AggieDave 6 #26 January 21, 2005 QuoteIf one calls Ralph, and knows what he/she needs you wont be disappointed. I guess that's where I fucked up, huh? I was relying on his experience and asked him some questions about some of the gear I was considering. It went downhill from there. *shrug* You're his friend, I'm not going to argue with you. I'm glad he's done good, I'm glad he's done you good.--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Slappie 9 #27 January 21, 2005 Ok fine I'm going to chime in here... I'm in the mood. I wasn't a detractor to much. I just thought I would post my thoughts about the end cells advertizements. Was a bit much for me. HELL I'm not even a "skydiver" in some of your def. so don't listen to me. "Find out just what any people will quietly submit to and you have found out the exact measure of injustice and wrong which will be imposed upon them." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
livendive 8 #28 January 21, 2005 If my post came across as insulting, well then I just worded it poorly. Don't withdraw your 3 years...that'd be damn near a 20% reduction of "force"! LOL Blues, Dave P.S. I agree about the stabilizer advertising, though I'm not sure why. If it meant a lot to me, I guess I'd yank off whatever placard exists, whether it said "PD", "Aerodyne", or "Call Ralph". Still, I can empathize with those who've had it done and didn't like it."I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
smiles 0 #29 January 21, 2005 I called Ralph to order my new main- saved myself over $500. and was very pleased with delivery time. SMiles Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wingnut 0 #30 January 21, 2005 QuoteGive him a ring, tell him what you want and he'll know aint thatthe truth... i was trying to find a 3 pin ripcord for my paracomander rig, one call to him and it was taken care of.... actually getting aholdof him was tricky but once i did, it was a piece of cake......definatly want to go jump the beaver once too!!! ______________________________________ "i have no reader's digest version" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
D22369 0 #31 January 21, 2005 definatly want to go jump the beaver once too!!! *** damn,,,,, your brave!!! LOL Ralph is a total character to say the least, I have done tandem vids here and there for him. but watch out if you piss him off......whoooboy... (not me) but I was there to see the fireworks. easiest way to "not" piss him off. have cash for the gear, dont waste his time, and no hook turns. He's a pretty good guy, but totally old school. RoyThey say I suffer from insanity.... But I actually enjoy it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freakflyer9999 1 #32 January 21, 2005 Quoteyeah yeah, I've heard enough, don't think I'll be calling the guy. I just want to do business w. people who I hear more GOOD things about then bad. I called Ralph last year and even though he had what I was looking for he refused to sell it to me. At the time I weighed over 300 lbs, so I was looking for a used student adjustable harness. Ralph had one, but due to its age (20 years) and my weight he said that he wouldn't sell it to me. He just didn't want to be responsible for putting someone my weight and potential freefall speed in a harness that old. Based partially on his recommendation, I later found a inexpensive used container (10 years) that I sent to Relative Workshop to have the harness replaced. Though I have contacted Ralph a number of times over the past 10 years, I haven't yet bought anything, but I would if he happened to have what I needed at the price I wanted to pay. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
peckerhead 0 #33 January 21, 2005 Quoteyeah yeah, I've heard enough, don't think I'll be calling the guy. I just want to do business w. people who I hear more GOOD things about then bad. I will tell you a story about what kind of guy Ralph is. When I was a young jumper I couldn't afford to buy gear. At the time I could barely afford to pay rent, eat and make my car payments but I really wanted to jump. So I was jumping borrowed gear and one day I had two reserve rides in a row on back to back loads. Ralph walks up with an order form and a handfull of magic markers and says "That's it! You are getting a new rig" I said " Ralph I can't afford to buy a new rig" He told me that he would pay for it and I would make payments, as much as I could handle. The only condition was that the rig would stay at his DZ until it was paid for, after that I could take it and go jump anywhere I wanted to. So I ordered a custom container with a new main and a new round reserve. (at the time not many people had square reserves) The whole set up cost $1800. I paid him $100 a month for 18 months. I don't know of ANY DZO that will buy you a new rig and let you pay them back. I know of several other jumpers that he did this for. Since then I have bought 6 different rigs from Ralph and just about everything else (jumpsuits altimeters AAD's camera helmet, goggles etc.) I should also mention I later became an instructor at Ralph's DZ and trained students there for 8 years. So I know the guy pretty well. You can take my word for it or someone who talked to him on the phone one time. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
D22369 0 #34 January 21, 2005 Ralph is very safety minded, he can be very abrasive when he sets his mind to it, but so far from what I have seen - to bring out this tendency in him you have to say or do something stupid..... I was shocked two years ago when he pointed out he had a 85' FX in on trade.....and asked if I wanted to test jump it... I had been looking around for a replacement for my stiletto in my quest for speed and swoop, but he is NOT a fan of the "pocket rockets" and for him to offer it, and let me jump it there amazed me....and he continues to let me jump there with it...... I obey his rules of no hooks and we have no problems... when I want to pull a HP landing I go elsewhere .... I have had other jumpers from other local dz's look at me like I grew a third head when I tell them I jumps there with it..... apparently most of them either jumped there and violated one of the rules or had a friend who broke his rules.... Its his dz, and his gear store, that makes his word law there. *some people have a problem with this.. damn... a buisiness man that sent money elsewhere...... sorry he couldnt hook you up, but I like when people think about the long range concequences of actions.....selling you a rig that old-with who knows how many jumps on it-at your weight... would have been borderline wrong..... RoyThey say I suffer from insanity.... But I actually enjoy it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SkymonkeyONE 4 #35 January 21, 2005 Quoteanybody detracting about Ralph doesnt know him. gossips are a dime a dozen. Ralph is my friend and a great guy. bozo I had some great times with Ralph at PIA this year. The man is a menace! He caught me unprepared on a coin check and forced me to drink with him; the bastard! Chuck Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kris 0 #36 January 21, 2005 I have to add my story as well... I had ordered my reserve and custom Heatwave main through Ralph a few years ago. The Heatwave started getting a gradual built-in turn that, by jump 30-ish on it, had to be countered with several inches of opposite toggle. I contacted Ralph to see what he could do for me and he offered me full credit for what I paid on the main towards another canopy if I didn't want to wait for mine to be fixed. I paid the difference and picked up my Stiletto for a really great price. IIRC, he didn't even charge me shipping and it was on its way before I had sent the old canopy back. Now that's customer service!Sky, Muff Bro, Rodriguez Bro, and Bastion of Purity and Innocence!™ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
