Browse Our Archives

March 2011

Mountain Spy :: March 2011

Mountain Spy Liz Eren take on specialty shops to find out about the local ski areas. The results show that there is a lot of work yet to be done in the area of valuable partnerships between resorts and shops.
Written by Liz Eren | 0 comment

QUESTION: I'M IN TOWN FOR THE WEEK AND WAS WONDERING IF YOUR SHOP WORKED WITH ANY LOCAL RESORTS FOR TICKET DISCOUNTS OR SPECIAL OFFERS?

SHOP 1, UTAH

First contact: Amanda. Nice, but sounded a little preoccupied.
SAM: Stated question.
Staff: We do have… day… discounted day tickets… to… most of the resorts. (Got it there, sister?)
SAM: Okay, so most of the resorts around the city?
Staff: Sorry, what? (This is where you stop texting and pay attention.)
SAM: Just most of the resorts in Little or Big Cottonwood?
Staff: Yeah. Yeah.
SAM: All right and they’re just day ticket discounts?
Staff: Yeeeeah… Yeah. Some of them are just 2 or 7 days, but most are just discounted… day… tickets.
SAM: Great. Which mountains do you work with?
Staff: Umm, A, B, C, D, E, F, G and uhhh…. Yeah. That’s ahh… it.
(Seriously. Please stop texting.)
SAM: Cool. So basically all of them.
Staff: Pretty much.
SAM: So I can just stop by your store and pick them up. It’s that easy?
Staff: Yup. You just stop in and some are vouchers you take to the ticket window and others are just regular tickets. Umm, but they’re good for any day throughout the season.
SAM: Great, thanks. Do you recommend any mountain in particular?
Staff: Umm, it just… depends on when you’re here and what the conditions are. When are you coming?
SAM: I’m in town now actually, for the week.
Staff: Okay, so yeah. It just depends on what type of skier you are and what you like to ski. Umm, yeah, it just depends.
SAM: OK. Maybe I’ll just stop by and can talk to someone then. Thanks for your help.

Rating: 2
Comment: That… took… forever. At least she can get back to texting.


SHOP 2, illinois

First contact: Jane. Nice sounding female.
SAM: Stated question.
Staff: No, unfortunately we don’t. I’m so sorry. We don’t have discounts for the resorts.
SAM: All right, does anyone in town do that? I was calling you first since you’re one of the bigger shops.
Staff: Yeaah, no, not normally. It’s a shame. Once in a great while they’ll have something from X or Y but those are, you know six, seven hours away. And even so, they’re just not running anything right now.
SAM: OK. That’s fine. Which resorts do you recommend if I’m here for a week or so.
Staff: Sure, you want to stay close by right?
SAM: Yeah, I mean a couple of hours is fine.
Staff: Oh, okay, certainly. Well there’s X Mountain, which is about three hours away and it’s really good and then there’s Y and Z, which are only about an hour and half outside the city, but they’re a little smaller. Still fun, but just a little smaller. I hope that helps.
SAM: Perfect. Thanks so much for your help.
Staff: Oh, you’re welcome, thanks for calling.

Rating: 7
Comment: No special offers, no problem. Jane’s lovely attitude got her the points.


SHOP 3, vermont

First contact: Heeeey, this is Joe.
SAM: Stated question.
Staff: Yeeeah, we have, um, we have coupons for X mountain. We have Save $10 Any Day coupons.
SAM: Great.
Staff: Yeeeah, if you want to stop on through we can give you a couple of those.
SAM: Perfect. So just that mountain?
Staff: Yup, X Mountain. It’s just the next town down.
SAM: Perfect. Well I’ll be sure to stop by.
Staff: Yup. Byyye.

Rating: 5
Comment: Five points for the ticket offer, but unfortunately nothing else. Sorry bro.


SHOP 4, vermont

** Note: We decided to call Shop 3’s sister shop down the road to see if there was any difference...

First Contact: Young male. Not very interested sounding.
SAM: Stated question.
Staff: Uh, we don’t. I don’t know anyone who does special ticket offers. (Are you sure? I could have sworn I just called your sister shop who does offer discount tickets. I must be imagining things.)
SAM: You don’t. OK. I was just curious because I was going to stop by your shop anyway while in town and figured you guys might work with some of the mountains. But in that case, do you recommend any mountains in the area?
Staff: Um, probably X. (Long silence…)
SAM: Okay, so that’s where you like to ride?
Staff: Oh, uh, I thought you meant resorts. (Now I’m confused, dude.)
SAM: Um, sure, resorts. Or where you personally would recommend I go.
Staff: Uhh yeah I mean, X, Y and Z probably around here are the best mountains.
SAM: Okay then. Well thanks for your help, I appreciate it.
Staff: Nooo problem.

Rating: 3
Comment: No special offers, no real interest. And I’m totally confused about where I should really go.


shop 5, new york

First contact: Young female. Hungover sounding.
SAM: Stated question.
Staff: There’s a bus that goes to X mountain. (Long silent pause…)
SAM: OK.
Transferred to somewhere…
Answering phone: Young female. Nice sounding.
Staff: Um, we do not actually. The only thing we offer is it’s $84 round trip and includes a lift ticket. (I’m so confused.)
SAM: Uhh, a bus to where?
Staff: To X and Y Mountains.
SAM: Ahh, I see. So it’s a bus to X and Y and includes a lift ticket to either for the whole day?
Staff: Yes. And it’s $84.
SAM: OK. And does it leave from your shop in the city or from another location?
Staff: Yes from the shop.
SAM: OK… and is that everyday or…? (Anyone else getting tired of pulling teeth?)
Staff: Um, it’s Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday.
SAM: Alrighty then. And those are the only two mountains you work with?
Staff: Yes those are it. (Long silent pause…)
SAM: Well, okay then. Thanks for the info.

Rating: 3
Comment: Whew, barely solved that bus mystery.


Shop 6, california

First Contact: Bro-Bra dude. Sounded too cool and too stoned for just about anything.
SAM: Stated question.
Staff: Um, we… don’t. Um, are you talking about for rentals?
SAM: Not really. (Did you not listen to my question, son?) My friend might need them, but I was thinking of any ticket specials or buddy coupons or anything like that.
Staff: Umm, the only place that ahhh… sells lift tickets is the mountain. So, uh, I’m nooot sure, ah… where are you staying?
SAM: I’m just staying with a friend near Old Mammoth.
Staff: Yeah I mean… um, we don’t have any deals with the mountains. The mountain’s like, by itself ya know. Not affiliated with any, um, shops, ummm.
SAM: OK.
Staff: Um, if you’re looking for rentals, um, if you rent for four consecutive days, um, it’s 20% off.
SAM: All right, with you guys?
Staff: Yes.
SAM: OK. Yeah I just figured the resort might work with you guys for any special offers or discounts.
Staff: Yeeah. I wish, ha.
SAM: No worries, well thanks for your help.
Staff: Yeaaah, sure thing man. (I’m a woman actually.)

Rating: 1
Comment: Umm, this shop was, um, voted Pacific Region Retailer of the Year by SIA and has won the Gold Medal Award and Far West Shop of the Year for the past 10 years by Ski magazine. Clearly they didn’t win based on phone service. Maybe that should be part of the judging process.


shop 7, pennsylvania

Answering phone: Matt. Thanks for calling…
SAM: Stated question.
Staff: Yup! If you come on in we actually do a lot of the local mountains.
SAM: Oh, nice!
Staff: Yeah and they’re pretty good deals, between $10 and $15 off. About any resort within a few hours we’ll give a discount too. (Listed six different mountains.)
SAM: Sweet. And it’s $10 or $15 off a regular day lift ticket I assume?
Staff: Yup, yeah a regular day ticket.
SAM: And so the resorts come to you to do this or? I’m just trying to understand.
Staff: No, of course. Actually we just carry their tickets and sell them at a discounted price. So you would come on in to our shop and pick it up from us.
SAM: That’s great, thanks so much.
Staff: No problem. Hope to see ya soon. We have some great deals going on, too, that you might be interested in.
SAM: Even better. Thanks a lot.

Rating: 9.5
Comment: Kudos, Matt. Enthusiastic, friendly and understands the value of the mountain connection.
Identity Revealed: Buckman’s, Doylestown, PA