In response to Pat's questions: This is directly from PIER LTD-Marcus Antebi - Owner Operator. Many of us feel badly about the conclusion of the BUD deal. However, He has never taken responsibility for his side of this. First issue: THE RANCH is private property, and the skydiving club rents directly from the Ranch owners. If the owners wish, for any reason, they can kick the entire club of the DZ at any time. The club's wishes do not override that of the wishes of the property owners. On this property, there are several businesses that have exclusive rights of operation, designed to help each business exist, make profit, and service the club members. For example: The aircraft are provided by one business. There are no other aircraft leasing companies allowed to charter planes to the club. The club itself is a business, where there is no other clubs collecting money from jumpers. The tandem school is a private entity. There are no other tandem schools operating at the other end of the DZ. Therefore, in the case of the gear store, this is not an unusual circumstance that PIER is the only gear store operating at the RANCH. My lease provides me with protection that helps me stay in business. The DZ depends on me for numerous services, ranging from Rigging, to rubber bands, to providing rentals and videos. My client base is small. I could not stay in business if it were not for my mail order division. Yet- Every time another dealer sells a rig to ranch customer, from a sale that was clearly solicited on Ranch property - it makes it that much harder for PIER to have seven kinds of rubber bands, hundreds of t-shirts, 14 rental rigs, and 75,000 $$ worth of helmets on my shelves. Bud has been soliciting business from customers he would never reach unless he was hanging around at the ranch on weekends. He offers them leasing deals, etc. He has admitted to this and denied it equally. I have seen numerous clients of mine wearing his gear. This past -weekend I saw at the loading area a barely airworthy centaurus on a jumper that was part of PECs leasing or rental program. Two veteran jumpers wanted to ground the jumper because the rig was so disgusting looking. My feelings go out to the new jumpers looking to save a few bucks, and are trusting of people only interested in taking their money. More issues: Around the corner from PIER there is an other new shop, with 75% less inventory and services. I can understand how PAT is taken in by Bud's manipulative magical words and blatant lies. You do not understand the final events that took place or that bud did this to himself. His situation involved check forgery and defiance to the DZ owner's wishes. Those are some of the more pressing reasons why our mutual friend was banished. Ohter notes: One of BUD's master parachute rigging jobs was recently grounded , the customer took the rig off his back after being warned by locals that it was not safe to jump, and quickly gave to MAtt harding -another local master p rigger for a reinspection and re-repack. Also --There is a horribly disfigured voodoo floating around the ranch as well. These are just some of the comments i have heard and seen for myself about dear BUD. in conclusion I hope those of you who take the time to care about this industry and those of you who jump at the ranch realize the hard work I put into helping Ranch jumpers. I need your feedback and support. Bud and warren , and I swear this is true , only want to hurt PIEr at this point. This industry needs to stand up for its retailers slightly differently than it protects mail order only companies. There is simply no way that two gear stores-retail in the same square mile will flourish in this tiny cottage industry. The customer will ultimately be hurt by PECs ridiculous decision to open a store around the corner off the airport. PEC is offering nothing that PIER does not offer in more sophisticated way. My inventory-prices-knowledge of equipment-range of merchandise-location-advertising-website-rentals-riggers is all light years of ahead of PEC. My only concern is that he will force the already low profit margins down to below profit prices. This is will impact all of us down the road. Several manufactories have suspended PEC due to their territorial invasion. Large manufactories in many other industries have very strict territorial dealerships for retail; it is not unethical or unusual.
