How to mount (system) bindings on rails - Page 3

 So they release too much and also don't release. OK.

No, they release when you don't want them to, and not when you do.  Could be explained by people getting tired of preleasing and therefore increasing DIN beyond where they should.  Or by asymmetrical behavior in response to torque in different directions.

Entertaining thread! I give it an 8.

$50-60 to mount system bindings is just wrong. That would be like charging that to attached some snowboard bindings to a board. Now, if I had zero knowledge of where to start and they were going to show me how to do it, that would make more sense.

I buy all of my gear online. I don't need the 'expertise' of the shop guys, but I send people that have little experience and knowledge to the local shops. Last year I took some skis (flat) in to be mounted. These guys were charging me $40 in years past so I didn't even think to ask how much it would be. I was surprised when I was charged $80 at pickup. I was always glad to give them my 40 bucks, plus buy misc stuff there when I needed it and send people there. So guess where I am not going fo rmounting, misc stuff and not sending people now? Heck, I'll drive an hour each way to go somewhere else now if I have too.

It's about creating and keeping a long time customer, not nickel and diming us. I'm sorry if the Internet f'ed up your business situation, but that is not my fault so don't make me pay for it.

If I were a shop owner I would be advertising FREE binding checks. It cost more than $10-15 to create a new customer while your shop employees are standing around waiting for customers. Get them in the door, be reasonable, they will probably buy something while they are there and come back for more.

I like that. Much more 'need' for that so you get more people in the door I'm sure with that one.

Although some of the stuff that would come in for a free binding check would be obsolete and 'require' buying new bindings, and you may as well get new skis and poles too, these skis will perform much better with the newer technology boots, need a jacket to match, what..... you aren't wearing a helmet? We'll throw in a free mount for ya!

LOL.

A little late to the party (or pileup) ... but FWIW, I mount system bindings myself (Railflex or Looks on pre-drilled plates), and sometimes readjust bindings as skiers change boots or gain weight and change DIN, etc.  They're my toys and I like to play with them (like whoever posted on car repairs etc.)  But I always get them torque tested after mounting or re-setting.  They're my knees and I want to keep playing with them. (Also post-ACL and other knee surgery.)

More often than not I go to the local shop and I'm happy to pay what they charge for service I can't do myself like drilling skis or release checks etc.  It's more than at the mountain but I don't lose time when I could be skiing, and talking about this stuff over the years with the managers and store owner (not the teenage shop monkeys) has built a relationship that I value.  I.e., it's worth paying for.  Their advice and attention to detail or special requests (the occasional rush job) is well worth it. I wish I could afford to spend more on hard goods -- and I'm sure they do too -- but I go for boots and accessories and clothing, and also use their bike shop all summer on the same basis (i.e., parts, accessories, and service for which I lack tools, expertise or time), and I recommend the shop to many friends who know of my gear obsessions.  So I'm not their best customer but not their worst. 

And sometimes I get service done cheaper when I'm at the mountain and run in to the repair shop.  I'm happy to save a few bucks to spend on overpriced coffee or lift tickets.

Really, compared to what we all spent on gas, lift tickets, gear, clothing, lessons, food and drink ... I can't get too worked up over the local shop "overcharging" for a binding mount or release check. 

And unlike binding function checks, there's no potential liability for hot waxes (that I know of, anyway).  I know I wouldn't take on that risk without compensation.

"sign here". done.

Quote:
I know of multiple shops for sale, i think you should go for it. All you need to do is 'sign here'...

No B&M overhead for me, thank you. A website maybe since I kind of have an advantage in that area.

To clarify, I was talking about the liability for the shop, not the customer.

I would mount them yourself and then have a shop do a torque test for $10-$15. They reset all the settings anyway. Bring your boot.

Dude, then you've been in the wrong stores! :-) Seriously, I have had many negative experiences with brick and mortar stores, but I've found a few that are gems. The service is outstanding. I send all my people their way - which one depends on geography and needs. (The same holds true for bikes, btw.)

...I usually just roll down the hill (post yardsale). :)

HA! Yea right, I wish it were that simple. Spoken like a person who has never had a BS lawsuit brought against them. Signing a waiver does not mean that some jackass cannot sue you. Even if you win it still costs a good deal of money/time lost/ etc. it just costs more if you lose. I agree with Whiteroom, some of you guys should get together and buy a shop, you sound like you could do WAAAYYYY better than those of us who currently own them.

Since you're a shop owner, you've gotta try MY brilliant idea...
FREE SKIS!!!
That's right, anybody who walks in gets free skis of their choice. But, you need to take a valid CC # to make sure nobody tries to get more than one pair.
Then, when they come in to complain after getting their CC bill, you explain that the BINDINGS were $3000!
Oh, and make them sign some kind of waiver, too...

Believe it or not, some of us "non ski shop owners" do actually have some business acumen. Some of us decide to start a business and then choose a business opportunity or industry that is in a growth mode or has a high chance of doing well with (relatively) minimal negative factors. I commend those small businesses that are doing well in the ski hard goods arena these days. I have no doubt that it is partly due to good service and fair business practices.

On the other hand, a low in a particular market can be a great opportunity to enter. There is a difference though in an industry with a temporary  market low and one that has a major shift happening.

Late to the pileup too.  Inject $0.02 now.

Way to go for trying something new, PasadenaProf.  I too am a DIY with decent mechanical skills and have watched the 'seasonal ski shop monkeys' hack things up for way too much money.  Due to the nearby sporting goods chain closing their tune shop 8 years ago, I got into tuning my own skis, then mounting my own bindings.  I've probably done 7 pairs for me and my family over the years, and managed to accomplish this in spite of the lack of instructional material on the internet or provided with the gear by the manufacturer.  It's not that hard, and the same outfits I've got my tuning tools from also sell the correct drill bits, etc.  The results so far are adequate.  I like the point made by a previous poster that I have far more interest in doing a good job on the bindings than the shop does.

This would all be a moot point if I had access to a decent shop nearby.  I did drop off a pair of skis in Park City last year since I knew I was coming back in a few days.  The hack job done on my skis was justified by their management that "they were only polishing the turd I brought them." 

Good discussion with lots of valid points on either approach, but I like the independence of doing it myself.

Let's see, since Sammy left in '96, Van Halen has put out a grand total of '1' album of new material (the totally lame "VHIII) and a couple of compilations.  On the other hand, since 1996, with the Waborita's and now Chickenfoot, Hagar has put out about an album a year of solid original material.  DLR may have some clever lyrics left in him, but Eddie is a spent force creatively.

Today I received some skis and bindings that I bought online for my son. These are flat skis. I gave them his stats and bsl and they mounted them for free the same day I ordered and shipped them out. Now all I have to do is take them to the shop for a binding check. Pretty darn good service

I was quoted $75 to mount these by a local shop Hard to justify when these closeout skis & bindings cost me $199.

Screw the mount up on rail bindings? Umm, maybe they shouldn't be in that line of work.

I trust you never complain about $85 / hour for a car mechanic when $240 an hour to plop bindings on a rail apparently seems reasonable to you.

It's so easy it's embarassing - screwdriver is all you need.

What's embarrassing is that your first post is reviving a 3 year old thread. Nevertheless, welcome.

Thank you for using the search function, Dan.

Good thread revival.  I'm a noob so worked out well for me.  I'm mounting up my Markers on my new K2s and it almost seems too easy.  The top mount you move until the bottom edge of the plastic is on the size scale to match your boot size.  Same for the bottom mount but it is top edge of the plastic.  Get the screws flush, boot in, set DIN.  Did I miss anything?  I will definitely have a torque test done by the shop but if this is all it takes then why all the arguing about it?