Shops tell of lingering oil spill impacts

Has BP settled any claims? Are you still filing?

Yeah, we are still filing. The paper work will come in tomorrow and you have to re-file. It’s a mess. My accountant had to write a letter to people I owe money to. People in California think the oil is gone; so it’s back to business. But when you suffer that much during the one season you make money, it really takes it toll.

I am still filing to pay companies off. A credit collector will call me from California and I have to tell them to watch the news. The money I have received is only money to keep my doors open. I’m not going to name anyone, but some people just don’t understand the catastrophic effect of this. Every single business is suffering still.

Have any surf companies reached out?

Rip Curl has been really good to me. I have been sending every company some money…what I can. But it is affecting what I eat at night. Yeah, its back to ramen noodles. Hurley has been understanding and then there are companies whose accounting people have been harassing me and I send money when I can. Vans has been good too. They have actually stepped up the plate and helped with contests. And they have some compassion.

The companies with compassion are the ones I’ll continue to business with. A few companies have turned me into attorneys. The attorneys are a little more understanding because they actually watch the news.

But it’s not on national news anymore so everyone is under impression that things are all good. I want to do business with these guys for the next 10 years but if they throw me under the bus and scream and yell, I don’t know if I can. It’s hard enough being a small business owner, and we have never had this happen.

How are holiday sales going?

There are probably on par with last year. We are fighting two evils: an oil spill and a tattered economy.

I am hoping to be up. Right now I am 0.19% up, but today hasn’t been a good day and we have head high surf and the water is low 60s. We have a skate contest this weekend and we’re doing stuff before Christmas to encourage kids to come shop with us instead of buying online. We also give back to the community.

Any surprises or things to note?

We are gonna' pay you… as soon as we get paid. We are now waiting on the Gulf Coast Claims Facility. It’s not BP anymore. They give you a number. You check your number and they let you know if you are denied or getting money.

I know people who have been milking the system and weren’t affected and they got money. Then there are people who work beach services and they filed claims and they didn’t get compensated at all the way they should have. I have gotten some money, not all of it. I have a great accountant and I am fortunate. But I just want to get the pay out and be done with it. The proof is in the pudding and I haven’t seen the pudding yet.

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