Interesting BLOG! For a lot of people the "obvious" isn't so obvious!
Times have changed, when I started jumping the DZ was an old disused airfield from the 2nd world war, the buildings were crumbling, the bunkhouse, toilets were disgusting and the shower!! Yuck! We had a lot of fun skydiving, it was a thrilling experience with a lot of change in the sport in them days. We had BBQ's & partys at the DZ, people were friendly, some Ego's doing crazy things but I wouldn't change anything about it.
Today everything is more about customer service. Outside of skydiving I always want satisfaction for every dollar I spend, if I'm not satisfied I want to feel that as a customer I'm taken care of so I'll be a repeat customer, which doesn't always happen. Frankly a lot of skydiving clubs aren't like that, it's not just about image, whether the toilets are clean or dirty, it's the whole package! I was happy hanging out at an old airfield, but that's in the past. I've changed with the times and also prefer to jump at DZ's which are run more professionally with less "attitude" and I want to feel that I was treated as a "customer" not just a skydiver! I'll spend my money where I think I'm getting the best good feel factor!
BTW I jumped at Chester (Skydive Carolina) for about a year, I thought it was an excellent DZ.
The Business Behind Skydiving
in General
Times have changed, when I started jumping the DZ was an old disused airfield from the 2nd world war, the buildings were crumbling, the bunkhouse, toilets were disgusting and the shower!! Yuck! We had a lot of fun skydiving, it was a thrilling experience with a lot of change in the sport in them days. We had BBQ's & partys at the DZ, people were friendly, some Ego's doing crazy things but I wouldn't change anything about it.
Today everything is more about customer service. Outside of skydiving I always want satisfaction for every dollar I spend, if I'm not satisfied I want to feel that as a customer I'm taken care of so I'll be a repeat customer, which doesn't always happen. Frankly a lot of skydiving clubs aren't like that, it's not just about image, whether the toilets are clean or dirty, it's the whole package! I was happy hanging out at an old airfield, but that's in the past. I've changed with the times and also prefer to jump at DZ's which are run more professionally with less "attitude" and I want to feel that I was treated as a "customer" not just a skydiver! I'll spend my money where I think I'm getting the best good feel factor!
BTW I jumped at Chester (Skydive Carolina) for about a year, I thought it was an excellent DZ.