Local Experience — Local services in Fraser

I’ve rarely encountered someone as unhelpful and condescending as the person who assisted me today. I visited the store looking for a Thule cargo bar for my vehicle and explained what I needed. Instead of offering any real assistance, he dismissed my request with a snarky comment, insisting that what I was looking for didn’t exist. The odd part is, I’ve seen these bars on other vehicles—so I know they’re out there. Rather than listening, he made me feel foolish for even asking. My son, who was with me, later asked, “Why was that guy so rude when you just asked a question?” It was a strange and disappointing experience. Not only was the employee rude, but he also clearly had no idea what he was talking about. I’d recommend avoiding this place altogether.

in response to your comment below, I’m not trying to offend you or your intelligence, and I never once got angry or was rude in any way. Yes, you came and looked at my car, after I requested three times that you to just come take a look since I was parked right out front in the first row, about 25 feet away. So, I appreciate you finally coming out to tell me that my “off-brand” bars that I have on there. The ones that came from GMC when I ordered the vehicle, so I assume they are factory and not “off-brand” as you smugly stated. I’m also sorry that you didn’t follow what I was explaining when I stated I needed an adapter to fit on on my aero bars that came with the vehicle, to hold a t-bar or wing bar that was wide enough for the two attachments I had to sit side by side. You stated that you weren’t familiar with what and aero bar was, which I found odd, but what did I know, you’re the expert. Either way, even if I had it wrong, I clearly told you I wasn’t sure, but I had seen bar system and adapter around town and that I wasn’t all that familiar, but you just leaned into making me feel like a fool or something. But it’s all good, the bike shop across the street was very helpful and sold me a $59 dollar part that worked great and he knew exactly what I was talking about when I asked him the same exact thing I asked you for. So, no, I didn’t want to take you’re $700 offer for a new set up, especially after the way you treated me and my son (who is 13 and clearly understood what I was asking for as well). So, again, to anyone reasoning this, stay away from this condescending and extorting shop. Save a bunch of bucks and a headache and go visit the bike shop across the...

I am a local to Fraser Valley and stopped by to check out their women's backcountry ski boot selection. The man who greeted me was incredibly defensive right off the bat. He informed me that they did custom boot fitting by a $40 appointment only because of the whole "pro deal" thing with people coming in to try the boots on only to buy them cheaper online. I 100% understand why a local shop would do this so they don't waste their time on non-paying customers. However, he seemed to assume that that was exactly what I was doing without asking me any questions first. I then let him know which brands I was and wasn't interested in trying on. He seemed to basically ignore me and continued to bring up the brands I clearly stated I didn't want to try on as well as constantly going back to the whole needing to make an appointment thing so I don't waste his time. I would like to point out that being COVID times and the off season, the shop was predictably totally empty so I didn't get the sense that he was strained for time. I do tend to walk into these scenarios (that is, ski gear shopping) with my guard up already because as a woman, I am usually met with a sexist undertone. The rep (usually a man) assumes I don't know anything about the gear and doesn't bother to listen if I try to let them know that I actually have some informed thoughts. My instinct was right in this situation. When I said that I had already done some research at home and knew which brands I wanted to try on, he again ignored this and told me I needed to spend a couple hours trying boots on with him to find the right fit. He condescendingly said that looking at reviews online is a waste of time which seems a little backwards to me.

The ONLY reason I give this shop 2 stars instead of 1 is because their boot selection is actually really great! They had almost all the brands I was interested in which is awesome for a tiny local shop such as this one! They would have been almost guaranteed to get $40 from me for a boot fitting and potentially even a sale if I hadn't been given such a sexist and defensive lecturing about boot shopping.

I would also like to point out that this is indeed COVID times and the man's mask was not covering his nose at any point during the...

RUN AS FAST AS YOU CAN. Please, don’t risk your money or safety. Do yourself a favor and DO NOT take your expensive touring setup there. I should have waited for Ice Box across the street. I took my wife’s pair of DPS Pagoda Tours and Marker Alpinist Bindings in for a mount.

After admitting the screws got wallowed out during mounting, owner proceeded to tell me that Markers product is flawed. In other words, “Not my fault.”

When I couldn’t even lock the brakes by hand, I went back. Owner/operator put the skis on the bench and was finally able to free one side. The other is still so stiff, that I (very experienced with touring bindings) can barely lock it. I told him, that wouldn’t work due to my wife’s small stature and asked for a refund on the mounting. I was told “ No refunds on service work. You need to do a warranty claim with whoever I bought the bindings from.” Keep in mind these skis have never seen snow. Think about how they will function in icy conditions in the backcountry.

Attitude was as described in other reviews. I thanked him curtly, grabbed my wife’s skis, and walked out. Owner/operator then ran out after me and told me I needed to “cool down” before I come back inside his store. What a riot.

All the positive reviews are family and friends. Read for yourself. The folks who own/run this store have plenty of friends to do reviews for them in Grand County. I’m sure they are nice people, but they definitely screwed me. It’s ok to take advantage of non-locals though right?

I tried to support mom and pop, but mom and pop didn’t support me. If you’re from Fraser or WP, maybe you won’t get taken advantage of. For all the rest of you SAVE YOURSELF.

Maybe you’ll get luckier than me, but why risk it? Cripple Creek, Ice Box, and other are out there and they don’t charge $100 for a mount.

Maybe the bindings won’t rip out of the skis? It’s only money and your...