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fasterfaller

The cypres sold

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Well, you can't claim that the buyer wasn't warned.

What I find truely amazing is that someone paid $400.00 for a Cypres with only 4 years of useful life left. When you consider that you can get a brand new Cypres for $850 or so it just doesn't make sense....

Oh well, I guess there's one born every minute.
-
Jim
"Like" - The modern day comma
Good bye, my friends. You are missed.

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The unairworthy cypres sold for $400.00 on e-bay . Unbelievable :(



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Well, you can't claim that the buyer wasn't warned.



I would like to go ahead and place my vote for the Darwin award:o

I'm not afriad of dying, I'm afraid of never really living- Erin Engle

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They are really going to be pissed when sending it in to Airtec or SSK to get checked out and they won't deem it "airworthy".

LOL!


Therein lies the problem. It has a 2002 inspection sticker on it, and it was made in '94, so odds are it will never end up back at the factory.


I sent the seller this letter:
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Dear Sir,

I am greatful that you have disclosed the full information about the airworthiness of the Cypri to potential bidders. However, under American law (where most of your potential bidders live), an AAD must be used and maintained in accordance with the manufacturers instructions. Because it has been declared unairworthy, it would be illegal to use this Cypres unit in the US. The specific rule is in the Federal Aviation Regulations, Part 105, Subpart 43, Section C. I do not know Canadian law, but I suspect that it is similar.

I feel that you are implying to buyers that they have the right to choose if they want to use the Cypres as a reserve AAD, when in fact they do not. I wish every skydiver knew the law, but lets face it, most only know enough to pass the license tests.

I would request that you disclose to potential buyers that, at least in the United States, it is illegal to use this Cypres, and that an ethical rigger would refuse to install it.

Sincerely,
Brian Martin


I received no reply, and the auction was not updated. Most riggers would no doubt choose not to install the unit if they knew full story, but I doubt that most riggers check every serial number on every piece of gear that comes through their loft.

Edit: I mean I sent the letter to the seller, not the buyer.

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>I thought EBay was required to pull illegal auctions...

There is nothing illegal about selling an out-of-date anything, as long as its condition is accurately stated. Determining that something you buy is appropriate for a given use is up to the buyer.

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Anyone email the buyer and inform them of the situation?

I thought EBay was required to pull illegal auctions...


I sent the buyer a copy of the letter that I sent to the seller, along with some comments and other information.

The seller knows perfectly well that the Cypres can't be used in the US (I gave him the specific section in the FARs), and yet he implies that it is up to the buyer to decide if they want to use it. I agree that a skydiver that buys the item should be familiar enough with the FARs and BSRs to know that something is fishy. However, when I contacted the high bidder on the last auction, it turned out to be the spouse of a skydiver who didn't now the legalties and (in my opinion) couldn't be reasonably expected to know them.

She was intentionally misled, IMHO.

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Maybe we'll get lucky and the buyer is actually a wealthy, and bored, skydiver who has decided to purchase the unit so that he can keep it out of the hands of the unsuspecting. Or, maybe someone became so upset by the fact that this guy continued to sell the item, that he or she bought it with the aim of shoving it up the seller's ass. *shrug* It could happen.

FallRate

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Maybe we'll get lucky and the buyer is actually a wealthy, and bored, skydiver who has decided to purchase the unit so that he can keep it out of the hands of the unsuspecting. Or, maybe someone became so upset by the fact that this guy continued to sell the item, that he or she bought it with the aim of shoving it up the seller's ass. *shrug* It could happen.



Or even better, turn it in to SSK, FAA or USPA, that might be fun to watch.:o
:o

I'm not afriad of dying, I'm afraid of never really living- Erin Engle

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This really sucks for ALL skydivers. Chances are if the person buying is a skydiver, he/she will eventually sell the gear. The new buyer probably isn't going to check the serial number even if they have the rigger take out he reserve for inspection. Am I wrong about this - do riggers routinely check Cypress serial numbers on inspection? I don't think so, but I could be wrong.
I don't like the idea of people buying bad equipment, but I really hate the idea of them re-circulating it into the community.
Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

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Has anyone been able to determine the real identity of the seller? Is he a skydiver? If he is I'd sure like to know where he jumps.


No dice. I know he's Canadian, and he uses the handle "murpyfarm1" on eBay. According to google, that handle isn't in use on the web or usenet. He did reveal that he is a skydiver ("For those who are wondering , yes i am a skydiver , and i am using one of these units myself "), and all of his other auctions are for aviation related products.

He has also listed another Cypres that is on the unairworthy list.

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Has anyone been able to determine the real identity of the seller? Is he a skydiver? If he is I'd sure like to know where he jumps.


No dice. I know he's Canadian, and he uses the handle "murpyfarm1" on eBay. According to google, that handle isn't in use on the web or usenet. He did reveal that he is a skydiver ("For those who are wondering , yes i am a skydiver , and i am using one of these units myself "), and all of his other auctions are for aviation related products.

He has also listed another Cypres that is on the unairworthy list.



Maybe this will get some attention if it shows up in Skydiving or Parachutist? Someone write a nastygram!

____________________________________________________________
I'm RICK JAMES! Fo shizzle.

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I just saw this post on Wreck Dot. There are some really great people in this sport!;) I don't know who this Jack Gershfeld guy is but if someone runs into him, buy him a beer for me!

Kris


----------------------------------------------------
For all those who have noticed the sale of unairworthy cypresses on eBay
here is a little update. I will paste the response from the buyer I got
after asking if he/she knew the status on these particular units...


Dear Turtle,

Thank you very much for your concern. Rest assured that this unit will NEVER
be installed in any skydiving rig. Consider this purchase as a contribution
to skydiving safety. :-)

Best regards,

Jack Gershfeld


400 buck is a small price to pay for perhaps keeping something unreliable
out of circulation...

Azure Skies

Turtle
Alberta Canada

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