Buying skis online can be a great way to get a bargain. There are a growing number of web sites where older model skis are for sale at prices that can vary across the Internet. A lot of the difference in prices is due to the popularity of certain model skis that are designed for specific snow conditions. For example, "fat" big mountain powder skis don't get a lot of use in the East and leftovers can be a real bargain at Eastern ski shop's web sites. On the other hand, twin tip and mogul skis are popular in the East and don't leave a big overstock there, but you may find what you like by searching up some Western ski shop sites.
Online Bargain Ski Shopping
Lee Quaglia, the owner of Aspen East Ski Shop in Killington, Vermont for over thirty years, keeps a good rotating stock of different model skis from past seasons on his shop's web site. Lee says there are real bargains available to skiers shopping on the web, but you need to be flexible, knowledgeable, and a little discerning to come up with skis you will like at a price you like.
Here are some tips from Lee on buying a good pair of last year, or even older skis online:
Skis Don't Go Bad Structurally
Skis aren't two strips of wood that are going to warp and become unusable. The makeup of modern skis allows them to sit on the rack almost indefinitely and still give the performance they were designed for. What may happen is that manufacturers might tweak, or change, the composition of the particular model; that doesn't make the previous year's model any less skiable than when it was made. In other words you can find gold in some never used 05-06 models for coal prices.
Do Your Homework
Become familiar with the skis you are checking out online. If possible, find a pair of skis in the brand and model that you are looking for, and make sure you are comfortable with the heft and feel of the skis. Remember, buying skis online you give up the touchy, feely part of ski shopping, but the money you save may very well counter the hugs and rubs you usually give a new pair of skis before you buy them.
Why Buy Used When New is Available?
Did you demo a pair of skis at the end of last season and fall in love with them, only to not be able to find a pair now? There may be some out there that are honestly advertised as demo models. You can chance buying the demos that probably had more time on the snow than some grooming machines, or be flexible and look for the next model down in the brand you like. Very often these are overlooked for the "hot" model of the year that you demoed. These skis can show up as great bargains and sacrifice very little, or no, performance features.
A Few Centimeters Can Save Hundreds of Dollars
More than a few skiers buy skis in lengths recommended by the testers in ski publications. A lot of this is strictly a fad that can go out of style the following year. If you don't mind being seen on a super ski that is a leftover in 167cm when everybody that’s anybody is skiing in 160cm, you can save big money. A rule of thumb is the longer the last year's ski the cheaper you can buy it.
Give Up the Party Loyalty
When it comes to serious shopping for the last year brand, model, and length of your dream ski you have to be very, very lucky to find exactly what you want. The best way to get the most value for a ski you can use is to start with an open mind. Be knowledgeable about how the skis available were rated in the ski tests. Ask friends you trust, or the ski shop that tunes your skis what they think. Worst case scenario if you buy bargain skis and don't like them – sell them.
Make Sure You Can Trust the Store You Buy From
Be discernable, if the site you want to buy from is an extension of a real brick and mortar company that has been around awhile and has a solid reputation you can be pretty sure you will be making a safe investment. When you shop online, try to get some verification of the reliability of those sites with the too-good-to-be-true prices and use a credit card, or an Internet third party bank such as Pay Pal if the site is accepts that.
