Good morning, all! Does anyone have recommendations as to where one can purchase some gently-used ski equipment? I'm looking for some X-country gear, but am stubborn in my desire to not pay full price for anything. I already have the clothes, but am looking for skis, poles and boots.

I noticed at the recycling depot in Zug that they have ski's and boards for sale. I'm sure thats not unique to Zug.
Try your luck, you never know.

Perhaps "hire then haggle" used kit from a rental shop?

Have done this successfully on a number of occasions, and it
has the added benefit that you get to try the stuff out first.
.

Thanks to you both. Kevlegs - I work in Zug. Can you let me know where the depot is located? Weejeem - brilliant idea! Could be worth a shot!

http://map.search.ch/6300-zug/aeussere-gueterstr.10

http://www.oekihof.ch/?page=40.60



Enter by the road Aussere Guterstrasse off Baarerstrasse. Its one way through the depot.

I asked this question at two places and they both said they only sell on the last two weeks of the season. One place said yes. If they do say yes make sure they take the rental cost off the price of the skis.

Try and haggle or take a Scottish person with you like Weejeem for extra fire power, the discounts he gets on things like HD TVs are great.

I think people don't even try to haggle here because it's not the culture.

People in stores can seem flabbergasted when you dare to ask. Sometimes the bewilderment manifests itself as their eyes looking like saucers, their mouths open, a confused smile and taking a sharp intake of breath. Even if you don't get a discount it can be an interesting experience here.

Do you have any good tips or techniques OutofRange ?

We just saw a bunch of skates and skis at the local flee market. Just do not know how "gently" used these things are, since everything there is mostly very used..We did buy really nice sleds there though.

That will almost certainly be true of "Superior"/"Premium" equipment -
which is probably new this season. The "Economy"/"Normal" category is
the stuff to target; i.e. the stuff they couldn't flog at the end of last
year.

Be unashamed, tell 'em straight that ya wanna buy these, here and now,
for cash, done deal. Tell 'em that you know that they'll be stuck with
them at the end of the season again if they don't sell them to you, and
that you'll have bought from one of their sensible competitors instead.
Point out to them how much of a favour you're doing them by taking this
stuff off their hands.

If it is somewhere you hire or buy from regularly, or that you would
usually refer/take people to, then mention this to them also, and that
they could be kissing goodbye to that particular source of their business.

Remember, this is Winter Sports we're talking about, where everyone's on
commission, from the instructor's free lunch for "recommending" a certain
restaurant to the salesman's percentage on what they sell. They want
to sell that kit to you!!!

So don't haggle with the 17year-old weekend help - make sure it's with
someone who can either make the decision themselves or who will (in their
own interest) quickly sell the deal/offer to the person who can say yes.
Make 'em work for you.

Oh, and don't mention about knocking the cost of the rental off, until
after you've got thesale agreed. Just "assume" that, and act accordingly.
If they try to backpedal, just point out that all you've done is briefly used
your equipment, and now want to paid for it. ("If I had paid this morning,
would you try to charge me rental?" "No." "Exactly.")

Happy shopping!!
.

It's a bit late this year, but go to Germany for a ski equipment flea market. They are usually around October, but you would have to check around depending on the village.

Here are some shops in the Thalwil/Wädenswil area that rent/sell downhill ski equipment. I just got the list from someone else as we were looking for rentals. Some even have info in English on their websites.

Bär Sport und Mode
Seestrasse 94
8820 Wädenswil, Switzerland
044 783 95 95
baersport.ch‎

Buri-Sport, Wädenswil, Buri Hansruedi
Gerbestrasse 9
8820 Wädenswil, Switzerland
044 780 61 61
buri-sport.ch
Closed Mondays
Tuesday-Friday 09:00-12:00, 13:30-18:30
Saturday 08:00-16:00
On Monday 14.12.2009, our stores are open in the afternoon. In addition, we are there on 21.12.2009 and 28.12.2209 all day for you.

Tempo Sport AG
Gotthardstrasse 12
8800 Thalwil, Switzerland
044 222 12 12
tempo-sport.ch‎
tempo@tempo-sport.ch
Öffnungszeiten:
Montag 11:00 bis 18:30 Uhr
Dienstag bis Freitag 09:00 bis 18:30 Uhr
Samstag 09:00 bis 16:00 Uhr


Vock Sport
Gotthardstrasse 30
8800 Thalwil, Switzerland
044 720 07 90
ski-rental.ch‎
Monday: closed
Tuesday to Friday: 08:30 - 12:30, 13:30 to 19:00
Saturday: 08:30 - 17:00

Sport Helmi AG‎
Albisstrasse 20
8134 Adliswil, Switzerland
044 710 20 70

I got a great pair of skis at the Cristallina sport rental store in Engelberg... downstairs they have a few ex rental skis for not much at all. I asked to buy the ones I had rented and they made me a ver ygood price.


now just need to find boots...