Shopping on the web.

[ski diva]

A lot of us use the web to shop for gear and get information about travel, resorts, etc.

But not all web sites are created equal. What sites do you really like and why? What is it about that particular site that makes it good?

 

[SkiNurse]

Steepandcheap, REI, REIoutlet & Backcountry.com. I have found all of these site very easy to order from (damn them), customer service impeccable and the return process very easy.

 

[geargrrl]

What she said.

It's easier to say what I DON"T like, what will chase me away faster than you can hit the back key...

-flash entry pages. Please just get me to the content
-music/sound files. If I want music, I'll turn my own on, thank you
-having to create an account. Can't I just place an order please?
-poor navigation, trying to find what I know is there but can't get to it.
-hype but no content, obfuscation, meaningless jargon and tech-speak

 

[MaineSkiLady]

What I like best about Steep and Cheap/Backcountry/Dogfunk is that they usually ship the same day as ordered (if early enough in the day) and send ship notice immediately. Being able to keep track of an order is important to me, so I prefer UPS/FedEx to USPS, even with delivery confirmation. I don't believe the above use USPS for anything.

Sierra Snowboards is also excellent. I've frankly had more good results within online where ski gear is concerned. Other sites? Not so much. Ship to store for WalMart stinks. Target online stinks. Amazon book delivery is haphazard at best (BN is better).

 

[ski now work later]

I'll add Zappos, Sephora, and Al's Ski Barn (www.untracked.com) to my list of fun and great places to shop on line Zappos and Sephora have free returns with pre-paid labels for PO drop off.

 

[ski&bfree]

What she said.

It's easier to say what I DON"T like, what will chase me away faster than you can hit the back key...

-flash entry pages. Please just get me to the content
-music/sound files. If I want music, I'll turn my own on, thank you
-having to create an account. Can't I just place an order please?

I agree. I hate creating accounts.

I don't think anyone mentioned ebay yet. Many great deals, easy to read, pictures with (almost) all descriptions, paypal (payment info kept private from seller).

 

[MaineSkiLady]

Ha, eBay - what a DANGEROUS place, haha! Okay, I'm a big fan and have scored some outrageous deals, including my latest skis.

However, eBay can be a cr**shoot in terms of the seller with whom one is dealing. And should one encounter a dud seller, the recovery process is less than fun. Or swift.

Caveat emptor: ALWAYS purchase insurance for anything mailed. (FedEx/UPS include insurance.) Also request ship information/tracking from seller (though most now include it).

 

[Telluride Ski Babe]

I love Steepandcheap and Backcountryoutlet as well. My biggest pet peeve with sites is when they don't indicate how they ship. We don't have mail delivery here, but we do have UPS/FedEx to our homes, so my shipping address is completely dependent upon what carrier they use. Surprisingly, many (if not most) websites don't tell you which carrier they use! Fortunately, if I guess wrong and give them a physical address when they ship via USPS my post office will get it to my box anyway. I guess it pays to live in a small town!

P.S. Occasionally, I find really good deals on PeterGlenn.com

 

[ski diva]

I love Steepandcheap and Backcountryoutlet as well. My biggest pet peeve with sites is when they don't indicate how they ship. We don't have mail delivery here, but we do have UPS/FedEx to our homes, so my shipping address is completely dependent upon what carrier they use. Surprisingly, many (if not most) websites don't tell you which carrier they use! Fortunately, if I guess wrong and give them a physical address when they ship via USPS my post office will get it to my box anyway. I guess it pays to live in a small town!

P.S. Occasionally, I find really good deals on PeterGlenn.com

This is a pet peeve of mine, too. I have a PO box, and sometimes you really have to search to determine what sort of address the seller needs. I appreciate those sites that let you know right away!

 

[jac]

jealous jealous and then some

You girls are getting offered some fantastic deals over there. Bummer for us in New Zealand as the shipping seems to cost near the discounted product price and then we have to pay another minimum 12.5% tax on top. Jealous jealous jealous! But on the up side ............... we've been skiing alllll weekend

 

[ski&bfree]

You girls are getting offered some fantastic deals over there. Bummer for us in New Zealand as the shipping seems to cost near the discounted product price and then we have to pay another minimum 12.5% tax on top. Jealous jealous jealous! But on the up side ............... we've been skiing alllll weekend

I'll take skiing in July any day over a good deal

 

[LilaBear]

The first thing to make a site good is Price, then it's confidence in the quality of the goods and ease of return, it's no bargain if it's money wasted.

SteepandCheap, Backcountry outlet, REI etc. have been my blackholes of draining resources this past year.

I hate to pay full price for anything nowadays and only do so when I need immediate gratification, e.g. am in the middle of a ski day and something broke or went missing. But I'm not sure I'm scoring highly as a bargain hunter if I over order because I'm stockpiling ...... can't help thinking I won't see the deal when I really need it, or won't see it at those prices again and of course I'll want a back up when the first one expires in three years time.

 

[shnu]

for the few European girls here.
https://www.sport-conrad.com (outdoorgear wirh fast delivery, sometimes you don't have to pay for it)

https://www.blue-tomato.com (more clothes than skies :D)

 

[Kiragirl]

I'm agreeing with just about everything I've read above, and add to that....yes....stubhub. I've ordered Yankees tickets thru the site and knew exactly what I was getting, they arrived very quickly, the rules are clear and the process was pretty easy, and easy to locate what you want to find on the site.

I always book airline tix online, variety of sites/airlines. And another great site, just for finding travel info, is kayak.com but I always go directly to the particular airline site to book the tix. I think they've figured that out now.

 

[abc]

The first thing to make a site good is Price, then it's confidence in the quality of the goods and ease of return, it's no bargain if it's money wasted.

SteepandCheap, Backcountry outlet, REI etc. have been my blackholes of draining resources this past year.

What she said.

The whole point of buying online is for the price. And it better be quite a bit more than buying locally, which I get to walk out the door with the goods AND use immediately. So, if it's only 10% off of a $50 item, I'm buying locally.

But if I have any doubt about a new online store, I won't do it no matter how good the deal is. That's when the online community of Epic and SkiDiva is very helpful. If a store cheats on their customer, I'll hear PLENTY of it by asking at these boards. On the plus side, I would buy from some very small nitch stores that are universally endorsed by the bears.

 

[SnowHot]

SAC, Backcountry, REI, all great places to order, but my absolute favourite is Sierrasnowboard, primarily for the personal service and amazing communication.
Most of my purchases are with Sierra Jim and Whiteroom from Epic, both of whom are top notch guys! Its almost like dealing locally, even though its on line.