High Retail Prices = Hard to Support LDS

[JohnB47]

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.

First of all, an LDS can compete if they price their products competitively. By doing so, they will get more business, and therefore will be able to be profitable.

Secondly, if the LDS's all go out of business, it will leave room for FillExpress to expand its operations. FillExpress specializes in selling breathing gas, and seems to be doing quite well.

 

[hypertech]

Here's another measure I use for a good LDS - do they scoff at me if I come in with gear from another shop or online? Some shops will and I just turn and leave. Good shops may ask why you went elsewhere and then try to earn your next purchase.

 

[fire_diver]

One of the reasons LP can offer such good deals is because they don't allow return of used items.

That's not why LP is so cheap. The term "Walmart of the scuba industry" has many meanings. One of them is that they buy in such large bulk that they can dictate terms and pricing to the manufacturer. The LDS down the street can't do that.

 

[RandyOrr]

Even Walmart accepts returns of used merchandise for store credit with a receipt. Which is one of the reasons people buy from them. The comfort of knowing you can bring it back in conjunction with the low prices means they get all the business. LP would get much more business if they offered a similar return policy to Scuba Toys.

 

[ScubaSteve]

One of the reasons LP can offer such good deals is because they don't allow return of used items. This is a VERY common practice and stated in their ToS..

Well of course it is common practice because that is their practice. And I agree with fire_diver that this has absolutely nothing to do with why their costs are where they are.

 

[ScubaSteve]

However if WALMART made their policy that they would not, then they would not. LP is doing nothing wrong other than applying policies which seem to rub people the wrong way. This does not make them bad or evil.

Even Walmart accepts returns of used merchandise for store credit with a receipt. Which is one of the reasons people buy from them. The comfort of knowing you can bring it back in conjunction with the low prices means they get all the business. LP would get much more business if they offered a similar return policy to Scuba Toys.

 

[fnfalman]

Secondly, if the LDS's all go out of business, it will leave room for FillExpress to expand its operations. FillExpress specializes in selling breathing gas, and seems to be doing quite well.

Airgas, Praxair and Air Liquide also can provide you with clean air.

Here's another measure I use for a good LDS - do they scoff at me if I come in with gear from another shop or online? Some shops will and I just turn and leave. Good shops may ask why you went elsewhere and then try to earn your next purchase.

Absolutely.

Most LDS simply do not know how to run a business. The first thing about business is making a dollar. You don't turn away work, and you don't turn away sales. You don't want to alienate potential customers by copping an attitude. If you can do that then you apparently are independently wealthy and just want to open a shop for the fun of it.

I don't expect LDS to match on-line sellers, but if they can come close then that's good enough for me. I'll give them my business if in return they give me good pricing and excellent services.

 

[eelnoraa]

I will bring up one point for CA resident. It is the heavy CA sale tax (almost 10%). This definitely hurts all CA retailer. For an expansive item, such as drysuit, dive computer or even regulator ... 10% can be a lot of money.

 

[ScubaSteve]

I will bring up one point for CA resident. It is the heavy CA sale tax (almost 10%). This definitely hurts all CA retailer. For an expansive item, such as drysuit, dive computer or even regulator ... 10% can be a lot of money.

Does CA not also have a "Use Tax" (I do not recall the actual term) to make up for purchases made outside of the state? As long as one is comfortable breaking the law then this is a valid point (assuming I am correct about them having that tax). I personally would break it but one has to be aware of what they are doing.

 

[RandyOrr]

However if WALMART made their policy that they would not, then they would not. LP is doing nothing wrong other than applying policies which seem to rub people the wrong way. This does not make them bad or evil.

I never said they were "evil". My point is that if they are not going to offer that sort of policy when it is in their power to do so...then they will not get MY business. Some may choose to give them their patronage despite their policy and that is fine. If other businesses can offer a return policy in the lines of Scubs Toys, then they can too. They choose not to, so I choose not to give them my business.

And if WALMART decided to cease their current policy for returns, they would see a decline in their business. For many buyers, the return policy is a HUGE selling point. I am one of them.

I just think that it is poor customer service when someone places a high dollar order and is unhappy with one small dollar item and you refuse to accomadate them. I would think that exchanging the $25 item to keep the customer and their future business would be foremost. Especially when my next order could very easily exceed $4,000.