Too bad you don't live here in the Northeast. I wouldn't force you to buy anything and would concentrate on teaching you to be a great diver. Everything else is a bunch of bs!
Being Forced to Buy Equipment AT LDS for Class
- Thread starter Northwoodfrisbee
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mike_s
Contributor
Yeah. but have you noticed that this thread is a month old and the original poster has not been back to post in it since it was created?
yet the argument continues?
That is a really good price, as far as I can see. Oh and then we charge 20kd for a 2 tank dive (that's about 75$) for pleasure divers. It is the going rate here. I understand the weight belt price, cause we were losing stupid amounts of them for awhile and they are ridiculous. So we make them put a deposit for them and if they don't give them back, they pay for the replacements.
What they said, wow that's a deal.
I is illegal to shore dive in the state of Kuwait. Sooooo, boats or nothing.
wrybosome
Contributor
Why is that?
Bonairetrip
Contributor
sansky
Contributor
Yes, I read his post, so don't get so excited! The dive shop should not force equipment on him or refuse to certify him; I simply said dive shops cannot stay in business if no one buys equipment from them and everyone buys online. I guess alot of you guys buy online? Out of curiosity, who services your equipment? ... or do ALL of you service it yourselves? I think not. I am not so naive as to think all of you are trustworthy to service life dependent gear, but hey if you do and something happens, it is your little red wagon to pull ....
... on another note - major manufacturers (ScubaPro, Oceanic) will not warranty equipment bought outside an authorized dealer establishment, even if the equipment is new.
So chill out ... everyone has an opinion and mine is different from yours ....
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I service most of my own. When I don't feel like doing so I take it to a guy who's sole business is regulator servicing, damn sight better than the possibility of letting some hamfisted tank monkey loose on my gear.
What is it that a shop does best? Instruction - no, independents are usually better. Gear sales - no, internet is almost always less expensive. Repairs and servicing - nah, I'll take Professional Scuba Repair any time. Tank fill - well that's the only thing, and even then it's not a matter of best, just of available. Before there were shops I never had any problem getting fills and I imagine that once most of the unimaginative shops are replaces by whatever the next paradigm is it'll be equally easy, but there's likely to short term difficulty.
What is it that a shop does best? Instruction - no, independents are usually better. Gear sales - no, internet is almost always less expensive. Repairs and servicing - nah, I'll take Professional Scuba Repair any time. Tank fill - well that's the only thing, and even then it's not a matter of best, just of available. Before there were shops I never had any problem getting fills and I imagine that once most of the unimaginative shops are replaces by whatever the next paradigm is it'll be equally easy, but there's likely to short term difficulty.
I been thinking down the same path. There is no easy way for the LDS to compete for equipment dollars other than convenience and service. For many of us that is not enough. We can't afford to buy equipment at 30% over what it would cost online. Yes the LDS supplies air and that is important because air fills are an expensive technical operation but I think a dive coop/club may be the way to go. We have a British instructor at the shop where I assist and after hearing him explain their system on a long drive back from the OW training I think it sounds like good idea. It is obviously a better solution just ask a them
. A mentor system would be great even for recreational non technical divers and it might lead to a more active local diving scene. I am not running down the for profit teaching system but many instructors I work with really do this for the love of teaching and would probably welcome the chance for a different longer term relationship with their students. A lot of them really lose money teaching. There will always be a need for the high quality service oriented LDS to serve those where money is less a factor then convenience, time and service For many of the rest of us especially those divers approaching retirement age with fixed incomes and more time to spend, a club system makes a lot of sense.BTW your location description is very interesting. Does this place have a name you would care to share? Your not on Guam or something are you?
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The Big Island of Hawai'i.
Mud Guppy
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My original certification from NASDS (remember them?) and there was tremdous pressure to buy everything from the store. In fact they told you at one point you HAD to buy a mask fin and snorkel stuff. After that came the arm twisting as the instructors only made money from sales. Their gold mine was ScubaPro and even in today's world the stuff is expensive. So I went to other stores and purchased some very nice Oceanic regs that were more in my price range and was ready for the pool. You talk about being treated poorly, I was made to feel an inch high. After I got my card it was tat taa to them. So why would you not buy your other equipment from your cousin as well? Go some where else. I don't think you need to explain to anyone where and why you bought your stuff.
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