Anti ScubaPro bias?

[Eric Sedletzky]

I like Scubapro products, but their prices are too high for what you get (at least in the US) and their business model is outdated.
The internet has changed everything and opened up a whole new world for consumers and how business is done.
They’re going to need to adapt.
There are a lot of other brands now that are much more end user friendly.
Scubapro can’t continue to prop up their brand name by hype alone. There’s too much free and wide open information now for that to keep working, just like us discussing this here right now.
30 years ago this wouldn’t be happening.
I would never buy a new Scubapro reg now.
I like their old stuff and I work on it, but the new stuff is just too damn expensive and I can’t justify it.

 

[Mike_4635]

I have MK25/S600, Knighthawk BCD, 3 and 5mm wetsuits, split fins, and G2 computer from Scubapro. Had an Apex XTX50 reg but it developed a crack in he body that Apex could not explain. After the body was replace still had a leak and my LDS offer me the MK25/S600 at cost. Great reg. I also have a use a Datapro 3, and Oceanic reg as my octopus. I have owned a number of other suppliers gear. Only problem I have encountered was a rental Aqualung that stopped flowing when my reg was in for service, very glad I had a spare air and I was shallow.

 

[MR12111]

"Whine and Cheese" used to be a subforum here at Scubaboard where members could go to complain about issues that made them unhappy. Now you may find that category under the subforum name "Thumbs Down"

Aside from that, and for whatever this may be worth, I have a Scubapro BCD. It's much newer than yours but not new. It's a different design than yours but still a few years back needed some work on the corrugated hose gasket. My tech couldn't fix it (I don't remember why not) nor did he have a replacement in stock so he put in a new Zeagle hose. Has been working perfectly ever since and I much prefer it to the Scubapro original to the BCD.

Perhaps you could ask your dive op tech folk about that?

Thank You for the reply .... I went to the Local Scubapro Dive Shop ... I actually was the Tech. there years ago ..anyhow they didn't know what part I needed ..Had no Diagram or part # ..The Tech. wasn't there and the store manager tried to help me ... I found a Phone # for Scubapro " Product Assistance " ..They were pretty rude and seemed upset that I was even thinking about using a "Vintage" BC ....

 

[MR12111]

The discussion was that they do not support old equipment. I indicated that I thought they had a lifetime warranty. I was told "no". I spent 10 seconds looking it up and find they still provide lifetime warranty on the BC's. Which leads me to suspect that my recollection was, at least partially correct.

So, to me, it does not seem unreasonable to hope they archive schematics and service guidance for old gear that is still around and that is under warranty.

So, to me, it does not seem unreasonable to hope they archive schematics and service guidance for old gear that is still around and that is under warranty.
No Diagram no Help from either the Local Dive Shop OR Scubapro "Customer Service" in fact they were quite rude.
{Mod Edit}

 

[rhwestfall]

@MR12111 - Okay, you got me to go climb in my garage attic:

It is an o-ring that goes in the channel/recess of the elbow. Take the hose/elbow to a hardware store and find one that fits...

 

[Subcooled]

I have noticed that there is a huge bias against ScubaPro among divers. Is it just because it costs more? I would think that diving equipment would not be something one would want to save money on.

Apeks regs are easier and cheaper to maintain where I live, and they perform great in cold water and at depth. Why would I pay more for Scubapro then? I can use the saved funds on better dive lights or other safety equipment. There's nothing wrong with Scubapro, though. It is just that with limited funds, I need to distribute spending wisely. Why would I pay for marginal or imaginary benefits, if that would mean my dive light would suck or that I would not have emergency oxygen available?

Haven't you noticed the huge bias against Poseidon regs? They are quite expensive and difficult to service. I still love my Cyclon Metal though, it's extremely reliable, but servicing is a pain.

 

[Subcooled]

Regulators-they forbid sale of parts to end users, huge problem with technical divers.

Yes.

They're also exorbitantly expensive. A MK25/G260 is $690 for just a first and second.

True. I paid that amount for TWO first stages and TWO second stages and the hoses.

In Europe and Asia they are still the king, even in technical diving

Not here

A lot of people outside the US buy Apeks

Yes. Here they are affordable.

Masks/Fins-most everyone loves Jet Fins

<3

The fins have now fallen out of favor with the prevalence of sidemount and rebreather diving which tend to prefer neutral fins

Not so with cold water sidemount and our quite buoyant drysuits

There are incredibly high quality products sold at reasonable prices, and there are incredibly high quality products sold at very high retail prices.

Price depends on demand. Marketing creates demand. Prices can get inflated. You can combat that somewhat with knowledge.

Scubapro does not target technical divers because we don't make them a lot of money.

Yes. See above.

They can sell high dollar, high margin products to recreational divers and make boat loads more money than they can to technical divers so they stay out of it.

which might be a clever choice financially.

Technical divers tend to be rather vocal and are a large portion of this board, including the owner who responded first, the guy who posted above me, and myself. I see a lot more Scubapro gear in the "wild" than most other brands, but it is not in favor on this board or in a lot of technical circles for the reasons outlined above.

tldr: overpriced quality gear. sh!tty company

 

[OMyMyOHellYes]

I have noticed that there is a huge bias against ScubaPro among divers. Is it just because it costs more? I would think that diving equipment would not be something one would want to save money on.

It is solely because of their asinine insistence in using spline nuts and hose connectors rather than conventional hex nuts and fittings.

 

[johndiver999]

Curious. What is this lifetime BC warranty? On all BCs? For anyone? Still avail?

you are the one who said "no". Did you look it up at all? https://scubapro.johnsonoutdoors.com/us/scubapro-warranty

 

[lexvil]

Apeks regs are easier and cheaper to maintain where I live, and they perform great in cold water and at depth. Why would I pay more for Scubapro then? I can use the saved funds on better dive lights or other safety equipment. There's nothing wrong with Scubapro, though. It is just that with limited funds, I need to distribute spending wisely. Why would I pay for marginal or imaginary benefits, if that would mean my dive light would suck or that I would not have emergency oxygen available?

Haven't you noticed the huge bias against Poseidon regs? They are quite expensive and difficult to service. I still love my Cyclon Metal though, it's extremely reliable, but servicing is a pain.

Because deep down you want the best! I read that someplace or I also read that before Atomic the was no Best! Not sure if it means you need and atomic or a scubapro made after atomic came along