bp/w advice - OxyCheq, others..

[cool_hardware52]

I don't care what anybody says, there is no substitute for actually seeing/touching/feeling/trying on a product and having it explained by an expert before buying it.

I'd suggest that there are some that need to touch and feel, and growing number of people that don't. The growth of online sales of all nature of goods is pretty clear evidence that more and more buyers are becoming comfortable to buying without trying.

And also the air fill thing.

That where clubs and / or "Fill Only" operations fit.

Tobin

---------- Post added March 12th, 2015 at 04:19 PM ----------

When I got into diving, I was lucky enough to find Scubaboard and find out about backplates. There was one LDS in my area carried backplates, and they bent over backwards to show me all there was to know about them. That shop sold Halcyon. I still dive that plate and wing today, it's the only BCD I've ever owned. If they had sold OMS or DiveRite, that's probably what I'd have now. Their service was outstanding, and I was sold on that as much as the benefits of the wing.

If I had to order online at the time, I don't think I would have gone with a backplate. If that LDS hadn't had one, and taken the time to go over it with me, I'd have never spent the money sight unseen. I'd be diving probably a Scubapro Knighthawk, because that's what the shop I certified at pushed. This was over ten years ago.

Customer service makes or breaks an LDS. I love it when I find a shop that embraces that. There's shops in the Denver Metro that I will not ever set foot in again because they don't understand the meaning of the term.

There may well always be some fraction of buyers that demand try before you buy, and a high level of direct person to person customer service. Shops that choose to offer such may be able to carve out a niche in larger Metro Areas, but.......

I'd suggest they will become as rare as full service Gas Stations.

Tobin

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

When I got into diving, I was lucky enough to find Scubaboard and find out about backplates. There was one LDS in my area carried backplates, and they bent over backwards to show me all there was to know about them. That shop sold Halcyon. I still dive that plate and wing today, it's the only BCD I've ever owned. If they had sold OMS or DiveRite, that's probably what I'd have now. Their service was outstanding, and I was sold on that as much as the benefits of the wing.

If I had to order online at the time, I don't think I would have gone with a backplate. If that LDS hadn't had one, and taken the time to go over it with me, I'd have never spent the money sight unseen. I'd be diving probably a Scubapro Knighthawk, because that's what the shop I certified at pushed. This was over ten years ago.

Customer service makes or breaks an LDS. I love it when I find a shop that embraces that. There's shops in the Denver Metro that I will not ever set foot in again because they don't understand the meaning of the term.

And, I'll bet that even though that Halcyon from the shop may have been a little more money than buying it somewhere online, but the service you got and the explanation, etc., was worth every penny...am I correct?

 

[redacted]

And, I'll bet that even though that Halcyon from the shop may have been a little more money than buying it somewhere online, but the service you got and the explanation, etc., was worth every penny...am I correct?

It is hard to imagine the situation where Halcyon is worth every penny.

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

It is hard to imagine the situation where Halcyon is worth every penny.

What I meant was that the additional markup for the service on an already rediculously expensive piece of gear. The actual price tag for Halcyon is another matter. But you know what, if the dude liked it and wasn't worried about it and is happy, who's to say.

 

[ams511]

I don't care what anybody says, there is no substitute for actually seeing/touching/feeling/trying on a product and having it explained by an expert before buying it.
And also the air fill thing.

I have purchased dive gear and big dollar AV items online without seeing it first. What is the worst that can happen? I return it. Some people who like to see and feel products go to local merchants to check out the product and then order it online. In retail this is called "showrooming". The local business is always at a disadvantage because they need to collect tax while online businesses out of state don't.

---------- Post added March 12th, 2015 at 06:13 PM ----------

And, I'll bet that even though that Halcyon from the shop may have been a little more money than buying it somewhere online, but the service you got and the explanation, etc., was worth every penny...am I correct?

I have never seen first quality Halcyon products discounted. The deals I see are on blems.

 

[Wijbrandus]

It is hard to imagine the situation where Halcyon is worth every penny.

Hey, don't be poking fun at 'my precious'.

---------- Post added March 12th, 2015 at 08:23 PM ----------

And, I'll bet that even though that Halcyon from the shop may have been a little more money than buying it somewhere online, but the service you got and the explanation, etc., was worth every penny...am I correct?

Absolutely.

Guess I am finally getting old. Fashioned, I mean.

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

I have purchased dive gear and big dollar AV items online without seeing it first. What is the worst that can happen? I return it. Some people who like to see and feel products go to local merchants to check out the product and then order it online. In retail this is called "showrooming". The local business is always at a disadvantage because they need to collect tax while online businesses out of state don't.

---------- Post added March 12th, 2015 at 06:13 PM ----------



I have never seen first quality Halcyon products discounted. The deals I see are on blems.

Yeah, I know about showrooming. The practice sucks, it's tacky and shows no class. When I buy online it's because the shop doesn't have what I need or refuses to carry it.
I buy all my off the rack wetsuits in the shop. I buy masks now again in the shop. I buy game hooks, gun bands, weightbelts, etc. in the shop.
The only other time I buy wetsuits somewhere else are my customs, but those I pay dearly for and are custom built by local (CA) suit builders.
And I didn't know that Halcyon didn't have discount dealers, good for them. So in other words you pay the same from an LDS as you would online, that's great. I wish more would have a hard MRP (notice I left the "suggested" out), it would make things way more simple, the price is the price.