Being Forced to Buy Equipment AT LDS for Class

[spectrum]

I can certainly understand and agree with requiring gear that is suitable in fit, function and condition but that's where if it ends.

Some diver have used gear in the family, others got a strat in skin-diving and stil otherd like the OP chose to deal with others. To tie gear purchase to instruction is just a bad buisness model and a heavy handed way of doing business. I'd go elsewhere period.

Pete

 

[k374]

We require that students have an appropriate mask, fins and a snorkel, but if you walk in with a "Mike Nelson" black rubber mask, a snorkel that your brother found at the bottom of the ocean and fins you bought from a WW-II estate sale, as long as the mask is made from tempered glass, fits properly and the rest of the stuff works, if you're happy with it, it's OK with us.

Dude, you should do standup, that was hilarious

 

[Web Monkey]

Unfortunately many businesses have a very short sighted approach. My LDS also is extremely pushy with sales and I really resent it. I did buy my initial gear from them and also signed up for a private class and a offshore dive but despite telling them that I want to hold off on BCD and Reg for now they keep pushing it with high pressure sales tactics. They even suggested I buy my own tank and a $1,500 Galileo Sol computer..yeah right

Oddly enough, there's nothing wrong with that.

I absolutely recommend that new divers buy a couple of tanks. Nothing makes diving easier and more fun that being able to call your buddy and say "Let's go diving", then simply get up and go.

If you have to make a big deal out of it (go down to the shop, rent tanks, BC, reg, etc., remember to bring them back on time) it's generally too much bother to do it more than a couple of times/year.

Terry

 

[ScubaSteve]

Oddly enough, there's nothing wrong with that.

I absolutely recommend that new divers buy a couple of tanks. Nothing makes diving easier and more fun that being able to call your buddy and say "Let's go diving", then simply get up and go.

If you have to make a big deal out of it (go down to the shop, rent tanks, BC, reg, etc., remember to bring them back on time) it's generally too much bother to do it more than a couple of times/year.

Terry

I ordered my own tank after my 2nd discussion with an LDS over why I should not have to pay for a weekend rate for tank rentals simply because I was 15 minutes late due to distance travelled. I actually agreed that I was late and therefore should have to pay but after the second one I agreed to buy tanks on the spot if the shop owner discounted the price by the 2 time rental premiums paid. He agreed as long as I could accept a slightly delayed delivery (he was about to get a skid load in at a reduced price) and I agreed. I could also have asked him to discount the skid QTY discounted price but did not becaquse fair is fair. I was not looking to take advantage and the difference was not excessive.

My reasoning for immediately buying the tanks....I wanted to, on a whim, go diving. That was an AL80....I have since bought 2 PST E7120's...one from that shop and one from another.

 

[Web Monkey]

Dude, you should do standup, that was hilarious

Thanks!

I assist with classes and get to do a little "Stand Up" for the OW classes.

You should see me teach the hand signals used to explain to the DM that he exceeded your turn pressure or maximum depth.

They're definitely unambiguous.

Every time I see one of these "The LDS made me buy xxx" threads, I get a real kick out of it because it's usually a shop that will be gone soon. It reminds me of the SouthPark "Underwear Gnomes"

YouTube - South Park - Gnomes 3 phases

"Pissing people off to make money" just does't seem like a valid business model.

Terry

 

[BettyRubble]

I was fortunate that at the time I took my classes the LDS was doing a special where by the class fee included 'rental' for EVERYTHING. So I had leeway to purchase where, when, and from whom I wanted.

Also, I learned very quickly to call around to multiple local dive shops. They are not all made the same!!!!!

 

[ligersandtions]

Call the LDS back and see if he meant "you need to buy your mask/snorkel/fins/booties before the class and we have all shapes and sizes available to you at our store" or "you must buy all your gear from us, and only us, or you cannot take the course".

I like to think it's the former, but if it's the latter, find a new shop. You don't want to deal with attitudes like that....and most likely, you do not want to learn from the people who possess that kind of an attitude.

 

[ScubaSteve]

....and most likely, you do not want to learn from the people who possess that kind of an attitude.

Agreed. I can see them saying:

OK, so you are a certified diver but we left out one life threatening piece of information and we will only give it to you if you buy this $4500 equipment package.

 

[NJ to FLA]

THIS HAPPENED TO ME AND MY DAD!! and we said that we had some of our own gear already and they said that they'd need to check it before we used it (and that would be dropping it off overnight). So we brought it in a different day and were told that our gear was not okay to use and we'd have to get new stuff ON THE SPOT. (we did. bad idea but class started that night). If I could change anything it would be to have just walked out of the shop and never looked back. Listen to everyone and go somewhere else. If it is this bad of service already you can bet it will not get any better.
Good luck and happy diving!

 

[Jim Lapenta]

You people really need to start posting the names of shops that do this. Otherwise you are not helping anyone. As an independent instructor I use the pool of one particular shop. Dive World in Washington,Pa. I recommend that my students get their personal gear from him but do not require it. The pool itself has enough masks , fins, and snorkels, and even some boots for students to use. I do require my students have their own personal gear for checkouts. I don't care where they get it. But an incentive for them to buy it at the LDS I use is that the owner will allow my students and those of other instructors who teach there to use brand new gear off the shelf to make sure that what they are buying fits. And they don't pay for their gear till the end of classes! He says it's easier than having them buy it , return it, buy it, return it. I had one student who went through 3 masks before she got the right one for her. As a result of this policy she and her husband spent double what they originally planned and got very good gear that will last them many years. ANd they were willing to spend this money because of the way the shop owner treated them. They informed me they'll be buying bc's and regs from him as well. THey've done the research on line and could save a couple bucks but the goodwill he created with them is going to mean a nice big sale for him. And he tries his best to compete with the online shops and does a pretty good job of it IMO.