JA2340 16 Posted February 28, 2009 Share Posted February 28, 2009 Good point Mr Wiggles, If the passes were more flexible, the customer base might (just might) improve. I mean that if people were able to do say 20 * 3 hour sessions for example at a reasonable cost, they would have more incentive to use the tickets, and the mountain would get better numbers. As pointed out, many will not ski, even if living locally, because they have to work and cannot get value out of a full day ticket. More flexibility might overcome that. Would be worth a try, at least. Link to post Share on other sites
mina2 6 Posted February 28, 2009 Share Posted February 28, 2009 Are places with electronic systems going on better than the paper based ticket places? I would imagine it would be much easier for them to be flexible in the way they do these things. Pressing buttons and stuff to make the changes.. Link to post Share on other sites
journey_man 0 Posted March 1, 2009 Share Posted March 1, 2009 The lack of choice or reasonable pricing, particularly for morning tickets, has stopped me skiing before. Normally I do whole days, but there is always a few times where you only want to ski for part of a day. This is especially true of the expensive resorts. If a reasonably priced half day ticket had been available I would have skied. 20% off isn't a half day price! If someone had offered me a cheap/free ticket in those situations I would have taken it. Link to post Share on other sites
Nisoko 6 Posted March 1, 2009 Share Posted March 1, 2009 Which resorts in Japan do not offer either a half day ticket or multiple hour tickets? Link to post Share on other sites
Thundercat 60 Posted March 1, 2009 Share Posted March 1, 2009 Half day tickets are pretty common. Most places I have been offer a half day. Other than the really big resorts, I never see multi hours tickets. Link to post Share on other sites
journey_man 0 Posted March 1, 2009 Share Posted March 1, 2009 A few years ago I did winter seasons at both Fernie and Big White. The trade in season's tickets was rife. Lifties at both resorts were paid a bonus to bust people, although the risk of becoming a social pariah stopped most of them. The management of Fernie went to considerable lengths to bust people. There were a number of stories circulating about management setting up "Honey Pot" style stings targeting both buyers and sellers. I wondered at the time how much revenue was involved or if it was more about management being hardcore about a rule. Is on selling a season's ticket any different to on selling a day ticket? Link to post Share on other sites
journey_man 0 Posted March 1, 2009 Share Posted March 1, 2009 Not many resorts offer morning tickets and most half day tickets don't cost anywhere near half the price. I haven't seen a points or coupon system that works either - a half days skiing using these products would cost more than a full day pass. These products only really suit a few runs, such as back country access and the like. The smaller resorts in Japan have far less offerings, but then they are often so cheap it isn't an issue (to me). It is the bigger more expensive resorts in Japan and other places I've skied that I'm commenting on. I think the crux of the issue is value for money. If people don't feel that they are getting fair value from the products on offer then they will look for alternatives such as on selling tickets, not buying in the first place or to purchasing 2nd hand tickets. Link to post Share on other sites
2pints-mate 0 Posted March 1, 2009 Share Posted March 1, 2009 I agree about the half day not costing half, but I can't remember anywhere that DIDN'T offer some sort of half day or AM/PM ticket. Link to post Share on other sites
s3phis 0 Posted March 1, 2009 Share Posted March 1, 2009 It's more that the full day passes don't cost double that of a half day pass than the other way around. The half day pass is about what's needed to break even if you only come for a weekend or two during the season. The smaller resorts' model bases the full day pass for the same reason. Having more choice isn't always a good thing either; it can paralyse a lot of the newer skiiers/boarders, who make up a huge portion of the customer base, and also gives more chance for errors. There's enough people who don't know what to get, why they should get "x" pass etc as it stands right now. Link to post Share on other sites
thursday 1 Posted March 1, 2009 Share Posted March 1, 2009 get savvy with what you have. First lifts for an extra 500Y. Many punters were up for that one. Link to post Share on other sites
gerard 6 Posted March 1, 2009 Share Posted March 1, 2009 Originally Posted By: thursday First lifts for an extra 500Y. As a way of milking a little extra cash from people? Yeah, I think a few places are doing that... Wasn't Niseko Higashi offering first tracks at a premium price? That is savvy. I think getting up early should be enough of a price to get first tracks so I don't like it from a consumer's perspective but if it works for the resorts then all the more power to them. Link to post Share on other sites
HelperElfMissy 42 Posted March 1, 2009 Share Posted March 1, 2009 Ahhh... I reckon good on them for value-adding! If you can make a special first tracks for a fee, and create happy players and revenue for the resort - then all good luck to them. Now if you are willing to get up before dawn and skin up for a freebie - good luck to you too - but I'll be paying for my First Tracks. It usually only gives you one run with the handful of other people prepared to pay for peace quiet and untouched POW, but why not... Some of the Aussie ski resorts could do worse than installing some kickarse lighting like they have in Niseko and charging a fee for Night Riding. I know my day is over far too fast in Aus, I like the fexibility of night ski in Niseko. Link to post Share on other sites
Jynxx 4 Posted March 2, 2009 Share Posted March 2, 2009 Jeez, you are keen Ma'bear .. I gave up night skiing years ago... I'm too stuffed and hungry by then! Link to post Share on other sites
gerard 6 Posted March 2, 2009 Share Posted March 2, 2009 So what's the deal these days at Niseko, then? Do they open the lifts early only for people who have paid extra, or take you up in a cat or what? Link to post Share on other sites
onsen tamago 0 Posted March 2, 2009 Share Posted March 2, 2009 How does it work? You need an extra ticket or just pay more and get a special one? Link to post Share on other sites
HelperElfMissy 42 Posted March 2, 2009 Share Posted March 2, 2009 For most resorts that do it it works the same - one lift up by prior booking and payment (some might take people who turn up on the day and pay) about 15 minutes before the official opening of the lifts. It is not a big expense usually , just gives those keen enough a jump start on the masses. I usually can't get done with the kids in time and only just make it for the Gondola opening time - but usually find enough untracked on piste to keep my n00b passions happy. Jynxx - there is something nice about Nighta's....the lighting, the atmosphere, the less people... I wouldn't go hard all day and then go again at night - too old for that! But it also spreads out the players over a longer time span. if Nighta's are available then some people might choose a lazy day in town while it is quiet and then a peaceful evening of sliding on the mountain when it is equally quiet - meaning one less body on the mountain at busy resorts at peak times... It also gets rid of the mass exodus off the mountain at closing time - my biggest hate on the cat tracks in Zermatt! If the Nighta is seemless like it is in Niseko then people can choose to stay high and out of the crowds at 4.30pm and come in at 5.30 or 6pm instead. I think Nighta's rock! Link to post Share on other sites
thursday 1 Posted March 2, 2009 Share Posted March 2, 2009 you need a normal vald lift pass, pay and stand in line with the rest of the addicts. It's good for the hardcore, 'cos at that time in the morning, you'd be showering and breakfasting. Link to post Share on other sites
thursday 1 Posted March 2, 2009 Share Posted March 2, 2009 MB, many places have stopped their nightas because nobody goes. Niseko is one of those anomalies that defy economic sense. Link to post Share on other sites
stemik 14 Posted March 2, 2009 Share Posted March 2, 2009 Originally Posted By: thursday MB, many places have stopped their nightas because nobody goes. Niseko is one of those anomalies that defy economic sense. I cant see Happo keeping their nighta open for much longer...maybe a season or two. Groyu is much better suited for night skiing but way below Niseko. Link to post Share on other sites
HelperElfMissy 42 Posted March 2, 2009 Share Posted March 2, 2009 LOL! I know the last few years Thredbo had 2 nights a week that they had 'a night session' but it was not long, and had a big break in between end of days and start of nights. We gave it a crack but you had to get off the one lift they were using at a midstation with a lovely steep drop off and sharp turn onto the run - that was rock hard sheet ice! Not fun .... there was a pile of bodies in front of us before we even got off - so we had no hope. Hard to chip in an edge - not really worth the effort - so one run and we bailed for a beer. However the teens decided to keep on going and they reckon by thier 4th run it had all loosened up and was great as 90% of the people who went out had given it up by then! LOL But this years Thredbo catalogue is only offering one night a week (if memory serves correctly) on Friday Flat - the absolute beginners slope .... not only is it flat flat flat, but it is short short short.... so it will only be beginners and kids who head out for something like that anyways. But I suppose if it doesnt make money then it is a liability. Link to post Share on other sites
big-will 7 Posted March 3, 2009 Share Posted March 3, 2009 Yes quite a lot of once daily nightas now are weekend (or Saturday) only. Link to post Share on other sites
gerard 6 Posted March 3, 2009 Share Posted March 3, 2009 nightas at Niseko were fun Link to post Share on other sites
BagOfCrisps 24 Posted March 3, 2009 Share Posted March 3, 2009 Looks good does that. Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted March 3, 2009 Share Posted March 3, 2009 didn't think I'd be a fan of Nightas but a couple of weeks ago at Naeba I went to the Nighta and it ended being the best part of the whole day, prob cos the snow during the day sucked, high winds had blown all powder away, but come about 4pm the winds dropped and it started snowing and the whole mountain changed. Less people around as well. Wasn't as bad as I thought Link to post Share on other sites
Jynxx 4 Posted March 3, 2009 Share Posted March 3, 2009 We used to do a lot of nighta in Naeba. It was good for us too because it never got crowded. There used to be a lot of ballet skiing going on at nighta there after a day's hot dogging.. Then we hit the Disco....how we had so much energy I have no idea... Link to post Share on other sites
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