Neptune Delays

[PilotMike 0]

Just got back from Rantoul... Planned on buying a Neptune, but came back empty handed. The Altimaster/Alti-2 guy said he had 'no news, ask the Aerostore.' They told me to check on Wednesday or Thursday. I left Thursday at 11:00 am and they said that the Neptunes might come in 'later.'

Does anyone know anything about when/where/price? I've heard $250, but it would've been nice to skip the S+H...

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Benefitting from the 'free capture of verticality.'

[diablopilot 2]

PM me.

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You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.

[tattoojeff 0]

2 guys at my dz have been waiting 2 months for there paid in full order of neptunes. not cool alti not cool at all.

[kevin922 0]

I seem to be the pain in alti's butt, I keep calling them -- they tell me one thing, it falls through I call them, they tell me another it falls through, etc.. i called the CEO yesterday twice, I think he recognized my name because i was put on hold then the person came back and said "he was in a meeting" and would have to call me back, he hasn't called me back. I have a voicemail on my computer from 07/02/03 with cathy from alti-2 saying that they were shipping that day... which was obviously not true.

I talked to Roger (CEO) 07/30 before they were heading off to rantoul, he said "as far as we are concerned they are finished, they are jumping them at deland and we are taking them to rantoul for the dealers" I was like so you're shipping them from rantoul? He told me the dealers who had orders that were at rantoul would get them - I informed him I was not going to rantoul so when should I expect mine? He said all the other dealers who were not at rantoul should have their orders by 08/04/03. My dealer hasn't seen anything as of 08/07/03. I will call again today and post if I find anything constructive.

[kevin922 0]

Okay just got off the phone with Cathy... she said aerostore @ rantoul had 6 of them (or has 6 of them) so either they sold them all or they're pulling your leg :) as for mine, she said the black and white ones (all the black and white ones) are going out today and monday.. and that the rest of the colors would start shipping on tuesday.. something about miscommunication with the people who were putting them together... we'll see...

[PhreeZone 20]

Aerostore has them... I've seen them first hand here at WFFC.

They have the beta software on them and we are trying to flash them with the final sofware today and people have already bought them.

Yesterday is history
And tomorrow is a mystery

Parachutemanuals.com

[LouDiamond 1]

Yep, what he said, Just looked at one about 20 mins ago. They have 'em in quantity in Rantoul and $250 is what they are going for

"It's just skydiving..additional drama is not required"
Some people dream about flying, I live my dream
SKYMONKEY PUBLISHING

[Rdutch 0]

I dont see what everyone is complaining about, would you rather a company not test a product to its fullest before releasing it, or selling it and changing it as they sell. Remember the Evo2000 fiasco?
I give props to ALti-2 and how much testing they have done on their product, not just cheap vacume chamber testing, they are actually jumping them, Freeflying/Bellyflying even Bird-Man just to make sure that everything works fine. They have had the Neptune for a while, but from what I see from them, they just dont want to release it until it is 100%.
Its worth my wait, I want one just as bad as the rest of you.

Ray
Small and fast what every girl dreams of!

[spidermonky 0]

I think what has made everyone upset is that they have been lying about their situation. They have been saying it will be released in the next week for many months now. They had to have known back then if it hadn't been assembled or they were going to do months of testing, but they kept telling everyone it was going to be released way before they could do it.

[tattoojeff 0]

i think its great there thoroughly testing the neptune, i think its lame they lied to people about when they'll recieve there paid for order. we were told 2 weeks. that was 2 months ago. skydivers are always broke that money could be used elswere while ther getting there shit together at alti. you know what i mean?

[kevin922 0]

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I think what has made everyone upset is that they have been lying about their situation. They have been saying it will be released in the next week for many months now. They had to have known back then if it hadn't been assembled or they were going to do months of testing, but they kept telling everyone it was going to be released way before they could do it.

I second that, I don't mind waiting atall but I don't like to be told something over and over again that isn't true.

[betzilla 56]

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we were told 2 weeks. that was 2 months ago.

I ordered a couple for our shop in April, when they said, "the end of the month." I'm still waiting. But a little tiny box came from them on Monday. I was sop happy: I thought they were finally here....
NOT!

It was only a galaxy sent in for repair

[Kris 0]

Okay...here's the deal. I held one of the Neptune's in my hands just two days ago. Several of the units were shipped to Aerostore for sale at the WFFC.

Unfortunately, an honest mistake was made at the Alti-2 factory and test code was flashed into the units instead of final code. The units would not even power up and, because of this, they could not be reflashed at Rantoul. I know, I pounded Kathy from Alti-2 with questions and had my laptop with IR-port ready to go just in case.

However, I feel that if they are flashing the units on-site before shipping them, the least they could have done was turn them on / test them for functionality prior to shipping.

I put down a $50 deposit at Aerostore to hold one. Aerostore will be hitting my card for the remaining $199 + shipping this week and getting mine to me. Alti-2 is sending them a purple one for me to get.

I think it will be a great product once they get the bugs in their procedures worked out.

What I did notice was the unit came shipped with software on a CD (possibly the instruction manual?), several different types of mounts, and everything you could possibly need right in the box.

I'll let you know more as soon as I get mine delivered.

Sky, Muff Bro, Rodriguez Bro, and
Bastion of Purity and Innocence!™

[kallend 2,146]

Never buy Version 1.0 of anything!

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The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[Ron 10]

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Never buy Version 1.0 of anything!

Or as I like to say "never be the first kid on your block with the new toy"

I really use this for canopies, containers and "gadgets" that could kill me...

For Altis...not such a big deal.

I commend them for not putting out a product that is not perfect. Its what I expect from them.

Ron

"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

[tigra 0]

Kat and Roger are good people and they stand by their products. I'm sure they are also frustrated by the delays, but want to make sure the product is good and as "bug free" as possible. Be patient, everyone!

[mikkey 0]

The problem the guys will have is "perception", i.e. delays = bugs = problems/reliability with the product in the future?

L&B must be "relieved" - the neptune has the potential to dent their dominance in the market. But if you don't land in ponds (get wet) and have a choice between a pro track with a solid reputation and the customer service of L&B and the Neptune with bugs and huge delays, what do you choose?

These type of problems during product introduction can be very damaging the reputation of a product.

I hope they get themselves sorted. More competition is good for skydivers = lower prices & better products.

Anybody knows if/when the Neptune will be sold outside the US?

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When people look like ants - pull. When ants look like people - pray.

[apoil 0]

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The problem the guys will have is "perception", i.e. delays = bugs = problems/reliability with the product in the future?

L&B must be "relieved" - the neptune has the potential to dent their dominance in the market. But if you don't land in ponds (get wet) and have a choice between a pro track with a solid reputation and the customer service of L&B and the Neptune with bugs and huge delays, what do you choose?

Do you know how long it took L&B to get the Pro-Track to market after announcing it??? Two, maybe three YEARS.

It's much more damaging to release a product sooner due to market pressure, and have it suck.

This is what killed Time-Out with the Evolution2000.
They worked hard to get that out before L&B came out with the ProTrack, but it just sucked. A year later pro-tracks were on the market and they worked perfectly.

I don't mind the delays with the Neptune, because it means that they are committed to quality. Alti has a strong reputation with the Altimasters, they would be hurt more by releasing a product that had any issues with it.

So, I'm comforted by the delay to market. What it means is that the Neptunes, when they are finally available will be a real solid competitor to the ProTrack.

[kevin922 0]

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I don't mind the delays with the Neptune, because it means that they are committed to quality.

Hence the first ones being sold had TEST CODE on them and wouldn't power on? :)

Mine will be here (finally confirmed) tomorrow.. i'll have my hands on it this weekend.