High Retail Prices = Hard to Support LDS

[Lead_carrier]

Randy,
I work part time for a dive shop and I don't mind a bit if people want to look me straight in the eye and ask for a better price, just don't expect to get into a car dealership haggle war with me. We, shop owners and employees, know the internet prices. We also know when we can meet a price or come close to it. I have pulled up Leisurepros website to prove to customers that the price they were quoting me didn't exist. I have also offered to sell equipment within 20% of the Leisurepro. Still not good enough so I offer extras. Free service for a couple of years, couple of free tank fills, home cooked meals and car washes. Still no good because they can buy it cheaper on the internet. All I can do is smile and say that's the best that I can do.

Ok, you're still paying more up front but it has been more than made up in total value. Some shops try and others won't. I don't know whether your LDS will try to get your business or not. If they don't it is their loss.

 

[k ellis]

Randy,
I work part time for a dive shop and I don't mind a bit if people want to look me straight in the eye and ask for a better price, just don't expect to get into a car dealership haggle war with me. We, shop owners and employees, know the internet prices. We also know when we can meet a price or come close to it. I have pulled up Leisurepros website to prove to customers that the price they were quoting me didn't exist. I have also offered to sell equipment within 20% of the Leisurepro. Still not good enough so I offer extras. Free service for a couple of years, couple of free tank fills, home cooked meals and car washes. Still no good because they can buy it cheaper on the internet. All I can do is smile and say that's the best that I can do.

Ok, you're still paying more up front but it has been more than made up in total value. Some shops try and others won't. I don't know whether your LDS will try to get your business or not. If they don't it is their loss.

Lead these are the kinds of things a customer can appreciate. I know I was straight forward with my statement bu I would be sold on free service and withing 20 percent. I could actually live with that and as a consumer its something that would win my buisness. I just cant stand that some shops beleive in the old myth that if the customer wants it bad enough hell pay MSRP. Ive seen shops that would not back down from MSRP and swear on a stack of bibles that buying on the internet was going to ensure a slow agonizing death (Figure of speach).

I mean the service itself can run over 100 bucks a year so saving 50 on the internet up front versus peace of mind and 100 dollars savings in service is a deal one cant pass up!

 

[formula1mb@aol.com]

Just as an FYI, Leisurepro is an LDS too in new york. Some people make it sound like some mythical shop on the internet but there is an actual brick and mortar store.

Same for scuba.com, they're actually my local LDS, store layout is a little weird though---basically walk into a room with some tv's and laptops laid out, you pick what you want on the laptop and than they bring it out. Little weird but nice to have it local when needed.

 

[vladimir]

The owner of my LDS brought up a good point.
"If the internet sites make it impossible for the LDS to compete, then all local shops are all going to go out of business...so where are you going to get your air fills at?"
New England Divers Inc. in Long Beach, Ca will match most prices online, so I feel lucky to have them around.

I think his logic is flawed. It is impossible for many local dive shops to compete with the internet sellers because they have splintered the travel, training, and remaining scraps of the equipment market among too many of them. The weak ones have to go out of business, leaving the surviving shops with less competition and a larger pool of divers to sell to. They could then charge more for training and fills--those things they offer that the internet can't compete with, enjoy some economies of scale, and tighten their margins on gear to the point where they are competitive with the internet price. A county in Kansas with 12 quarry divers may have to go without an LDS, just as dedicated ski shops are probably scarce in Florida, but those marketplaces with real demand will have that demand filled.

 

[fire_diver]

Just as an FYI, Leisurepro is an LDS too in new york. Some people make it sound like some mythical shop on the internet but there is an actual brick and mortar store.

Same for scuba.com, they're actually my local LDS, store layout is a little weird though---basically walk into a room with some tv's and laptops laid out, you pick what you want on the laptop and than they bring it out. Little weird but nice to have it local when needed.

That's NOT an LDS. Thats a webfront for a storehouse.

 

[ERP]

I've bought a lot of stuff both online and at my LDS's.
I'll always give my LDS a shot at a reasonable price quote and buy there if they get close. And by enlarge they can get pretty close or in some rare cases do better.
Having said that I hate having to haggle with them, although at this point the haggling mostly been reduced to "and what's the real price?".

 

[ReefHound]

It may be rare, but it does happen. A few months ago the si-tech valve on my drysuit started leaking water. I took it into the LDS where I purchased it and they swapped it with the valve on the DS on display. Fixed in under 10 minutes with no missed dives! Now that's service. If I had purchased my DS online, I would have had to ship my DS back to them, wait for them to test the valve and order a replacement from the manufacturer, then ship it back to me. It would have been 1-2 weeks minimum to get this fixed, versus 10 minutes.

Of course it happens, that's why I said "rare" and not "never". Things happen with all products we buy. Whether we choose to insure or warranty them depend on the risk versus reward. I don't buy the extended warranties on electronics under $1000 that the superstores always push. They often cost a significant percentage of the purchase price, those kinds of items tend to fail quickly (within return period) if at all, and by next year a newer version at a cheaper price will be out.

Obviously, if you can get an item with the warranty for the same or little more than without the warranty, then get the one with a warranty. In your example, it would depend on how much you could have saved buying online versus what the repair would have cost locally (or your ability to wait). Also, you got good service but if all your LDS had done was ship it back to the manufacturer instead of you then what's the difference? And how do you know your online retailer couldn't have replaced the valve and had it back to you within a week? That said, I would place a good value on buying a drysuit locally with warranty because it's a high dollar item and repairs tend to be costly and not something most users can do themselves.

I'm not at all suggesting you didn't do what is best for your situation. I'm just advising buyers to evaluate their needs objectively and weigh the savings versus the risks and make an informed decision.

 

[Tortuga68]

For gear I wanted to try on first - masks, booties, wetsuits etc - I would buy from my LDS, and have happily paid +50% for the privilege. I could have tried them on and then bought online but I didn't because I'm not that guy

But when they wanted $150 for a miFlex HP hose that I can get shipped to me from Leisurepro for $50 landed - sorry, no sale. That's just a rip off, and they didn't even have them in stock. If I can buy them for $50 then so can my LDS, fair's fair but 300% markup is way too much

So now I don't buy anything from them unless I really really need it immediately (assuming they have it in stock)

Of course maybe you have a good LDS

 

[adambayam]

That's NOT an LDS. Thats a webfront for a storehouse.

Fire diver, one doesn't necessarily have to be a mom and pop shop or a Walmart-style store to expect good service and a smile. As a dive store in the middle of New York City we have a huge walk-in customer base. We also have a family of employees that will make you feel welcome... just like your favorite LDS! If you are in the area you are invited to stop in! (just make sure there aren't any abandoned SUV's outfront )

Or see our store on the web!

Adam

 

[ams511]

I can vouch for Adam that Leisure Pro does exist, has a store front, and the staff are nice and helpful. I stopped in once while I was in the city.