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Silverchic

Orientation fees

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I'm just about to go on a holidy in New Zealand (based around where the dz's are of course!) and have been calling some of the dz's just to check a few things out and one of them - a mainly tandem outfit - said they love to have fun jumpers come and jump but they charge an orientation fee (of $70 or $80!!!) to show you around the dz and check your gear!!!

:o :o :o

Has anyone found this before? I have never heard of it before this!
How is it that we put man on the moon before we figured out it would be a good idea to put wheels on luggage?

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That's what I thought! Needless to say I won't be going there to jump - because they charge you jump fees on top of that! I'd pay $80 for orientation and a nice high jump (and hopefully a beer at the end of it) and think the price was a little steep but still pay because apparently the views at this place are spectacular... :(

A tandem would almost be cheaper! :S
How is it that we put man on the moon before we figured out it would be a good idea to put wheels on luggage?

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Dang!
And all these years I have been giving "visiting jumper" briefings for free.
Since they never appeared on my pay check, I am beginning to wonder how much my boss was charging. I never mentioned charging anything more than rig rental and jump tickets.
What have I been missing all these years?

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Your going to charge me to become a customer?

I hope you can split the fee between a group of people and that the instructor who conducts the exercise gets a decent cut. That wouldn't be completely unfair.

If you frap in, do you need to pay the the DZSO to fill out the incident report? Which I sincerely hope will not occur - happy holiday, tops place Have a great time.
Blue Dreams Benno

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The 15 or 20 minutes spent briefing a visiting jumper might save me 15 or 20 hours filling out accident reports.



Well, if it comes down to math, then you're implying it's worth giving briefings only if it prevents 1 accident every 60 visiting jumpers or so.

I'd be willing to bet that visiting fun jumpers would have a better rate than that even if you didn't point out the landmarks, Farmer McNasty field, and snack stand.

So it sounds like briefings are a waste of time.


First Class Citizen Twice Over

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Do you kiss the cow after milking? B|



Are you suggesting that the fee they are charging is justified?



Why does everyone complain about people overcharging? Just don't go, and don't pay.

And you don't kiss the cow after milking, you dip the teats in balm. Everyone knows that. :P

-=-=-=-=-
Pull.

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I think I don't have to explain you how is it feel being milked and being a guest/visitor.

I've jump places with diffrent jump tickets rates for club members or even for the clubs inner circle.

I don't like this kind of policy.



Billvon and I went round and round on this. I am on your side, but I think a DZO can do whatever he wants as long as he lives with the consequences of his decisions.

Bottom line, if you don't like them charging you to supplement their buddies, don't give them your business.

...
Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

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JohnRich pretty much said it... but what the heck... I'll pile on too...


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...one of them - a mainly tandem outfit - said they love to have fun jumpers come and jump but they charge an orientation fee (of $70 or $80!!!)...



Pretty much sounds like their way of saying they don't want to deal with up-jumpers... they just want the money and less bother from their "tandem factory" ops.

Find another DZ.

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Billvon and I went round and round on this. I am on your side, but I think a DZO can do whatever he wants as long as he lives with the consequences of his decisions.

Bottom line, if you don't like them charging you to supplement their buddies, don't give them your business.



I think I'll tend to your side, so long as this isn't a surprise fee demanded when the person arrives. Since it was clearly expressed to Silverchic (who wisely called ahead), it's 'fair,' though the logical conclusion is she will go elsewhere.

Maybe one redeeming value to Skydive Las Vegas is that they don't pretend that they don't hate upjumpers. They just don't allow them at all, rather than put out some nuisance fees. It's no fun jumping at a tandem mill that doesn't want you, better to be saved the lost time.

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I have pretty much called ahead to all the dz's I want to go to - I was expecting a bit of concern over my rig vs jump numbers so I didn't want to travel to a dz just to find out that I can't jump there or I have to hire gear. And I would rather not hire gear (not just for the $ factor either). I would prefer to be on a rig I know so that I can put more of my concentration into the more important things and not have to worry about learning new flare point etc etc.

But on the original subject: I was just a bit surprised - they openly stated they love having sport jumpers there etc etc but then they throw on a $70 charge just to show you around...

No I've decided the views from 12,000ft are NOT worth a $105 jump!
How is it that we put man on the moon before we figured out it would be a good idea to put wheels on luggage?

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Sorry, this is $NZ which at the moment is so close to $AUD that I didn't bother to make the distinction.

But for you guys in the US then it probably wouldn't sound as shocking! :D
How is it that we put man on the moon before we figured out it would be a good idea to put wheels on luggage?

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