I'm pretty sure this line is trotted out fairly often by LDS owners who have no wish to compete, but the Real truth is price isnt the ONLY way for them to make the sale.
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
- discounted/free rentals
Uh the rental gear that the store had to fork out $$ for doesn't come to them for free.
- discounted/free air fills
Compressor costs the store $$ to keep in good running order, not to mention they are expensive to purchase
- discounted specialty instruction
let's see books cost the store $$, have to pay the instructor who in turn has to pay for dues and insurance.
- discounted store-sponsored trips
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?
there are Many ways that the LDS owner COULD get closer to that Online number IF he wanted to.
Some dont Want to compete... they'll continue to charge double (or more) and guilt you into paying that inflated price.
Its their sale to lose (or win)... only question is if they'll Try.
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.