Air Fill Argument

[CMAN]

For those that don't know I was just trolling the waters. I had a few takers but no one went ballistic :11doh: I just love how passionate a topic this is. However, I was outwitted by a more clever scuba champion. :mooner:

Trolling these waters must be good! I think you filled your cooler.

 

[Prostar]

This has been rather interesting reading...up to a point. I wonder, of all those saying they have no need for an LDS, how many are not certified divers yet? Oh gosh, are you already divers and don't need it anymore? Did you, at one point, need the evil shop getting to that point?

Going to a different point, supposing that there may one day be no nearby LDS available to host the training, who will pick up the slack? So PADI and NAUI instructors can teach independently from a shop. Big deal. Now those instructors are supposed to stock all the gear needed to teach? Well, I suppose everyone could go ahead and buy full sets of gear online so they can start to learn. Now the student needs to find an instructor who will teach someone using gear that has not been vouched for by by a trusted tech? And no, I am not interested in verifying the safety of online-bought gear. Talk about a lawsuit waiting to happen.

I know a lot of people think that the price they paid for that OW class was outlandishly expensive. But here is the secret...dive training is a loss leader for selling gear. No shop can stay in business selling training and air fills. Talk about a lousy business model!

If you think you don't need the LDS, then don't go there at all. Go get your air fills at the local sporting goods store, fire dept, or where ever else you think you can get it. Just quit bellyaching about a business that serves a purpose to those who want it and need it.

 

[3-Ring Octopus]

Funny...you pick on others for their reading skills, yet you really ought to sharpen yours, ReefHound.

You quoted from the AQUALUNG authorized dealer warning....then went out and found a SCUBAPRO reg for sale online. Way to go champ...that proved exactly what again? Thanks for coming out!

Fighting with you is beginning to become alot like fighting with fundamentalist Christians. I can be as "live and let live" as I want...but they only see things THEIR way. Ah well..such is life.

Cheers,
Austin

 

[ReefHound]

Funny...you pick on others for their reading skills, yet you really ought to sharpen yours, ReefHound.

You quoted from the AQUALUNG authorized dealer warning....then went out and found a SCUBAPRO reg for sale online. Way to go champ...that proved exactly what again?

Funny indeed, your original post mentioned 4 brands, Aqualung/SeaQuest/Suunto/ScubaPro. I picked one. My reading skills are fine, you simply forgot what you wrote. That was post #131.

But just for you, also from the Leisure Pro website (one of many):

SKU: UDRLLXRS
AquaLung Legend LX Supreme Regulator
Sale: $394.95

 

[cloudboy55]

I don't think any sporting good stores are gonna have He or 100% O2 with a booster either

Outside of a major diving destination, you're lucky to find any LDS that offers He or 100% O2, boosted or not. You rely on word of mouth and find a local tech diver who has broken down and invested in all of this so because it wasn't available elsewhere. This may be the way the industry is going, given the markup of scuba gear in LDS's (which is necessary to cover shop overhead and far fewer customers) and the ease of getting quality gear online at a far more reasonable price - commonly with a manufacturer's warranty and service by mail.

Unfortunately, local scuba shops may just be a dying breed regardless of how much concerned divers attempt to support them. The economic pressures just seem too great.

Perhaps we'll just have Scuba clubs that offer compressor usage for a fee and sponsor training for filling tanks and servicing gear (it's not rocket science).

 

[ReefHound]

Now those instructors are supposed to stock all the gear needed to teach? Well, I suppose everyone could go ahead and buy full sets of gear online so they can start to learn. Now the student needs to find an instructor who will teach someone using gear that has not been vouched for by by a trusted tech? And no, I am not interested in verifying the safety of online-bought gear. Talk about a lawsuit waiting to happen.

Thousands of divers take classes every year in gear bought online. Do you have ANY evidence that there is any correlation between diver accidents and where the gear was purchased? Or is this just more of the same ole baseless scaremongering?

It's a lawsuit waiting to happen because it isn't happening. Two reasons, gear is pretty safe and waivers work.

I'm curious though, seriously, when divers show up for class in their own gear, do most instructors check it out, run serial numbers to determine if authorized, check last service dates to see if maintained, or inspect personally to check condition?

 

[Lead_carrier]

This has been rather interesting reading...up to a point. I wonder, of all those saying they have no need for an LDS, how many are not certified divers yet? Oh gosh, are you already divers and don't need it anymore? Did you, at one point, need the evil shop getting to that point?

I actually had a FORMER student lay those words on me. He went to a different dive shop for gear and to see if they would match an online price, free air and pool time to test it, and free shipping out of state to avoid sales tax. When something was said about supporting the local dive shops, the in store price was very close to the online price, he looked at the manager and said," I don't give a damn about a LDS". I'm actually embarrassed that he was a student. I do know he will never be a student of mine again. I also know that I would NEVER use him as a dive buddy, based strictly on his attitude.

If someone wants to buy online, have at it, but don't look me in the eyes and tell me that you don't give a damn about me and expect me to like it. Fortunately the LDS's around here have decent rapport and now we all know who he is. He will definitely be an online shopper from now on.

 

[cloudboy55]

Not always a scare tactic. Where do you think these pure Internet retailers get products from AquaLung, ScubaPro and Suunto (just a few examples). All three do not support Internet sales of thier products. Unless there is a LDS behind the eCommerce site, they are obtaining the products outside of the factory authorized sources. There are many companies that do not honor the product warranty unless it is purchased from an authorized LDS. Not always baseless.
:monkeydan

I would say it's pretty conclusive that these large internet retailers get their gear from the same source all of the other dealers do - the manufacturers. They just them a darn good price, refuse to offer them manufacturer warranty coverage, and keep quiet so as not to offend the "legitimate" dealers.

 

[GDI]

your right local schools could be the teachers of scuba. yeah and that way the students can buy their equipment on line or from places like Walmart or Sports Authority. Yeah there would be such a range of equipment quality but that would n't matter now would it.

BUT wait aminute I did the college thing and I seem to remember that what ever program I had to do in college required me to buy the books from the college book store. I yeah I bet the colleges could sell the dive gear for their courses they conduct. Yup that will lower the price?????

Online or from a LDS don't sjow up at a class without equipment that can handle it. If you don't want to listen to me about which equipment is better then I will let the environment show you what you bought is wrong. If you are going to do this sport with any degree of seriuosness then buy the correct equipment!

 

[fire_diver]

Online or from a LDS don't sjow up at a class without equipment that can handle it. If you don't want to listen to me about which equipment is better then I will let the environment show you what you bought is wrong. If you are going to do this sport with any degree of seriuosness then buy the correct equipment!

Wait a minute here. Exactly what gear is "incorrect"? Would it be incorrect for student to take BOW with a SP reg? How 'bout a AL? Maybe a Mares then. What about a Sherwood? A Cressi? Please explain EXACTLY what scuba gear is NOT correct for a student to show up with?

Comrade Stroke