Skis are a considerate investment, so if you are in the market for a new pair of skis, you might be wondering what is the best time to buy skis.
Many ski rental shops and retailers offer sales and discounts at certain times of the year, so by timing your purchase you can take advantage of this and get a great deal on your new skis.
In this post, I’ll give you a breakdown of the best time of the year for buying skis and which holidays have the best discounts. Plus, I’ll give you a quick rundown of the WORST time to buy a pair of skis.
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When Is The Best Time To Buy Skis?
The best time to buy skis is at the end of the season or during the off-season around late spring and early summer. This is when ski shops are looking to clear out their inventory to make room for newer models.
You might even be able to find some sweet deals in the early fall because most people won’t be thinking about skiing at this time of the year. Holidays like the president’s day and labor day are also a good time to buy new skis, I’ve seen discounts as high as 60%!
Tips For Finding A Great Deal
Here are a few tips for finding an amazing deal on your new pair of skis:
In the meantime, check out our awesome guide on how much it costs to ship skis.
Always Buy Off Season
When a season comes to an end, almost every product related to it drops prices. It’s exactly the same when it comes to skiing. Usually, the prices of skis start to drop from February.
This is because retailers and shops are going to get the next batch of newer ski models for the next season and they need the warehouse space to store these. Therefore, the old must go to make way for the new.
Sellers will continue clearing out space for new inventory until the late summer and early fall, so you will find good deals these months. However keep in mind that the later you are the fewer models you have to choose from.
Do Your Research
Make sure to do a good research and get an understanding of their usual prices. Some brands with the same features would obviously be higher than others so if you find discounted skis in the off season that appear expensive even with a high discount margin, you have to understand why and determine if it’s worth it.
The final cost of your pair of skis will also be impacted by your level of skiing experience. Skis designed for beginners are often cheaper than skis made for expert skiers.
This is due to the fact that beginner skis are made with more flexible materials, allowing for much easier movements, while expert skis are made of high quality and high-strength materials to provide the required level of safety.
Buy Older Versions
The older the models are, the cheaper it’s going to be. Plus, the average recreational skier won’t even notice a big difference in performance compared to the newest version. It’s like the new iPhones they release every year, just a few additional features that don’t make a large impact.
Trust me, you’re not missing out on anything if you buy a pair of skis that are a couple of years old. But keep an eye out just in case a huge improvement is made.
However, make sure that you are not buying USED skis. They will be a lot cheaper but it’s not worth the risk. These used skis could have structural damages that will shorten their lifespan, plus they tend to be scratched or even worn out and look ugly.
Be Flexible
Knowing type, design and even the dimensions will make the process a lot easier. You could demo skis from a rental shop to help you figure these out.
But keep in mind that finding the exact pair you want is going to get harder and harder as time goes on and prices fall. The choices you get to make between colors, sizes, and models will be limited. So you must be flexible.
I would recommend not waiting too long to purchase a particular ski if the price keeps dropping because when they go on sale, they will not last long.
The Worst Time To Buy Skis
The worst time to buy skis is when the season is about to start (late fall and early winter) because it is the time of year when people will be thinking about skiing the most and retailers know this.
As the ski season approaches, retailers take their time to unveil their new stock, eager to sell the latest ski models to eager customers who are ready to hit the slopes. With the entire season ahead of them, they are not in a hurry and are prepared to make the most of every sale.
Winter is when there is the most demand for ski equipment. Thus the prices will be at their highest. Retailers will charge far more than they do when business is sluggish in the spring since there is no competition to undersell.
The Christmas weeks are going to be THE WORST time to buy because due to the increased demand for gifts during the holiday season, prices are expected to rise. Don’t buy on Black Friday either, there won’t be discounts for skis!
Final Thoughts
If you’re new to skiing, research the market before you shop. You will often find the best deals near a season’s end in February and March, but you can snatch a good deal during late summer or early fall.
Please avoid buying skis during peak season and especially in November and December. And make sure you’re confident when purchasing your perfect pair.
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