WWMD: Damage to skis by shop tuning

BLOOD SWEAT STEEL · 01-21-2008, 09:47 PM

Let me say it again: DO NOT even make an attempt to talk to their tuning "guy." Friend of a friend or whatever, if they sent you to him - you're getting jerked off and only clouding the situation by communicating with him. Deal with the repair manager, store manager (depending on the size of the operation) or shop owner ONLY.

L7 · 01-21-2008, 10:25 PM

I've got to agree that you contracted with the shop to have your skis tuned. They can contract with who they want but your dealings are with them not their 'guy'. That is a bit of a blow off and just the fact they gave you the skis back without discussing the obvious damage is a bad sign I would say.

**mnflyfish** · 01-21-2008, 11:04 PM

Wow, I'm so sorry. Those look terrible. They had better make it good with you.
Jay

**Core Shot** · 01-22-2008, 01:35 PM

Heh. I checked this thread expecting a whining complaining douchebag, but they really trashed your skis.

How did you miss that tip damage when you picked them up???

they owe you.

**2nd mate** · 01-22-2008, 01:48 PM

Neptune?

That is very unprofessional to just hand off skis looking like that without any explanation. Shop is liabale no doubt. best of luck.

**Gripen** · 01-22-2008, 04:42 PM

I get the feeling I am getting the run around. I can't seem to get in touch with anyone who knows anything and the guy who tuned them I think is avoiding me. I am going to give them until tomorrow until make a public call-out on this.

One more day...

**hialtitude** · 01-22-2008, 04:50 PM

I also expected this to be excessive complaining and it is anything but. I would be pissed if I picked up my new goats and that happened. You deserve to be compensated in some manner.

**Speedfreak** · 01-22-2008, 07:16 PM

My shop has done a lot less damage and replaced them -- we usually have one or 2 pairs a year that get "eaten" like that.

That kind of damage warrants a replacement of the skis. Period.

L7 · 01-22-2008, 07:59 PM

2 things. They aren't exactly being proactive about fixing the situation and that should worry you just as the putting you off to the 'tune guy' should worry you.

The other is ski suppliers are usually sympathetic to shops in this situation. Even if the shop doesn't sell their brand a nice request and explanation can usually get a replacement pair of skis at cost minus something as in a pro deal or rental fleet type purchase. The shop could then turn around and sell off the damaged skis for enough to recoup some or all the cost of the replacements or put them in their demo fleet if they carry the ski. If the shop tells you the skis aren't that bad then just tell them they should have no trouble selling them or putting them to use and you'll take a new pair.

It takes some effort on the shop's part but it's not that tough to make a customer happy over their mistake.

**Gripen** · 01-23-2008, 08:16 PM

Well I got an email from the owner of the shop. She said
"I will call you again Thursday morning - hopefully after having it out with him and coming to some sort of resolution that is going to make you happy. Are you able to give me an idea of what that might be? Please know that I will do everything in my
power to make suer this never happens again. My sincerest apologies that
you have to deal with this."

I am going to ask them to either replace the skis with another pair of Gotamas or repair them the best they can with epoxy and give me a ripping deal on a pair of boards that I have been eyeing for some time.

Does that sound appropriate?

Thanks for all the advice in this thread from everyone. It was very re-assuring and encouraging knowing I wasn't A) SOL and B) in the right about being angry about the damage.
I'll let you guys know what happens.

**backcountry1pr** · 01-23-2008, 08:28 PM

best of luck!

**waxman** · 01-23-2008, 09:38 PM

marshal your comment suggests that someone in calgary has a shuttle, not bloody likely...
the damage looks like "throw it in the truck damage" not tuning damage...
i'd be interested in who "tuned" them for sure

**Gripen** · 01-23-2008, 09:48 PM

Originally Posted by waxman

marshal your comment suggests that someone in calgary has a shuttle, not bloody likely...
the damage looks like "throw it in the truck damage" not tuning damage...
i'd be interested in who "tuned" them for sure

Wasn't in Calgary, it was in Golden, BC.

**Arty50** · 01-23-2008, 11:49 PM

Originally Posted by Gripen

I am going to ask them to either replace the skis with another pair of Gotamas or repair them the best they can with epoxy and give me a ripping deal on a pair of boards that I have been eyeing for some time.

Does that sound appropriate?

Don't forget the bindings. Those grind marks have killed the resale value of the binders. I wouldn't buy those. They own you a new set of binders too.

**Eldo** · 01-24-2008, 10:15 AM

Originally Posted by Gripen

Thanks for all the advice in this thread from everyone. It was very re-assuring and encouraging knowing I wasn't A) SOL and B) in the right about being angry about the damage.

Of course you were in the right about being angry at this. That's terrible service and they need to make things right, plain and simple.

If you do not get this settled to your complete satisfaction then I want to hear what shop this was so I can make sure I never give them any of my business by mistake.

**focus** · 01-24-2008, 11:29 AM

Don't contact the guy they subbed to. He has nothing to do with you. Seriously, even if he gets back to you, don't talk to him or accept his remedy. You did business with the shop, not him. Your remedy is through the shop and the shop only. Let them worry about going after him.

It's absolute, almost unbelievable bullshit that they gave you his contact information instead of making good on it themselves. An outing of the shop is deserved on this basis alone. Nobody cares about the subcontractor guy. Leave him out of it.

edit: ditto on the binders. And said outing should only happen once you have some resolution with the shop and are done doing business with them -- you need to hold the board and their reputation over their heads until then.

**GapersGoHome** · 01-24-2008, 12:48 PM

I'm willing to bet that Volkl will replace these under warranty, through the shop - especially since they're this year's skis, and there is no way there could be that much tip damage in 3 months of the ski season... Even if you rode them hard for 50 days.

I would suggest that to the shop owner.

**smallAXE10** · 01-24-2008, 12:51 PM

jeez did they put that in upsidedown? looks like youll get a full setup if you can play it right.

**mtskier** · 01-24-2008, 01:54 PM

i don't know if i'm in the minority, but that shop owes you a 2007-2008 brand new pair of gotamas. period. sure they can be skied, but those are destroyed. i have never seem damage like that. you seem to be handling it well, but i would be livid. a killer deal on a new ski still means money out of your pocket. that shop owes you now. that shop, or at least that shop tech, has their reputation on the line. to keep that reputation in tact, they have to completely remedy this situation. nothing short of a new pair will do.

i don't know why volkl would warranty your skis. its not volkl's fault and they don't seem defective.

just my 2 cents.

**Gripen** · 01-24-2008, 07:26 PM

Talked with the shop owner again today and she was very helpful and understanding. I told her what I wanted and she is working on it. I also just emailed a link to this thread.

This will hopefully be resolved on Monday as I am in Fernie for the weekend

**Munch** · 01-24-2008, 08:29 PM

This brings back the question of whether or not its worth learning to tune your own skis. I have not, but after seeing this destruction to your skis, I'm now revisiting the idea with complete seriousness.

Hope it all gets resolved.

**AsheanMT** · 01-24-2008, 08:43 PM

I just got back to checking out this thread again and I'd just like to add that what I saw in that picture is unacceptable and your skis should be replaced ASAP. You've been to our shop and there is no way we would even attempt to give a ski back to a customer if it looked like that. (nor we would we ever fuck a ski up like that). Did you buy these skis from them or did you get them somewhere else?

**single** · 01-24-2008, 08:47 PM

Originally Posted by Gripen

I also just emailed a link to this thread.

RESPECT THE TGR AUTHOR-I-TAY!!!!

Dude, +++++++vibes++++++++ for those skis. That sucks.

Manager Lady, if you are reading this, you should really hook this brother up. You guys F'ed his skis up big time and didnt even tell him. Your shop will be openly slandered across the nation if you dont.

**pappag** · 01-24-2008, 09:02 PM

Is this store manager chick hot?

If so, leverage accordingly on top of a new pair of skis and bindings for emotional suffering and time wasted consulting with maggots on what the appropriate action should be.