I appreciate your questions, comments and concerns via PM, email and phone, I don't have any answers for you and don't want to speculate on the future of Oasis, I am not in the loop. Sorry.
Let me say, I empathize with the customers who are owed/out something, I know myself and Tim especially, as the manager, did have the customers best interests in mind, and had we seen the closure of the shop coming, we would have taken steps to avoid customer loss/issues as best we could. I knew times would be lean(er), but PHX was the profit center and engine that drove Oasis and I didn't anticipate that shop closing it's doors with little to no notice. I expected my walking papers any day, but didn't expect the PHX shop to close so abruptly.
There are no saints or villains in this tale, I'll tell you that, I've seen the rise and fall firsthand from the front row with a big box of popcorn. I've seen it when times were good and everyone was happy and slapping each other high fives, and when times were bad and the finger pointing and blame game ensued. In the end everyone who had a stake, financially or otherwise will lose, some will lose monetarily, some will lose their reputations, some will lose both. But believe me when I say no one person is to blame and certainly no one person should be made a victim or villain, no matter what you've heard, first hand or not.
Yes I'm upset that I didn't get my last paycheck or back DM pay (yet) because it has put me in a bind, but what really gets to me is, not one of the current owners/investors had the common courtesy or decency to pick up the phone or shoot me an email when the shop closed. I show up to work one day, locks have been changed and not one of them contacts me? It's not like there are 50 employees, there were 2+. I'll be honest, that hurt and pissed me off more than the money, after well over a year of working there, loyalty to my own detriment (I should have left months ago, I have only myself to blame for that) and putting up with all the BS (and there was a lot of it) over the last few months, not to receive one phone call or email sucks. That's why, if the PHX shop reopens, I don't expect I'll choose to be associated with any reincarnation of Oasis Divers, whether by that name or any other. You just don't treat your employees/staff, who've stuck it out with you, like that.
I did have a great time working there for the most part, last couple months aside, met a lot of great people, made a lot of great friends, met my girlfriend and got to talk diving all day, I'll miss that aspect of the job. I'm hanging up the board shorts and flip-flops and going back to the real world (really, really soon I hope, web developer if anyone has any leads
).
I will be glad just to dive for the Love of the sport once again and reclaim my "Lake Dog" merit badge in the near future, after I figure out my next move.
-Garrett
