bad tune!

[cyn]

Has anyone ever had their skis tuned, and then taken them out only to find they've been totally messed up?

My husband had this happen to him this season, and it basically ruined our entire day, because he had to keep going back in the shop and arguing with the guy who'd done the work. BTW, this shop never did fix the problem they had created, and he ended up going to a shop at another mountain several hours away, where a woman immediately diagnosed the problem and repaired it - for free!

My skis are now in need of a tune, and I'm leery of the shops that our closest to us. I guess I'll have to wait until we get up to the place where the technician really knew her stuff....

 

[ski diva]

I guess I'll have to wait until we get up to the place where the technician really knew her stuff....

I love how you say "knew HER stuff." There aren't that many female techs around, and it sounds like the one you found -- although several hours away -- is a good one.

I always have my tunes done at the same shop: Northern Ski Works in Ludlow, VT. They do a terrific job, and I never have to worry about it. I guess the key is to find a good shop and stick with 'em!

 

[Jilly]

Agree Ski Diva. But then again I've had a bad tune from our regular shop. I complained (but I don't pay for tunes, so....) as I felt that the owner needed to know. He was using some new people, but he himself usually runs the skis through the grinder. He told me that "x" did my skis. I reminded him that only "Tony" is to touch my skis, or himself. The skis we're railed, so it wasn't a bad problem, but it makes for a lousy day till its fixed!!

 

[altagirl]

That's why we always do our own tuning.

 

[ISki]

Right now I'm getting the run around from the ski shop and am NOT happy. I dropped off my skis (and paid) over two weeks ago. They are still not done! All I needed was a base repair. I've started to call the shop every few days, and they keep giving me a different reason for the delay. I am getting totally stressed out over this. I hope my skis are okay. I only have 1 pair, and they cannot be replaced since they are of a type no longer made. Stress! :( :( :(.

 

[persee]

Iski,

Did the shop give you a date on which you were supposed to be able to pick up your skis? If so then you've got them. If not I hope you at least have a receipt for them taking in your skis for repair that shows the date they were taken in. These documents could become very important.

Now personally if my skis were this far overdue I'd go to the shop personally and ask to see my skis. They would be made to understand taht I'd better be able to see my skis - if they refused to show me the skis I'd be threatening legal action. At that point the manager could either sign a document with a promised delivery date (no more than 2 weeks from the current day) or I would take the skis to another shop who could be more timely in doing my repair.

Just my 2 cents worth.

 

[cyn]

I had another bad experience that I forgot to relate in my first post. The same shop that ruined my husband's skis this year also mounted bindings on two pairs of new skis we bought from them several years ago.

On our first run on the new skis, I saw my husband walking down the hill, CARRYING one of his skis. The binding had come right off, and the other one was about to go. The shop re-mounted them, but had to drill another set of holes - all in brand new skis which was hugely annoying.

My skis seemed OK until a couple of weeks later at Killington, when my bindings let go, too. The guy at Northern Ski works re-mounted them, shaking his head all the while.

I vowed NEVER to go back to that first shop, but my husband caved and got his horrible tune there. I hope he's learned his lesson.

BTW Ski Diva, I totally agree about Northern Ski works. They are great. I bought my last pair of skis there and their tunes are very reliable.

 

[ISki]

Thanks, Persee. Good advice. Will do.

Cyn - frightening!

 

[lil mountain girl]

That's why we always do our own tuning.

altagirl: i'd love it if you could point me in the direction towards tuning my own gear.

i've only been skiing for a few yrs, and have thus far been intimidated by "screwing something up" -- after reading the rest of this thread i realize that even some of the "pros" out there can relate :p

what are the things i can do myself and where's a good source of info so i can learn how to do them?
also, when do i have to go into the shop?

with my snowboard i did everything myself (so rewarding and empowering!), so since i started skiing, i've felt a bit lost in the tech department . . .

i'm open to any tidbits of advice from anyone!

thanks :D

 

[volklgirl]

We tune and wax all our own skis.

There's several threads here on learning to tune your own skis.

https://www.theskidiva.com/forums/showthread.php?t=396&highlight=tune
https://www.theskidiva.com/forums/showthread.php?t=876&highlight=tune
https://www.theskidiva.com/forums/showthread.php?t=857&highlight=tune
https://www.theskidiva.com/forums/showthread.php?t=778&highlight=tune
https://www.theskidiva.com/forums/showthread.php?t=664&page=2&highlight=tune
https://www.theskidiva.com/forums/showthread.php?t=578&highlight=tune

I'm sort of working on making my own "waxing/tuning for dummies" video, but even when I get the footage shot, I have to wait to get a computer that will let me download, edit, and upload video. This old dinosaur running WIN98 just won't do it.

 

[lil mountain girl]

This old dinosaur running WIN98 just won't do it.

volklgirl: if it makes you feel any better, i'm still on a dial-up internet service :o
i really do live in the stix -- but it's so much fun!!! :D

thanks for the tips!

 

[volklgirl]

Lil mountain girl,

Let me know if those threads don't answer your questions. I'd be happy to go into more depth on any part of the process. It really doesn't have to be expensive or complicated (unless you want it to be ;) ).

 

[Calgal]

I am currently working on putting wax on my new skis before I take them out for their first run. I took a tuning course last winter and it was recommended that several layers of waxing be done before the first use of a ski. I also do my own edge tuning (nothing complicated) and I have never had a bad tune !! It is not a complicated process for a recreational skier....a little education and some good tools to work with, and anyone can do their own tuning. A decent work area really helps. Inconsistent tuning and high costs got me interested, and I find it therapeutic !
Volklgirl ..... will be nice to see your video when it is done!