Buying a Jackson Pass vs. A job with a pass

[snowrider]

Quick question. It occured to me the other day that to get the cheapest pass next year I would have to buy the Jackson pass in August. I know that some jobs offer a pass to the mountain. I probably won't have a job in Jackson until October or so.

If I were to purchase a pass online in August and then get a job that offers a pass in October...would I get a refund for the amount I paid in August? My first inclination is that I would, but what do I know. Any insight would be mucho appreciated.

[BLOODSWEATSTEEL]

I doubt it. Maybe there's a jhole employee here who can shed some light....

[girlski0912]

If I were to purchase a pass online in August and then get a job that offers a pass in October...would I get a refund for the amount I paid in August? My first inclination is that I would, but what do I know. Any insight would be mucho appreciated.

If JHMR were that cool...well...they aren't so I won't go there. I coached a program called Next Generation skiers for the ski club. One day a week for 10 weeks, freeskiing with little ripper kids. You don't get paid but you get a full mountain pass for free. I am not sure if the program is still going, but it's a great way to get a pass. Also, most of the ski shops offer some sort of subsidized pass program where part of your wages goes towards a pass. The catch is that you have to work the entire season. If you quit or get fired, you owe the shop the remaining portion owing on your pass. Ski shops at the base of the hill pay around 10$ an hour, but most offer great schedules that get you LOTS of time on hill. I worked for TVS and really liked it...skied 5 days a week, got great gear hook-ups a free pair of skis for the season. Not sure about the restaurants, though I am pretty sure the Moose offers some pass deals. I would say working for JHMR might be your last option because they pay next to nothing.

[bossass]

I know a dude in Jackson who's an architect and a couple years ago his job was a couple days a week to buzz around on a sled for a couple hours at night taking stock to the mid-mountain restaurant. He got paid and a pass and I think he only did it like 6 hours a week.

[comish]

When I lived there I worked at Wildernest sports. Got the subsidized pass as Girlski mentioned.

The best job my buddies had was as a bell man at the Soj. Alas the Soj is no longer, but I'm sure the tips at some of the new schwanky places in town are great. They made great tips at the Soj at the time and had me way jealous. They skied as much or more than I did, had a cush job, and made 2x the money I did. No gear hook ups was really the only negative to the bell man gig.

If you have the cash now, it wouldn't be the worst idea to get the cheap pass, but nope, doubt the skico would ever refund you that if you ended up working for the mtn.

[fez]

After my experience working at Snowbird (I was part of the first year of E1 passes plus tram blackouts for employees) I vowed I would never work for my pass again. I would much rather make more money away from the resort and buy my own pass. That way no job can hold your pass over your head.

when i lived in JH i bought the mid-week pass and worked doubles all weekend at the soj. then monday night at the teton pines sushi bar and off tuesday through friday.

[rideit]

After my experience working at Snowbird (I was part of the first year of E1 passes plus tram blackouts for employees) I vowed I would never work for my pass again. I would much rather make more money away from the resort and buy my own pass. That way no job can hold your pass over your head.

when i lived in JH i bought the mid-week pass and worked doubles all weekend at the soj. then monday night at the teton pines sushi bar and off tuesday through friday.

Fez, did you ever work with Kelly Stapin (from savannah?)
oh, and just buy a mid week or twenty day. Fight the power.

[upallnight]

August pass really isn't *that* much of a savings. (Yes, it is the lowest price you'll see, and yes, you do save money which is a good thing...but you have to shell out your $$ by Aug 31st to save roughly $200 on a weekday pass that you could purchase in December.)

Also, I wouldn't count on buying early and getting a refund if you work for JHMR. I doubt that there is a major resort in the world that will give you a refund on your pass. Maybe some smaller, family-oriented place would do that, but not Jackson, Squaw, et al (to my knowledge).

[Humble]

here is what im working on... please dont poach!

[nhtele]

A buddy of mine had a 20-day, then got a job with the mountain late in the season. They bought him out of the remaining days on his 20-day pass. This may have been a unique situation, as JHMR's food and bev operation was hurting for employees throughout the season (at least @ Nick Wilson's/ Cafe 6311).

[upallnight]

If nhtele's right, then ignore my post. I'd still be surprised if this occurs on anything more than a one-off basis.

Why Dominoes as opposed to anywhere else in town (or a non-franchise biz)?

[phattypowpow]

JHMR will refund the cost of your pass if you get a job with them. At least they did with me last year and I think that's their policy. If you think you'll either be buying a pass or working for the mountain, buy it early. If you might get a job elsewhere that subsidizes a pass, the situation gets more complicated. The mountain certainly won't refund your pass $$ if you get another deal from 3rd party, nor would any business. Of course, it'd be wise to double-check this when you're buying your pass.

One note: you won't get the cost of your JH Ski Club membership reimbursed. I think it's like $30-$40. On the upside, you'll have a JH Ski Club card which has a lot of pretty good deals on local goods and services.

[fez]

Fez, did you ever work with Kelly Stapin (from savannah?)
oh, and just buy a mid week or twenty day. Fight the power.

the name isnt familiar. where did he work?

[upallnight]

JHMR will refund the cost of your pass if you get a job with them. At least they did with me last year and I think that's their policy.

Sounds like it's absolutley true! Sorry for giving the wrong info -- I'm pretty surprised by that policy, but it's cool if true.

[rideit]

the name isnt familiar. where did he work?

Kelly is a she...she worked front of the house, bar, etc for quite a few years.

[Humble]

Why Dominoes as opposed to anywhere else in town (or a non-franchise biz)?

not a franchise dominos, privatley owned im pretty sure

if you commit to a extended period of months (i am) they may comp your ski pass (not sure on these details) but if they do you only have to work 2 days shifts a week

one Mon-Fri

one Saturday or Sunday

and as many night shifts as you want i guess

that means i get 5 lift served days a week and 2 days a week to go to teton pass or something in the morning before the day shift which starts at 11 (weather permitting)

also... lets examine the average JH tourist

-rich
-on vaction


rich + on vacation = GREAT TIPS!

i dont know, its my first time doing what i really want to do with my life and i got this tip on sublette this season and been running with it since

[dfinn]

i dont know, its my first time doing what i really want to do with my life and i got this tip on sublette this season and been running with it since

I say go for it. Delivering pizzas has probably been the most fun job I've had. Of course that was in high school before I knew what it was like to make "real" money.

Your theory might be flawed though. I think most of those rich JH vacationers are probably going to be eating out at the fancy resteraunts, not ordering the 3 pizza for $5 each deal. I think you're going to end up delivering to alot of broke/stoned/drunk locals who might not tip all that well.

[Humble]

from what i have talked about with the owner or whatever...

you do a ton of hotel delivery, and its almost always vacationers or like a good majority

[WWCD]

DO NOT WORK FOR THE MOUNTAIN! The hold that pass over you as much as they can.
The only good thing about working for the mountain is you meet more people. If that isn't an issue for you get a night job that helps with the pass. If they are not buying it for you, you are getting a discount off Aug prices. Not working for the mountain, you get much more flexibilty, people aren't pissed to be there so you might have fun while working, and you get paid more.
Either way you are going to be poor, I just thought it was better to not be able to lose you pass, and get a free meal 5 nights a week.

[Humble]

the only way i would work for the mountain would be if i could get htat job on the JHMR website where the guy give his daily report of the snow and riding conditions

paid to ride and talk about it? sick.

[ubertele]

Whatever you do....DO NOT WORK FOR THE MOUNTAIN. The only decent mountain job is snowmaking. They are super hard to get but you only work for a month or so depending on the snowfall. The best thing to do is find a job in town at a restaurant. I used to work at Mtn. High with WWCD.....we ate for free all season and just chilled at work. There are plenty of good waiter jobs open right now. I hear that snake river grill is looking for servers. That would be a sick gig.

[WWCD]

from what i have talked about with the owner or whatever...

you do a ton of hotel delivery, and its almost always vacationers or like a good majority

You do get a lot of hotel deliveries, but I rarely saw outstanding tips coming to drivers. Don't know about Domino's, but Mt. High drivers just did OK, but still better than working for the mountian.

From what I remember, you HAVE to commit to holidays to get Domino's free pass.

[WWCD]

UBERTELE was the worst delivery drive EVER. I almost fired him like 10 times.

[Humble]

You do get a lot of hotel deliveries, but I rarely saw outstanding tips coming to drivers. Don't know about Domino's, but Mt. High drivers just did OK, but still better than working for the mountian.

From what I remember, you HAVE to commit to holidays to get Domino's free pass.

im cool with that...

im trying to get a 120 day season minimum so i dont plan on going home for anything this year... i will be a slave to the pepperoni and snow

[skiing-in-jackson]

Working for the mountain can be tough because the pay is lower than it would be at other places around town- but you get the killer perk of the season pass.

The standard deal if you are not going to work at the mountain is to find an employer who will sponsor 20% off of Agust price. Plenty of employers do this in leiu of a bonus at the end of the season. I'm not sure if it is program that JHMR offers to businesses that are in the ski business (resturants, ski shops or other tourism relates stuff) or of the 20% comes out of their pocket. I'm inclined to think the employer ponies up the 20% to cover the reduced price pass.

I'm not sure what the price increase will be for this year, only JHMR could be snotty enough to increase prices and decommission the Tram in the same year.

I've been in your shoes. I would get there a few weeks or a few months early and shop pretty hard for an employer that will offer the 20% program.

That way, you make some decent bread and won't be tied to the village for your job.

last years season pass prices here:
http://http://www.jacksonhole.com/info/ski.tickets.pass.asp
I would expect a 5% increase for next year.

Anyway, Ruth Ann sold the Local Dominoes to a couple of good 'ole boys from KY or somewhere like that. While they seem pretty cool, I wouldn't think they would be very ski friendly- unless you've talked to them already.