Poor experience with Aerodyne

[CAV101 0]

I wanted to share my recent experience with the comunity

On May 27th I purchased an IN STOCK canopy from Aerodyne. After receiving no shipping notification and also not having been charged for the transaction I phone Aerodyne customer service about a week later. Here is where things get interesting. Somehow another individual along with myself were able to purchase the same in stock canopy. When it shipped to that individual within their system it basically closed out my transaction.

Thankfully there was another canopy listed as in production that was of an acceptable color pattern for me. I was told It was also supposed to be completed and in the hands of Aerodyne by the end of the week of June 3rd. Today, June 12th I call Aerodyne again as I have not received any status update, notice of shipping, and their online A-TOOLS still displays the previous canopy. So I am at this point a bit concerned as I have now been charged for a canopy as of my previous call. What I am informed of is that there is a problem with the canopy at the factory, it is now supposed to be ready by the 18th. For me the timing couldn’t be worse. The reason for me ordering an IN STOCK CANOPY was because I have a vacation planed around jumping. I now have no canopy to use as my previous canopy has been sold and I do not want to rent gear on my trip. Besides that, with the wait time on an IN STOCK ORDER I will be more than ½ way to a custom order by the time I receive it.

Needless to say I am more than a little frustrated. Even if I receive this canopy prior to my departure I will not jump it on my trip. Would you jump a new canopy that is also a downsize in a location you have never jumped? I sure won’t, that strikes me as too high of a risk for my taste.

Problems I see: Their online store I wound consider broken, no one ever called me after the first problem, no one called me after the second problem, now they have impacted the only vacation I will take this year.

Don’t get me wrong, I quite enjoy Aerodyne's products. I learned on them, and have been jumping them since, but this situation flat sucks. The only question I have left to answer for myself is if I am going to cancel my order and take my business else ware.

[stayhigh 2]

NZaerosport would've got you a canopy within 3 days, atleast at westcoast.

PD would've done the same as well, except their delivery takes 5-6 days.

How does NZ get there stuff from across the globe way quicker than PD does???

Bernie Sanders for President 2016

[Di0 2]

stayhigh

NZaerosport would've got you a canopy within 3 days, atleast at westcoast.

PD would've done the same as well, except their delivery takes 5-6 days.

How does NZ get there stuff from across the globe way quicker than PD does???

Seriously, I paid my canopy from NZAerosport on Thursday, it was sitting on my desk on Monday. 4 days (with a weekend in between... three days and a half really) to do NZ-Boston.
Great customer service and communication, I'm sold for my future businesses with them when I'll need another canopy.

I'm standing on the edge
With a vision in my head
My body screams release me
My dreams they must be fed... You're in flight.

[Freefly710 0]

For what it's worth, I ordered a stock PD canopy on Tuesday, and it was at my door step on Thursday. Regular shipping. Got two phone calls FROM them communicating both the order confirmation and shipping information/status.

PD has the best customer service in the industry. Hands down.

[stayhigh 2]

PD don't have the best customer service...

They only make their break line so short that you have make a whole new mid and lowers when you get them brand new.

I'm buying almost 3000 dollar worth of shit, and they can atleast make the break line according to user's spec. Fuck you and your 3 inch's only bullshit.

Nz made mine 2 3/4 longer than standard just by requesting. Now that's service.

Bernie Sanders for President 2016

[parachutist 2]

Right now is middle of the summer, and pretty much all skydive equipment companies are overloaded because everybody wants new gear Now. So holdups and errors are expected.

Here in my loft right now we have a brand new UPT Sigma we're assembling. The rigger who's packing it got ready to put the reserve in the freebag a few minutes ago and noticed they sent a Micro Sigma freebag inside our regular Sigma container. That's frustrating. Luckily were able to swipe a freebag from another new unassembled rig and carry on.

Any company can drop the ball occasionally. Usually Aerodyne delivers for us fast. Hopefully they'll get your order sorted out soon!

[CAV101 0]

UPDATE: After more conversations with Aerodyne we were able to come to a resolution. Sadly it took me calling again with the intent of canceling my order, which I would have done regardless if I hadn’t already been charged. They offered to send me a demo canopy to bridge the gap to when my actual canopy will be ready, one way or the other I should have one next week. I accepted this as any alternative would have taken just as long, and again I have already been charged.

I understand there are always hiccups in any sort of manufacturing, I deal with manufacturing and production on a daily bases. It doesn’t excuse the lack of communication. I think I exercised great patience waiting initially a week for my first call and two for my second just trying to learn what was going on.

All in all I will say that I am satisfied to a degree, still concerned that I have lost several weekends worth of learning this canopy, and concerned that is still going to impact my trip.