AERIS - A BC Saga

[Randy43068]

Aeris isn't the only BC made using a single layer for the bladder. I prefer, and use a BC that has a bladder inside an outside covering.


Randy

I own an AERIS SPORT BCD. Its about a year old... After doing a buddy check (the BCD was fine) and a controlled seated entry, I went diving in the quarry to about 60 feet. During the dive something rubbed the inside lower edge of the BCD and "scraped" a hole into it.. It is important to note this happened under normal diving conditions. After exiting and the removing the BCD I inspected it. I noticed the material was extremely thin at the location of the hole and apparently just by going diving, either my weight belt or the tank boot or the back plate rubbed against the bcd causing the hole. Over the years I've used BCD's from many manufacturers and a hole has never formed in another brand of BCD.

I find this relevant since the BCD did not have a hole prior to starting my dive. I had checked it prior to entry during my buddy check. The rubbing and hole occured during a dive in the quarry to 60 feet. Luckily I'm an Instructor and discovered the BCD was not holding air. I was able to safely abort the dive and return to the surface to discover the problem. I am concerned because these low priced entry BCD's are often bought and used by entry level divers and rented through dive shops. A less experienced diver may not have returned from such a dive.

While there is no clear explanation of how the hole was formed, I am concerned that AERIS has refused to honor their warranty. The material is clearly to thin to support safe diving. Beware of AERIS BCD's and their poor customer service.

Anyone's thoughts?

 

[Randy43068]

runs a top notch dive shop. When he talks I listen.

Another Important Note... I want to thank Larry at www.scubatoys.com for offering to help with this situation. I've never done business with Larry, yet he offered to do more for me and better things for me than AERIS themselves did. He has won a new customer from across the country. While I will likely never buy AERIS products from him (due to AERIS's poor customer service,) I will definately be sending business Larry's way. I will also make some future purchases from Larry. Jonathan and the rest of AERIS should take lessons from Larry in the way to handle customer concerns. BIG THANKS Larry!

 

[Splitlip]

Back when they were introducing their Atmos 2 computer I bought the Savante from an LDS for a discounted price. I used it for several months, and although I did not really abuse it ,there was no doubt that I used it. Always kept it strapped to BC d/ring when not in use, so it was scratched up.
One day it crapped out on me and I took it back to LDS who said they would call Aeris in the morning. Received a call from Aeris rep who said come down to LDS for brand new Atmos 2 with download kit.
Kind of surprised you're having such a tough time.
I'm new to this board so don't know how it all works, but maybe you could post a photo and somebody could advise you. A lot of these members are in the know.
( I for one am not ready to kick Aeris to the curb based on the information in your post. )

 

[scubatoys]

Well, he won't be able to post a picture... as he is not getting his BC back. It was a hole worn on the fabric... and the hole problem... er whole problem stemmed from wear and tear is not a warranty issue. If a seam had blown, or stitching came out - it would have been a no question situation... but this was a little different where something had rubbed long enough in one spot to go through 1000 denier cordura.

Also Aeris was in the interesting spot, that they did not have any of those bc's anymore. They have stopped making the model in question - so they offered $120 off of MSRP on any of their other BC. As toodive4 explained to me, he has many other BC's and didn't want to spend more money to get another... Not that the money was really an issue for him at all... just didn't need another $300 bc... Understandable...

Well, after I talked to him, I called up Aeris, and explained the situation, and we came up with a solution... Since I have a lot of stock of the BC in question... I got one heading out in yesterdays UPS - so toodive4 will have it arrive on Tuesday... brand new.... no charge.

It does not surprise me that Aeris did that - I have had them take care of other situations that would probably not fall under warranty... Aeris has never let me down in a customer service situation...

I'm just glad this saga had a happy ending for all! :07:

 

[DiveMaven]

Wow Larry, I have to say that although I was a big fan of yours before, now you can call me a GROUPIE!!! You are an amazing business man, and I will be a customer of yours for years to come.

 

[hdtran]

Not only did Larry step up to the plate and hit this one out of the ballpark, but it sure sounds like Aeris also stepped up to the plate there!

No wonder, when I was talking w/ Larry about dive computers, that he recommended an Aeris (not to mention my middle-aged eyes ) Makes me even gladder that I bought the Aeris computer from Scubatoys :dazzler1:

Well, he won't be able to post a picture... as he is not getting his BC back. It was a hole worn on the fabric... and the hole problem... er whole problem stemmed from wear and tear is not a warranty issue. If a seam had blown, or stitching came out - it would have been a no question situation... but this was a little different where something had rubbed long enough in one spot to go through 1000 denier cordura.

Also Aeris was in the interesting spot, that they did not have any of those bc's anymore. They have stopped making the model in question - so they offered $120 off of MSRP on any of their other BC. As toodive4 explained to me, he has many other BC's and didn't want to spend more money to get another... Not that the money was really an issue for him at all... just didn't need another $300 bc... Understandable...

Well, after I talked to him, I called up Aeris, and explained the situation, and we came up with a solution... Since I have a lot of stock of the BC in question... I got one heading out in yesterdays UPS - so toodive4 will have it arrive on Tuesday... brand new.... no charge.

It does not surprise me that Aeris did that - I have had them take care of other situations that would probably not fall under warranty... Aeris has never let me down in a customer service situation...

I'm just glad this saga had a happy ending for all! :07:

 

[toodive4]

Still not sure what he did, how he did it.. or for that matter even why he did it... but once Larry got involved... the problem was solved. I think from the beginning there was some miscommunication between AERIS and myself. They had some legitimate concerns about how I had used the BCD and they may have handled this differently had it gone through Larry or another AERIS dealer right from the start. I shipped it to them direct and they don't seem to respond positively to that. I highly recommend going through Larry or at least another respectable authorized dealer if you have problems with AERIS products. Some manufacturers have no problem dealing direct with consumers. At this point, that would be my biggest knock against AERIS. As I've stated in other posting responses, I own other AERIS products and am quite happy with them...

Not only did Larry step up to the plate and hit this one out of the ballpark, but it sure sounds like Aeris also stepped up to the plate there!

No wonder, when I was talking w/ Larry about dive computers, that he recommended an Aeris (not to mention my middle-aged eyes ) Makes me even gladder that I bought the Aeris computer from Scubatoys :dazzler1:

 

[Web Monkey]

I own an AERIS SPORT BCD. Its about a year old... After doing a buddy check (the BCD was fine) and a controlled seated entry, I went diving in the quarry to about 60 feet. During the dive something rubbed the inside lower edge of the BCD and "scraped" a hole into it.. It is important to note this happened under normal diving conditions. After exiting and the removing the BCD I inspected it. I noticed the material was

Everything works great, until it doesn't.

You should check to see what was rubbing against it and make sure it doesn't happen again.

I wouldn't blame the BC unless the hole was caused by a part of the BC rubbing against the bladder.

Terry

 

[wedivebc]

Everything works great, until it doesn't.

You should check to see what was rubbing against it and make sure it doesn't happen again.

I wouldn't blame the BC unless the hole was caused by a part of the BC rubbing against the bladder.

Terry

Good point, I just replaced a dive-rite wing that got a mysterious hole in the bladder. Dive-rite said no warranty on bladders and I was a bit POed but I looked at how it might have occured and found that when I lay my doubles down, sometimes the bladder got pinched between the tank and a grommet. I became more aware of how I lay my tanks down, no problem.
If this is the first piece of dive gear you have had go south TooDive4 then you are lucky.

 

[toodive4]

Until the purchase of the AERIS (purchased under duress I might add,) my wife and I only owned equipment (BCD's & REGS) made by Scubapro. My wife has been diving for 15 years with the same BCD and REGS and I have been diving for 9 years with my Scubapro BCD's and REGS. I bought the AERIS because the dive shop I chose to teach for sold AERIS and required their Instructors to use them in front of students. In that combined 24 years of usage, we have never had a problem. The reason is quite clear. Scubapro is a quality product. AERIS is not in the same league. It was clear to me that something either on the BCD, my weight belt or the tank caused the rubbing and ultimately the hole. My concern was that the weightbelt and the tank have been worn on Scubapro BCD's for years and never has a hole been formed. As far as lucky not to have gear go south... that's not luck... that is called regular maintenance, routine service and proper care and storage.... Thanks for the input though!

Good point, I just replaced a dive-rite wing that got a mysterious hole in the bladder. Dive-rite said no warranty on bladders and I was a bit POed but I looked at how it might have occured and found that when I lay my doubles down, sometimes the bladder got pinched between the tank and a grommet. I became more aware of how I lay my tanks down, no problem.
If this is the first piece of dive gear you have had go south TooDive4 then you are lucky.