Win -

You have perhaps the most unfriendly pricing structure in Vermont and frankly just about anywhere. But leaving it in VT, compare your prices to Stratton and Killington. Everything below a full pass is significantly better value away from Sugarbush. While you may (for now) have those of with condos and houses locked in, nothing is forever.

beelze wrote:

Win - You have perhaps the most unfriendly pricing structure in Vermont and frankly just about anywhere. But leaving it in VT, compare your prices to Stratton and Killington. Everything below a full pass is significantly better value away from Sugarbush. While you may (for now) have those of with condos and houses locked in, nothing is forever.

I beg to differ...as you pointed out for a full pass price, kmart and the Bush are the same, Stratton is alittle cheaper while Stowe is much more expensive. Stowe is in Vermont, right?

The Bush has a cheap midweek and Mt Ellen only pass, kmart has a cheap non-holiday pass but it has 19 blackout dates. Again Stowe is by far the most expensive. Only the Bush sells a cheap college pass to people for the year after graduation. Back to the full pass, Bush includes a free season pass for a child 12 or under, most of the other resorts do not do that. The Mt Ellen plus is a good deal plus, again, a child under 12 get a free pass. Sugarbush offers some great values below the full pass price when compared to other Vermont resorts of comparable greatness.

beelze wrote:

Win - You have perhaps the most unfriendly pricing structure in Vermont and frankly just about anywhere. But leaving it in VT, compare your prices to Stratton and Killington. Everything below a full pass is significantly better value away from Sugarbush. While you may (for now) have those of with condos and houses locked in, nothing is forever.

Care to backup your statement with some data?

Well, SB is not really competing with those resorts....not the same product per se. But if you want to compare, it would be fair to compare the Ellen Only pass with those passes...because Stratton closes pretty early. So with that in mind, the Ellen Only Pass is $499 plus a free one for a kid. Family of 4 skis for under $1,000. Not sure why that is not competitive....

Asked and answered in a similar thread last year. Sugarbush did not raise pass prices and actually lowered them in some cases for next season. Facts aside, "value" is combination of lots of factors and Sugarbush is way ahead of competition on nearly all of them.

Beelze- can you give us a chart of what you're talking about.

I think for weekenders like me, we are pretty much "price inelastic" were going where we want to be as long as the price is in the ballpark. For vermonters that may be different.

anyway, I got my passes for next year so now all I need are new bindings.

Thanks for all who continue to support Sugarbush. Spring Pass sales are up at least 5% over last year. In an tough economy that is great support. I guess a lot of people do understand the value and the different options available.

Got mine.

Me too. $1,300 for me and my two girls. If we ski 35 days, that's $37 per day for all 3 of us. I don't compare prices to other mountain because I don't want to ski there. $37 a day for 3 at the Bush sounds pretty good to me!!!

Hey folks,
Some health plans rebate a portion of your passes to encourage exercise. I live in Taxachusetts, so anything I can get is helpful. Our company utilizes Fallon Health - out of Worcester I believe. This is the second year in a row we have received a rebate for proof of purchase of a season pass.

Last year it was $300, this year $400. My wife and I have passes, and I have one child left under 12 so for $1600 we have all mountain access.
Check your health plan. I think it is one rebate per family.

Win:

My wife and I got ours last week before the May 1st deadline. Thanks for holding the prices from last year. That really helps in this economy. My wife is going to give me her stimulus check to help offset the cost of the pass. That's dedication, right?

It is a free market out there... The Mad River Valley is blessed with at least 2 choices for Skiing, 3 if you count Mt Ellen (you can buy stand-alone season pass or day tickets there now) so I dont think they have a "lock" on anyone here.

In fact one could argue that no ski area has a lock on anyone. Dare I say that skiing is not a necessity like food/shelter/transportation. Dont get me wrong, skiing is a necessity for me but I think conceptually, it is considered a discretionary expense for most people. There are plenty of examples where weather, price, economy, quality, etc have pushed customers away and put ski areas up against the ropes. Clearly Sugarbush is one ski area that seems to know their business and is able to successfully deliver a quality product at a fair price in a competitive free market.

It's a free market out there, have at it.

beelze wrote:

Win - You have perhaps the most unfriendly pricing structure in Vermont and frankly just about anywhere. But leaving it in VT, compare your prices to Stratton and Killington. Everything below a full pass is significantly better value away from Sugarbush. While you may (for now) have those of with condos and houses locked in, nothing is forever.

Are you kidding me??? Why don't you go over to Kzone and see how Killington skiers feel about the value they get from the ownership down there?? I have a wife+2 kids+ me - I just paid $2,000 for all of us the ski next year - no black out dates. I also get 10% off at the ski shop and 10% off at Timbers. Sugarbush just built a brand new lodge - Have you been in KBL lately? The money I spend on our passes is the best $2,000 I spend for our family!

I wish the season pass didn't inlcude a free kid. Rather have a slightly cheaper pass. Or maybe consider adding a perk for those who don't have kids?

Just my 2 cents.

There is a large long term gain in the free child's pass.

It is a good way of enticing families to buy a (their) pass(es) here.