I'm getting new boots, bindings and skis for back country and kite skiing this year. This site came up in a search and I've never heard of them. I trust folks on this forum so if there's anyone that's purchased from them I'm willing to try it.

The temptation:
1) Alpine Touring skis and bindings for half price http://www.arcteryxoutlets.org/sale/Diamir-Freeride-Plus-687...
2) I'm like a moth to a flame; I know it may burn me but the voices are getting louder; buy me, Buy Me, BUY ME!!.

The danger:
1) Arcteryx is an outdoor clothing manufacturer in Vancouver, BC and this site is not owned by them.
2) Contact info is a generic email: bizaftersales@foxmail.com
3) Can't find details about bizaftersales

I would save my money.

1. No contact phone number
   
2. Generic contact email
   
3. An "ORG" domain suffix rather than "COM"
   
4. Most reputable dealers that list a return address on their return policy page.
   
5. Their WhoIs profile lists Tianjin, Shanghai for an address.
   
6. Their Whois profile lists a creation date of: 12-Apr-2012 15:37:36 UTC
   
7. Their Whois profile is flagged as "NOT AUTHORITATIVE"
   
8. None of their security/certification badges (Trustwave, Verisign) at the bottom of their webpage click-through to the security vendors they purport to use. They probably just clipped the images from off the web to make themselves reputable.

Basically....



ATB,
Sam

Dang Sam your are the best investigator. Screw Google there needs to be a Sam search engine

Yeah that site sounds and looks like a bad idea.

And even tho that's not a bad price for the Fritsche FR, that paticular model is pretty old now and it's not a paticularly great price. Not one that I would risk using that site for.

Are you using this BC set up mostly for BC or kiting? We used to used the FR for kiting, still do on back up skis but found that it was too flexy and not durable enough for most snowkite use here. A few have switched, myself included, to Marker Barons or Dukes. As an AT/BC binding Dukes/Barons are on the heavy side compared to the Fritsche FR but are reliable, tough and torsionally stiff. The release system for touring mode isn't as convenient as the FR because you have to take your foot out to actuate it but I'm using it 99% for snowkite so I'm not alternating from skinning to descending. And they have a DIN range that's useful for agressive riding.

Or BTW if you are using an AT specifice boot with a hiking sole make sure whatever you find it has a mechanical AFD. Some AT systems are only compatible with certain hiking soles because of AFD issues. Mechanicals are good to go with anything.

I prefer to have a solid binding on my feet especially on the kite because the surface can be so variable and sometimes if a tip dives or if I hit boiler plate, too much binding flex can be the difference between riding it out or having an issue.

Another option, one we use for long distance speed sessions, are Secura Fix or Alpine Trekkers aka "Pocket Copters". Small, cheap, lightweight and allow you to use a real alpine binding if that's what your performance levels demand. Wroks with any binding system and any alpine boot. So even if I'm on faster, race spec gear I can skin back to the anchor if I need to.

The Fritsche FR is a great binding for sure. And for BC it's a great balance between light weight and torsional stiffness. But having seen what happens to them when put to snowkite use they have not been the most durable or reliable (pivot breaks, toes break, HEEL LOCK DOWN/RAMPS get sheared off wicked easy.) If you get a FR order up some extra heel elevators. They're $30 each but if you crack or shear one you'll be bummed if you don't have a backup.