Another Thing that bugs me about dive shops

[panamax4]

People kill me with these thoughts that there should always be some kind of discount from msrp. Would you ever walk into wal-mart and say "I bought $300 worth of groceries on tuesday Id like to see you do a little better on these doritos today..."? Ofcourse not so why should it be any different at a dive shop? Are they not entitled to a profit the same as any business? Comp USA had their big sale over the holidays and everything was a wopping 10% off, thats the typical "loyal customer" discount at most shops every time you come in. Just realize that if your lds doesnt run their shop like a business the business wont be there. Certainly it is your money to spend however you'd like, and I would be a bold face liar to say I've never bought online, but dont expect to get a "loyal customers" discount if youre not a loyal customer.

 

[msg]

Everyone is out to make money -- that is why they start a business. Dive shops have a lot of overhead to deal with. ScubaToys can sell things cheaper than most local shops because they do more volume of merchandise. If my LDS can come close, I will purchase from them. I can see both sides, though. I like discounts, too, but why should we expect them to cut into their profits/break-even points just for our benefit.

 

[ReefHound]

Everyone is out to make money -- that is why they start a business. Dive shops have a lot of overhead to deal with. ScubaToys can sell things cheaper than most local shops because they do more volume of merchandise. If my LDS can come close, I will purchase from them. I can see both sides, though. I like discounts, too, but why should we expect them to cut into their profits/break-even points just for our benefit.

Chicken or egg? I think ScubaToys sells more volume of merchandise because they sell things cheaper. I don't think ScubaToys popped into existence with an inherited large customer base and high number of sales.

 

[JahJahwarrior]

People kill me with these thoughts that there should always be some kind of discount from msrp. Would you ever walk into wal-mart and say "I bought $300 worth of groceries on tuesday Id like to see you do a little better on these doritos today..."? Ofcourse not so why should it be any different at a dive shop? Are they not entitled to a profit the same as any business?

Compare the price of milk at Walmart to the price of milk at a gas station.

I think that the milk will be much cheaper at Walmart. (I'm not certain of this...I don't drink much milk, and never buy it from a convenience store/gas station) Walmart is the "normal people store" equivalent to Scubatoys, and convenience stores are like many LDS's.

Every store is entitled to make a profit, but somehow stores like LeisurePro and ScubaToys make a profit by charging lower prices than other stores.

I went to my LDS to look into a BP/W. The manager knew I'd be coming by at some point to talk about them...I walk in, he says "Hello JahJahwarrior, what price do I have to match?" I'm not even kidding....not only does he know me by username, but that was the first thing out of his mouth. I told him, and he came within about 10% of the ST price.

And he's got the cheapest air in the area. $4 a fill, compared to $9.50 a fill (for AIR!!!) at a shop 30 minutes the other direction..... and, he's always teaching me stuff, when I bought a used reel he showed me how to run it correctly, how to tie off, the basics of line protocol, all for free.

So I cannot help but think the whole "you guys are stupid for thinking prices are too high" thing is a bunch of bunk....

 

[redacted]

People kill me with these thoughts that there should always be some kind of discount from msrp. Would you ever walk into wal-mart and say "I bought $300 worth of groceries on tuesday Id like to see you do a little better on these doritos today..."? Ofcourse not so why should it be any different at a dive shop? Are they not entitled to a profit the same as any business? Comp USA had their big sale over the holidays and everything was a wopping 10% off, thats the typical "loyal customer" discount at most shops every time you come in. Just realize that if your lds doesnt run their shop like a business the business wont be there. Certainly it is your money to spend however you'd like, and I would be a bold face liar to say I've never bought online, but dont expect to get a "loyal customers" discount if youre not a loyal customer.

Would you walk into a car dealership and pay sticker price without asking for a better deal. Unfortunately for LDSs, it is quite clear that good deals (not just discounts but everyday good prices) are available to those who shop around and don't get fooled by the "loyal customer" ruse.

No store is ENTITTLED to make a profit. They need to work and compete for it.

If your shop is reasonably competetive with other retail sources, then it is probably doing a good job. If it is not, and is complaining because customers are asking for more competetive prices, then maybe you better look to make sure you are not falling behind the herd of dive shops in the Austin/San Marcos area. The lions are getting closer.

 

[DandyDon]

Milk was the wrong product, JahJahwarrior - as it is often cheaper at the convenience store to help get people inside, but otherwise a good comparison and a good story too boot.

Hey we don't want to kill the LDSs, we just don't want to be their fools. There is another one in Lubbock that would get pissed if I asked them to try to match a ST price, but then they run off customers various ways. They're the older of the two and better know, but their time is marked...!

 

[Kingpatzer]

Milk price is regulated by the federal government, really an interesting product to choose for the comparison. Basically, there are a host of federal price controls around milk setting local minimum and maximum prices, and the only real variable is how far you are from Wisconson.

Maybe scuba gear should be priced based on how far from the Spiegel Grove one is?

 

[Wasabi1264]

I would be happy to patronize my LDS for most of my gear, but on their masks, not only do they charge above MSRP, but they charge WAAAY above. Their price on a mask that fit me was $60. At LeisurePro is was $24. I think they are wonderful people, and I would actually be willing to often pay retail price given all the advice they give. I like the idea of having a local shop that can give me info and feedback. But they need to be even in the same universe price-wise.

 

[Steve50]

I would be happy to patronize my LDS for most of my gear, but on their masks, not only do they charge above MSRP, but they charge WAAAY above. Their price on a mask that fit me was $60. At LeisurePro is was $24. I think they are wonderful people, and I would actually be willing to often pay retail price given all the advice they give. I like the idea of having a local shop that can give me info and feedback. But they need to be even in the same universe price-wise.

Try fitting your mask on the internet

 

[PhilEllis]

No, that's the way it REALLY is.


if you aren't happy with what you bought bring it back, we'll give
you store credit or an exchange


Uh the rental gear that the store had to fork out $$ for doesn't come to them for free.


Compressor costs the store $$ to keep in good running order, not to mention they are expensive to purchase


let's see books cost the store $$, have to pay the instructor who in turn has to pay for dues and insurance.


we have a trip going now that costs less than if you tried to book it yourself. if it's a better rate than what someone can book on their own then isn't that a discount in itself?



did you really put alot of thought into this post before posting?
On one hand you want EVERYTHING (or so it seems gear, trips, instruction, fills anything else??) for free or at discounted rates but also want to get stuff from the internet instead of the LDS. I know this subject has been beat to death but the internet dude who sells stuff out of his garage has no overhead so yeah he can sell it for less. You can't get airfills from the internet, you can't get classes from the internet (except for eLearning) no check out dives. You want to spend your dollars somewhere else (internet) but when you walk into the LDS you want them to give you everything for a discount? Why? because you don't think they are entitled to make profit? does that offend you in some way? (they DO have expenses too)

I have been on both sides. I used to be you until I found out just how much expense it takes to run a dive shop. I am not an owner, just an instructor. Our shop is competitive, we treat ALL our customers equally as good, we have specials that I think are way too low but it's not my call on pricing. Too bad you don't live in the area and you could come in and see that I'm not making that up.

Oh well, everyone will believe what they want no matter what I say and true not all LDS are created equally. I'll get off my soap box now and move on....

Happy & Safe Diving!!

to add - I think the reason this peeves me off is the "lumping together" all LDS, good ones and the ones as you say "trying to guilt you into paying double". If you feel that ABC Scuba Shop doesn't treat you right then don't shop there, but don't go on the board and say they're all the same cause they're not.

Only TWO scuba companies control the retail price to the customer.......AquaLung and ScubaPro. So, if a store wants to offer customer good value, they can get another brand.

I have ALL of the things you mention above....and more. Still, I manage to give the guaranteed lowest prices in the country. If I am higher on any item, I match the price with no questions asked. It can be done.

Phil Ellis