Team discounts on jumps

[Txflier 0]

Hey I was wondering what kind of breaks that teams get on jump prices??
If any?

Edited to add: If you get breaks why do DZ's do this for teams? to be represented in comps? or they know they will get these peeps out every weekend?

I'm not the rope totin charlie Bronson wanna be that's getting us fucking lost.

[pilotdave 0]

Depends on the dropzone and the deal the team makes with them. Some DZs have standard team rates and others negotiate with each team. I have done video for a 4-way team for the last 2 years at 2 different DZs. Both gave us free video slots, and one gave discounted jumps as well ($3 off or so). One required us to sign up to a certain number of jumps for the year, the other had no minimum (though we did not end up having to pay the difference when we didn't meet the minimum). And one required us to compete locally using the DZs name in our team name, the other had no specific requirement.

I think the reason why some dropzones give discounts to teams varies. Teams can help keep planes flying. We were starting early and making 10 loads a day when we trained. But at some dropzones, that's a major nuisance. We also competed at nationals using the dropzone's name in our team name. Good for exposure I guess, but it's not like they were sponsoring a top team.

Dave

[davelepka 4]

The real question is what can you offer the DZ? That's how a DZO would look at a request for team rates, and the answer to that question will determine what sort of discount you'll get.

Are you willing to commit to certain number of slots for your team in a given season? Are you willing to pre-pay for those jumps? Are you willing to pay for half of them up front, and the other half mid-season? Are you looking to just pay as you go? Are these jumps limited to being used for team jumps, or can you use them for fun jumps as well? what happens if the team breaks up?

Is this for four way? If so, what sort fo plane is your DZ running? A 206 is good for a 4-way team, and thats it. No tandems, no students. I wouldn't expect a discount if you'll be hogging the plane on training days.

Got an Otter, or two? Now you have a better chance at getting a deal.

What is your competition schedule? Are you willing to commit to 'x' number of competitions, including nationals? Are you willing to re-pay your discount if you don't meet those commitments?

What about running mini-comps or skills camps at the DZ? Are you willing to put up some of your time and expertise to promote fun jumper activity?

In terms of a casual team situation, there are a million different ways to structure a deal.

Your best bet is to pony up the bucks to pre-pay. If your team can show up with $5000, and say 'how many jumps can we get for this', I can't think of too many DZOs that won't wheel and deal with you.

[AndyMan 7]

It really depends on how much of a commitment you make. At one extreme are teams making 500+ jumps per year (with 5 people, that's 2500 jumps per year!) - some of these teams can get their jumps pretty much at cost - $12-13/jump, or $60-$70 for the whole team. Some dz's prefer to charge a higher per slot rate, but then give a "free slot" to the camera flyer or coach.

Of course most teams can't commit to 500 jumps per year. If you're looking at 100 or 200 jumps per year, than expect your discounts to be significantly less. Less than 100 team jumps and you really shouldn't expect any kind of discount at all.

The magic really starts to happen when you move from being a weekend team to one that trains on weekdays. DZO's are a lot more willing to give discounts when you aren't bumping full-rate fun-jumpers off a load on a busy Saturday. The teams that get the biggest discounts actually help get full-rate jumpers on Saturday loads by doing coaching and organizing events.

Ultimately, the discussion with a DZO is going to be the team telling the DZO what you can do for him, and convincing him he should give a steep discount.

_Am

__

You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.

[JohnRich 4]

Quote

Ultimately, the discussion with a DZO is going to be the team telling the DZO what you can do for him, and convincing him he should give a steep discount.

And many DZO's will want to hear you offer to spend some time helping new guys in the sport, by doing some dive organizing, offering training classes, or something of the kind.

[Txflier 0]

Thanks for the input everybody. Gives me some stuff to think about. Don't know that I'll be doing any training classes since I only got 55 jumps But If all goes well this year I'll at least triple that. It'd be team for the collegiate comp. I wish I could do nationals. Maybe next year. Thanks again.

I'm not the rope totin charlie Bronson wanna be that's getting us fucking lost.

[gearless_chris 1]

This is my first year doing team jumps, but here's our deal. I get my video jumps free, we get a discount for team jumps. We have a 100 jump minimum for the year, the jumps have to be paid for by the start of the season. We have to compete at three NSL meets. We have to be at the dz every other weekend. We have to manage The New Wave Boogie at the dz. We get to do graduation jumps with students (that's going to be fun). Our fun jumps are at the discounted rate also. We are the SDC Flying Fish. Sounds like it's pretty similar to PilotDave's agreement.

edited by request

"If it wasn't easy stupid people couldn't do it", Duane.

My momma said I could be anything I wanted when I grew up, so I became an a$$hole.

[hackish 8]

I'd be pretty happy to see any discount for a team. Probably negotiating gear discounts (and small ones) would be a better idea. I know that there isn't much margin in a jump ticket so anything you get is a donation from the DZO.

-Michael