There’s never been a better time to buy your kit in good old Blighty, and to prove it the SIGB has just launched a new campaign called ‘Go UK, Buy UK’ to encourage us British skiers and snowboarders to buy our kit and equipment before we head off to foreign slopes.
The SIGB, if you don’t already know, is a trade association with the full name of the Snowsport Industries of Great Britain (SIGB), which currently has 159 member organisations from the retail, supplier and travel sectors of the industry – all working hard to promote snow sports at all levels in the UK. So that’s a good thing.
So why buy in Britain ? Let us count the reasons !
1 – Value
Yes, the pound may currently be riding high in some ski nations, and you may see what appears to be a bargain in some exotic ski shop, but is it really ?
Credit – Solutions4Feet
“It is very rare that I’m in a resort and see standard shop prices for skis and boots that are cheaper than in Britain,” says Steve Wells, Ski Hardware Manager at retailer Ellis Brigham. “I think back to when I started in the industry 18 years ago and advanced/expert ski boots were £300+, with good intermediate boots only slightly less than they are now; that’s a long time for very little rise. Expected price rises have never really happened, and since then the UK has in general been in parity with Europe. The misconception of resorts being cheaper is nearly gone.”
Even if you do find something that seems cheap in resort, it probably is just that : cheap.
And once you’ve paid out for something that seemed cheap in the Alps and got it home and realised it doesn’t fit or isn’t very good, you’re stuffed. But in the UK you know you can easily return it, plus the shop wants you to be a loyal customer so they’ll sell you the best thing for you in the first place. That’s a high-value service.
2 – Quality Time
Credit – Ellis Brigham
You don’t want to arrive after a long trip to a resort only to have to join a queue in a rental shop to get some ill-fitting gear, or worse still, find they’ve run out of your size altogether – only then to have the old issue of returning your gear to the shop at the end of your stay and having to work out how to have shoes with you after you drop the ski boots off to get back to your hotel. Much better to have your own gear, fitted at your leisure to suit you in your own time back in the UK. You arrive in resort ready to go. No worries, no time wasted, no hassle.
3 – Sound, Clear Advice
Credit – Ellis Brigham
Buying from a UK specialist retailer, especially a member of SIGB, will also ensure you are offered a high level of service and advice. Being able to see, hold and try on kit, especially ski and snowboard hardware and outerwear, has no substitute.
I fondly remember a trip with a group of male friends some years ago when one of our number decided to splash out on a “bargain” pair of skis he saw in a shop in the resort. These were sold to him no question asked, but the next day, in the middle of the slopes, the binding cracked in half and fell off. He returned to the shop, where the staff were unapologetic and did not refund his money, insisting that they had not realised that he was buying them for himself.
“But these are women’s skis!” they said in wide-eyed astonishment. He hasn’t lived it down.
Getting good-fitting boots in particular can be a deal breaker in terms of how much you enjoy your skiing or snowboarding holiday. Getting your boots professionally fitted in the UK by an expert who speaks your language and can analyse your feet and the fit of the boots is a vital part of being ready for a snow-sports trip.
4 – After-sales Support
Follow up after-sales, whether it’s boot-fitting adjustments, repairs or maintenance, is an important part of any UK specialist shop’s reputation and service standard. Buying at home gives confidence in terms of ongoing support.
Credit – Ellis Brigham
‘The most common problem we see in the stores is boots bought abroad where all the shop has cared about is getting the sale,” says Steve. “Skiers end up with boots way too big that felt fine initially but quickly loosened up. The shop isn’t looking to impress and create a repeat customer, they just want a sale. Getting the right product wasn’t so much of a concern because with boots it takes time and lots of communication, something we do focus on in this country. In the UK we want to do a great job and bring repeat business, even if that means more time and effort.”
Again, if you have your equipment serviced in the UK before your holiday, you know it’s in pristine condition on day one.
5 – Worry-free Warranty
It’s one you may not have considered, but when buying from a UK retailer, customers will avoid potential warranty or customs issues.
Credit – Ellis Brigham
Faulty, damaged or broken equipment can cause big issues as the contract exists between the buyer and the seller. You don’t buy a loaf of bread in Tesco and if it’s not perfect expect a refund in Waitrose. Ski equipment is exactly the same, and the first point of contact in any warranty enquiry has to be the original seller.
So any complaint or return is a lot easier when dealing with a UK retailer – it’s closer to home and everyone speaks English and comes under the same legal jurisdiction. Correct binding, fitting and adjustment are also important in terms of warranty validity.
6 – Support The Sport
British athletes are having their best ever run of results, and James ‘Woodsy’ Woods is already topping the World Cup Slopestyle 2015–16 table thanks to a win in the first contest in New Zealand in August, before most of us have even booked our flights to the Alps this coming season. But it’s almost as big a battle for British athletes to win funding as it is to win the competitions. Thankfully, though, there’s a supportive, active UK snow-sports trade working with our competitors at all levels, and the industry has invested over £1.2 million to promote skiing and snowboarding from local amateur events to world-class international competitors over the past 20 years. So the more support we give to the British snow-sports trade, the more they can give to the British team.
Go UK, Buy UK
To support the Go UK, Buy UK campaign and ensure you are buying British, you can find your nearest SIGB retailer by visiting sigb.org.uk/directory/shops.