In reply to Amroly-Poly:
I've bought skis and/or bindings from Glisshop, Bergzeit and Telemark Pyrenees, and all aspects of the service have been good. I've also been recommended Sport Conrad by a British guide who lives in the Alps.
I've always bought the bindings separately from the skis and then had them fitted/mounted by a shop in the UK.
I wouldn't recommend buying ex-hire skis. I did get some once (my first pair of skis), but you can buy brand new skis for a similar cost (or not much more) in the sales. The skis I bought were OK, but there is a risk that they could have been flogged to death for a season and not have much life left in them. Mine also came with hire-bindings on rails, which were really heavy and clunky and not great to ski on. If you were going to buy second hand skis off Ebay, it would probably be better to get some which had been privately owned and only done a few weeks skiing.
Kevin Stephens makes some very good points, which are well worth heeding.
If you are a progressing intermediate piste skier, you could well find that skis you buy now will be effectively redundant for you in a couple of years time and you want an upgrade. Financially, once you've factored in ski carriage and servicing costs (assuming you don't DIY), it makes more sense to hire rather than buy. This will also give you a chance to try out lots of different skis and decide what you like as you progress. On the other hand, if you aren't worried about saving money, it is nice having the familiarity of your own skis.
And having your own skis is a no-brainer if you plan to ski in Scotland.
I'd definitely advise trying out a particular model of ski on a hire basis at a resort before you decide to buy (this is how I've chosen the two pairs of skis I currently use - I liked both so much after a few days skiing on them that I decided 'I've got to have a pair of these').
Hope this helps!