Welcome,

I am sure there are 3 sides to the whole story. I only hope you and Bucky can make peace.

Thank you for your support in the past !

This thread has me concerned about exactly what we can look for at AIAK as far as advice. Your storefront is " Brick And Morter " and so the power kite community ( and Ozone ? ) expect some expert advice to back the product . Will people coming in to buy parts and get the knowledge of how to build a safe crossover bar be helped along ? Or will they be sent along ?

It is great that you want to support us . I'm glad you are joining us online. I only get down from Van for the odd visit + the SOBB event so am not up on the day to day at Seaside but I wonder if you have anyone with a powerkite background available to talk to when I get there and visit the store ?

I don't know - "HUGE EVENT" in his life? I'd say it was.......I do know I was inspired by the fact that he took the time to come back after he settled a bit and take the next exit to the high road. I don't know if I would have bothered (but I do know I'd likely have considered it just as "HUGE of an EVENT" to my life, that's fo' sho....

Quote:

Originally posted by aboveitallkites Dave and I would like to thank whichever member it was who called and left a msg for us to check this forum out. We had no idea all this hubub was going on over someone's used parts. We apologie for whatever happened that let this incident become such a HUGE EVENT in Bucky's life.

I think you have your priorities a little mixed up. The apology to Bucky should have come before the thank you. You would been to better off to drop the sarcasm from your apology.

I notice that when it came to Bucky taking what were you thought were your used parts, you thought it a HUGE enough EVENT to call the police to have him arrested. Presumably your manager wanted him charged with theft and given a record he would carry for life.

You should keep in mind the adages: One aw sheet wipes out one million attaboys; the customer is always right.
The way this situation was handled makes me wonder if someone should be looking for a career in a field other than retail. Think seriously about this before your customers make the decision for you and all your employees. Nothing you have said encourages me to do business with you.
S

Ok, you've got me. I surrender. When I was talking about comparing "events" in a life, I was considering the "events" that have happened in mine and David's life recently.
Let see if I can re-prioritize them as it seems MY "priorities are a little mixed up" ......... ummmmmmmmm Brain Surgory to remove a Anurism for Keli or Left Behind Buggy parts?.......Yep you guessed it Brain Surgory is an EVENT..................then there is Heart Attack for David or Left Behind Buggy Parts........mmmmm........ya I guess the Heart Attack wins out again. So you MUST be right, my priorties are really messed up.
So you see, when I refer to Bucky's parts that he and Eli made a pact to take care but never did, and were somewhere in our back room at the Seaside store, I don't get too bunched up over them, because if any of you have a Heart Attack or need Brain Surgory as David and I did the word "event" will take on a whole new meaning.
I only say that I'm glad the Police managed to get a hold of Eli and confirm that the parts Bucky took out of the back room truly did belong to him and Bucky is not the worse for ware over retrieving them in a most obsecure way.
As I stated earlier, if we can offer a helping hand in some way to ALL kiters, not just the buggy guys we are there for you and I wish you all great winds and have a blast with your buggies. I personally have never ridden one and probably never will, but I know Dave loves his.
I'm not much of a "community chatter", so you won't be hearing from me a lot on here. As of today, we are leaving for the rest of the month of March, (trade shows and travel time) so you won't hear from me again this month at all.
Have fun, buggy in the rain, buggy in the snow, buggy in the sunshine! Happy Kiting!

I am truly sorry for your series of events!

There are 3 stories of tragedy in every American home these days so I have no doubt you can name more.

I don't know you . I do however know your business $$ . Through the past and on THIS forum your store has been part of a very important discussion about " Brick and Morter " stores and the importance of supporting them in our sport. I am of 2 minds about the subject but I did count your store as one of MY LOCAL SHOPS. Being only a 6 hour drive I would visit it at least twice a year. B+M shops are rare and I always looked forward to enjoying yours. ( we are addicts after all )

I suspect your support in the past is more about history than what I think I see going on at the shop these days? SOBB was around a LONG TIME before you and will survive, I'm sure.

What I loved about your store was that it represented a fine example of B+M. A shop that made it's money off the one liners but had true passion for the sport / business and was a place to go for the most up to date gear + knowledge ! Someone who knew the product and flew the product. Be it Delta, Rev or Race !

If your store doesn't have staff who can inform us properly about what you sell then you become my example of what is WRONG with B+M. Tell THAT to Ozone ! We can get our knowledge and gear online from very passoinate dealers now. We count on shops that sell our gear to be the front line in SAFETY and knowledge to the newcomer. Around here it is the Cyber sellers I ride with . They are the ones handing out the knowledge ? You tell someone that if they don't know how to put together a cross over bar they shouldn't have one. I am suspecting that you couldn't tell him and be-littled him instead ?

As I suggested I don't know you and we all would like to. I only want to know I will meet people who know as much and more about your product when I walk in as I do. I know you are going through tough transition times. I only hope you see that you have a strong customer base that NEEDS attention if you are to call yourself a power kite supplier to us all ? A store owner should know and understand all the safety + features of the equipment and encourage new riders. The staff you have had in the past served us well. We know ( now ) that you all have troubles that aren't our business but we need an understanding of how your shop will serve us.

We travel to international events. A criminal record is every bit as bad as any of your problems and yet you go out of your way to apply one to a long term customer ? Bucky won't become an international superstar like his Mom said he would without a passport. He could have lost his hopes at a future ! Then you brush it off as " less important " than your private life ? I'm afraid the 3rd tragedy in your life may be the loss of our business ? I'm truly sorry because your store was set to be a true player in the power kite community. It hasn't died but I see surgery is required.

Have a nice month off ! Will we see Bill at NABX ?

I had a really bad experience with a kite store that lasted about a year or so here in Cocoa Beach. The guys started a kite store and really worked to make their shop great. It overlooked the beach on the busiest corner in town.
I gave the guys my Prism Radian for a repair, had a NPW 6meter on consignment along with an original Revolution kite.

When Sept 11 2001 hit they didn't make a sale for a couple of months. Then I had heart surgery which put me out of commision for several months. When I finally got a little better I went to their store and it was gone. Along with my kites.

Needless to say I was pissed. I have only dealt with individual people online since.
Scott

I just KNOW I'm lucky to have a cheerful, knowledgeable, stoked dealer like Angus to deal with.

Hi there!

Good to hear from you again!

No wait.....

That's right!

I haven't heard ANytHING FROM YOU!

All my emails????? No reply.

I left my number several times! No calls.

Been waiting over a month........ NOTHING.

But someone starts saying things on a public forum... Well, your RIGHT ON TOP OF THAT!!!

But anyway, where do I begin....

Hi my name is James Pottschmidt, but my friends call me "Bucky".... I'm a Libra.... I like long walk on the beach and moonlit ni.........No that's not it......Oh ya.....

Hi there, Thanks for getting back to me in such a timely manner. You see I have these buggy parts that were left in your store in Seaside, and I would love to get them back. I have photos and receipts that I can show you proving that they are mine. Its not a big deal. Just some old parts, but I'd like them back. I certainly like your store, (great selection) and your staff has been nothing but friendly and helpful (which is probably why I've spent so much money there!) Thanks again.

Your friend & loyal customer,

James "Bucky" Pottschmidt


Hi there

It's Bucky again. Thanks again for returning my buggy parts so promptly! I just sold that one to a friend of mine and was hoping to use the money to buy a new set of wheels for my P.L. buggy and some hubs for my mountainboard. I'll be in tommorow to place my order. It's always a pleasure doing business with you!

Sincerely, James "Bucky" Pottschmidt


and....... back to reality.


Now wasn't that pleasant? Wasn't that not such a "BIG EVENT"? Nice!..... No derogatory T shirts.......No police involvement.......No hard feelings....

SEE!!! That's how it should've gone.


"We apologize for whatever happened that......."

Have you ever heard the story about the boy who gets caught by his mom calling a neighbor girl "ugly"? So the mom tells the boy that he needs to say he's sorry to the girl. So the boy walks over to the girl and says loudly "I'M SORRY THAT YOUR UGLY!!!!"

That kinda what YOUR "apology" feels like!

"I'm soooo sorry that BUCKY over-reacted...."

"I'm sorry that we apparently did something (don't know what!!) that set that crazy BUCKY off."

"I'm sorry that a bunch of crappy used parts were such a "HUGE EVENT" to BUCKY!"


How about instead of putting up your "psuedo" apology on this forum, why not give me a call.... send me an E-mail...... Even use the "U2U" feature on this site.

Remember, unlike you, my first method of communication was NOT a public forum. I tried to be cordial, to be nice. I've never before, had the police called on me. I've never had to commandeer my property from a store. In fact, in my 40 odd years on this earth, I've almost always been able to solve my disagreements in a rational and respectful manner. And I've NEVER, EVER written negative comments about a local business on a forum before!

You see, I didn't create a "HUGE EVENT" ......you did.

This situation didn't escalate because I wanted it to. I HATE this kind of stuff! No! It escalated because YOU forced it to. You left no other option open (short of just giving you my buggy). So why don't you just be adult and TAKE SOME RESPONSIBLITY!

APOLOGIZE LIKE A GROWN-UP, OR NOT AT ALL!!

You can do it here on this site, or in private. (a call would be preferable) I'll send a "U2U" with my number.

OK.... Now I need to do some serious meditating now after reading that last post.

Bye! Peace, Love, Sunshine, and 12 - 18 kts out of the West

Uh oh, there's that vision of the lotus position coming back..... I got the same feeling about the non-apology you didn't really get. After all this, "Above it all" seems to really mean "Above you all" the way I see it. It's all Bucky's fault for actually wanting his stuff back. The diversion about brain surgery and other life event personal issues was a feeble attempt to justify being a jerk. I'm sorry those things happened but they in no way make it ok to be so rude and condescending to a customer or the participants on this forum. They aren't sorry for he way they treated you in the least, and are here only to do damage control by discrediting you Bucky. I see through it.

While writing my last post, a bunch of other people came on and added stuff.

Including ABOVEITALLKITES:

Who told us about their recent misfortunes. I sincerely hope that both of you are recovering well, and will be back to 100 percent soon.

Please understand though, that a simple "The owners are dealing with some major health issues right now, and respectfully ask if you could postpone your desire for communication with them." from your manager. Or better yet, "as manager, I'll be taking care of this. I don't want to burden the owners. Would it be possible to have you bring in some documentation?" would have more than sufficed. I mean, isn't that what a manager is supposed to do....manage things.

As a matter of "priorities" . I fully agree that dealing with "brain surgery" and "heart attacks" make my wish to get back my buggy parts, seem rather trite in comparison. But that is fallicious argument.

Example:

I could say that the death of my father last year was FAR more important than $200. You could agree with that. However, his death would NOT make it OK for me to steal that $200 from you. Even if they occured around the same time.

Hardship and tragedy are not moral "get out of jail free" cards.

And to clarify... There was NO shady deal Eli. It was completely legitimate, and pretty simple.

Secondly, the parts in question, we NOT "somewhere in the back room". They were sitting in the corner of the shop, in plain site, in the public area. I never once trespassed into any unauthorized area, nor did I go anywhere that I was told I couldn't go. I broke no laws. My method of retrieving my parts, though unconventional, was 100 percent legitimate.

So don't tell me how wrong I was to do what I did.

Apparently, I should have just done nothing. Let you keep my stuff. Realize the triteness of my request in comparison to your unknown problems, and just gone away!?

Would that have been the good with you? They what?

wow... well i kno one thing for sure, me, my family and friends will steer clear of "above it all" when we go on our vacations to the OR coast.

BUMP


I am shocked that You can be aware that this thread is at well over 1,000 hits and growing daily and you aren't concerned enough to hit an internet Cafe on your vacation. :shocked2:

That alone tells me a lot about how interested you are in our business.

The problems with Bucky are only one issue.

The issue that concerns ALL of us is that you will continue selling powerkite gear to the power kite community and yet won't have the passion and up to date knowledge to further the sport . Turning our people away rather than admitting you don't have the answers he needs.

We need to know that when people see us out on the beach and want to buy a complete set up RIGHT NOW that we can tell them to just head in to AIAK up there on Broadway and they will set you up! Nice folks that won't do you wrong .
Do you not see how we are your FRONT LINE down there on the beach?

I hope this post ends up with 3,000 hits and is the 1st thing that comes up when they Google your store !

With what I'm finding I would hope the the Sunset crew are directing people to other local sources for those items. I know I would make sure the tourists knew that online here we think Above You All Kites might be a more accurate choice of names. I would inform them that there are other sources in town for everything from the one liners to the big ticket items.

hey all,
bucky, i am very sorry for what happend. this is tyson from the kite shop. i split home for a while to spend some time with family.
i feel the need to say sorry cause i was one of the employees working the day the buggy came in.
i have my own issues with that shop, however i will not bad talk them because that was by far the best job i have ever had.
i moved to oregon in 2005 and that was the first job i got. i loved it!!! i had an awsome pair of skates and id roll around the shop and sell everything i could. working was fun!! Eli taught me everything i knew about kites both on the beach and in the shop. not only that but i had the pleasure of living with him too. so i dove into the kite life.
who i am today came from that shop i wldnt trade it for anything.
i am wondering if the seaside shop can truly survive with out an expert in the powerkite section?

bucky wish you well,
tyson

Good to hear from you Tyson!

No apologies necessary. Like "Bladerunner" said earlier, that place, with you and Eli, were examples of what was RIGHT in a B&M kite shop. Knowledgable, enthusiastic, staff, that loved the sport, and knew their stuff!

Ahhh the good old days!!!

Well anyhow.... Are you still in town?

If so, I'll send you a "U2U" with my contact info. Next time we have decent weather\wind, we can meet up @ Sunset Beach. Got to see your jumping buggy!

I've been kinda itching to get out flying. I didn't do a bunch of powerkiting last summer. Free-time & Good-wind, never seemed be on the same days - Spent a bit of my time learning to "kayak surf" though! Hella Fun, and great on East wind days! (got some extra surfing kayaks too if you want to try that sometime.)

Peace,

no man i moved back home for the winter, i hope to get back to the coast but we will have to see how plans work here and with eli.
it is always windy here tho check out what iv been up too!

this is my back yard now!

GO TYSON!!!

COOL VIDS!!!

I NEED TO FINISH THIS LAPTOP FOR YOU!

wow!above it all apology seems very insincere to me.......thats one kite shop i will never see! bought over 4k in kite gear and dont plan on slowing down anytime soon.....midwest kites and angus,here i come lol::singing:

If you are out for the best products that the store sold , from what I understand those products are now available at Discoverkiting down there on the FRONT LINE, the beach and an R.S.V.P. shop in the area!

I have little doubt that those in the know will buy there big ticket items someplace else in town. I am just concerned AYAK will pass themselves off as a powerkite shop and give us all a bad name by mistreating the newcomers! Or try and have us arrested and put in jail for some other crazy thing !

Yes indeed! Can't wait till the website's fully up and running! Eli + Brad & Maren (and "North" too) Very cool!

For those who don't already know - Brad & Maren have run a paragliding school out on Sunset Beach, Oregon just north of Seaside, for several years now. Very nice people!

I have seen them out on Sunset for several years, and have spoken with them a number of times. I've never had the opportunity to go up myself yet, but plan on doing it this summer! Just watching them however, is still pretty damned impressive!

And Yes! "North", Eli's Siberian Husky, goes up with him, and absolutely LOVES IT!!

You can also check them out at:

http://www.discoverparagliding.com

When Eli gets back on this site , I'm sure he can fill everyone in on what will be offered at the new site. Can't wait, because just like "Bladerunner" alluded to - These guys will offer not only good high-end equipment, but also knowledge, experience, and a genuine helpful attitude.

Good luck, you guys!

BUMP

Admin note: please do not bump threads. PKF

I am going to Seaside next week. I will probably let them know another PKF member won't buy there. I can post their claims about if they boast a real power kite shop or not. I keep checking the discoverkiting site and nothing yet. I am guessing I will have to wait until after NABX. Either the shop in Cannon Beach or Discoverkiting will be getting my money

I went to Sunset beach last weekend and found my front bearings were bad. The only shop i knew of was aiak so I had to go there.
I get parking right in front and the saleslady says "Is that a buggy in your car" I say yes and I need some bearings for it. "I don't know anything about buggies" She searched around in the back for awhile but couldn't find anything for me. I asked where's Eli. "He doesn't work here anymore."
So I went to NAPA and they had what I needed.
I will only shop at AIAK if its an emergency.

Well hey, least she recognized that it was a buggy:puzzled:

Quote:

Originally posted by vwbrian I went to Sunset beach last weekend and found my front bearings were bad. The only shop i knew of was aiak so I had to go there. I get parking right in front and the saleslady says "Is that a buggy in your car" I say yes and I need some bearings for it. "I don't know anything about buggies" She searched around in the back for awhile but couldn't find anything for me. I asked where's Eli. "He doesn't work here anymore." So I went to NAPA and they had what I needed. I will only shop at AIAK if its an emergency.

I wasn't there but it sounds like she was ASKING if it was a buggy ! ;-)

I thought " SHE " was on vacation ??????? :puzzled:

Hi everyone.

Well, I walked by AIAK yesterday (no, I didn't try to go in... not that I'd be welcome anyhow) and noticed that the OWNER was actually running the shop and the "manager" was nowhere to be seen......

Possible changes in the works? Maybe....Maybe not....

However, they are back from "vacation" ,but still no word from them either publicly or privately. My guess is that they assume its "ancient history". A one-time incident, as opposed to a systemic problem within their business.

Because, lets face it. It would be sooooo easy to turn this "negative" into a "positive" for them. They could come online - issue a sincere apology to me (which I would graciously accept) and to the members of the kiting community (likewise) - Accept that they've had some issues recently, and are taking steps to fix them - And commit to trying to reestablish the trust and loyalty with the powerkiting community.

Its that easy! And what do they get taking a small dose of humility and honesty?

Instant props for being willing to admit a mistake and error in judgement, and for the willingness to do what needs to be done to correct them.

Renewed trust in B&M kite stores!

Kudos from kiters that get the message that: "This place cares what we have to say" "We actually matter to this store"

Tons of free GOOD press!

And above (it) all, more business for them!

Its a WIN - WIN scenario! Everybody's happy.

So why haven't they???????

I'm still waiting........................................ :smug:

there ARE people that simply cant or wont admit they are at fault--ive known a few--i thank God im not one of them! if you ask me,i think there is something very cathartic about admitting you are wrong.......

Hey Bucky,

Man I am sorry I truly am. I was having a bad day and was not myself. I had some personal issues going on and they got in the way of business. Let me take you out for a bite to eat and lets talk about our next buggy session :wee:

I was trying to stay out of this but I couldn't resist. I was thinking maybe if I gave you a apology for something I had nothing to do with you might bring your business down to Cali.

Quote:

Originally posted by DAKITEZ might bring your business down to Cali.

I sure hope it never comes to THAT!!!.... :P

Sorry, I couldn't resist either..;-)

CYA in a few days.

if you go to seaside, or sunset, call me if you've got the number. I bounce around a ton, from Woodland - Sunset - Beaverton looking for 'opportunity/biz'. It's going well so far, and I see buggies/sailors at the beach quite a bit. I've got stuff and I know a guy with a ton of libre gear for sale.

Lets hook up, u2 bucky.