locker
Social climber
state of Kumbaya...
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"I never got to see their museum. Anyone know where it'll end up?"...
Supposedly the Museum is going to remain as it is, for all to enjoy...
Let's HOPE that is true!!!...
It really is a GREAT collection of stuff...
EDITED: If you read back (Prepare yourself for some strange sh!t), you'll see where a couple have posted such...
;-)
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locker
Social climber
state of Kumbaya...
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SLIGHT THREAD DRIFT:
What a STRANGE turnaround!!!...
So I called over to Bent Gate to check on the BS that was recently tossed out to some of us...
Low and behold, they already KNEW about this thread (I guess someone else alerted them to it)...
Well, turns out that for ME in particular, I GUESS(???) because of the TROLL dude and perhaps because of my open SUPPORT for their business(???)...
they ARE in fact going to HONOR that offered 25% DISCOUNT on any single item in the store...
even though it was offered by a "TROLL"...
WOW!!!...
Talk about GREAT customer relations......
EDITED:
Needless to say...
as before when I answered the "TROLL"...
I DO NOT plan on using it, but DO appreciate the OFFER...
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Tami
Social climber
Canada
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Yeah, at that time wasn't La Sportiva THE best-selling rock shoe in the country, and certainly in Boulder? I remember how stunned I was when we did that (I was there then)....and it barely changed our sales, did it?
Pam,
As I recall we did feel some pinch at the time- mainly from having such a major shoe lineup change mid-season. Overall though we still sold boat-loads of rockshoes.
Funny thing is that this story will mostly remain a sleeper except for industry insiders. Any directly involved players will remain necessarily silent.
The bald truth is that what Gary stumbled into was a much bigger rat's nest than just pressuring of TNF dealers for fatter orders.
Gary also received many accounts of what later became known as "Stuffing the pipes" as dealers were over-shipped, sometimes double what they ordered. This was later proven to be quite intentional- the over-shipments were logged as sales. This happened at the end of each fiscal quarter and sales never looked better at TNF.
Complacent, happy stockholders had no idea what was to come.
Ironically this is still just the tip of this iceberg story, which I'll leave to others who know and are not constrained by NDAs, to reveal.
Here's a hint: check out TNF's stock history around that time .. and just preceding it. As in any case of corruption, the key question to ask, "Qui Bono?"
Throughout all of this it should be noted that the guys at Sportiva, were not involved in any part of TNF's skullduggery. They and the A5 crew remain untarnished by this event. Their integrity was and is always stellar.
Which leads us back to Gary. The mouse that roared.
No, Gary didn't single-handedly take these guys down. That would be from their own criminal misdeeds.
But Gary provided an excellent catalyst that very well could have led to more attention to this case.
Now can anyone here tell me that a board of directors for a corporation is going to have that kind of fortitude?
~Phil
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Tami
Social climber
Canada
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Another Neptunian that is missed.
~ph
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hossjulia
Trad climber
Where the Hoback and the mighty Snake River meet
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I was probably there^^^.
God I miss Pete.
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Bob D'A
Trad climber
Taos, NM
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Phil...Great picture of Pete...climbed Childhood's End (5.12-) on Big Rock with him back in the 90's. He drank a least a bottle and half of wine the night before at the campground and managed to cruise the crux pitch the next morning. He kinda suffered on the hike back out. :-)
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Tami
Social climber
Canada
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Phil...Great picture of Pete...climbed Childhood's End (5.12-) on Big Rock with him back in the 90's. He drank a least a bottle and half of wine the night before at the campground and managed to cruise the crux pitch the next morning. He kinda suffered on the hike back out. :-)
Thanks Bob,
Yes sir, I know I'm not the only one who misses the heck out of Pete.
So many stories like yours.
He once unleashed an enormous Tarzan yell in one of the fancy restaurants at Snowbird. With the withering stares we received from other patrons, it didn't seem funny at the time. In retrospect it was the best impression of the old movie Tarzan yell I've ever heard.
Pete knew his climbs, climbers and loads of climbing history- such a great guy to run Neptune's book department.
Here's another shot that goes way back.
~ph
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Snowbird way back in 1991 or so. Check out those garish jacket colors!
F-B, L-R: Jeff, Gary, L.B., Kelly, Phil, Stevie, Jim, Dari, Kyle, Gina, Julie and couple of kids from Doc's Ski and Sports, Corinne(?) and Greg in the rugby shirt.
Credit: Phil |
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Bob D'A
Trad climber
Taos, NM
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This is what this tread should have been from the start: A tribute to Gary, the store and all fine folks who worked there and the great customers that walk through the doors.
If you never been to Neptune's you missed something great...end of an era. Gone!
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locker
Social climber
state of Kumbaya...
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Oops!!!...
I REALLY am OFF at the moment...
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hossjulia
Trad climber
Where the Hoback and the mighty Snake River meet
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locker, step away from the glue...........
Who remembers when Pete got stuffed in a snowbank on the way back from dinner (at Snowbird) and left there?
Also, (another gud one)who had a discount there who was not an athlete or employee, and what was the reason given by Gary?
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locker
Social climber
state of Kumbaya...
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Hoss...
did you catch that I had posted the WRONG comment, on the WRONG thread???...
LOL!!!...
My head is STILL spinning a bit I guess...
I'll be REAL HAPPY when I am DONE working tonight...
EDITED:
I also ALMOST fuked up a customers shoe...
"yup, go sit in the car locker..."...
I think at least a FEW here would prefer it be a GAS CHAMBER...
;-)
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hossjulia
Trad climber
Where the Hoback and the mighty Snake River meet
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yup, go sit in the car locker......
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Tami
Social climber
Canada
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A bit of a tradition..
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locker
Social climber
state of Kumbaya...
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Not going into detail...
But there are some really COOL people on this Forum and this thread...
and a HUGE and SINCERE...
THANK YOU!!!... along with my own, APOLOGY...
;-)
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Tami
Social climber
Canada
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One more for now..
~ph
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Tami
Social climber
Canada
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Who remembers when Pete got stuffed in a snowbank on the way back from dinner (at Snowbird) and left there?
Yeppers, that was the night of the Tarzan yell if I remember correctly.
On the way to the Lodge, John Hannon, responding to everyone else's irritation, stuffed Pete headfirst into a snowbank outside the restaurant. As I recall Pete was a pretty dang good sport about it- even despite the scrapes on his face.
Great memories!
Cheers!
~Phil
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Bldrjac
Ice climber
Boulder
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Soooo great to see those pictures!!! :-) Hossjulia, I think the reason was, "she fit well into my lap." But maybe that was someone else. :-)
Locker, glad to hear you are softening a bit....warms my heart. Or perhaps it's the wine? Whatever...........works for me!
pam
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lamadrida
Trad climber
Superior, WI
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Jan 10, 2013 - 12:38am PT
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This is sad news. We have been going every year to Boulder or Estes to climb (from WI). We often stop at Neptune's for this or that piece of forgotten gear or for beta on local climbs. We've always found the staff to be very patient and helpful, on more than one trip enduring someone from our party trying multiple pairs of rock shoes. I too have placed special orders with them and had them offer to ship them to my house.
I've never had a bad experience with Neptune's and always looked forward to my next visit. I find their merchandise to be fairly priced for the most part. I also appreciated that the people who were selling me climbing gear were expedienced climbers.
Lastly, I've been a big fan of both the consignment gear they sold and the climbing museum. They will be missed by me and my family and partners. In my opinion, one of the best climbing shops around.
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blahblah
Gym climber
Boulder
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Jan 10, 2013 - 01:15am PT
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If you never been to Neptune's you missed something great...end of an era. Gone!
Lastly, I've been a big fan of both the consignment gear they sold and the climbing museum. They will be missed by me and my family and partners.
I think some well-meaning people may be unintentionally making some misleading statements . . . as I understand it, the store's going to stay open, with museum in place. I'm sure the new owners (and Gary who will now work there as an employee) will appreciate everyone's continued patronage.
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goatboy smellz
climber
Nederland-GulfBreeze
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Jan 10, 2013 - 07:24am PT
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Locker you really should take Bent Gate up on their 25% offer.
They have the best selection of cod pieces on the Front Range.
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