I was thinking of setting up a group buy for the 03/04 season pass to Northstar and Sierra, and was just checking to see what kind of interest there was. They raised the price this time up to $359, it was $299 last year, but they also included the vertical pass this year. A total of 16 people are needed. Just trying to find out what kind of interest people would have to see this happen.

UPDATE:
New price for this season pass. Regular price is $419, regular group buy rate is $359, our rate here is $339, a $20 dollar savings. The way this group buys work is that the organizer, that's me, has to get 15 people to pay $359 each and he then gets a free pass. The way I am setting this up is like this. $359 * 15 = $5385 Then since we get one free we get the following $5385 / 16 ~ $336.5625 I round that up to $339, and I apply the extra to my pass for organizing this. If this sound good to people let me know. PM for more info, and to figure out payment options. I can pick up in Oakland area when I head down there either this weekend(16, 17) or the weekend of September 6,7. I am located in Sacramento area. So far it looks like the following are interested:

Me and my g/f - 2 for sure
buymeasti + 2 - pretty sure depending on payment options
HorsePowerForBrains + 3 - maybe, verifying seriousness with the +3
OneManArmy ??

Thanks,

Juan

Im in, when is the deadline?

The deadline is September 30, 2003 or as soon as they sold out. It's valid anyday at Sierra, and anyday at Northstar except for blackout days(15 days). We would need a total of 15 people though.

http://doublewhammypass.com/pricing.html

Juan

I will be down in the beginning of Sept.

Originally posted by jotarou1
I was thinking of setting up a group buy for the 03/04 season pass to Northstar and Sierra, and was just checking to see what kind of interest there was. They raised the price this time up to 359, it was 299 last year, but they also included the vertical pass this year. A total of 15 people are needed. Just trying to find out what kind of interest people would have to see this happen.

Thanks,

Juan


Juan - I'm seriously interested in getting a pass this year. My friends and I are also organizing a group buy but we don't have enough people signed up yet. We can make it even cheaper since one free pass is awarded to the organizer. So if we can get 16 people that will cost everyone only $339. I have four other friends lined up.

-Thy

Thy,

That sounds good, but so far it's my g/f and I plus maybe buymeasti and horsepowerforbrains. That's 4 plus your 5 so we are looking at 7 more still. We'll see who else shows interest and go from there. And then we still have to make sure when everyone will have their money by.

Juan

so thats seven of us, 9 more to go. I passes this up last year and SERIOUSLY regretted it....

I convinced a friend of mine, make that 8 with 6 to go


How would we organize payment and stuff. I'd like to know because Ive been involved in too many sour deals where saving $50-100 was totally NOT worth it, and costed me more lin the long run:mad:

I may know a couple as well. My friends did it last year....so I bet I can dig up a couple right there.

I may be in...better check the pocket book.

only problem with me is age....is it the same deal for over 24 or is this only young adult passes...i had this problem last year...I turn 26 in a week.

OneManArmy:
This is for adult season pass, anyday at Sierra, anyday at Northstar except black out day(14 days I think). You don't want to be at Northstar those days anyways. Way too many people, and really long lift lines.

buymeasti:
Payment would need to be either check or cash. Only one form of payment is accepted for the group buy. I was going to have everyone give me the checks and then I was going to put it on my credit card. I won't have the cash to give to someone else until end of September because I am paying for 2 passes which would be almost $700. As for this being a sour deal, I can't tell you too much. I've know a couple guys up here in Sacramento (Kostamojen, Lowball, DDMan, StankfootZ, and others) so you can ask them about me, but other than that, I would say you just need to trust me. I wouldn't cash any checks until everybody has given me their forms and checks. I also frequent Oakland, so I could pick up checks and forms from people in the Bay Area whenever I go down that way for the weekends.

Other than that, maybe Thy would be setting up to take the payments and such, but then I wouldn't be able to pay my share until end of September. If I put it on my credit card, I can put my share as soon as everybody else is ready.

Thy: What do you think with regards to payments and such?

Juan

What are Sierra and Northstar like for boarding?

I'm teh noob, only boarded 1x at Squaw and Heavenly, but I'd love to have a pass - if these are nice places for it - that's a good price!

Any opinions?

I've heard Alpine Meadows, Squaw, and Kirkwood are a lot better and some refer to Northstar as Flatstar. I learned to board last year at Northstar and I enjoyed it. But for the better boarders, I believe they prefer the other resorts. But for anyone over 24, you can't beat the price for Northstar/Sierra. Kirkwood has a good value season pass if you are under 24.

Juan

I am not a huge fan of northstar.....haven't had a good day there yet...I am more of a back country guy.

Sierra rips though...great park....good intermediat stuff if that's what you need....some desent tree runs.

Generally I hit bear cause I have a house up in arnold and then we do kirkwood and sugarbowl.....sierra as well.

Northstar is great for beginners...long long runs and not to steep. I have been doing this 10 years so and I dont' like parks so it's so so for me.

The backside of Northstar can get challenging, but it's no squa...THere are also snow parks and ramps that can appease even the best boarders.There are ramps and rails that I wont even touch on skiis.

For the most part it is fairly smooth terrain, but if you look for trouble you will definitely find some. The nice thing about northstar is the runs are totally high speed, so you can get like 15 good solid runs in one day if you are up for it, and the lifts are all high speed quads, so the lines are big but move quite fast.

All in all it has a little bit for everyone. But see for this pass you arent locked into one place, and its only for a year, so in the worst case you dont like either place its not like you are stuck there for life, only one season.

Originally posted by jotarou1

Other than that, maybe Thy would be setting up to take the payments and such, but then I wouldn't be able to pay my share until end of September. If I put it on my credit card, I can put my share as soon as everybody else is ready.

Thy: What do you think with regards to payments and such?

Juan

I know this always gets wierd, and thanks for organizing this, Ive just learned my lesson once too many times to not be on the cautious side. Im sure we will figure something out :D Thanks for understanding my concern.

buymeasti:
You have a PM.

Juan

First post has been updated, question or comments, post here or PM me.

Juan

I'm still on the fence... but I should know by next weekend (23rd). Keep me +1 as maybes.

Gotta talk the missus into doing it, too. :)

I have another one interested! That makes me for 3!

Ugh - scratch me +1 off the list. :(

This is subject to change if someone snatches up the cobra before the deadline, otherwise, not until next year.

Thanks for organizing it, good luck! :cool:

Like I told Juan in a PM, I found several posting on Craigslists regarding GB's on season pass. Luckily, there was one space left on one of them. So my advice is to jump on one of those GB's because they are almost complete.

except you are dealing with complete strangers. At least the guys on here are linked to others we know. With $350, I'm not going to send it to some random...

But thats just me:alien: We are pretty damn close, I am sure as the month closes more ppl will jump in, it is just too early for most ppl to dump a couple hundred dollars.

Or why dont we post this on craig's list?

buymeasti, I posted it up there already. So far no e-mails from anyone. I posted it the same day solmooth suggested that I join one of those in his PM. Once I start school on the 2nd, I might be able to find some people. I was going to go to the ski club meeting and hopefully get some people to join us from their. I went last year and there were around 40+ people buying season passes from the ski club at regular rate $419, not even at group buy rate. So I am pretty sure some will want to join our group buy since it is lower than the regular group buy rate.

Juan

Can I get an update of who is in for sure? I got a e-mail from someone via http://www.craigslist.org/eby/com/14914499.html and they may be in for 4 or 5 people, so I want to know where we are at, at this point. Also when would everyone be able to make payment? Buymeasti and I are working on a contract for me to sign whenever I pick up payments (check, money order, cash) that states that I will fullfill my end of the deal, which is to make payment to Northstar for the full group buy application, and that the person giving me a check will make sure it clears. Everyone will have my information along with me signing so that hopefully makes everyone a little more comfortable dealing with me. I am hoping to have everyones payment and forms by the Monday the 8th of September, I will fax over that day and the application should be processed by Friday the 12th. If not I want to have everyones payments and forms by the 15th, and then have everything processed by the 19th. The people at Northstar told me that it takes approximately 3-4 days to process an application. I will be sending everyone PM's also to remind them to check the post.

I can pick up forms and payments from people in the Bay Area. I will be in Oakland and San Jose every Saturday for the next two months. I will be in San Francisco on some Sundays during the next two months. I live in Sacramento. Also post where you are located please.

Thanks,

Juan

Juan + 1 - 100% sure!! - Sacramento

Me +2, will pay at the end of the month.

I should have the money to you by the 15th of next month for sure. I will get aho of the other guys today and see what they are planning on doing and when they can pay.

I am in Reno.

I'm interested, but I won't know for sure for another month.

Jotarou1, what's the origin of your nick? Any connection to
old Laverdas?

hoche,
As soon as we get 16, the group buy will close. Northstar stops this group buy on the 30th of September, or as soon as they sell out of passes. We are trying to get this done as soon as possible, but if it is still open when you're ready, you are more than welcome to join in. Let me know.

My name is from an anime called Jojo's Bizarre Adventure. Main character's name is Jotarou.

Juan

Oh, ok. I'm in the middle of buying a house, so I can't commit to anything until that closes.

The reason I was asking about your nick is because I have a motorcycle called a Jota, made by Laverda in the late 70s and early 80s (mine's one of the last, a 1981 model).

Is anyone interested in carpooling to Northstar/Sierra during the weekdays when it's not crowded? It would be nice to take turns driving up there. Dont't like putting too many miles on the rex during winter. I have a snowboard rack can fit 4 boards. I would be willing to drive if people pitched in for gas.

Anyone else interested in carpooling? I live in Davis.

I won't be able to reply until September 1st, so any questions for me, will have to wait until then. Sorry. I am still interested in having this happen though, I just won't have internet access until then.

Juan

Hello everyone,

Just posting an update as to who is interested. I am waiting for replies from some people, and e-mails from some people from craigslist.org I am hoping they are still interested because they are worried that we might miss the group buy price if Northstar decides to stop selling their passes before September 30th. Please update here with your status, and correct me if I am wrong with any of it.

jotarou1 + 1 - 100% ready to pay September 1st - Sacramento
buymeasti + 2 - 100% ready to pay September 1st - ??
HorsePower + 2 - ?? can pay after September 15th, the +2 can pay ?? - Reno
OneManArmy's friend - ??
hoche - won't know until mid September or end of September

Craigslist:
Group of 2 - shes ready to go, waiting for reply to see if she is still interested, depending on our status.
Group of 4 - Not sure if he is still in, worried about the passes selling out, but they were ready to pay

This puts us at near 15, depending if everyone is still in. Please post if I am incorrect with any information, update any missing information, or update if you found any new people to add. Thanks.

Payment would be worked out via cash, check, or money order. Buymeasti is working on a contract for me to sign and give to everyone as soon as I receive your payment. This contract will state that I will not walk off with everyone's money, and that I will make the payment to Northstar for the full amount of the application, and that you will make sure your check clears if you pay that way. I can pick up in San Jose, Oakland, San Francisco, or Sacramento. Also anywhere in between, either via the 80 to Sacramento or the 5 through Stockton, Tracy, coming from Oakland.

I won't be able to check this post until the 1st because I won't have internet access. If anyone needs to get a hold of me, PM buymeasti and ask him for my phone number. I will PM him my number if he doesn't already have it. I don't want to post it on this page. Buymeasti, it is ok to give my number out. If I don't pick up, just leave a message.

Thanks everyone,

Juan

I have the info and am keeping an eye on the thred until Juan returns online on the 1st :) Pm/email me with questions.

Okay mang. I have myself and another person. I can pay around the 15th and he can pay a little later in the month if possible. Thee are a few co-workers that may do it also. I will keep you updated.

Originally posted by jotarou1
Hello everyone,

Just posting an update as to who is interested. I am waiting for replies from some people, and e-mails from some people from craigslist.org I am hoping they are still interested because they are worried that we might miss the group buy price if Northstar decides to stop selling their passes before September 30th. Please update here with your status, and correct me if I am wrong with any of it.

jotarou1 + 1 - 100% ready to pay September 1st - Sacramento
buymeasti + 2 - 100% ready to pay September 1st - ??
HorsePower + 2 - ?? can pay after September 15th, the +2 can pay ?? - Reno
OneManArmy's friend - ??
hoche - won't know until mid September or end of September

Craigslist:
Group of 2 - shes ready to go, waiting for reply to see if she is still interested, depending on our status.
Group of 4 - Not sure if he is still in, worried about the passes selling out, but they were ready to pay

This puts us at near 15, depending if everyone is still in. Please post if I am incorrect with any information, update any missing information, or update if you found any new people to add. Thanks.

Payment would be worked out via cash, check, or money order. Buymeasti is working on a contract for me to sign and give to everyone as soon as I receive your payment. This contract will state that I will not walk off with everyone's money, and that I will make the payment to Northstar for the full amount of the application, and that you will make sure your check clears if you pay that way. I can pick up in San Jose, Oakland, San Francisco, or Sacramento. Also anywhere in between, either via the 80 to Sacramento or the 5 through Stockton, Tracy, coming from Oakland.

I won't be able to check this post until the 1st because I won't have internet access. If anyone needs to get a hold of me, PM buymeasti and ask him for my phone number. I will PM him my number if he doesn't already have it. I don't want to post it on this page. Buymeasti, it is ok to give my number out. If I don't pick up, just leave a message.

Thanks everyone,

Juan

As far as payment: we did this last year, we all signed onto escrow.com and did not release the money until we got confirmation from Sierra/Northstar that all of the memberships was paid via CREDIT CARD! I say CREDIT CARD because I've heard horror stories of the organizer paying with a check and while the participants confirmed with Sierra/Northstar that it was paid, the bounced check came back a week later after everyone has release the funds to the organizer from escrow. I'm not trying to say people here aren't honest, just a suggestion so there will be no doubts. I would join as I had a pass last year, but I'm just strapped after the new car!

I'm interested in one for myself and maybe 2 more of my coworkers too. I'll know in mid September if they are interested.

Here is the update:
jotarou1 + 1 - 100% ready to pay September 1st - Sacramento
buymeasti + 2 - 100% ready to pay September 1st - Palo Alto
HorsePower + 2 - ?? can pay after September 15th, the +2 can pay ?? - Reno
OneManArmy's friend - ??
hoche - won't know until mid September or end of September
wrx360 + 2 - ?? (How sure) can pan by ??, +2 wont know until sept 15th- Norcal (Location)

Craigslist:
Group of 2 - shes ready to go, waiting for reply to see if she is still interested, depending on our status.
Group of 4 - Not sure if he is still in, worried about the passes selling out, but they were ready to pay


So by my count,
Nasioc: 5 100% sure pay by Sept 1st.
8 Interested, pay by Sept 15th
Total = 13

Craig's list: 6 100%
Total = 6

Now 6+13 = 19, and I think the cap is at 16 for that price (else the free ticket is destributed amongst more people) So it depends on how Juan wants to do this but it looks like we are ready to move on this.

TO ALL THOSE INTERESTED: Please post your commitment level, your guest's commitment level, the date you are ready to pay, and your location. I will have a terms sheet ready this week, that way we all know how this is going to work out and all parties will be protected.

As for myself I am about 90% sure of getting this pass, if I can get the money together by mid september. As for my friends, I would say they are 50% sure, they also need to round up the cash. Would it be possible to pay w/ credit card, I think not since all the money is going to one person. Anyway I live in Orinda and will be moving back to Davis in a month. Orinda is near Berkeley.

sounds good.

As for payment Northstar demands only one payment, but you can write a check or get a postal MO for ~.75 cents I believe.

When Juan is back on the 1st lets see what he has to say about the numbers and when he wants payment.

My Update:

I will not be able to purchase one. A friend has gotten in some trouble and may need my assistance with cash. I will have 2 interested people, one that says he can and would pay at the end of the month if this is possible. I apologize guys, and I may still be able to do it but I don't want to lead it on if I do have to loan him this money. Thanks,

Arthur

Originally posted by HorsePowerForBrains
My Update:

I will not be able to purchase one. A friend has gotten in some trouble and may need my assistance with cash. I will have 2 interested people, one that says he can and would pay at the end of the month if this is possible. I apologize guys, and I may still be able to do it but I don't want to lead it on if I do have to loan him this money. Thanks,

Arthur

No worries! Good luck to your friend. Would love to finalize this by the 1st week of Sept.

Here is the update:
jotarou1 + 1 - 100% ready to pay September 1st - Sacramento
buymeasti + 2 - 100% ready to pay September 1st - Palo Alto
HorsePower's friends (2) - 1 will pay Sept 1st, 1 can pay after September 15th - Reno
OneManArmy's friend - ??
hoche - won't know until mid September or end of September
wrx360 + 2 - 90% can pan by Sept 15th, +2 are 50%, 1 by Sept 1st, 1 by Sept 15th - Orinda/Davis

Craigslist:
Group of 2 - shes ready to go, waiting for reply to see if she is still interested, depending on our status.
Group of 4 - Not sure if he is still in, worried about the passes selling out, but they were ready to pay


So by my count,
Nasioc: 6 100% sure pay by Sept 1st.
7 Interested, pay by Sept 15th
Total = 12

Craig's list: 6 100%
Total = 6

Overall = 18

I have another +1 that is ready to pay ASAP but only if we need the company.

Posted on iclub too
http://www.I-club.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=29645

I will see my friend tonight and attempt to get the money tonight. How will you guys be taking payment? PayPal? Check? Let me know.

Arthur

To clarify I am not taking any payment, Ive actually never even met Juan. He just asked me to babysit the thread since he is offline till the 1st (probably asked me specifically instead of anyone else due to my 100% commitment level).

When I last pm'ed him about this, he said he wanted a check from each person (I am sure a MO in lieu of a check is fine) and then he would pay the total amount through his own credit card. I have no idea if he takes paypal. Id imagine for legality issues, it would be better for each person to pay Juan, that way there is a record if anything goes wrong (not expecting it, just planning for it)

Because of that I am writing up a terms document that we can all revise so that there is a contract and we arent just giving money to someone blindly, although it looks like a few people in the BAIC know Juan personally and he seems like a legit/nice guy.

Hey guys,
I just checked my e-mail and it looks like the person that was worried about the passes selling out, has decided to go with another group buy. So we are down 4 people via craigslist. He didn't want to chance the passes selling out, so he decided on a group buy that would close this week. I had e-mailed and told him that last year they sold them until the last day, but I guess he didn't want to chance it. Sorry. I will try and check this thread again, but I am doing it at a public library(I am still on vacation), so I don't know if I will. Thanks, for taking care of stuff so far buymeasti. Regarding payment, just like buymeasti said, I would pick up from the locations listed, drop off the contract, and your payment would be either check, money order or cash.

So hopefully more people come into this group buy. Anyone else, please update if you haven't. I will be more responsive once I get home from vacation.

Juan

Nasioc: 6 100% sure pay by Sept 1st.
7 Interested, pay by Sept 15th
Total = 12

Craig's list: 2 100%
Total = 2

Overall = 14


PS -- the passes "selling out" is a BS way for them to try to force you to buy earlier than later. THere is no way a company would prefer not to take a lump sum in the beginning even if it meant a couple bucks later on. Cash in hand is always preferred.

Hey everyone I am back. I got a response from craigslist, and she said she is still interested, but she would rather do this sooner than later. I told her I will do my best.

Please keep updating if anything changes. I start classes Tuesday, so I will be going to the ski club meeting this week and next to see if anyone is interested in joining us. Buymeasti, yeah I feel it's BS that they would sell out. Last year they sold until the last day, and they continued in October, with a 20 dollar increase.

Juan

Hey everyone,
Just hoping to find out who is still on board? Some people had posted that they would know by mid-september, or late September. The first ski club meeting at CSUS is this Thursday at 7:00PM, so hopefully I should be able to recruit some people for this group buy from there. I would like to let them know how many people we have that are in for sure though. So please update as soon as possible.

I will e-mail the person from craigslsit who was in for 2. She was also worried about these selling out, so I will try to convince her that there is nothing to worry about. But I would like to get this done the earlier the better.

kalbo-1:
I went to www.escrow.com and I am wondering how much it cost to setup payment with them. Sounds like a good idea, but the added cost would be paid by each individual person if we decided to go that way. From what I gather, it seems like there would be a $25 charge for this service. Am I correct on this? Or am I not looking at the correct place? That is a small price to pay for the added security, but I would want to make sure everyone is ok with it.

UPDATE:
jotarou1 + 1: 100% - pay now - Sacramento
buymeasti + 2: 100% - pay now - Palo Alto
HorsePowerForBrains friends (2) - ? - ? - Reno
OneManArmy's friend - ??
hoche - won't know until mid September or end of September
wrx360 + 2 - 90% can pay by Sept 15th, +2 are 50%, 1 by Sept 1st, 1 by Sept 15th - Orinda/Davis

craigslist:
2 - will e-mail her to make sure she is still in.

Payment Options:
I can pick up in Oakland, San Jose, San Francisco, and in between Oakland and Sacramento along the 80 or the 5. Check, cash, money order accepted. For those interested, I could look into setting up an account on www.escrow.com, but may require a $25 fee on top of pass. I don't have a paypal account setup, so no credit card payments available. If somebody else has a paypal account, people can pay that person, and that person can pay me your part. That would be up to those interested parties to work it out though. Buymeasti has a contract setup for me to sign and give to people when I receive their payment, stating that I will make full payment to Northstar for the group buy application, and that person will make sure their checks clear. Checks would be cashed the day I make payment to Northstar. Once they receive the application, no changes can be made, and the passes are non transferable. I will be paying Northstar on credit card so anyone can call them within 3-4 days(their estimate for how long it takes to process) to make sure the application was processed. For those of you from whom I cannot pick up your forms and payments, we need to figure out how we can set this up. PM with any questions or e-mail me. I will try and send a PM to everyone to have them update their status.

If anyone can think of a better way to make payment post it, or let me know. I don't want to handle all the payments myself, but somebody has to do it. It is also convenient because I can pick up payments in different parts of the Bay Area.

Thanks,
Juan

EDIT:
Sent all interested parties a PM.

Still undetermined at this point. I should know one way or the other by the end of next week.

Sorry for the delay in posting guys, but I've been trying to convince my friends in joining in. It turns out that they want the double season pass tickets to Sugarbowl and Kirkwood. As for myself, I want tickets to where ever I can carpool with others. So I'm sorry for misleading you guys but I'm going with Sugarbowl/Kirkwood pass instead since it's closer and I can carpool w/ my buds. Good luck, hope you all get great pow this year.

Sorry everyone, I am ending this group buy because too many people have dropped out, and many people are still up in the air. I am sorry for those people that were committed to making this happen, but stuff comes up for everyone. I went looking for the ski club meeting today, but the auditorium where their flyers said they would be, was wrong. I looked throughout the 3 floors of the union at CSUS, and I could not find them. That leaves 19 days for everyone to either join a group buy that might be closing via www.craigslist.org or to look for other options. I don't want to continue this group buy for another week, because we still might not get all the people we need and I don't want people to miss out on their chance to buy.

I know REI had season passes to heavenly last year for $299, but I am not sure if they will be doing it this year.

Regular season pass to Northstar/Sierra is $419

Please post other options if you know about them.

Sorry,

Juan