Goldsmith's Boardhouse - Going the Extra Mile

You wouldn't start a snowboard shop expecting things to sell themselves...

But in these days of over saturated egos and an undeserved sense of entitlement, how often have you waited ten minutes for Joe Cool Shop-Kid to finish a conversation with his buddy before he reluctantly approached you.  Then as quickly as he came to chuck you whatever you needed, he was back into his chat and unavailable to help you out any further.

Thankfully this experience is characteristic of only a few shops; out there still exists the core shop that symbolizes why we need to keep the little guys alive.

A small shop named Goldsmith's Boardhouse in Big Bear, California is one.

Goldsmith's and I go back a long way.  I rented my first snowboard from them, and I'm really glad--though honestly not surprised--they are still around.

You'd be hard pressed to find a shop employee willing to dive into sweaty, and tremendously smelly, old liners to get your insoles fitted properly--definitely not part of the job description, but a huge display of customer devotion.

Or how about when you are "Closed for Summer" and in the middle of inventory when a kid shows up to look around?  If it was you or me, "Sorry, we're closed" would be the likely response.

Not Goldsmith's though, whose employee came running out to the parking lot to let me inside for some last minute shopping.

What a relief having every question I asked met immediately with an answer.  From general specs to product comparisons, the good folks at Goldsmith's are completely on top of it.  Think the binding is too narrow for your boot?  They run and find their widest rental boot to check the fit.

So am I writing this just to give Goldsmith's props? Yes.

They deserve to be recognized as do all of the local shops out there going the extra mile. Celebrate your local shop by sharing how they made your day in the comments below!