Hugh S.
Yelp
Front desk girl called me a liar when I walked into Christy's today.
"I was thinking about going today if there is a discount for equipment, as the slopes are only open for a little while, or perhaps tomorrow if there isn't. I'd need to do some math to see if I can justify it if there isn't."
"You're wearing snow gear right now, so don't tell me you're thinking about going tomorrow." Please, you should always violate customers' personal volition. It's just as important to tell them they're liars anytime you get a hunch. Got to keep people honest right?
It was sometime after 5 as she said this to me. I'd already dressed and walked to the Christy's at Keystone Resort. It was only at the back of the resort store that we were told they do not carry gear for beginners. They suggested the Christy's down the road. Walking into the other Christy's after 5, I knew it was going to take 30 minutes at least to get sized, signed, and out of their store, and another 45-60 min to get back to Keystone, buy a sandwich or protein bar, buy a pass and go up the mountain. I've never snowboarded before. I was not about to pay for a full day's worth of snow gear and lift ticket for 2 hours of eating it, of which I expected to spend most of my time on the practice hill. It was one or the other.
I don't usually let people like this bother me, but the shadenfreude that lit up her face with pleasure while directly insinuating that I was a liar and telling me what not to say to her was domineering and upsetting. This was a horrible experience, and while I won't say I'll never visit a Christy's again, I will say that they will not have my business this year. I know it's just one unprofessional encounter, but it was such a turn off I could not stay there. I'm sure it interfered with my learning on the slopes as it was an occasional distraction to my mind. I couldn't sleep tonight without writing about this! I've never been to a store that felt less inviting, and in only 30 seconds!
p.s. we went to Mountain View Rentals across the street immediately afterwards. They confirmed on the phone that they were just charging rentals for tomorrow. The staff was extremely friendly and humorous in our interactions. They were mature and professional. (I did NOT share with them my experience from across the street.) The lighting was warmer. I highly recommend it! They don't even have the "junk level" gear that Christy does at $24/day. (That was the terminology of the front desk girl at Christy's.) This makes it seem like a more principled business from my anecdotal evidence.