nov 19 2023 4:03PM
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Phatboy64
Posts: 118 - Karma: 453
When it comes to boots I am buying them from a shop with a good boot fitter and not online or pro deal.
Nov 20 2023 4:07AM
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Chucktheweasel
Posts: 551 - Karma: 126
First rule of pro deals is you don't talk about pro deals...
Nov 20 2023 12:52PM
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