I rented a pair of AT skis with Fritschi bindings from Clearwater Sports last February to test the equipment as I was in the market for AT equipment. The experience was absolutely horrible and, a year later, they're still trying to whack me for $500+. Here's the story.\r
\r
After asking half a dozen questions about the bindings and whether or not I should treat them any differently than a downhill binding (the answer was an emphatic ""NO""), I proceeded to Sugarbush for a day of skiing. After about my 3rd or 4th run down, the front left binding blew into about 5 pieces, my ski went flying, I fell but fortunately recovered without injury.\r
\r
At the end of the day I brought the broken equipment back to the store, the clerk expressed shock that the binding broke and that was that (or so I thought).\r
\r
About a week later I received a call from the store, advising that they would have to charge me the full price for new bindings. I protested, explained that no backcountry binding should shatter like that, especially in a ski resort on cut trails to a guy who weighs 170 pounds. (Upon further research I learned that the Fritschi binding has a tendency to shatter if it is set too tight.)\r
\r
In an effort to settle the matter without hard feelings on either side, I offered to split the difference, a gesture that they simply ignored. So, they charged my debit card and, to this day, I am still fighting with them over the charge.\r
\r
Bottom line: these guys seem to have zero interest in a satisfied customer, they apparently know nothing about ski equipment (especially AT skis) and they refuse to acknowledge any wrongdoing even in circumstances where it's quite clear they're at fault.\r
\r
DO NOT PATRONIZE CLEARWATER SPORTS.
more