Unsafe Bindings + Poor Customer Service... Key Points -Bindings are key to safe skiing, and they made three separate mistakes on the ski/binding combo I purchased from them. -They did not provide an adequate solution to the mistakes or stand by the product they sell, leaving me with a setup I can't trust. My experience at Summit has me concerned about the safety of the work they perform. Considering the danger this can put others in, coupled with the lack of responsiveness by the store, I felt this review was important for others to read. I expect that they might respond to this review, so I've tried to be as objective as possible...please consider my entire experience in forming your own judgment about their business. Mistake 1 - Incorrect mounting position - I bought a pair of skis, bindings, and boots from them less than a year ago. They incorrectly mounted the bindings more than 3cm ahead of the factory indicators (see photo) and let me take them home, where I identified the issue on my own. The store admitted the mistake, which required a remount before I even got them on the slopes. While they gave me a $50 credit, it took up a lot of my time, reduces the longevity of the ski (typically only 3 mounts per ski), and, most importantly, highlights the low attention to detail. Mistake 2 - Binding ripped out - After less than a year from the second mount, two screws came out of a toe piece while I was using them, with the remaining two almost ready to pop...a potentially dangerous scenario (see photo). I brought them to another shop, where they initially gasped in shame thinking they had done the mount, highlighting that 1.) this should not happen, 2.) it was unlikely they were installed properly, and 3.) the other toe piece was just a matter of time before falling off too. I brought the skis back to Summit to have them look at it. In my quest for objectivity, I must note that I can't be 100% sure this wasn't a fluke incident, but my 30 years of skiing experience, Summit's initial mistake, and the other shop's opinion are enough to warrant concern about the install quality. Mistake 3 - Insufficient repair - I called the next day, and without them communicating to me first, they claimed to fix the problem by doing what is called a helicoil on two screws. When I pointed out that there were at least 6 other screws I (and the other shop) didn't trust, I was told that helicoils for all screws would be the way to have full confidence. When they called the owner to see if the store could cover this relatively modest cost (less than $100), I was declined, thereby implying that they do not back their product with full confidence, leaving me with tarnished skis that I frankly can't trust. They did make a defense that both the skis and bindings I purchased from them are known for ripping out, but my research couldn't confirm this as a widespread issue, on top of which it would imply that they sold me junk equipment and won't stand by it. So, mistake 3 was an insufficient fix and unwillingness to do the fix they said would give me full confidence. While I'm just one review (although 3 separate issues), I hope this proves helpful to others considering business with Summit. At the end of the day, they seem willing to let me leave the shop with skis that aren't done right time and time again, which is why I would encourage others to take their business elsewhere. P.S. I do believe I remained calm, respectful, and rational when dealing with them as we explored the options. For example, they came up with the idea of the complete helicoil, which I was willing to compromise on before the owner declined covering the cost. read more

Summit Ski & Snowboard - Outdoor Gear Near Me - Framingham, Massachusetts

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Just dropped off a pair of skis for binding adjustments, sharpening and waxing. I purchased these at a ski swap- kinda bought them on a wish and a prayer and I lucked out. Binding adjustment is $30 - bindings have to be moved to accommodate the boots. Sharpening and waxing is $30. Since I'm skiing until New Years, I agreed to a pick up after Christmas. read more

Summit Ski & Snowboard - Outdoor Gear Near Me - Framingham, Massachusetts

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I decided to make the trek out to Summit after reading some forum posts pointing to it as THE place to go for boot fittings in the area. With duck-feet and big, low calves, I knew finding the right boots would be a process. Boy am I glad I came here. I came in an hour before closing on Friday hoping to find a pair of boots before my weekend day trip. Karl spent an hour with me trying on at least 10 different boots, was extremely patient and friendly with me the entire time. After visiting a few other places, it was a huge relief to find a shop with staff who not only know what they're doing, but enjoy what they do. read more

In preparing for a snowboarding trip, my husband and I decided to take our boards in for a tune-up at Summit. Let me just preface this review by saying that I am a very passionate snowboarder, and a lover of everything snow. I tend to bond with other skiers and snowboarders because of our mutual love of the sport and because in eastern MA, there seems to be an excess of hate for snow and a deficiency of love for it. I tend to love going in to ski shops and comparing notes and sharing good places to go. So, back to the tune-up. We walk into the shop and are immediately greeted by a guy who works there, who ended up helping us. After we tell him that we would like a wax and sharpen, he carefully examines our boards using a tool, and appearing to take some measurements. After his careful evaluation, he told us that we could go ahead and get the $40 tune-up, but what would really help us is if we get the $130 tune-up because our boards are in bad shape, and mine was really old. Maybe this was true--my board was given to me by an old neighbor who got married and never snowboarded again, (poor guy), so I don't really know how old my board is. We both ride a fair amount, so there is no doubt that our gear has taken a beating. What bothered me was that the salesy approach seemed a bit over-the-top. Without going into a lot of details and throwing somebody under the bus, we left feeling gross about going there, and a bit turned off. It is my hopes that by writing this review that it helps the staff and management realize more of what their customers want and expect when they walk into a ski/snowboard shop. Thanks for reading! read more

In preparation for a ski trip, my boyfriend and I went to rent him skis. I have a pair, but he is a beginner. After being fitted and told we were all set to pick them up on Friday before the weekend, we thought we were all set! He returned to pick up the skis, and they had no record of us being there. He was fitted for boots again, left with the skis and boots and we were off later that evening. He went to step into the skis at the base of Killington, and the boots didn't fit in the bindings. Not even close. I adjusted the bindings until they were maxed out, and they still would not fit. Took them to the pro shop at the base of the mountain, and were told that the boots were NEVER FIT THE BOOTS INTO THE BINDINGS, and we were forced to rent new equipment. The boots and bindings were completely incompatible. To top it off, we were not allowed a refund. Beware of this place. read more

I had purchased my wife some new ski boots and needed them adjusted to her ski's. My wife is a recreational skier and we are both not completely aware of what maintenance and adjustment costs should really be; with that said, we were charged 50 dollars to have her boots adjusted to fit into her ski's which took all of about 7 minutes. 50 dollars for 7 minutes of labor? Something didn't seem right. I called some of my advanced ski buddies and researched other ski shops, and came to find prices of 15 to 20 dollars! Some did the mounting of bindings and boot adjustments for 30 dollars! All in all, the employees and atmosphere was very friendly and helpful, but cant help feeling taken advantage of. Though I did see $125.00 dollar ski gloves in the store, so maybe we were just in a very pricey store. read more

Never having snowboarded before, I needed to prepare for my company's upcoming ski trip. A key aspect of this preparation? Pants. (Pants is a fun word to say.) Having looked at a couple other stores and not having found any that fit (late in the season, nobody has anything but a small, go figure!), the next result on my iPhone after the defunct Ski Market was Summit, also showing up as Ski Shop West. After walking in, the staff marked me for a soccer fan, largely 'cause of my US jersey and scarf, and were happy to talk footy for a bit, but eventually the discussion turned to my pants. The proceeded to good-naturedly needle me on all the fun i would be having as a total novice on a snowboard, and tempted me with some garish blue pants. Ultimately, though, i didn't want to be a 6'4" of bright blue tumbling gracelessness so i did have to insist upon black. They were helpful enough in finding a variety of pants, and recommended a higher quality pair at a good price compared to a more cheaply made pair. Not knowing their level of expertise on more technical matters, i'd hesitate to give a fifth star, but who knows, if i have fun snowboarding, they'll be top of the list for where i look to buy one. read more

Excellent group of people at Summit and the best tunes around. I've bought skis and gear, gone on demo days and had multiple skis tuned up with the crew at Summit and they've always been friendly and helpful. Everyone there has had a passion for skiing and always has had the customer's best interest in mind. Years ago I got walked through the whole selection of skis before picking my K2 Recoils. The guys listened to my needs (tree skiier 95% of the time), and couldn't have recommended a better ski for me. Still love these and only want to replace them with some Soul 7s based on another Summit recommendation at their demo day. The tunes are amazing. The skis really do feel better than factory and Mike is a wizard. Every year I bring my main skis in for either a freshening or the hyperglide read more

I love Summit Ski & Snowboard! They have a ton of great selections on everything you could ever need to ski or ride. The store is huge, so you can always find what you're looking for. The staff is very friendly. They're always willing to help you out with anything you need and they're all very knowledgable about their products. I definitely recommend coming to Summit Ski & Snowboard! read more

Friendly and helpful staff, great clearance rack, loads of parking. No ski snobs to make a beginner feel like a dork! Will definitely be back next year to outfit my son with a full ski package! read more

Came one weekend in 12/17 to get the bindings service and maintenance. After waiting 30 minutes at the check in we left. The store employees just kept on telling us that everyone was busy. Not the best experience. Took care of my bindings on REI in 20 min and cheaper after signing up for their membership. It's sad because I like to help the small businesses in the area... read more

We visited many ski shops and spoke to many "experts" but it wasn't until we found Summit Ski & Snowboard that we felt we were finally in the right place. We have been looking to upgrade our ski equipment and admittedly, are not technical experts when it comes to skis - and our man Karl was awesome. He took the time to understand our skiing ability, our preferences for terrain, ask the right questions and found us great skis! We bought two sets of Blizzard skis and Marker bindings and feel like we now have a place we can depend on for advice and amazing service! Take the time to visit Summit Ski and Snowboard - you don't have to be an expert - they are the pros! Thanks Karl and see you soon! read more

After a complete waste of time at Ski Stop in Westwood (purported bootfitters with no one on staff who fits boots, nor anyone, apparently, who can answer a telephone), I opted for plan B, Summit Ski & Snowboard, which, in retrospect, should have been plan A all along. After speaking to JC on the phone and being assured that I could be fitted this afternoon for new boots, I set out. I arrived to find an overwhelming (in a good way) inventory and two very knowledgeable members of the staff, JC and Jeff. JC was already fitting a pair of boots for another customer, so I gravitated towards Jeff at the other end of the store. Jeff was quick to assess my abilities and needs, and within moments had two boot options, either of which were a hundred times better than the old boots I would be abandoning. Upon choosing the pair that I felt I had been wearing for about a week, Jeff suggested replacing the factory insole with a superior insole that would make the fit feel even better. That sealed the deal. But we weren't done. I brought the skis I had been riding on for about 8 years to make sure the new boots were a fit, and after examining them Jeff pointed out that, though they were in fine shape, were outdated in terms of design and function, and limiting in terms of development. Pleased with the success of the boot fitting I asked to hear his recommendations for a new pair. Jeff was completely dialed into my style of skiing (committed intermediate who skis primarily New England hardpack cruisers) and showed me contemporary skis that could conquer that type of terrain. After absorbing his recommendations and letting him deal with other customers (and a telephone that he was happy to answer), I quietly Googled reviews of the recommended skis, and, sure enough, read that they were the very best choices available. Jeff was gracious enough to put together a very fair package price for the boots, skis, and bindings, threw in the upgraded insoles, all the while answering all my questions, the kind one thinks to ask when they've finally encountered a knowledgeable and objective fan of the sport in question. Jeff even mounted the bindings on the skis on site and late in the afternoon when customers were still streaming in, saving me the trip back to the store (though I suspect I wouldn't mind repeat visits). I believe both Jeff and JC missed lunch. JC joined us near the end of our sale and commented on how perfectly I had chosen gear for my ability. Really, it was all Jeff. I cannot recommend Summit Ski & Snowboard enough. It's worth however many miles you need to drive to get there, and the care, concern, humor, ease, and knowledge- it's as good as it gets. read more

Best ski shop. Kind and helpful tuners. Ready to assist skiers and snowboarders at all levels, and has a huge selection of equipment. Look out for their annual end of season sale, which shifts in timing depending on how the season is looking. read more

Two seasons ago I decided to take up snowboarding and after receiving a free board and bindings from a friend I was in need of a tune and some new gear... I walked into Summit the next afternoon and fell in love with the place. The courteous staff welcomed me as I walked through the door and treated me as a regular even though it was my first time there. After quickly taking care of my tuning needs our attention turned to my lack of gear. I walked out that day with fantastic pair of DC boots as well as a jacket and set of goggles that were on clearance. Within the week i was back to get some base layers. In fact just about every snowboarding need I have had has been met by these guys. I don't even bother looking elsewhere as I really enjoy the shopping experience each and ever time I go in there. read more

As a large skier with Sasquatch feet I had a pair of boots that didn't work...but I took them in and spent just a little time with a bootfitter there and I couldn't be happier. Extremely pleasant to work with and great experience. Browsed the merch quickly and they had a fairly good collection and the prices seemed fairly good to me. read more

Just got home from Summit's 40% off late season sale. Took the plunge and bought skis, and can't say enough about the awesome service I received. I'm still very much a novice skier - comfortable on greens, working up to blues, and ready to commit to the gear. The staff at Summit listened to my needs, offered a wide variety of appropriate skis, and helped me to find the perfect pair -- and at a FABULOUS price. I will continue to give these guys all of my winter gear business, because I always leave their store with a huge grin on my face. read more

I was in this shop yesterday. Excellent service. Geoff spent about an hour with me fitting me into the right boot. Didn't push me towards the more expensive boot either. Geoff was very very good. Additionally I've used their shop to have our skis and snowboards tuned. They do it correct here. I refuse to take my gear to REI. They lost 1 star because I would like a little larger selection read more

Great small business, excellent service and great selection. I have bought skiing outer wear for my kids and wife there and as stated before the service is great. Also love that they carry Arc'teryx amongst many other brands. read more

Came here for boots for my fiancée. Teddy was a huge help! After he measured my fiancée's foot, he knew exactly what type of boot he needed. Fiancée is happy and so am I - thanks! read more

Outstanding services. My daughter loves the Spider race suit.

Fast, friendly knowledgeable service. Bought mittens and socks for my son in a few minutes. We service our skis here, and have purchased skis as well. Our fave ski shop! read more

As a new skier i had no idea what equipment i needed or what i was getting into. The crew at Summit were incredibly helpful and informative. I got a great deal on everything I needed and left there feeling like the only way they could've helped more was by actually going down the mountain with me! Thanks again guys, you've got a customer for life. read more

Great selection of jackets and an awesome clearence section in the back. New space is huge!

I just swung in to Summit earlier today for the first time to grab some new snowboard boots quick and overall the experience was good and efficient! As soon as I walked in, a girl directed me to the woman's snowboarding boots area, told me someone would be right over, and then Jake came over and introduced himself almost right away - very pleasant and helpful. He asked me a bunch of questions in order to get me in the right fit, had me try a handful of boots on, and I ended up leaving with a pair of very comfortable Ride boots at a seriously decent price. I'm happy and I'll be back to check out more in the store later! read more

Stopped in to get a new boot heater element and the techs installed it right on site for me while I waited. Customer service isn't dead, it is alive and well at Summit. read more

Once again, the team @ Summit Ski and Snowboard came through. Needed my new boots fitted, and they did a great job. Now we just need some more snow. read more

Best selection of winter gear. Staff very patient and helpful. Not discount pricing, but the personal service is worth it. Will go back next year. read more

Amazing service. Helpful staff. Carl even heated up my girlfriends new boot liners so they would fit better.

Probably the worst ski and snowboard shop I've been to in New England. I just picked up my snowboard which they were supposedly waxing and tuning, which they have done an awful job on. A waste of money and time, you're better of going to a better shop that knows what they are doing. read more

I have been going here for years and have never had the negative experiences enumerated herein on the site. The staff has always been attentive, friendly and professional. I take my three children here every year for seasonal leases and look forward to going soon to get my oldest son his first pair to own. I bought a new pair of skis here last year and was extremely pleased with the selection they helped me choose. Like any retail store with technical products it always is helpful to go at night after dinner to avoid the weekend rush. read more

Bought a used pair of skiis and boots and got these adjusted and waxed/sharpened. B/c I checked in on FB, I got $10 off. Great service too when I dropped off and picked up. Used them last week, and have no complaints. read more

Recently, I dropped my skis off at Summit Ski & Snowboard for a sharpen & wax. Carl told me that I might possibly need the bottoms "refinished", due to some rust on the edges, to which I said "ok". At this point, Andrew walked out of the "ski room" and Carl asked his opinion. Andrew looked at my skis and said that a wax and sharpen was very likely all that would be needed, but he couldn't say for sure. I was fine with this. I paid $40.00 for a sharpen & wax, and left happy, but still prepared to pay more it was determined by "Mike" (whom I hadn't met) that refinishing was necessary. The bad part is that about a week later I got a call from Summit saying that Mike refuses to work on my skis, because they are beyond repair, and "cannot be made usable". I was told to come pick them up. So I drove back to Framingham to Summit to get them, untouched. When I arrived, I tried nicely to see if I could get Mike to spruce the skis up somewhat, as they are not outdated. (bindings are current & all), but he said no, again. So I got my $40.00 back and went to BOSTON SKI & TENNIS in Needham. There, Avery was wonderful. She took my skis, talked to me a little about them, and for $35.00 sharpened & waxed them. I just picked them up today, so I know the job was completed. My skis look great, the edges feel like new, and the rust is all gone. btw - Carl and Andrew at Summit were fine - no complaints about them. And I'm sure Mike does decent work; it's just too bad I was turned away, unnecessarily. read more

Peter, the assistant manager, was amazing. Deep product knowledge and listened well to the type of skiers we were and our preferences. He also was very patient through the cumbersome process of fitting boots. We bought two pairs of skis and boots for my wife and and me (Atomic Vantage 90 and Blizzard Black Pearls). The skis and bindings were also ready on time as promised. High kudos to Peter for his level of professionalism. read more

Like the staff, generally a nice group. Selection is good but dont expect to save money their prices are high by comparison. Biggest disapointment is with ski shop, which is why they get one star. They ruined a new pair of skis trying to install the bindings, but offered no compensation. Then had to make two trips back to the shop while they looked for my gear. Pretty clear they dont really know what they were doing. Ultimately ended up taking the skis to another shop where they installed the bindings correctly. Sad thing is I was left with a bunch of holes where the tech at Summit had miss drilled. When it comes to bindings I dont think it is worth the risk with this shop. I have asked for the manager to call me but I am still waiting. read more

This is a high volume ski store charging full prices on everything. The primary goal of sales people is to move product and not to find the best product or fit for your intended use. They will tell you want they they want to make sure to buy what you are looking at. They are NOT in interested in a long term customer relationship or customer satisfaction. We recently bought ski equipment and were told it was the best fit for us. Technically is was within a rather large standard range, but they did not bother too ask any questions about intended use of type of skiing. The equipment did not fit us well and ended up being too small. They did not help when we returned to the shop.They are interested in just selling the items. The shop is large and has plenty of selection you will be on your own finding the best items for your type of skiing. We went during a sale. The assistant manger told on our first return visit that a return was ok, he said we bought a lot of stuff, and he wanted to keep us happy. On the second return visit the manger said absolutely not. He said he had been working there longer than the assistant manger so his word is what matters When I complained about the customer service we received. The manager told me we don't do customer service during sales. He said it is too busy to provide any type of customer service. My thought is what is the point of a sale if you can't help customers. The solution is pretty simple, have more trained people working during a sale. This is indicative of what you will get at this shop. The manger then told me that we " the ski shop" does not have any record of me ever buying anything in the shop before this year. He came across as saying we are new customers so he can't help us. It is interesting because they had a chance of getting a NEW long term customer, they just lost this chance forever today. My nephew bought an expensive pair of ski racing boots and skis at the beginning of the year. They could not do a boot fitting when he bought the boots. He had to pay an additional fee and come back on another day for the shop to make adjustments to the boots. They also said the boot fit guarantee was only for one year. A ski shop in Worcester does not charge for the fitting and they guarantee the fit for as long as you have your boots. Skiing is an expensive sport, you are better off going to a more customer oriented shop that will help you find the best products for skiing and will help you with any issues you have with the items. I recommend to stay away from this shop. read more

Went inside. Waited 15 minutes for help, while several employees adjusted helmets/clothing racks and did not offer help. Got in the car and drove to Eastern Boarder down the road, where I was helped immediately. Would not go in again. read more

Beware the return policy - nothing on sale can ever go back!! They have a large clearance area where I bought a pair of ski pants for $60 for my son. I took them home, he tried them on... too small. I took them back less than 24 hours later to be told anything from that part of the store is final sale. I asked if there was a sign over there with this policy? No. But it is the seventh or eight bullet on the return policy posted by the register. The clerk didn't mention it as I was checking out, either. Nobody had offered to help me when I was shopping (even though the store was empty). So, I didn't know --- but I want to warn anyone thinking of buying there. The regular return policy also stinks, btw - 7 days. Seven whole days! Really? I will shop elsewhere from now on. read more

I've been coming to summit since the were located next to Framingham state. The owner and employees are always helpful and knowledgeable. They moved to the bigger location to be able to carry more brands and give customers more options and I have never had a bad moment inside this store. Everyone at summit takes good care of customers and even when things get busy they will make sure they meet all of the needs each customer has. Great people, great selection, and great prices on past season gear. Living in Colorado where the majority of the ski shops are owned by vail it's refreshing to come home to Boston and see a Ma and pop store can still make it in the ski industry. My family has bought a half dozen pairs of skis from summit and we will be back this January when we move back to the area. read more

Good, patient service. Nice selection and reasonable prices. My family likes this place!