Crystal Mountain, ahh Crystal Mountain . . .

chica
why don't you just sell the pass or loan it out to friends since it's a season pass; skier with hat helmet and goggles should look ok to lifties.

I did try to sell it. Had two buyers actually. And I have plenty-o-friends waiting in the wings to claim it . . . Presently, the pass is just a voucher that doesn't even have my name on it. It does have a signature and a handwritten number three in the corner, but no other identifying markers. However, I didn't want to sell it and have it not be legit. So, I called and asked.  Maybe I went about that wrong.  I've also called to ask about postponing it to next season--or maybe a voucher for the value applied to next seasons pass. No. No. No. No. My doctor is a regular season pass holder and thought for sure they would be accommodating, so he wrote a letter. I haven't mailed it yet because I'm not sure who to send it to.
As for promotion, they are only promoting ill feelings at the moment. 
My grandmother won one of those Mexico trips mentioned earlier in this thread--then 2 weeks before the trip realized she couldn't go at the time she reserved--they changed it for her and she went several months later . . . I suspect I'm just talking to the wrong people.
Thanks for hearing me out on my vent. 

Hope not too many of you are at home reading this and up in them hills instead getting the good stuff! LET IT SNOW, SNOW, SNOW! (But do be careful!)

As many of you know, I broke my ankle a month and a half ago and in the meantime won a gold season pass to Crystal Mountain. Okay, so I didn't know I'd broken my ankle at the time because 3 different x-rays series revealed nothing. Thus, I signed the dotted line and claimed my prize.
I'm pretty much out of the running for skiing lift season and thus decided I would sell the pass, heck even give it away if selling was illegal--noooope. It's apparently all mine. A promotional offering from Crystal that's non-transferrable. It was the repeat phrase of the sales representative over and over and over again. It bugs me to no end that I pay taxes on it now, but there is no way to actually use the prize.  Maybe I'm unjustly perturbed by this, and not necessarily unexpected from Crystal (maybe other mountains too?) but felt just annoyed enough to post my mini-rant here!
Here's to a really long ski season so maybe all that promotion will go to use.

I find this unusual. Why? Per US Tax Code, people are excluded from paying taxes on winnings below $10,000. Any winnings.

Guess what would happen if people had to pay their winnings in Las Vegas...the majority of which are below $10,000? The casinos would complain! So, paying taxes on a prize valued under $10,000 has NO TAXES.

Is this Golden Pass, more than $10,000?

I've never dealt with Crystal, but I've always had much better luck appearing in person than trying to get concessions over a phone. Also, ensure you're talking to someone authorized to do what you want. You know the rule is the pass can't be postponed or transferred, so don't waste time asking anyone manning a counter to help you out. If you want to postpone it, consider making an appointment to see the director of operations. If you want to auction it to raise money, consider making an appointment to see the director of marketing. If you want to sell it, um, well, I just can't see any financial incentive for the mountain to allow that.

I find this unusual.  Why?  Per US Tax Code, people are excluded from paying taxes on winnings below $10,000.  Any winnings.

Guess what would happen if people had to pay their winnings in Las Vegas...the majority of which are below $10,000?  The casinos would complain!  So, paying taxes on a prize valued under $10,000 has NO TAXES.

Is this Golden Pass, more than $10,000?

No it is not worth more than 10k, I filled out an IRS form but maybe I misunderstood that? Wouldn't be the first time.

Also, ensure you're talking to someone authorized to do what you want.  You know the rule is the pass can't be postponed or transferred, so don't waste time asking anyone manning a counter to help you out.


You are right and I probably posted the frustration prematurely before exhausting all options. I can't even drive for the next month so admittedly a little cooped up with cabin fever and stuck with only a virtual connection to the world and I was trying trying to take care of it sooner rather than later so it could be used to its fullest potential. Posting has given me some "leads" though. Thanks.

If you want a ride up to the mountain to ask in person I'm sure you can snag one in the next few days from one of us. I'm heading up from N Seattle tomorrow at 9 AM and would offer but opening day would not be a good time. Midweek with an appointment/assurance that the person in charge will be there is a better way to go. Trouble is you'd have to wait till skiing was over....unless you could also snag a ride down from someone needing to get back to town early. Lots of logistics but its an idea..... good luck and quick healing..