Sir if you don't buy something then you must leave

**TJ.Brk** · 01-23-2004, 11:37 AM

Now generally believe it or not, I'm a pretty understanding fella when I come across a ski resort customer policy that don't seem to make any sense at all.

Well this morning it's -15F with wind chill at -40F at the top of the mtn. I do 2 runs. The chair stops for 10 minutes so I end up on the chair in the wind for a half hour. So I go inside the lodge to warm up, because it's so frigging cold I can't even flex my boot. So I Frosty it over to a chair next to the bar and fireplace. The following conversation insues with an Intrawest employee.

Intrawest worker: Sir are you going to buy anything?

Me: No, I'm just warming up. I can't feel my face as I'm sure you can tell by the way I'm talking.

Intrawest worker: Sir you have to buy something or you will have to leave.

Me: You've got to be kidding me. Is there a cover charge to get warm at the lodge now. Is Intrawest that strapped for cash they are going to charge customers to get warm.

Intrawest worker: No sir we are not charging you to get warm. That is why we have the fire going. But you have to buy something or leave.

Me: (at this point I'm completely befuddled at this womans bullshit). That is pretty pathetic. It is a cover charge. If I have to leave then I want you to go to every person and make sure they bought something (I'm speaking loud at this point, but not yelling, and not showing any anger. But kinda condesending). Make sure they have a reciept to prove that they purchased something. And if they haven't, then kick them out in the cold like you are doing me.

Intrawest worker: Sir we are not kicking you out. But you do have to buy something, or you will have to leave (It is a huge lodge, and there were maybe 30 people in it, and I've been there a whole 5 minutes maybe)

Me: Here (flips the worker a quarter) this is paying for the toilet paper I'm about to use in the bathroom. Do you want to come and watch me incase I use more than a quarters worth so you can charge me more. But I only have a quarter with me. I will have to call my wife for her to bring up another quarter. It will take about a half an hour, and I should be warm by then. (worker didn't get it

)

(people are gathering around at this point and they are voicing their opinion towards this worker)

Intrawest worker: No sir the restrooms are free to the paying public (worker doesn't realize what she just said)

Me: Heh, no shit eh!

( I walk out)

*Intrawest does charge for extra rolls of toilet paper in the condos here if you use up what is alotted to you and you have to ask for more. $3CAD a roll*

**Beaver** · 01-23-2004, 11:40 AM

Buying a pass doesn't allow you to use the lodge.

**AntiSoCalSkier** · 01-23-2004, 11:41 AM

I've always figured that there are a couple of services that a ski resort is obliged to provide for the safety of there customers. One of those is somewhere to warm up on cold days. The other is some sort of drinking water at no charge.

It might have been fun to simply get up and leave the lodge to head for ski patrol. I'm sure they would love to be inundated with cold people (not frostbitten or hypothermic, just cold) who had been kicked out of the lodge.

**TJ.Brk** · 01-23-2004, 11:45 AM

Originally posted by AntiSoCalSkier
I've always figured that there are a couple of services that a ski resort is obliged to provide for the safety of there customers. One of those is somewhere to warm up on cold days. The other is some sort of drinking water at no charge.

It might have been fun to simply get up and leave the lodge to head for ski patrol. I'm sure they would love to be inundated with cold people (not frostbitten or hypothermic, just cold) who had been kicked out of the lodge.

Actually they got rid of the drinking fountain and cups so people would have to buy bottles of water at $3 a pop. They also got rid of one of the simple drinking fountains down stairs by bathrooms and replaced it with a machine that sells bottles of water at $3 a pop.

And say you ask for a cup of warm water in the cafeteria. $1

**Benny Profane** · 01-23-2004, 11:46 AM

Please explain. Is this a base lodge, or some special "luxury" housing mega bullshit lobby kinda place?

It would have been interesting if you simply refused to leave. Does Intrawest have a security staff that would have produced a few bouncers to throw your frozen ass out in the cold?

**Rippinsick** · 01-23-2004, 11:47 AM

I'm dumbfounded!

**TJ.Brk** · 01-23-2004, 11:52 AM

Originally posted by Benny Profane
Please explain. Is this a base lodge, or some special "luxury" housing mega bullshit lobby kinda place?

It would have been interesting if you simply refused to leave. Does Intrawest have a security staff that would have produced a few bouncers to throw your frozen ass out in the cold?

It is the main and only lodge at the top of the mountain where you pay way to much for crappy food and things.

And yes they do employ a security staff. A bunch of Johnny Wannabes in blue suits with a stickon badge.

KQ · 01-23-2004, 11:53 AM

It's a amazing how service seems to be slipping away.

At the River Run lodge in SV I sat down at the bar and ordered a beer. The bartender poured my beer and set it down in front of me - at this point I decided I wanted some water too and asked him for some. His response was to point to a jug on the bar where I could go pour my own water.

I thought that was extremely poor service.

**Benny Profane** · 01-23-2004, 11:54 AM

Holy Shit. I also am dumbfounded.

**Ski Monkey** · 01-23-2004, 11:59 AM

That's bullshit. You should have made them throw you out. By the time security would have shown up you would have probably been warm.

I was charged 7 bucks for 2 chicken strips at the canyons about a month back. I told the check out clerk to "Tell the people setting the prices that next time they charge me 7 clams for 2 chicken strips and f*ck me in the ass I would appreciate a little lube."

They gave me a free order.

**Mtn Man** · 01-23-2004, 12:01 PM

Damn troublemaker! Get your arse back out in the cold.
Only panzies get cold at -40F
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TJ, you going to the summit this year? I'll be there 10-15.

B)

**Theodore** · 01-23-2004, 12:01 PM

Thats bullshit. As antisocalskier said, there should be certain services provided. A place to warm up and water are two of the most basic, and I thought easiest services to provide. How much money can you actually lose in a day providing water to people?

Ted

**TJ.Brk** · 01-23-2004, 12:01 PM

Originally posted by Benny Profane
Holy Shit. I also am dumbfounded.

Intrawest is even getting worse. At Flatten they have a private lodge at the base with memberships costing 10K USD. You could be a pregnant woman whose water just broke and they wouldn't let you in unless you are a member.

They looked into something similiar here at Tremblant. It wouldn't fly here in Quebec. The unions would burn the place to the ground.

**IBISguru** · 01-23-2004, 12:03 PM

That seals the deal for me. Tremblant won't be seeing my a** ever again.

I had a similar situation a few years back. I was there with some buddies, all of us in our mid 20s. We went into a bar/restaurant at the base and proceeded to order some burgers fries coke...etc.
All of us fairly clean cut guys.

Waiter proceeds to ask us if we had enough money to pay. We told him to go F himself and left the place. Didn't think it would get worse than that, but TJ you take the prize.

I will be sure to tell your story to as many potential customers as I can...........

**TJ.Brk** · 01-23-2004, 12:04 PM

Ya Mtn Man I'm going to the summit. I'll be there a few of the days you will be there.

I think I'm going to go crap in a brown paper bag tonite . Lite it on fire by the Mtn Presidents front door. Then ring and run

**board** · 01-23-2004, 12:09 PM

you should have said---- sure i'll buy something, do you have change for a nickel ?

**gincognito** · 01-23-2004, 12:11 PM

^^ Now that is funny.

Well done.

Sick and ashamed and happy (and the "Reasons I hate Tremblant" list continues to grow (two for one ticket be damned; I ain't goin')),
d.

**DougW** · 01-23-2004, 12:13 PM

Isn't the lodge at the top the only brown bag area? Well part of it anyway. Iv'e seen lots of places that restrict the brown baggers to the basement away from the payers.

Can't remember but there is no lodge as such at the bottom of Tremblant is there. I couldn't see one anyway the last time I was there.

**altagirl** · 01-23-2004, 12:14 PM

Wow. I've seen more and more places going to selling bottled water (which is ridiculous) but that's unbelieveable.

KQ · 01-23-2004, 12:18 PM

Originally posted by altagirl
Wow. I've seen more and more places going to selling bottled water (which is ridiculous) but that's unbelieveable.

Not only is it ridiculous but also it's environmentally unfriendly

**TJ.Brk** · 01-23-2004, 12:18 PM

Originally posted by DougW
Isn't the lodge at the top the only brown bag area? Well part of it anyway. Iv'e seen lots of places that restrict the brown baggers to the basement away from the payers.

Can't remember but there is no lodge as such at the bottom of Tramblant is there. I couldn't see one anyway the last time I was there.

Actually they don't allow any brown baggers anywhere period. The have signs forbidding it all over the place both upstairs and downstairs. They will ask you to leave if they see you with a packed lunch. The only place that packed lunches are allowed at, is on the bottom shithole floor at the North Base shithole Lodge.

**DougW** · 01-23-2004, 12:25 PM

Originally posted by TJ.Brk
Actually they don't allow any brown baggers anywhere period. The have signs forbidding it all over the place both upstairs and downstairs. They will ask you to leave if they see you with a packed lunch. The only place that packed lunches are allowed at, is on the bottom shithole floor at the North Base shithole Lodge.

Last time I was there ~98 didn't get to the north side. Is the lodge on the norht side same lodge that was there the time below I was there ~ 82?

**AntiSoCalSkier** · 01-23-2004, 12:43 PM

I brown-bag it almost everytime I go skiing. I usually pack a sandwich, and dessert. However, I also usually buy something warm to go with my lunch (cup of soup fries, etc). That way they can't kick me out of the lodge, but I don't go broke buying lunch either.

Has it occurred to these people that the reason we pack our lunches is so that we can buy more lift tickets over the season? (Of course if you're a passholder, that doesn't count).