The preset/premate system for ski shop equipment rentals is widely known for its simplicity, low cost and reduction of risks of injury to the customer. It involves taking boots, bindings and skis serializing them and keeping them together as a sysem which is rented to the individual who may fit that particular boot size. Because most renters are beginners and novices the preset/premate systems are usually adjusted in accordance with a beginner/novice type skier who fits that particular size boot.
A recent article in SAM (January 1980, “The Rental Shop” by Jim Shaw) suggested that shops using this preset/premate system can become “dispensers of equipment” with little time lost at the point of rental and a reduction of risks to the rental customer. This is also a great selling aid for certain binding systems which adapt easily to the preset/premate way of doing business.
While I like the system and think it is in the direction of increasing safety on the slopes, it can be costly in court, unless your customer is advised that such a system is being used.
A number of negligence suits have come up where a plaintiff or his or her attorney have alleged that the injuries incurred in an accident were a direct result of the lack of testing of the renter or the rental system at the time of the rental. By the time the plaintiff learns that the preset/premate system was used appropriately, time and money may be tied up in the suit and they are not about to drop it. Of course, the shop that used the preset/premate system is also “down the tube” for legal costs because they are into a legal litigation tangle before they know what the full story is.
The way to cope with this is to be sure that you inform customers that you use a preset/premate system. I don’t mean that your mechanics should lecture each customer, just have them say that this shop uses a preset/premate system. When the customer asks “what the heck is that?”, suggest that they take time to read a sign that explains the system.
If you don’t have such a sign, ask the distributor who sells you the preset/premate system components to provide it for display to your customers. If you train your mechanics who are “equipment dispensers,” to always tell the customer that you use the preset/premate system which is explained on that sign, (pointing to it), you will establish a standard operating procedure which can be used in your defense. In this way, you may avoid the “failure to warn” aspect and save yourself a lot of time and money.
The place for your customer to learn what a preset/premate system is, is not the courtroom, but rather your ski shop. He and his safety are your prime concern. Why not let him know it at the time of rental istead of at the time of trial?
