I had the opposite experience and highly recommend Mountain Air Sports. I kayak and am not a regular customer (or an employee) so when I called for the type of car rack I wanted I thought I was being upsold (?) when I went in and was told to use a different product. In fact they were correct and recommending the much better safer product which cost about the same was in the best interest of the customer. No offense to REI but when I called them the response was sure they have what I want come on down which I now see as either a lack of experience or ambivalence so pervasive today...just make a sale.
A month later I decided to switch cars and anticipated shelling out about $300 for new mounts. Being typical male I assumed the roof racks were the same as my previous models and didn't read the owners manual. To my embarrassment when I went in to get set up I was told I didn't need the new set up and could use what I had by reconfiguring my installed roof racks. I was shocked to say the least and very grateful for the honesty so rare these days.
I'm not a mountaineer and haven't skied in a long time but if I was I'd want someone giving me advice based on what is best for me and that is why I have told my friends this story and will recommend them highly.
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