GravityGirl

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Article Comments posted by GravityGirl


  1. I appreciate your perspective, but as a consumer of 21 years and a gear dealer for almost 20 years, I'm finding a lot of inaccuracies in this article.
    #1 Besides your instructors who watched you learn to skydive, most reputable dealers are a great source of unbiased knowledge. They are the ones who deal with various different pieces of equipment and match them to skydivers on a daily bases. They will be able to explain all the available options to you and help you navigate what is appropriate for you. (If we were in it for the money, we would not be in this industry, believe me)
    #2 is a bit shallow all the way around. Many new brands are developed by engineers that have been designing and manufacturing rigs since you were in diapers and have put in solid R & D. At the same time, many renowned manufacturers may have production or QC issues at any given time. Talk to someone who has been in the industry for a fair amount of time and deals regularly with multiple brands. They are the ones who can give you the inside info.
    #3 Try before you buy is not always an option for people who don't travel or jump at a mecca drop zone. But many of us offer extensive gear consultations and money back guarantees.
    #4 "Shop the large gear shops to compare their (often attractive) package offerings. Since they’re all assembling their deals from the same major-manufacturer components, you can feel perfectly confident purchasing the one with the lowest price."
    This is the some of the worst advise right here. SHOP LOCAL. Again, dealer margins are so low that competing with price is a pipe dream. Most reputable dealers will compete with service. Personal service. A full gear sale shouldn't be a click, point, purchase event. It should start with a full gear consultation with a qualified consultant. You should get the right gear at a fair price. If you find something online cheaper, bring that up to your local dealer. 9 out of 10 they will price match and you still get the hands on personal service.
    #5 "credit card charge that most dealers fold into to their baseline pricing" I don't know any dealers that do this. Some of us offer another 3% off our already low margins because that is what the credit card company charges us to run a credit card. Of course we would rather give our skydiving peers that 3% off rather than shell it out to the banks.
    #6 "Seasonal discounts" are not the norm in our industry either. They happen from time to time, but most of the major brands you advocate in #2 have consistent prices throughout the year.
    Just my 2 cents... worth what you paid for it ;)