Skydive Paraclete XP — Local services in Raeford

Took a couple of days from my Jump to write a review worthy of this experience and this company. If you even have an inclination that you may want to try this. Do it. Of all the positive vibes I can muster up to send your way I do... I never wanted to do this until a couple weeks ago. With a fearless partner and a drive in myself to challenge all my fears and show the true strength of my own willpower... I decided I could do this and in that same day, bought tickets and was on a plane two weeks later.

I had done indoor skydiving with Paraclete and you can just tell this is their life. They had to build one of the largest tunnels I’ve ever seen just to accommodate their passion! I drove 3 hours to jump with a company i believed I could trust my life to. Getting settled in and meeting our coaches, we felt comfortable and excited throughout the process. The staff was calling us by our names and enjoying conversation by the on site bar/grille when a storm cloud delayed our flight a little while. I never felt nervous or unattended to. My coach Thomas was my complete opposite which made the jump that much better.... wild, carefree, hilarious, and eased all my butterflies with laughter. (i totally would have been crying if I hadn’t been laughing at his antics) but his confidence and comfort with this was enough to keep any concerns at bay. He made my jump incredible. The fall is unlike anything. Unbelievably humbling and fueling you with explosions of power at the same time. NOTHING else can feel like this, I’m sure of it! Thomas let me experience zero force with some playful turns of the chute and feel the surge of freedom in navigating myself in the wide open sky. I got to catch up to my boyfriend to see his own life changing experience... I was eye level to a soaring hawk ya’ll. Come’on! PS thanks for cleaning the fleas out of my hair during free fall 😂

Smoothest landing right to my feet, and walked away a different person. Jokingly, Thomas added they need more female instructors. Heard and noted coach! My mind keeps replaying that and i feel some new goals forming! You guys do this jump on the daily and I hope it’s as exhilarating as day one, but if not I hope knowing you literally play a part in changing lives is a worthy walk away from these jumps. Even for my videographer! You siked me up and I’ve got an epic video to show for it. Plus watching a human in front of me made that 10,000 ft free fall a little less intimidating haha.. Thank you a...

Very disappointed with the customer service I received from Amanda. This is my third jump, I have jumped once in Hawaii and once outside of Nashville and I’ve never dealt with someone from a drop zone that is so rude. I have not even had my jump with this company and I’m already regretting booking through Skydive Paraclete XP because of the experience I had with her. This company has great reviews and I’m sure my jump will be awesome, but I recommend seriously considering jumping with this company unless you want to deal with rude and condescending comments from its staff, specifically Amanda.

I bought this jump as a birthday gift for my mother. On their website it states that small groups of 2-3 people should be able to jump together. However, initially my mom and I were rebooked to different check-in times. When I called to inquire why my mom and I were at different times Amanda informed me that this was just the check in time, however you aren’t guaranteed to jump with the person you are going with. I’ve never experienced this policy at either of the companies I’ve jumped with and don’t understand why anyone would book an experience with another person if they might not be able to do it with them. When I expressed this I was rudely told that “that’s how it is everywhere” and that “other companies lied to me if the guaranteed jumping with someone else”. I understand this might be their company policy, but Amanda was not the least bit kind, understanding or patient. Nor did she seem to care about my mom and I having a good experience (which we paid a good chunk of money to do). When I expressed that their website does not articulate this jump policy very clearly I was again told that is just how things are.

I understand there are variables and things that can’t be controlled (especially with sky diving), and if that were the case there would be no issue. But to be talked down to and so rudely by Amanda just really put a damper on the whole experience. I can only hope the jump experience itself...

My childhood friend is a fairly notorious writer/blogger/influencer and wanted to write a piece on becoming skydiving certified, basically from no experience to certified. I’ve always wanted to do this so I jumped all in (especially since the price tag for me would be zero dollars!) we researched all evening and finally found a place that said it was 36 mi from my house. I filled out the form and put the deposit down on my card. This morning, 6 hours later, she realized that this place is, in fact, almost 3 hours from me. When I called to explain, they refused to reimburse me my (her) deposit and were quite rude. Now, keep reading…yes, I DID put the deposit down. And again, this is NOT actually on my tab, thank goodness. But even the airlines give you a 24 hour grace period. I have trouble believing that I held up a spot that prevented another from booking from 3am to 8am this morning.

I am not denying that it’s our mistake, and I understand that their policy is no refunds. Absolutely 100% my bad.

BUT just putting this out there- I personally am not comfortable doing business with a company that offers no grace or compassion to their clients. My family owns a large NYC-based company and I can’t imagine a client explaining this scenario to us and then telling them, “we have rules about these things, sorry!” Ultimately, it’s not about the money, as it’s not even my own $100, it’s about giving grace and showing a little compassion. Running a business and allowing for humanity don’t have to be...