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Is Neptune Mountaineering going out of business?

Bill Kirby · · Keene New York · Joined Jul 2012 · Points: 480
Ray Pinpillage wrote:Good for Misty not to get cowed by a slow-pay customer. I have seen tons of small vendors get back-burnered because they have almost no recourse to collect an outstanding debt. She would have had to file suit in small claims court which is improbable.
Agreed..

I have nothing to do with this situation other than I know how it feels to track down a customer that doesn't return phone calls weeks after 30 days. I just wanted to extend my support to Misty and say good for you. You're doing the right thing. It's sad what you have to do to get paid sometimes. I sat in a homebuilder's office years ago demanding payment before I left. I've called customers in my office and no answer. I've called right back on a employees or friends cell phone and that customer has picked up.

You either pay your bills or pick up the phone and workout something. No one likes to fear non payment. For anyone who disagrees how bout I hold on to your paycheck for 7 weeks or 11.. Or how bout a week? Get the picture?
misty murphy · · St.George, UT · Joined Jan 2012 · Points: 56

I want to let everyone know that Neptune/Backwoods has sent out a check to me and made has good on our agreement. I am sorry that this was the route that I had to take, but obviously it worked.

Thanks Dan for your help. We appreciate it as a couple of dirt bags climbers just trying to get by so we can get out climbing.

Thanks also for my anonymous support. Have a great weekend :)

Misty

Julia Lucente · · Denver, CO · Joined Sep 2006 · Points: 0

I was in there yesterday and the place is now all but empty - the employees are still singing some bizarre party line that the store is not closing but there is very little left to buy and it clearly is not being restocked or maintained. Was actually shocked that they had not put up the CLOSED or GOING OUT OF BUSINESS SIGN yet?

JDMCO · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Dec 2015 · Points: 0

They need to put that place out of its misery already.

Christopher Roberts · · Boulder, CO · Joined Apr 2002 · Points: 80

It is really grim in there. Last time I was there Gary's amazing museum had been pulled down for the time being. I just hope if the place goes paws up that the museum ends up at the mountaineering center in Golden. Sorry sad state of affairs.

20 kN · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Feb 2009 · Points: 1,346
Julia Lucente wrote:the employees are still singing some bizarre party line that the store is not closing but there is very little left to buy and it clearly is not being restocked or maintained.
That is always the story. Companies will always reassure its customers and employees all is normal until the day they close despite obvious evidence to the contrary.
simplyput . · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Nov 2013 · Points: 60
20 kN wrote: That is always the story. Companies will always reassure its customers and employees all is normal until the day they close despite obvious evidence to the contrary.
Always? I've never experienced that...
Nodin deSaillan · · Boulder · Joined Mar 2013 · Points: 80

Rock and resole is going to start carrying gear, and they have an amazing selection of shoes in a full range of sizes... seems like a good move on their part.

Clint White aka Faulted Geologist · · Lawrence, KS · Joined Jan 2015 · Points: 151

When I was there in September a sign said the museum was down for renovations. My guess is they are sectioning that part off so they can pay less rent.

They are my go-to when in town, but I am almost always forced to go to REI for sized items.

kzittle · · Boulder, CO · Joined Apr 2010 · Points: 0

$70k due in past rent. Can't live like that and have a business...

dailycamera.com/boulder-bus…

Ray Pinpillage · · West Egg · Joined Jul 2010 · Points: 180
kzittle wrote:$70k due in past rent. Can't live like that and have a business... dailycamera.com/boulder-bus…
Ouch.
Tony B · · Around Boulder, CO · Joined Jan 2001 · Points: 24,665
kzittle wrote:$70k due in past rent. Can't live like that and have a business... dailycamera.com/boulder-bus…
Bottom line is it sounds like the larger "parent" company business is being poorly managed. This makes me think the business is covering other expenses at the moment for the family or for another store. Record sales don't go well with unpaid rent, after all. But then again, one branch's success does not tell the story for the whole parent company. I guess time will tell.
jason.cre · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Aug 2014 · Points: 10
Ray Pinpillage wrote: Ouch.
And that 70k is for 3.5 months of rent? $20 k per month for a spot in a strip mall? Between that, paying for their parent company to survive, and not having any product to actually sell I can see why they might be having trouble.
ShireSmitty · · WP · Joined Jan 2013 · Points: 70

Between Tebo and JJ Reynolds, those two companies own 80 percent of all commercial property in Boulder. Lease rates are absolutely ridiculous. I don't know how Boulder lease rates stack up against the national average for cities of this size, but i wouldn't be surprised if its on the high end. It's pandemic all over town.... Connor O'Neills just almost went under after 30 years plus at the same location. Walk around anywhere and you can't help but notice local based storefronts don't last long in this town.

Arlo F Niederer · · Colorado Springs, CO · Joined Mar 2009 · Points: 515

As my prior posts stated, I've always thought Neptune was one of the best climbing gear shops just about anywhere. I would really hate to see it go out of business - or any business for that matter.

But this is very troubling. We now have two instances of bills not being paid - Misty's and now the rent. Also, two other stores seem to be having trouble with low inventory.

How much did they pay Gary, or do they still owe him money? The hole they are in might be bigger than we know. These are not signs of a healthy company.

To quote the daily camera:
"At the store on Monday, Vardamis was not aware of the lawsuit or unpaid rent. He declined to comment on the matter except to say that Neptune last year had its "best grossing year ever" in terms of sales."

What really matters is the bottom line, not the gross. If their profits were in line with the gross and "the best BOTTOM line year ever," they shouldn't have trouble paying the bills.

Unfortunately, often larger companies buy out smaller, very successful companies thinking they can maintain the same level of business. But they often neglect or change what made the small company so good. In the case of Neptune, it was an amazing inventory, interesting one of a kind museum, nice presentations once a week...

What do we have now - no inventory, no museum, mostly sales "presentations"...

I sincerely hope that Backwoods can bring Neptune back to life ...

Malcolm Daly · · Hailey, ID · Joined Jan 2001 · Points: 380

Hey gang,

Shelley and Andrew Dunbar, owners of Sea to Summit, have signed a letter of intent with the owners, Backwoods Retail, to purchase Neptune Mountaineering. The headline is a bit misleading: S2S is not trying to buy Neptune's, it is the Dunbar's deal.

dailycamera.com/boulder-bus…

Greg Miller · · Westminster, CO · Joined Jul 2012 · Points: 30
Malcolm Daly wrote:Hey gang, Shelley and Andrew Dunbar, owners of Sea to Summit, have singed a letter of intent with the owners, Backwoods Retail, to purchase Neptune Mountaineering.
Good to hear, hoping they can breathe some life into the business.
ShireSmitty · · WP · Joined Jan 2013 · Points: 70

Thanks Mal for the confirmation of this rumor... now just hoping all goes well and quickly!

Tony B · · Around Boulder, CO · Joined Jan 2001 · Points: 24,665
Malcolm Daly wrote:Hey gang, Shelley and Andrew Dunbar, owners of Sea to Summit, have singed a letter of intent with the owners, Backwoods Retail, to purchase Neptune Mountaineering. The headline is a bit misleading: S2S is not trying to buy Neptune's, it is the Dunbar's deal. dailycamera.com/boulder-bus…
I spoke with the Dunbar's last night. The deal is not done or certain, but it sounds like things are looking good and they are hopeful.
I'd look forward to them buying it. Shelly said that they were going to try to get Gary involved again & keep the museum up, etc.

To note, met them at the Access Fund Office last night - which means that they are running with the right crowd (meaning that they are supporting the Access Fund) Let's all hope it works out.
Christopher Roberts · · Boulder, CO · Joined Apr 2002 · Points: 80

I have found myself lamenting the removal of Gary’s amazing museum. The continued uncertainty surrounding the Neptune shop makes me wonder if there might be a better place for this invaluable and unique collection. Perhaps having the Mountaineering Center in Golden curate the collection and display it would be a good way to keep it from getting lost or disappearing.

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

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