Yesterday I received my new skis and they look beautiful. Now I need to put on bindings which connect the skis to the ski boots. I had thought I could pull a set of bindings off an old pair of skis I don't use any more. Unfortunately my boots have a new type of sole on them called GripWalk and they are not compatible with all bindings. I looked carefully at the bindings I planned to use and they do not indicate they work with GripWalk which probably means they don't. Newer versions of the binding do but I don't want to risk it as a proper release of the bindings will prevent injury. That means I am now on the hunt for a new pair of bindings.
The last time I needed a new pair of bindings, I went to my local Level Nine Sports store and asked for their best deal. They offered a pair of Tyrolia D12's for $100, which is an excellent price. Furthermore it is compatible with GripWalk and has performed flawlessly for 2 seasons now. I logged onto their website to see if I could order the bindings for the same price I paid in the past. Unfortunately they increased prices by $30. I gave them a call and asked if I could get the same deal from before. The person on the phone told me to come in and they could honor the $100 price.
Going into a store instead of purchasing from a website goes against conventional wisdom. Normally I would expect to get the best price on the website. This is something to remember as you visit brick-and-mortar shops. You may be able to get a better price in person than online. Just remember to be respectful and polite as an entitled attitude may negate any discount you hope to receive.
Now that I have found the bindings I want I need to work with my wife to see what her plans are. She doesn't require the GripWalk feature as she still has conventional ski boot soles. If she needs a pair of bindings, the $60 discount between 2 pairs of bindings definitely justifies the gas of driving a few miles to the physical store.
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