Being Forced to Buy Equipment AT LDS for Class

[jonathon50]

WTF! that LDS cant say that to you! at my dive shop we supply the students with everything during the course fins masks, snorkels, wetsuits for the girls. we do encourage them to buy at very least mask and snorkel of their own, cos at least they know where they been! go somewhere else, at the end of the day theres a shed full of dive shops that will bend over backwards for your business, especially in todays money climate.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

LDS that push a certain brand or style without fully taking into account the diver's needs, wants, and MEANS TO PAY FOR IT deserve to fail miserably. I have a Blackberry Storm 2. So what you say. Well it has a feature on it called city ID. Last Thursday a call came thru from Palm Springs California. I don't or should I say didn't know anyone in Palm Springs. It was a new diver asking for advice on fins. He saw some of my posts regarding the specific fin as well as my philosophy on gear. He was calling me because the LDs in Palm Springs was trying to push a 200 dollar pair of fins on him when it was not necessary for him to spend that. We talked for nearly a half hour. Discussed the diving he wanted to do, where, plans for future dive training, and the amount of money he wanted to spend. Why was it so difficult for the shop to do that? Why was it necessary to call someone across the country to get the information and guidance he needed to make a purchase? Because of the BS shops that focus on bringing in that initial high dollar sale. These shops do not realize or maybe care that customers can do what this gentleman did. Went on line, compared reviews, and then called me to get my feedback. I don't get anything from this sale (of course if some manufacturing rep by the name of NICK HOLLIS wants to shoot me something for this sale I'll take it) other than a new friend who also happens to be a pro photographer getting into doing it on scuba.

Maybe I go to Palm Springs and have a built in dive buddy, or maybe I don't like the line the local LDS is giving me about UW photo. I'm a 35mm land guy. Have some great cameras and lenses but much of the film is for crap now. But I can call and get good non biased info on a new digital as well as the best place to buy it- ON LINE- Thank you. Those who push top of the line to those who cannot afford it are butt heads. Because once the customer finds out you shafted him he is not coming back. That guy you did not try to push the 200 dollar split fins on may be the one who comes back and buys a BC, Reg, computer, etc. And only because you didn't bend him over in the first place.

 

[RU4SKUBA]

deal-breaker, if he's that blatantly un-accommodating

 

[sansky]

It is not shady at all! I am assuming it is only mask, fins, snorkel, weight belt and weights and they provide use of BCD, tank and regulator?

Of course, I don't agree if they are trying to force certain brands on you. Our LDS requests you to buy basic snorkeling gear and provide use of everything else straight through certification and checkout. If you don't buy basic snorkeling gear, you have to rent the BCD, regulator, etc. I understand they have to make money somewhere.

How do you expect dive shops to stay in business if you don't buy gear from them?

A dive facility makes very little, if anything, from teaching students. Most of the fees go to the Instructor, pool fees, insurance, etc.

EVERYONE SHOULD SUPPORT THEIR LDS! Without them, you would have to send gear off to be serviced, etc. ... don't get me started ....

 

[Jim Lapenta]

Did you even read his post? He ALREADY has the gear. He got it thru his cousin who works for a shop in another part of the state. Why should he buy it again? Oh and that guy from Palm Springs- I sent him to Leisure Pro to look for a bc!

 

[scubafanatic]

Are you serious? You have to buy your own weights for class?:shocked2:

Terry

THIS might finally explain why so many new divers are so overwighted...mystery solved!

 

[scubafanatic]

It is not shady at all! I am assuming it is only mask, fins, snorkel, weight belt and weights and they provide use of BCD, tank and regulator?

Of course, I don't agree if they are trying to force certain brands on you. Our LDS requests you to buy basic snorkeling gear and provide use of everything else straight through certification and checkout. If you don't buy basic snorkeling gear, you have to rent the BCD, regulator, etc. I understand they have to make money somewhere.

How do you expect dive shops to stay in business if you don't buy gear from them?

A dive facility makes very little, if anything, from teaching students. Most of the fees go to the Instructor, pool fees, insurance, etc.

EVERYONE SHOULD SUPPORT THEIR LDS! Without them, you would have to send gear off to be serviced, etc. ... don't get me started ....

...whose fault is it that LDS are too stupid to correctly price their classes ? It's quite easy to offer different prices, a lower class price to anyone buying their gear at the given LDS and a higher class price if buying/bringing gear from elsewhere. At least that would be honest and avoid the rampant 'trickery'/deception and intelligence insulting aspects.

 

[Zen1300]

The LDS that I'm taking my OWD course offered a 10% discount on manufacturers or their price, whichever was less. They offered packages that allowed you to purchase your choice of mask, snorkel, fins, and boots from those offered for packages. They offered a single upgrade, meaning you could upgrade one item without additional cost (within limits of course).

You were not obligated, but they offered incentive to do so. They also offered exchanges if you started the course with the package and needed to change out an item for the proper fit or a different option that worked better.

 

[MauiScubaSteve]

especially in todays money climate.

this thread was started 7/20/09 and the last post prior to yours today was 7/22/09.

it was not today's money climate.

the original poster made 5 posts in 10 months, with the op of this thread being his 5th and final post.

there has been a marathon50 of ancient thread resurrection.

 

[DaleC]

I wish you'd have told me that before I wasted my time posting into the "how do I park the Hindenburg?" thread