binding mount from REI?

REI is the only reasonably priced shop in my area for mounting ski bindings. Anyone have experience with their ski shop?

All have different shop workers, quality varies from shop to shop. There are good ones and not so good ones.

As Phil mentioned, every shop is different, it would be helpful to post the location of the REI you are talking about to increase your chances of getting a meaningful reply.

My local REI, in Folsom CA, does a good job. I've come to know their 'Master Tech' really well now and he has a good understanding of what I want and how I ski when it comes to mounts and tuning. Developing a relationship with the guys who are working on your gear goes a long way.

Tyrone, good point.

I live in Chicago, so I have my choice of REI Northbrook, REI Oak Brook, and REI Chicago.

One thing to keep in mind, especially when it comes to these types of services -- you get what you pay for.

Another thing you may want to consider -- make sure the shop is a dealre for whatever skis you are having mounted. Should they hose it up (it happens...), they may have an easier time getting skis for you if it comes to that.

So if I take my skis to a shop that is charging $50 - $60 for a mount (i.e. if I did not purchase the skis & bindings at the shop), is that mount somehow better than the $25 mount I got at REI with my REI membership discount?

I dropped my skis off at my local REI on a Thursday night for a mount (I only wanted a mount only) and my tech there said they would be done on Sunday. Cool. So Saturday comes along and I get a call and they're done a day earlier than expected and then I go and pick them up and they also have a fresh coat of wax on them which I didn't even ask for. Sweet! Not bad for $25.

YMMV of course.

Wow, $25 is cheap. I was quoted $44 for the binding mount and adjustment from my local REI.

If you know your tech or their reputation, that's one thing. If you're shopping on price, I think my statement stands. Is the mount better if it's done right at the more expensive shops? No - and that question is leading and dumb, and sorry, not gonna bite. But if I'm taking my skis to get bindings done (if I can't do them myself), you'd better bet I'm going to the shop with the reputation, even if it costs more.

Sports Authority or Gart does them for $30. $15 if it is a system mount but they are a piece of cake.

Enuf said.

I posted a week ago about questions/opinions on what to do with my bindings from one of three shops. I dropped them off at a shop that stated(employee) they are certified tyrolia. I asked questions and they were like, oh yeah, we can do that , we can do this, we have the torque test, we have it all. So I felt good for a short while......... Well, was the shop competent? NOT so, I got a call saying they couldn't do my mount because they didn't have the jig to do it. They didn't even have the manual or have way to test the the bindings!!!!!!! I'm ******* outraged that they took my skis in to begin with and right now and I know I could set up my binding better than what the shop which I brought them too.

On the other side of spectrum, I'm very happy that they called me to say that they couldn't do the mount. I'd rather have it done right once than done wrong by me twice.

Still, I was worried about this shop from the get-go. I'm glad they backed out. Not that this means the next place is going to be any better. They could be the same and just half-ass the job and then I'm stuck with it unless they make good on their side.

Kevin

Sorry, this isn't about REI, I forgot to add that REI is the shop in which I'm bringing my skis to because another shop can't do it. Sorry for the rant, but I just ahd to vent to somebody about my situation. I want to get on my new boards!!!

I have had my daughter's skis mounted at REI before, so I suppose that's evidence that I, anyway, think they're fine.

As noted, one REI store might be totally different from another one. As a general observation:

REI obviously isn't a ski specific store, so it's not the ideal place to find real equipment expertise (though you might).

Mounting bindings isn't rocket science ... and even at some good ski shops, it'll probably be done by a high school student with instructions and some tools. REI is very much a "stand up" company in general, so I wouldn't worry too much that they have mounting technicians who are total goof balls, and I'd be confident that they'll do the right thing in the unlikely event of a screw up ... realizing that screw ups happen at some otherwise pretty good skis shops from time to time.

I bought my husband a set of inexpensive close out ski's for a spare pair at REI this year, first dealings with them, and they ordered in the one's i wanted to the South Carolina store. The staff openly informed me that as they were South Carolina they had no one specializing in the Ski Gear and didn't carry it. They also handed the ski to us, as they don't mount in this store and made sure we understood that their warranty would back up any problem at all, including, 'I don't like this" for 30 days from purchase, even after we had the ski mounted. Can't beat that for a warranty. I didn't have to test that.....so don't know if it's as easy as he said, but sure made me trust them and I look there for varying sports needs now as i mountain bike, golf and ski.

Oh, just an FYI, the fellow that did order the skis and worked in the their tech shop (bike tuning and such), did ski and he did recommend a good ski shop for mounting, but as my husband used to work mounting and tuning skis, we really weren't worried about it and they are a fixed plate, pre drilled so he was mounting his own anyhow. I just felt the honesty really gave the store a credibility that i don't tend to see at chain stores.

Well since I started this thread, I figured I'd tell everyone what happened at my local REI in north east IL. I took my Legend 8ks and look px12 bindings there, and the guy didn't look like he had a clue. The best was when he was looking t the ski and asking me where the center was.. (I don't know if all skis are like this, but there was an obvious mark on the 8ks). Then he said the binding brake was too narrow for that ski. I said forget it, took it to another store down the road (which actually turned out to be cheaper) and came back three days later and the skis looked fine. I like REI, they are usually helpful and have good deals during their sales, but I'm staying away from this one's ski dept.

 Any thoughts on the following REI stores?

Reading, MA
Framingham, MA