Why is this SPG so cheap?

[CT Sean]

Mostly likely it is so cheap because the seller bought a console - possibly on clearance - for the computer and the SPG was basically free. Or they bought a console for the express purpose of taking it apart and selling individually for a profit.

For example:

i330r console with this exact SPG for 299

i330r by itself for 399

Sure you might still need a wrist boot for the PC "by itself" in my example, but you get the idea. Also, Americans are going to be the primary buyers on ebay US and the vast majority of Americans don't want metric instruments so the demand is low

 

[DiveLikeAMuppet]

If you are employed by any company you understand that your employer has to make a profit to exist. It is not a scam, it is business. Look around you and ask the question are all these business scammers? As a retired Dive Store owner, I take offense that you blanket identify us as scammers. Scammer definition: a person who commits fraud or participates in a dishonest scheme to gain money or possessions from someone.
There is nothing dishonest about trying to make a living. And if "diveshops " were scammers then we would probably be spending time in the slammer.

I do think that some of the markup on dive kit is absolutely dishonest and it is preying on people who don't know any better. A bit off-topic but I have been fleeced by dive shops (and dive manufacturers) far too many times so I'm a bit cynical.

 

[Divin'Papaw]

Regarding the temperature, which I find odd but interesting, I wonder if it is reading the gas temperature or ambient temperature? It would be interesting to know the actual temperature of the gas that is behind the pressure rating. It would then allow you to adjust the pressure or volume using Guy Lussac's and Charle's Laws. That might be interesting. It would allow you to adjust for a hot fill to know what the pressure or volume would be at room temperature.

 

[eelpout]

I do think that some of the markup on dive kit is absolutely dishonest and it is preying on people who don't know any better. A bit off-topic but I have been fleeced by dive shops (and dive manufacturers) far too many times so I'm a bit cynical.

What is an honest mark up ?

 

[DiveLikeAMuppet]

What is an honest mark up ?

Retail for items that you have in stock and customers try on? 40% easily? And I’m more than happy to pay that and I do pay that for the benefit of getting good advice or being able to try kit.

100+% on standard crap with no added value like first stages that the shop drop ships from a distributor or just because it has scuba written on it? Not so much.

 

[Ben_3]

View attachment 914409
Is an SPG with a thermometer in it any good? I don't really care about the thermometer but I like how clearly visible this is. Anyone know where these are made?

I bought one like this new and it works well. It came with a boot and hose through.

 

[Nemrod]

I really cannot tell from the pictures, it looks to be a plastic case. I am sure it works fine and the thermometer probably goes up and down as the ambient gets warmer or cooler. Accurate, probably close enough.

Do yourself a favor and purchase a made in Italy B&G (brass and glass) spg, either a standard 2.5 inch or consider one of the 1.5 or 2 inches spgs if weight is a concern. Dive Gear Express or any of a number of other retailers or online stores should have them under different brands (Hog, Deep Six, DGX etc) at cheap enough prices for something that could last you many years and is much more rugged than a plastic unit.

 

[RobPNW]

Looks kinda clunky to me. I have this one from DGX which costs even less and made in Italy. Works great so far and easy to read:

DGX White Face Premium SPG, Naked

These rugged quality SPGs are graduated in 100-psi increments (Imperial) or in 10-bar increments (Metric). They are configured as just the bare gauge with no boot and no hose.

www.divegearexpress.com

Or get it with a hose:

DGX Custom - SPG and Flex Hose Assembly, PSI

Build your own custom SPG and Flex Hose Assembly in PSI

www.divegearexpress.com

 

[lizardland]

I do think that some of the markup on dive kit is absolutely dishonest and it is preying on people who don't know any better. A bit off-topic but I have been fleeced by dive shops (and dive manufacturers) far too many times so I'm a bit cynical.

With so much kit these days now just being rebadged Chinese stuff with added dive tax slapped on it then I have to agree. There's a Chinese light brand called SecurityIng who make really good, really reliable 3xC cell LED twist-on back-up lights that sell for around £35 on Aliexpress. I've seen about 4 or 5 different dive brands selling the exact same light with their logos slapped on it for £100-120. dSMB's are similar, tons of dive brands are selling the exact same buoys with 3-4x markup compared to what they go for on Aliexpress without the badge.

 

[lowwall]

Regarding the temperature, which I find odd but interesting, I wonder if it is reading the gas temperature or ambient temperature? It would be interesting to know the actual temperature of the gas that is behind the pressure rating.

It's measuring ambient temperature at the gauge. It's highly likely that big button in the middle of the thermometer covers a bit of coiled bimetallic strip.

Bimetallic strip - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

Even if the bimetallic element was surrounded by gas from the tank, it would still read close to ambient. There's not enough gas movement between the tank and the SPG to meaningfully affect the reading.