I had stated that I would not post anymore... however I'll make exceptions when a post is so directed toward me personally.
I challenge Chaz or anyone else to find a post directed specifically at their shop in the Baltimore area. I think it is Chaz's own conscience talking to him and I must say for him to feel that any post I make is directed at him is himself thinking he sits on a thrown he has held for only a few of those 50+ years of Divers Dens history.
For the record, I like Chaz, respect Chaz in the industry, always have and for years before opening my shop did most of my business with him - despite always having to pay more for something than I really had too. I did this because I liked him, his employees, his trips etc... I have never uttered a bad word about Chaz or his shop. I'd say safely that my wife and I - between trips, equipment purchases and airfills spent more than $20,000 in his shop over the years.
To this day... when someone is specifically looking for something I know Chaz carries - I send them there... even give them the address, directions and phone number. I wonder if he can say he does the same for me?
It is because I like Chaz that I responded to him via a private message first - to whic h I've received no response. Because of this, I thought I'd make it public that Chaz is a good man... and I wish we could work closer together to make diving in Baltimore better.
For some reason however, Chaz - like many others in the area see us as the enemy. Why? Because we are changing diving for the better? Lowering prices for consumers, operating on a better business plan (like the internet guys,) higher volume, lower margin? If you want to hate me for being a smart businessman... there is nothing I can do.
If however you want to work with me to move diving into the future... join me, or at least the movement of the Unified Dive Industry... in going forward. Change is needed. The same old -same old you represent is dying. It's not a matter of if it will die... it is when.
The old way used to work - mafia style protectionism (as you write - "When times are tuff we get help from them," no longer will. They are quite frankly in no position to help themselves - much less you.
Have you looked at the numbers DEMA provided on how far manufacturer shipments have plummeted from 2007 - 2008 to 2009? Thirty to forty percent decreases and guaranteed to be even worse in 2010.
The current economy will not turn around for three to five more years. Yes, you may have made it through 12 - 18 months economic slumps, but you have not seen the likes of this economy since your ownership began. In fact, noone has since Scuba began. We're in the 1920's and 1930's right now and nothing the government or anyone else can do is working to change that.
Without a history lesson, suffice it to say the Industrialization of America saved it from the great depression. There is nothing currently occuring in America that gives us hope of a turn-around. Government and Corporate Corruption are running rampant, most viable jobs and manufacturign have been shipped over-seas, two of the three major automakers are still likely to fail - even after bailouts, more banks are being seized everyday (at least 9 last week.) Citigroup is on the verge of failing... the list goes on.
I feel for you brother... and in an open forum, I invite you and the rest of the dive community to embrace the new direction. By working together... not as slaves to a defunct system, we can keep diving alive.
Noiw I'm done... unless someone else points at me directly.
Cheers Chaz - lets have a drink sometime.
