You are not going to believe this!

[1911Tex]

FAA ramp check noted a need for a replacement exterior ELT decal 2"x2"
So I ordered it from a Texas Diamond dealer:

1 ELT exterior placard 20-1120-14...........$9.90
Shipping from Canada via UPS...................$22.71
Airport tax at 1.05%......................................$.10
Texas sales tax 8.25%...................................$.82
Total payment...........................................$33.53

[Colin]

Where were you ramp checked? What did they ask for?

[1911Tex]

KHYI, not even my airport....showed i.d. (which got my attention as I am a retired Texas Peace Officer) and politely asked me to replace an exterior faded decal. Did not write up an official notice. No fine. Just a cursory exterior check only. More of a recommendation. Nice fella however, he complimented me on my anal aircraft care. So I thought I would comply. I thought no biggie until I received the paid cc invoice today! I think? the 1 oz $1 decal could have been put in a $.50 envelope with a $.50 stamp. Maybe I will have a 100 made up locally and sell them for $2.00 each plus envelope and stamp?? Live an learn.

[Steve]

My airplane doesn't have an exterior ELT decal. Where is it located on your aircraft?

I fly to HYI regularly, I'm based at 1T7.

Steve

[theRDWRER]

If I may, I've been looking for an opportunity to share what I think may be the most insane quote ever received from diamond. This thread seems to provide that opportunity.

Replacement grip tape for the entry steps: $635.94.

How does this even happen? Is it a joke?

[Spinner]

One of the flight manual required placards (location on the DA20)

ELT sticker.JPG (18.4 KiB) Viewed 3844 times

not sure it is worth the cost thought

[CFIDave]

For the ELT decal, you do realize that your package had to clear US Customs coming from Canada, right? I suppose Diamond could have dropped the decal into a regular 1st class mail envelope, but I'm sure it would have cost more than .50 to send internationally. Diamond normally assumes people need their parts ASAP, so standard procedure seems to be to use Fedex/UPS shipping.

Last week I had to send a single-page signed notarized piece of paper to Diamond Canada (for FAA paperwork). Cost me about $50 with Fedex because of the Customs handling.

[CFIDave]

Replacement grip tape for the entry steps: $635.94.

How does this even happen? Is it a joke?

Next time, try something like this:
http://www.homedepot.com/p/3M-4-in-x-15 ... /100211722

[theRDWRER]

Dave - My mechanic just gave me some of his 3M grip tape for free. Ironically, when I removed the old stuff it was the same 3M grip tape. I just struggle understanding how they end up at over $600 for it.

[1911Tex]

Dave, Ironically I bought the same anti skid tred from the aviation department at home depot as well. Same product as originally on the step, can't tell them apart.