It's been around for a while, but it's trickled down to more boots and more shops are willing / able to do it.
When I was working in a shop it wasn't common that customers came with their own boots to rent just just skis, but whenever they did it was a fun lottery of what condition they'd be in. I had to reject a few customers because their boots were so worn or old we couldn't safely fit them to a binding.
Bet those customers went on to moan about service from the shop.
Then I think I have ski and boots from the 40s-50s I think....still worries me that I skiied as a child, yet am terrible as an adult. Not as fun as it was when I was small.
It's been around for a while, but it's trickled down to more boots and more shops are willing / able to do it.
When I was working in a shop it wasn't common that customers came with their own boots to rent just just skis, but whenever they did it was a fun lottery of what condition they'd be in. I had to reject a few customers because their boots were so worn or old we couldn't safely fit them to a binding.