Valuable life lesson - never buy boots online!

[Scribbler]

I bought some Rossi Soft Light 3's off the internet - at a very, very good price.

I've been wearing them around the house to 'break them in', but they didn't feel like they were 'bedding down properly', and there were a couple of 'hotspots' where the boots were pressing slightly uncomfortably.

I took them to a ski shop today to see if I could get some thermo-fit liners, or something similar, to improve the fit.

Turns out they are 2cm too long for me (Mondo 27.5 VS Mn 25.5)! Wow. They really did feel fine the first time I put them on, and I was busy congratulating myself on saving so much money.

I've now got properly fitted, by a proper boot-fitter, custom footbed and everything. Turns out the boots that fitted me best were some Salomon Impact 8's. They have got to be some of the most boring, middle-of-the-road boots of all time, but they do fit properly.

Old saying, particularly true with ski gear: Buy cheap, buy twice.

Bugger.

(I also need to apologise to Mitchell for giving him what has turned out to be rubbish advice regarding the fit of the Rossi SL's - hope your boots work out rather better).

Scribbler

[Gorno]

That is a shame... I once had the pleasure of trying a pair of 28.5's on my feet and it was a most amazing fit/feel..... they were a used boot, but in immaculate condition... too bad the owner was out to lunch with the price he wanted. Either way I would kill to try a pair out on the mountains.

[Manlenium]

Done that. trick is to attempt and try on then find em cheape5r online.

[adeehr]

That sucks man, my sister in law just had a really go experience with buying online. She got them, they fit perfect, she then ordered some R8's with Risers.

[str33t]

I just went to a shop today and tried as many boots as I could, chose one to buy, told em I had to think about it and buying them online now and saving 150bucks.

[H20workr]

Did the same...

[Mark]

:) :)

[Scribbler]

The very, very cheapest I've found the Salomon impact 8's online is on ebay (yeuuuch) at £40 less than I paid for them in snow + rock, central London (!)

No guarantee of any kind.

By contrast, snow + rock has this 'fit guarantee':

"Ski Boot Comfort Guarantee
When you buy boots from us we guarantee they will fit. If any problems develop we will change the boot or refit them at no charge with a refund of any difference if you change to a cheaper model. If after skiing in the boots you discover any fit problems we will continue to offer a free refitting service. Finally, if despite our refitting efforts your boots prove unsuitable and have been skied for less than 14 days we will issue you with a credit note less the comfort guarantee credit."

So even if I wanted to 'screw over the boot fitter' and buy online ;), I'm not even sure it's actually much cheaper in the long run - I don't think I'll be risking the internet again.

Is it much different in the US? A 'Snow + Rock' or 'Ellis Brigham' equivalent?