Do you hate your LDS?

[scubafanatic]

I wouldn't go as far as saying hate, but what bugs me with one shop which I've stopped using is every time I walk in they do try and sell a PADI course (that in itself I can live with, it is their business) but when I did book and pay for a course they then start rescheduling, due to not enough students to cover the cost of the instructors or the boat or whatever. I feel like I've been scammed by the old bait and switch so I no longer use them. I was particularly annoyed when they changed my Nitrox practise dives from shore to boat, asked me to pay extra for the boat, then told me I wasn't certified for boat diving so should do the PADI boat cert first, then cancelled the dive because there wasn't enough students to justify booking the charter...

...you mean there REALLY is a PADI 'boat diver cert' ??? WTF ?

 

[Wookie]

...you mean there REALLY is a PADI 'boat diver cert' ??? WTF ?

I can certify you when you get here Karl.

 

[scubafanatic]

I can certify you when you get here Karl.

OK Frank, guess I'll go ahead and get started on all the chapter 'reviews' now, I'm sure it's some pretty intense material I need to cover!

 

[Slamfire]

They actually showed me invoice ($124.99) and said the profit margin was too low to come down. They know me in there, I'm not doing one caribbean vacation and never diving again. If they were smart they'd work with me...

I try to put myself in their shoes. It's very easy to see that is not the best business to get rich. The inventory they carry is expensive and does not move off the shelves quickly. No wonder they don't have a wide selection on-site. The point is that the small traditional LDS doesn't work out that well economically for owners nor it does for customers. The business model is being pushed into obsolescence. You have online shops for equipment and freelance instructors for training and maintenance/service. What's left? Gas fills? Specialized fill shops like Fill Express seem to make more economical sense than the small LDS. And then there's the firefighters or even the entrepreneuring freelance instructor setting up fill stations.