Meadows Blog

4 Comments

1. Trayson

   November 7, 2009

   You keep talking about steamlining the picture taking process. I remember mention of being able to use your last year's photo **IF** I would have bought a pass by a certain time. From an efficiency standpoint, I think it's downright silly that you wouldn't take full advantage of the hundreds of us that had passes last year and have pictures that you should be able to use again. Some of us have unique situations that make it quite difficult to work around the limited times you have pass pictures available. I am a single Dad that has my son two weekends a month. Sure I'd consider popping down to the ski show today but I don't have my son this weekend, so why bother? (not to mention I really have no inclination to PAY to go to the ski show when I don't have any new gear to buy.) I am seriously dreading the idea of getting stuck getting my pass picture at the resort once the season starts. The lines last year were ridiculous and who wants to wait in line for an hour, sweating in your layers of ski gear (with my 3 year old!) when all I want to do is be out on the slopes. I'd almost rather get swing flu than have to deal with the cluster of getting a pass picture done at the resort based on what I saw last year. (Thankfully, last year I happened to have my son when you did pictures at your clackamas office, which was still a 1/2 hour drive for me.)
   
   Heck, why not even consider allowing us to upload our own photo??? I have plenty of "passport quality" photos. Come on Meadows, let's get into this decade with our passes.
   
   You wanna make your passholders happy? Eliminate the huge frustration that accompanies getting the picture taken.
   
   Meadows reply:
   Thanks for the comments Trayson. We offered the mail out option to those who renewed their passes last spring. We also offered it to those who made their purchase before October.
   We don't offer this as we get closer to the pass deadlines and a potential opening, because we would be overwhelmed by those who would request us to mail it out at the deadline.
   Here's what we've initiated this year. The release language has been revised so as to cover multiple seasons. We also removed any dating from the pass, which would allow you to keep you pass and not have to take a picture or have it reissued.
   However, next season we may be switching to gated access and RF chip technology. This new media doesn't require a physical inspection or scan - you simply wear it in your coat and as you approach the gates the bar will drop allowing access.
   We are making plans to make all aspects of your Meadows experience more convenient and guest friendly.

2. PJ

   November 7, 2009

   Hi,
   I am planning to visit the show in the next hour or so as I pursue the role of Santa. My mission is to locate a snowboard package for my Grandson. Perhaps, look at some ski gear for another Grandson. Finally, a very beginner snowboard package for my youngest Grandson!
   
   Any thoughts before I arrive would be helpful? I did speak to someone from US Outdoor store and they advised me of the great deals at the show.
   
   I plan on using a credit card to make any purchases and are they accepted by all of the vendors? I also need some info on lift tickets for when my Grandson's visit during Christmas and then Spring Break for the next visit. Overall I am looking at about 2 weeks of possible skiing and need to locate the best lift package for them. Any thoughts would be appreciated????
   Thanks,
   Papa Joe
   
   Thanks Papa. Come on out to the ski show. You'll find great deals from the best ski shops in Portland all under one roof. And you can talk to use about your lift tickets - which we'll be placing online for purchase soon!

3. John

   November 7, 2009

   I gotta say i am a bit disheartened by Meadows giving away free ski check.
   
   Why are people who procrastinated and were too lazy to buy their passes early rewarded with free ski check?
   
   Why are people like myself and many others not given free skicheck when we gave you guys 450 dollars TWO months ago before we even knew if there was going to be any snow this year...
   
   If i knew i could have just kept all that cash and paid 499 for everything instead of parting ways with $484(4x4+Skicheck) 2 months ago i would have just held onto my money until now...
   
   I understand trying to get more sales but eesh...
   Bad form Meadows...bad form...
   
   Meadows reply:
   We're sorry you feel that way John. We certainly didn't mean to penalize you or others who make earlier commitments, and we'll keep that in mind as we consider pricing in the future.

4. Jason

   November 9, 2009

   I agree with John, normally you guys are good about recognizing the value of your existing customers, but this is really a slap in the face for those of us that gave you our money to use months ago.
   
   Sure, it's only $35 (which is pretty much all profit for you), but it's the principle. Keep your local season pass buying patrons happy and you'll have lots of skier days and a profitable year. It's poorly through-out decisions like this that are indicators for how ski areas are run that make skiers unhappy.
   
   Meadows: Getting this feedback is good. There's always a balance between rewarding renewing or early purchasers and offering good prices to attract new pass holders. We'll give this balance more consideration as we look forward.