How much do you tip boot fitters

C

CabbyArrant

Member
I'm going to a boot fitter in Chicago to have some work done on my current boots. I know they make commission so I feel I attest owe them a good tip bc they aren't selling me 800 dollar boots. Anyone know what a good or appropriate tip would be.
 
Depends on a lot. What work are you having done? If they're making significant mods to the boot (punch/grind, replacing/removing material, etc. etc.) and basically going well above and beyond just a simple custom footbed, I'd hook em up—especially if it's a shop you frequent. People in shops and the ski industry in general get paid meager wages and often deal with some of the most entitled and self-absorbed people on the planet. Treat them well, and they will never forget it.

To me, a 6 pack of decent beer is a standard tip for pretty much any/all kinds of repair work, so at minimum, do that. I've tipped people as much as $20 before though. It's all relative. The fact that you're even posting this thread tells me that whatever you decide will be the right thing and they will take good care of you.
 
If you know them from being a regular at their shop a six pack is always great. I work at a shop that specializes in boot fitting and I've never seen someone who's not a regular tip anything.
 
I made an appointment at Viking ski shop in Chicago to get boots fitted. I've never been there before and I don't think that my boots are going to need any work beyond molding and foot beds but I feel like I'm costing them money by not buying my boots through them so I feel like a decent tip is in order
 
I usually give them $15-$20. It depends on the circumstances. Regardless, many of them (In the Midwest at least) don't get tipped that often so they will really appreciate it no matter how much you give them.
 
13562903:casual said:
Depends on a lot. What work are you having done? If they're making significant mods to the boot (punch/grind, replacing/removing material, etc. etc.) and basically going well above and beyond just a simple custom footbed, I'd hook em up—especially if it's a shop you frequent. People in shops and the ski industry in general get paid meager wages and often deal with some of the most entitled and self-absorbed people on the planet. Treat them well, and they will never forget it.

To me, a 6 pack of decent beer is a standard tip for pretty much any/all kinds of repair work, so at minimum, do that. I've tipped people as much as $20 before though. It's all relative. The fact that you're even posting this thread tells me that whatever you decide will be the right thing and they will take good care of you.
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NOTHING WRONG WITH BEING GENEROUS AND SMART AT THE SAME TIME WITH COOL PEEPS TAKIN CARE OF YOUR GEAR!!!!!!

IF you aren't having something extremely simple done that only requires politeness and a thank you a 20 should always be tossed the way of the guy who is working and likely going to fix up your shit and try and get it in before the work is done.

You will save money always in the long run by hookin someone up in a shop. And often have them drop whatever they are doing and bang the work out while you wait as opposed to a 1 week turnaround if your tipping.

Try and talk to the tech not the girl who works the register. When you are showing the tech what needs to be done drop a 'Cool I know I smashed them up pretty bad heres an extra 20 to take good care of the core shots' give the tip before you've paid not when picking your gear up after its finished. After you tip let it be known you have more work to be done and other shit in the car and there's another 20 coming and they'll likely be doing all the shit you want for 40 off the books cash.

That is how you spend 40 and not 120 and have them do a wonderful job.
 
Depends what they're doing and how much they're charging you. I've worked as a boot fitter in a variety of situations. If we're charging set amounts for certain services, I don't expect a big tip. In those situations the shop should be paying their boot fitters a pretty good wage.

The other side of the coin would be a shop that doesn't set rates for specific boot work, and leaves it up to the boot fitter. In those situations, if I spent a couple hours with a customer, then only "charged" them $20 or so, I was expecting a pretty big tip.

Beer is great, but if you work in the ski industry sometimes it gets to be a little much. I can't go buy food or pay rent with beer.

What are you having done and does the shop charge specific amounts for boot work?
 
13563001:JsNeagle said:
Depends what they're doing and how much they're charging you. I've worked as a boot fitter in a variety of situations. If we're charging set amounts for certain services, I don't expect a big tip. In those situations the shop should be paying their boot fitters a pretty good wage.

The other side of the coin would be a shop that doesn't set rates for specific boot work, and leaves it up to the boot fitter. In those situations, if I spent a couple hours with a customer, then only "charged" them $20 or so, I was expecting a pretty big tip.

Beer is great, but if you work in the ski industry sometimes it gets to be a little much. I can't go buy food or pay rent with beer.

What are you having done and does the shop charge specific amounts for boot work?
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Their website doesn't list the prices for work. I was going to get the boots molded and footbed a put in. I was planning on just tipping like a 20 or so.
 
13563008:CabbyArrant said:
Their website doesn't list the prices for work. I was going to get the boots molded and footbed a put in. I was planning on just tipping like a 20 or so.
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If you're getting footbeds you'll be paying for those, so yeah, in that case I would say 20 is appropriate unless they charge you for molding.
 
13563008:CabbyArrant said:
Their website doesn't list the prices for work. I was going to get the boots molded and footbed a put in. I was planning on just tipping like a 20 or so.
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SO I work at a shop in Bozeman, MT:

for example- an intuition molding (or boot blowout if a salmon shell) is $35 USD a standard footbed is $40, our cheapest custom is $120.

It takes about an hour for the mold process, and around another hour for the footbed process. (Unless you got a standard ready to go FORM one)

SO- I would tip according to how the process went, or how well the guy who did it did their job. It's a long process!
 
13563001:JsNeagle said:
Beer is great, but if you work in the ski industry sometimes it gets to be a little much. I can't go buy food or pay rent with beer.
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This. There was too much beer in the first two shops I worked. Literally, I'd be taking it home to give to my roommates.

Home baking is the best tip, it actually shows that you care. Good weed is good. Check out what's around the shop and offer to pick something up for while you're waiting, coffee or snacks at a minimum.
 
13562999:PeppermillReno said:
NOTHING WRONG WITH BEING GENEROUS AND SMART AT THE SAME TIME WITH COOL PEEPS TAKIN CARE OF YOUR GEAR!!!!!!

IF you aren't having something extremely simple done that only requires politeness and a thank you a 20 should always be tossed the way of the guy who is working and likely going to fix up your shit and try and get it in before the work is done.

You will save money always in the long run by hookin someone up in a shop. And often have them drop whatever they are doing and bang the work out while you wait as opposed to a 1 week turnaround if your tipping.

Try and talk to the tech not the girl who works the register. When you are showing the tech what needs to be done drop a 'Cool I know I smashed them up pretty bad heres an extra 20 to take good care of the core shots' give the tip before you've paid not when picking your gear up after its finished. After you tip let it be known you have more work to be done and other shit in the car and there's another 20 coming and they'll likely be doing all the shit you want for 40 off the books cash.

That is how you spend 40 and not 120 and have them do a wonderful job.
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Totally agree, 100%. Especially the bit about the pre-work tip. I get my gear fixed for free as a part of my job, but I still tip the guys cash. First time in this season after some sidestepping/bootpacking I rolled in with a 20 and a thankyou. Got to take care of each other, and like you said, it's an investment in future great service.
 
13563088:safarisam said:
SO I work at a shop in Bozeman, MT:

for example- an intuition molding (or boot blowout if a salmon shell) is $35 USD a standard footbed is $40, our cheapest custom is $120.

It takes about an hour for the mold process, and around another hour for the footbed process. (Unless you got a standard ready to go FORM one)

SO- I would tip according to how the process went, or how well the guy who did it did their job. It's a long process!
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Do you guys have a trained and experienced bootfitter with the skills to make actual high quality anatomically correct footbeds? Because I haven't really found any true bootfitting shops like I had at home in Bozeman.
 
13563775:JakeSmith said:
Do you guys have a trained and experienced bootfitter with the skills to make actual high quality anatomically correct footbeds? Because I haven't really found any true bootfitting shops like I had at home in Bozeman.
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I've heard from a few sources that Chalet can do some solid fitting. Seems like a reasonably dope shop, even though the girls up front gave me a hard time for buying women's ski socks.
 
13563775:JakeSmith said:
Do you guys have a trained and experienced bootfitter with the skills to make actual high quality anatomically correct footbeds? Because I haven't really found any true bootfitting shops like I had at home in Bozeman.
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Tom P and Kyle make the best around.

I sure do miss Start Hause form back hone though. They were the best.
 
I only tip if they hook it up or really do exceptional work (the latter has never really happened).

If I'm already paying $60 to get a boot shell heat molded, or $200 for a custom footbed, I don't really feel the desire to spend more money.
 
13562971:CabbyArrant said:
I made an appointment at Viking ski shop in Chicago to get boots fitted. I've never been there before and I don't think that my boots are going to need any work beyond molding and foot beds but I feel like I'm costing them money by not buying my boots through them so I feel like a decent tip is in order
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I fucking hate Viking, they are terrible store when I was talking to them about park skiing and what I like in a ski they said " oh no no no you don't like that". They act like know it all's and it pisses me off... To bad there aren't any good stores close to me, I actually bought 3 different sizes of a boot I liked instead of going to them. Kept the one I liked and fit and sold the ones that didn't.
 
Viking also had a pair of 2012 a bangs on the wall and they were trying to pass them off as this years skis with like 20$ off full price, it's a terrible store I would do my best to avoid it.
 
13564359:_salty_ said:
Viking also had a pair of 2012 a bangs on the wall and they were trying to pass them off as this years skis with like 20$ off full price, it's a terrible store I would do my best to avoid it.
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Yeah I cancelled my appointment yesterday when I called to find out the price to mold my boots liners alone was going to cost $100. I know some guys in st. louis who said they would do it for $10 and free if i bought something.
 
I always bring a 6 pack of the fitters choice. But I have seen the same fitter for the last 3 years and he's really good and gives me a super discount.
 
13564484:CabbyArrant said:
Yeah I cancelled my appointment yesterday when I called to find out the price to mold my boots liners alone was going to cost $100. I know some guys in st. louis who said they would do it for $10 and free if i bought something.
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First off I'm sorry that you live in Lincoln Illinois. I went to college there for one year about 13 years ago and ln thought I was gonna kill my self.

Second, there are other boot fitters in the Chicago land area. Williams ski shop in highland park il, is a decent place that could probably take care of you. But I doubt for $10 or beer. I wouldnt trust any ski shop in st. louis to work on my boots.
 
If you are in Central IL, call up Bushwhacker in Peoria and see when their tech is going to be in. Very cool shop overall; always very helpful. Got my gf a new pair of boots there a couple weeks ago, and their general staff had most of the info I needed to get her fitted well. Got lucky and they had a perfect fitting pair. For advanced tech knowledge though, call ahead. In their old shop, they only had a tech in one day a week. The new shop in in Junction City off of Knoxville.
 
13563775:JakeSmith said:
Do you guys have a trained and experienced bootfitter with the skills to make actual high quality anatomically correct footbeds? Because I haven't really found any true bootfitting shops like I had at home in Bozeman.
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grizzly outfitters in big sky is the best shop in the bozeman area for bootwork. Chalet is great if you dont have fucked up feet but grizzly is better for the weird custom stuff imo
 
13569896:bibs_skibum said:
grizzly outfitters in big sky is the best shop in the bozeman area for bootwork. Chalet is great if you dont have fucked up feet but grizzly is better for the weird custom stuff imo
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TRUE
 
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