Skydive Coastal California

Review: In 2013 my friends and I purchased a total of 6 tickets for Coastal Skydive through LivingSocial.com. The tickets had an expiration date of 06/06/2014. Due to work & school schedule, my friends and I couldn't find an agreeable date right away. On 06/06/2014 we knew we couldn't wait any longer and decided to schedule a date before the tickets expired. I called @ 4:47PM & 4:58PM PST to acquire about the times & dates available. I was told by the representative on the phone that I have until 6pm to call back and schedule. Because the dates available were 2 months apart, I had to get a hold of all 6 ticket holders to agree on a time. At 5:42PM PST I called back and the office was already closed, even though I was told by the representative that I have until 6pm, as well as its CLEARLY stated on their website that office hours are from 5am - 6pm M-F. I left a message for a call back request; however, I didnt receive one until noon of the following day, at which point the tickets had expired. After speaking to Sean the manager, he advised me that the tickets expired, and we must pay an additional $90 per ticket to redeem them. I also confirmed with Sean that all my calls were logged and they have the recorded conversations, as well as call attempts.Granted, we waited till the last day to try and schedule an appointment; however, it clearly states that the promotional value expires on 06/06/14. That indicates that I have until the end of the business day to redeem my ticket. According to the representative, and their company website, I had until 6pm to schedule an appointment. If a company offers a redemption period and then doesn't allow its customers to get a hold of them during their business hours, then its unfair for the customer to have to suffer the consequences. That is bad business practice. Im all for taking an early Friday, but not at the expense of the consumer. I have screen shots of my call times/call log, as well as Sean the manager confirmed his call log.Desired Settlement: Waive the $90 expiration fees for all 6 tickets, or refund the full amount through Livingsocial.com

Review: The call center makes appointments and scheduling for the actual sky diving center, the call center sold me a "VIP package" which included pictures, video, front of the line, t-shirt, and a water bottle for 2 people $100 total. When I arrived at the sky diving center, the sales associate prompted me to purchase photos and video, she stated the VIP package only included a discount on the photo and video, but it did include front of the line, water bottle, and t-shirt. The sales associate stated the call center has sold the VIP package to other clients and said it included "the video and photos." The manager stepped in and said the VIP package did not include photos and video. I asked to refund the entire VIP package, but the manager said it was too late since I was already in the front of the line (I didn't jump yet, we were still sorting out matters.) It appeared that the sales associate had dealt with this VIP package issue in the past, but as soon as the manager stepped in, he covered up this issue by stating what the VIP package included. Again, what the call center sold me and what was given at the sky diving center were different. This information needs to be posted on their website. This was unacceptable and as a customer, I felt cheated. The next day, the call center agreed to refund $50 of the $100.Desired Settlement: If videos are saved, I want my sky diving video. The call center needs to be trained on what packages include and the sky diving center needs to post price information publicly. Prices appear negotiable since it isn't posted and it seems to be whatever the sales associate says the prices are at that given time.

Review: (1) The company charges a non-refundable booking fee to book a reservation. However, the company also has canceled my reservation multiple times, due to what they claim is technical error. Since I was from out of town, which I explained while booking, I could not reschedule. I asked to be returned all my money which they replied they would not return the non-refundable portion. However, when a company is the breaching party to the contract, or the contract is excused due to impossibility, the non-breaching party is legally entitled to all their money back. If I canceled the reservation, I would be required to forfeit the non-refundable fee, but that was not the case here. The non-performance of the contract was due to the company's issues, and they were unjustly enriched when they withheld my entire deposit. A cursory Internet search has revealed to me that the company practices the method quite a bit. Others have struggled with having their reservations honored and then were not refunded their fees. (2) the second issue is that the company records telephone conversations without telling the customer. Although they do have a warning in their automated introductory voice-recording to their direct California phone number, the company more regularly employs a Michigan call center that does not warn of the voice recording. After the first cancelation with the company, they asked me to return their call to their Michigan number which did not tell me my call was being recorded. Further, whenever they called me, a representative did not warn me that my call was being recorded. Under Cal. Penal Code Section 632 and 637.2, this is illegal wiretapping because California is a two-party consent state to voice recordings. I explained that this practice was not allowed in California, at which they gawked at me.Desired Settlement: I would like he company to refund all of my money as well as change their policy so they cannot continue this wrongful practice to other innocent parties.