Labor Day bargains in winter sports gear
It feels pretty early to be talking about skiing and snowboarding, but if you're into winter sports and need new equipment, this is a big time to save money.
Labor Day Weekend is huge for people who like to play in snow.
By noon Friday at Southcenter, people were lining up for the annual Skibonkers sales event that featured skis from K2 for $99 marked down for $250, ski boots starting at $49, kids' snowboards priced as low as $112.
Skibonkers owner Tracy Gibbons says about half the inventory is new for the winter season. The rest is overstock from past seasons with a few factory demos and rentals from last season.
"It won't be marked down more.This is definitely the weekend," Gibbons said.
Gibbons says after the sale ends Monday, what's not sold will go back to the stores (Sturdevants and Ski Mart) to be sold at the same sale prices. In the case of new things for the 2010-2011 season, some prices may go up.
Goodwill getting in on the game
If you're really looking to save money, Seattle Goodwill for the first time is jumping on the Labor Day ski wagon. Store manager Julie LaPuma says the Seattle store gathered all the winter sports equipment from it's Seattle area locations and pooled them together for a special ski event to coincide with both Skibonkers and Sports Authority's annual retail ski event called "Sniagrab."
Is all this stuff at Goodwill old and outdated? LaPuma says no.
"We have a lot of newer things too," she said.
The Goodwill sale includes sleds, boots, poles and bindings. A Legend series snowboard that sells for $300 news was price at $100 used in the Goodwill sale.
We found some older-model skis still in their original packaging marked down to 50 bucks. A great deal for collectors. LaPuma says many ski-related businesses come in looking for memorabilia to use for décor in their restaurants and lodging facilities.
The second-hand sale also targets people on a tight budget who are looking for less-expensive ways to get into skiing or snowboarding to see if they're interested long-term.
"We carry a lot of children's skis so that's good, because your kids grow and you have to get different size skis as kids get older," said LaPuma.
If you're buying used skis, be aware that second hand ski bindings are typically no longer backed by the manufacturer. Experts say most ski shops will not work with them.
Also make sure any used items you're considering buying are not on a recall list.
Labor Day Weekend is huge for people who like to play in snow.
By noon Friday at Southcenter, people were lining up for the annual Skibonkers sales event that featured skis from K2 for $99 marked down for $250, ski boots starting at $49, kids' snowboards priced as low as $112.
Skibonkers owner Tracy Gibbons says about half the inventory is new for the winter season. The rest is overstock from past seasons with a few factory demos and rentals from last season.
"It won't be marked down more.This is definitely the weekend," Gibbons said.
Gibbons says after the sale ends Monday, what's not sold will go back to the stores (Sturdevants and Ski Mart) to be sold at the same sale prices. In the case of new things for the 2010-2011 season, some prices may go up.
Goodwill getting in on the game
If you're really looking to save money, Seattle Goodwill for the first time is jumping on the Labor Day ski wagon. Store manager Julie LaPuma says the Seattle store gathered all the winter sports equipment from it's Seattle area locations and pooled them together for a special ski event to coincide with both Skibonkers and Sports Authority's annual retail ski event called "Sniagrab."
Is all this stuff at Goodwill old and outdated? LaPuma says no.
"We have a lot of newer things too," she said.
The Goodwill sale includes sleds, boots, poles and bindings. A Legend series snowboard that sells for $300 news was price at $100 used in the Goodwill sale.
We found some older-model skis still in their original packaging marked down to 50 bucks. A great deal for collectors. LaPuma says many ski-related businesses come in looking for memorabilia to use for décor in their restaurants and lodging facilities.
The second-hand sale also targets people on a tight budget who are looking for less-expensive ways to get into skiing or snowboarding to see if they're interested long-term.
"We carry a lot of children's skis so that's good, because your kids grow and you have to get different size skis as kids get older," said LaPuma.
If you're buying used skis, be aware that second hand ski bindings are typically no longer backed by the manufacturer. Experts say most ski shops will not work with them.
Also make sure any used items you're considering buying are not on a recall list.