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The Ski Rental Problem

lesves.github.io

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61–70 of 98 posts

Re: The Ski Rental Problem

#61

Post by andai »

svachalek wrote: post #55
massung wrote: post #15

This feels very similar to the “radio” or “restaurant” problem: You’re driving down the street trying to decide which restaurant to stop at (or scanning through the radio trying to decide which song to stop on). If you stop at the first, there’s a good chance something better is ahead. But if you wait too long then you risk getting stuck with something you don’t really like (the problem assumes you can’t go back). If…

Interesting. I once read somewhere that you should date at least... 6? people and leave before it gets too serious, before settling down with anyone. It seemed to imply there was math involved but it didn't explain. I think it must be the same statistics here, with some estimate of how many people you could meet and burn through without getting too old. I think people just don't really work this way but otherwise it…

I've seen stats that correlated number of previous partners with divorce risk. But I always wondered if that was a correlation rather than causation (i.e. both of those factors sharing underlying causes).

An obvious example is that a person from a culture where sex before marriage is unacceptable is also from a culture where divorce is frowned upon.

Re: The Ski Rental Problem

#62

Post by ghaff »

SteveNuts wrote: post #27
Cerium wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

At least yours are in the garage. I have a friend who spent years storing a couple of hundred dollars of outdoor gear in a rental storage locker costing $50 per month.

I have relatives that have spent $60/mo for a storage unit for 12 years for some furniture they "might want to use some day if they buy a new house". Even pointing out that the furniture will likely look extremely dated by now and they've spent almost $10k so far doesn't seem to click at all.

Basically, don't rent a storage locker unless you have a fairly specific exit plan. There may be exceptions like I have no intention of moving out of a condo/apartment but I do sports that require fairly large equipment. But it's a good rule-of-thumb.

Re: The Ski Rental Problem

#64

Post by andai »

xandrius wrote: post #31
thrawa8387336 wrote: post #17

Rent until you know what you want to buy. Done

Buy second-hand and worst case resell. Best of both worlds.

This kind of blew my mind when I realized that if you buy second hand and resell, you can own a product (often for years) for net zero dollars.

I was also delighted when I realized that instead of going through the hassle and cost of moving everything across the country, I could just sell it and buy roughly the same thing in the new place... again for net zero dollars! Teleportation!

Re: The Ski Rental Problem

#65

Post by ghaff »

bee_rider wrote: post #60
einarfd wrote: post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Are you sure that there aren't multiple tiers of rental skies in resorts in the USA? I have friends in the rental business in Norway, and they rent out skies from the kind of beginner friendly skies that would fit your description. To top of the line Stockli and Van Deer kit. I think they keep all of their gear in at least decent shape, with the top gear kept in the best shape, as it makes the most difference for tho…

I’m not sure there aren’t, in fact I bet there are! I’m just talking about the typical case that I think most people think of.

When I was downhill skiing, there were typically regular rentals and performance rentals. I'd usually bring my own boots but, if traveling by air, usually rent the skis.

Re: The Ski Rental Problem

#66

Post by rossjudson »

SteveNuts wrote: post #27
Cerium wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

At least yours are in the garage. I have a friend who spent years storing a couple of hundred dollars of outdoor gear in a rental storage locker costing $50 per month.

I have relatives that have spent $60/mo for a storage unit for 12 years for some furniture they "might want to use some day if they buy a new house". Even pointing out that the furniture will likely look extremely dated by now and they've spent almost $10k so far doesn't seem to click at all.

Yeah, that's what you think the storage locker is for.

Re: The Ski Rental Problem

#68

Post by prawn »

andai wrote: post #64
xandrius wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Buy second-hand and worst case resell. Best of both worlds.

This kind of blew my mind when I realized that if you buy second hand and resell, you can own a product (often for years) for net zero dollars. I was also delighted when I realized that instead of going through the hassle and cost of moving everything across the country, I could just sell it and buy roughly the same thing in the new place... again for net zero dollars! Teleportation!

I've seen this described as using Craigslist/similar for long term storage.

Re: The Ski Rental Problem

#69

Post by SkyPuncher »

ip26 wrote: post #58
xandrius wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Buy second-hand and worst case resell. Best of both worlds.

The second-hand market is a bit of a mess unless you're comparing among the most popular skis. The depreciation is also brutally steep. You can avoid the depreciation issue with old skis, but that comes with other problems.

Ski swaps are a great place for second hand or almost second hand. I’ve been to many where the local ski shops dump their old inventory. You get pretty much pristine gear for a fraction of the price.

Re: The Ski Rental Problem

#70

Post by hyperold »

andai wrote: post #64
xandrius wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Buy second-hand and worst case resell. Best of both worlds.

This kind of blew my mind when I realized that if you buy second hand and resell, you can own a product (often for years) for net zero dollars. I was also delighted when I realized that instead of going through the hassle and cost of moving everything across the country, I could just sell it and buy roughly the same thing in the new place... again for net zero dollars! Teleportation!

Indeed, this is how it's supposed to work in an ideal world anyway. You only need to have some knowledge of the items and their tech to evaluate if they are useful second-hand or not for you. What parts wear and break and what are you able and willing to repair?

I have bought pretty much all my tools used. I usually buy low-tech solutions so my biggest concern most of the time is that the carbon brushes need to be replaced (and some models make this simple operation practically impossible, while in some models it takes under a minute). And I always look for dirty things that need a lot of cleaning since they usually go for cheap, and I'm cheap.

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