This my first post and sorry it had to be about a purchase through the classified ads but want to bring about an awareness so it doesn't happen to you.
I looked at an ad in mid January about a canopy for sale. Ad stated: For Sale Sabre II 170
Price 1,600.00 usd
Canopy is in great condition. No tears and patches. Never wet, always landed on grass and packed indoors. Bought new canopy has 200 jumps.
After a few emails to the seller I purchased the canopy and received it about the 23rd. I opened the box when it arrived but never fully examined the canopy as I was planning on having my local dropzone rigger examine it. I sent him an email and stated that I haven't had it checked out but did appreciate that he kept all the lines on the slinks and I was going to take it to my rigger for the check.
Turns out that I finally had the chance to have someone at the local DZ check the canopy. At first when removing it from the box it looked nice but upon spreading the canopy out it was very visable that the top skin had a stain or UV damage going from the 2nd cell to the center cell. When you opened the nose you could see the color faded from top to inside. The person who inspected the canopy was Don Kellner of Above the Poconos skyding center. He told me to either ask for a refund or at the least get $600.00 back as that was all the canopy was worth.
I contacted the seller who says that I did the damage and when he sent it it was fine! BS! I kept in my walk-in closet and there are no windows and was kept in the box that it was sent to me in. I had a Para-Commander rig from the 70's that was red, white & blue kept in the same closet and never had any discoloration to it.
The seller now has refused to compromise with me so that I can send it to PD to have the needed repairs done or the money back for the canopy.
To think for $600.00 more dollars I could have had a brand new canopy.......
I am posting this so that people here don't make the same mistake as I and if you buy anything......have it sent to your local DZ and inspected before any money changes hands. If the seller refuses then that is the first signal to not buy it. Jude
(This post was edited by 43_echo on Mar 4, 2012, 8:01 PM)
