The ski season officially opened in Australia last weekend, and while we are still waiting for the white stuff to arrive, it's time to get online and update your snow gear for both on and off the slopes.
When it comes to purchasing ski gear it is all about FASHION and FORM. So here is the Shopper Concierge guide to the best e-stores to check out before you hit the slopes.
Important points to consider when buying ski gear online:
1. Read the sizing instructions, the size may not be the same as your normal clothes.
2. Check the product information carefully to ensure that the product you're purchasing meets your requirements.
3. The e-stores have exclusive arrangements with each of the brands so you wont find all brands on all sites, so shop around.
4. Check the shipping costs as ski gear and equipment tend to be bulky, hence expensive.
5. Check the delivery times, you don't want to order and then leave for the snow before it arrives.
Shopper Concierge Top 5 Sites for Ski Gear:
Australian Site Recommendations:
Specialists at the top end of the market, Larry Adler carry a range of luxury European brands exclusively, such as Bogner and strolz. They are not cheap however they pride themselves on having the absolute top brands and latest ranges available. On the other side, Larry Adler have a very cost effective shipping fee, a flat $9.95 which seems to even apply to skis.
Also at the top end of the market, but a little less conservative than Larry Adler, Auski hold a large array of brands most of which are not ranged on Larry Adler, including Phenix and spyder. They also have a good kids range and an extensive snowboard range. They sell versatile cameras to shoot the action as you ski. At the time of writing they had a free shipping promotion within Australia on non bulky items and $15 on larger purchases.
Offering a more cost effective option and ranging many of the surf and urban brands is Snow Central. In addition to clothing and traditional ski and boarding gear, the site has an extensive range of accessories including protective apparel, cameras for helmets, tools for bindings, as well as stomps and leashes. Orders over $100 will be shipped free of charge!
If you are wondering about whether the ranges available and the prices are better overseas , here are our international recommendations:
Great range of ski and snow board products and accessories at VERY competitive prices. On top of this, the site is really informative, clearly developed by people who understand the level of information required to make online ski purchases. They also have a "ski selector" function on the site, which walks you through a series of questions to help you determine which ski is right for you. The downside: they are not allowed to ship all available brands to Australia based on retailing agreements. In addition, the shipping varies according to the product, which on the larger products often eliminates any savings on the base price.
A UK site that has a very impressive range of everything you have ever thought of in hitting the slopes. To go with this, however, is the unbelievable price tag once you have converted from pounds to Australian dollars and added the extremely high shipping prices (and this is when they have a sale on). But they do have an awesome range of unique skis that will totally set you apart on the slopes.
We hope you enjoy the slopes this season.
No comments:
Post a Comment