Banyan Pilot Shop — Local services in Fort Lauderdale

Unfriendly staff that you have to ask several times to look things up. You get the feeling they are either very poorly paid, have no idea or simply have no desire to work there. (Instead, two employees talk extensively about animals in the zoo and the correction of their eyes). When the employee discovers the price in another store and it is 8 USD lower, the answer is that you can only use the manufacturer's website for price comparisons, because it is an online store (I have rarely laughed so much). After 30 minutes I had all things together and wanted to pay and then all 4 credit cards did not work. The "manager" told me that this was to exclude fraud and that I was a foreigner. And then? Nothing. The manager stands there and looks as if she wants to tell me "Tough luck". So after 30 minutes I left the store again - and now it's the second and last time. I will never enter this store again. It's also funny that they call themselves the world's largest aviation store. That's not only very bold, but just complete nonsense. There are much better, friendlier, cheaper and better sorted stores in Europe and the USA. And so I spent the money instead in the nice restaurant of the airport and paid easily with my credit card and...

Seems like a good place upon first entry. However:

-Return policies are archaic (caution sectional/AFD/TPP users).

-There is an incessant recurring high pitched sound produced from one of their headset systems, capable of driving people insane if heard for more than 10 minutes.

-Rude treatment from management, even after having been loyal customers for more than 6 months. Agents refused to sell my father and I TPPs and Chart Supplements for cash or card. (Why?) These are necessary for a checkride in 2 days; now I have to find somewhere else to go.

-To top it off, prices are steep.

I realize some have had positive experiences here, and had these issues not compounded, the review would not have been this critical. At the very least cordial treatment should be a standard.

I'm expecting to be on their persona non grata list for this, but at this point the extra effort...

This place truly lives up to its name being the "World's Largest Pilot Shop". A wide selection of pilot supplies ranging from bags, checklists, handheld radios to headsets, books, and other knickknacks and even aircraft supplies such as oil, towbars, chocks, etc etc.

The flight simulator community is also covered as they also sell desktop flight controllers from a basic yoke and throttle system up to separate units for rudder pedals, additional throttles, radio units, and the like.

Toys for the young ones with a passion for Avaition are also available here at Banyan Pilot Shop.

I would have given the full 5 stars... but the reason for not doing so is that some items are a bit overpriced.

All-in-all this is the best experience I have had at a pilot shop. I've shopped at a few others and the selection here at Banyan is...