14 replies to this topic

[Emax]

The demeanor of the average American - and thus the "average customer" - continues to decline. Those incidents that arise from "badly-chosen" employees are easy to deal with if you're paying any attention at all... OUT! But more and more we see that negative incidents arise between badly-mannered "guests" with an undeserved sense entitlement. To preserve the "Disney" atmosphere that we'd all like to claim at our "frosted amusement parks", I think that something beyond the official "skiers' responsibility code" needs to be implemented.

I suggest that a message to this effect be posted above each ticket sales window:

Our goal is to provide a pleasant climate for your recreation. In pursuit of this goal, we will not tolerate rudeness of any kind – neither on behalf of our employees nor our guests. If, in the opinion of management, you are found responsible for an incident that diminishes the experience of our guests – you will be immediately removed from our environment without refund.

If this policy is not acceptable to you, please redeem your pass at the Guest Services window.

This post has been edited by Emax: 31 December 2006 - 11:02 AM

[Lift Kid]

I agree 100%. I see people being really nasty to liftys and patrols all the time. I also see liftys and patrols being really nasty to guests.

[boardski]

I 100% agree. It seems as if skiing/ snowboarding seems to bring out the worst in many people. "rude and nasty" definately are accurate descriptors of how many behave. At Loveland, CO, they do have a sign posted on the second tower of lift #1 stating that rude behavior such as excessive swearing or reckless skiing or riding will not be tolerated. I'm not sure how strictly this policy is enforced but it is nice they label the behavior and openly state their stand on the issue. Those who have difficulty being civil and considerate on the slopes do not deserve to be on the slopes. End of story.

[Callao]

I'm sure that this is the policy of all resorts. But it is not enforced. Too bad too, because how can they? I've seen and eard rude behavior, but what authority was around to dismiss? Oh well. At least I can ski fast.

[Kicking Horse]

Lift Kid, on Dec 31 2006, 12:07 PM, said:

I also see liftys and patrols being really nasty to guests.

What ski areas have you seen this at?

[Peter]

How about last week at Crystal when the owners did lap after lap on the Rainier Express until 10:30 while patrol was conducting "avalanche control" I just don't think it is right to make guests wait in line while you get your powder fix when the lifts were supposed to open at 9. I don't have a problem with patrol doing their jobs, however long it takes, but the owners doing freeskiing for an hour and a half with 500 guests standing there watching is not cool.

[Lift Kid]

Kicking Horse, on Dec 31 2006, 10:05 PM, said:

What ski areas have you seen this at?

Not in Colorado. Mostly mid-western areas.

There was just a topic about a lifty yelling at someone for moving their feet.

[tahoeistruckin]

Don't even want to go here. I have seen / delt with many rude co workers.
Lets see, it was the ski instructors, who thought they were better than the lifties, lift maint. and patrol. Funny who fixes, runs the lifts? And who responds if you get hurt. Enough said.

[Emax]

"Lets see, it was the ski instructors, who thought they were better than the lifties, lift maint. and patrol. Funny who fixes, runs the lifts? And who responds if you get hurt. Enough said."

Hey - don't even pay attention to the "part-time help". You prepare and manage the real estate - they just mow the lawn.

[tahoeistruckin]

i should clearifi. Not all instructors think the are better. I know of about 5 at DV who have been there for years, have thier act togehter, treat all other depts. with respect. Even tell the lifities thanks once in awhile.
Alot of instructors i know, won't do manual labor such as mow the lawn.

[gs3]

I have to spout on this a little. Rude employees are bad, so are rude guests, but one of the most idiotic things is rude locals, why be like that? so here's a little true Squaw story from about 5 years ago. gotta say first that early 90s I'd been chewed out on KT more than once, you finally stop talking or asking questions like "is Granite Chief open?",

"who the f--- am I you tourist moron, your tour guide? piss off, you loser owner of non-rockered fat skis who still carries straight poles unlike us cool guys who all ski GS-bend poles even though we never tuck."

anyway, was out there a couple years ago with little brother (never skied there but is an industry vet) and good buddy (had been there a couple times.) good buddy makes the mistake of asking the girl who had made our 4th for the ride this question,

"so, for us guys who don't ski here every day after a big storm, what would be a good place to go check out?"

the girl lights into him, "why the HELL would I tell you where to go ski? you goddamm tourists, you just think you can drive up and we'll open our arms to you. you gotta earn your rights here. maybe after you've skied this hill every day year after year I'll tell you where to head after a dump but no way, no how."

and my brother goes, "hey, you sound familiar, don't I know you?"

and she goes, "huh?"

and he goes, "yeah, kristin or something, you're JD's girlfriend from back in Breck right? weren't you working in the nursery at the hill last year?"

and she goes real quiet, so he asks, "How's JD, did you both move out here?"

it was hilarious, ended up drinking beer with her and JD later.

[Limelight]

I agree 100% that a resort has the right to set a policy that would not allow rude behavior by both employees or guest. This is the product of the "I want it now", "I want it my way" instant gratification type of thought that grips our society.

In the airline world we deal with this everyday, and at extreme level. People have paid hundreds of dollars for a ticket, and somehow that gives them the right to treat airline employees any way they see fit. Often passengers will become irate when a flight is delayed or cancelled due to weather. Like we have control of that! The FAA sets the landing minimums for the airport, not the airlines. By federal law, we are required to follow the regulations set by the FAA. They are set with flight safety in mind. Yet some people think we should takeoff and land for their convenience, despite the huge safety risk, and its our fault. Some of the things I've heard people say to ticket agents and/or flight attendants are mind blowing!

[Allan]

If someone is berating a lift operator or some other staff, I normally tell them there is no reason to be so rude - if they still don't stop I ask for their ticket and that's usually when they start apologizing!

[skier14]

To play devil's addvocate,
I had a flight delayed 2 hours because of a loose bolt on a wing. so they called a contractor to check it out make sure it was ok. (i really didnt care id rather be safe than dead) But everyone on the flight was unhappy about this. well we landed and when everyone was getting off the flight attendants were saying their goodbyes to everyone. Well as i walked by i was listening to my sister who was talking to me. the flight attend said something like good bye (lm not sure, i was listening to my sister) well i didnt answer her and then she got real mad at me for not saying anything back to her. she then turned to her partner and said "look at that man he didnt even acknowledge my existance, its not like i broke the plane" i heard that and turned around and gave the look of "what the *@$% did you say?" She smiled at me then turned away and went on with her good byes to the rest of the plane.
Well i figure she had a bad night, considering the mechanical issues, and moved on. honestly im not the confrontational kind of person, so i didnt really care.
As for sun valley we have the same customers as jackson hole (nice). They do have unusual request though. One asked me once if i could turn off the snowmaking guns because she couldnt see down her favorite run. I just said id work on it (i was a liftie at the time)

This post has been edited by SVmech17: 03 January 2007 - 03:45 PM

[gs3]

There's a hill that back in the 90s had this media training seminar for it's newly formed freeski freeride team, kind of like if someone points a camera at you, get the logo on TV and make sure to mention great snow, but one of the guys said is was a "how not to be a dickhead co--sucker" meeting. the thing that was cool was that those kids became like their own little politeness posse, monitoring language from other kids, being funny and cool ambassadors in the lines, helping anyone, anytime, we couldn't give them passes again the next year fast enough.