Toker Villain
Big Wall climber
Toquerville, Utah
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I first went to Boulder in 1970 when "the Hill" was still happening, and moved there in 1973 when as a student I got a coupon for $1 Eiger ovals at Neptune's (I think it was on 30th street).
When I did my first wall the following year I had bought a lot of hardware from Gary, who always gave great deals.
A nice guy, don't rag on him. Sad to hear that some of the employees had 'tude.
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bvb
Social climber
flagstaff arizona
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Oh well. Spend money there in the future and you'll be supporting business in what may well be the most bigoted, mysogynistic, gun-happy, flat-out deplorable states in the union
I'm a wild-eyed supporter of the Texas Succession Movement. Or Mexico can have it back. Whatevz.
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Dingus Milktoast
Gym climber
And every fool knows, a dog needs a home, and...
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Their biggest flaw (Neptunes) at the moment is not competing. If they had a better return policy, and (blah blah blah)
Neptune is the stingiest store you'll find anywhere when it comes to returns, too. Meanwhile, over at REI...just losing money like crazy with their return policies...
REI is profitable. The co-op is NOT losing money. I don't think you know what you are talking about.
DMT
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JLP
Social climber
The internet
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REI is profitable. You totally missed the sarcasm. Good return policy = comfort and satisfaction = return business = profit. Yes, that's pretty clear to just about everyone who shops.
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Dingus Milktoast
Gym climber
And every fool knows, a dog needs a home, and...
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Yep, I sure did! Right over my head.
Cheers
DMT
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crunch
Social climber
CO
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I heard a few months ago that Gary was trying to sell his store. Sad to hear it's a done deal.
One of the last of the independent climbing stores. A big part of the Boulder community, with all the shows and events.
Shows? I've seen Layton Kor speak, Warren Harding, Joe Simpson, Pat Ament, Royal Robbins, Jim Donini.....best venue, by far.
I really like that the place is not some ultra-clean Foot-Locker or Nordstrom Rack clone, infested with over-attentive penguins with Mitt Romney smiles.
The staff are real people, real climbers, warts and all. Quite the line-up, too, over the years. Pamela, Jack Roberts, Dan Hare, Fred Knapp, Boulos Ayad, Ray Olson, Gary Ryan, David Light, Pete Steers, on and on....
Gary can be really generous, helping people out when he feels it's deserved. But he does this quietly, with no hype.
One criticism would be that for some time now they've been trying to not keep much in stock, especially the popular sizes of climbing shoes--they just order one or two pairs at a time. These may go straight out the door, then they don't have them in stock again for a week or more. The convenience of being able to try on different sizes of the same shoe is one feature of a bricks and mortar store that keeps people coming in. A minor quibble.
Neptunes roolz!
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hossjulia
Trad climber
Where the Hoback and the mighty Snake River meet
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Got to know Gary through Paul Ramer, plus I did a bunch of work on their rental fleet. Snowbird 2 years in a row as a guest, no way would I rag on Neptune's! Had a lot of fun with gear from there and going to slide shows.
Sure do miss that part of those days.
Not too surprised, I hope he got a bundle for it and gets to vacation for the duration.
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deuce4
climber
Hobart, Australia
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I hope Gary's museum will survive any makeovers intact--perhaps it could be moved to Golden AAC?
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donini
Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
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I'm sure Gary got enough to keep himself in Lederhosen and Norwegian Sweaters for life. End of an era...there goes my discount and Malcolm's toe. Thursday night shows were a good place to catch up with people. Backwoods is a good outfit, possibly a little too conservative.....been around long enough to understand culture, altihough Neptune's defies definition.
edit: Came very, very close to dying today on a rap off of a nondescript route in Sedona.
Full TR to follow when I get back to Ouray.
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bergbryce
Mountain climber
California
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Whoa Donini!
Another historically great brick and mortar gear shop that failed to make the transition to the web folds. Not much surprise there. Gary and the shop had a good run.
I'm also concerned about the museum pieces in the store and hope they find a good home.
edited to add: except for the toe
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Fritz
Trad climber
Choss Creek, ID
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Donini! Re your comment;
edit: Came very, very close to dying today on a rap off of a nondescript route in Sedona.
Full TR to follow when I get back to Ouray.
A lot of us know how close that must have been.
Sluuup! Here's to you cheating death a great-while longer!
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little Z
Trad climber
un cafetal en Naranjo
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...Malcolm's Toe? what is that all about?
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donini
Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
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Malcolm and I had a bit of an epic on Thunder Mountain in Alaska in 1999. The toe, nicely preserved in formaldehyde, was Malcolm's gift to the Neptune Museum to commemorate the event.
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Toker Villain
Big Wall climber
Toquerville, Utah
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Well that is a pretty gross thing to display, but probably not as ugly as your underwear after that sling failed today.
;/
I contributed a very strange thick spined euro D biner with a non-latching gate to that collection.
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donini
Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
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Ron...I only wear underware when in something shorter than Bermuda Shorts.
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klk
Trad climber
cali
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tmi donini.
although i guess ron started it by speculating about yr lingerie.
i've only been in neptune's a handful of times, but had a good experience each time. how many small indies from that era are still in business? marmot was the last one in the bay area.
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locker
Social climber
state of Kumbaya...
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"Came very, very close to dying today on a rap off of a nondescript route in Sedona."...
Yikes!!!...
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Brokedownclimber
Trad climber
Douglas, WY
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Yikes, Jim! You are supposed to be catching up with me in years, not rapping off the end of a rope.
Rodger
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locker
Social climber
state of Kumbaya...
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Rapping is my least favorite part of climbing...
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Toker Villain
Big Wall climber
Toquerville, Utah
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He didn't rap off the end. (wrong Jim)
Anchor failure, Jim is just too trusting a fellow. Thats why he doesn't pack a gun.
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