Apeks in Canada?

[imasinker]

Just bought 2 DS4's up here for my doubles, price was 225.00 each Toronto Canada....not sure what your prices are like, but I can pass off the LDS that sold me mine they have great pkg pricess, and you can call them? PM me...

 

[annasea]

Just bought 2 DS4's up here for my doubles, price was 225.00 each Toronto Canada....not sure what your prices are like, but I can pass off the LDS that sold me mine they have great pkg pricess, and you can call them? PM me...

Would you mind sharing that info in this thread? Or PM me as well? I'd very much like to find a dive shop in Canada with fare pricing.

 

[imasinker]

Would you mind sharing that info in this thread? Or PM me as well? I'd very much like to find a dive shop in Canada with fare pricing.

PM sent

 

[castanagajt]

....and?

And what? I wouldn't know if he wanted loacal dive shop support, I don't know if the leisurepro or scubatoys.com warranty will suffice for his or her needs when purchasing a regulator. I forgot to add that, what did you contribute? Geez.

 

[castanagajt]

Ask Jimmer he is from Ontario, Canada or something like that. I looked up where you were from and a couple of your listed shops carried Mares, Zeagle, Poseidon, Cressi sub, Beauchat I believe? All these shops are right at your door. The reason I did not push or mentioned any brands because I didn't want to seem like I am pushing a preference of brand names to him or her. If you want, I can send you a few prior private messages asking jimmer about Zeagle regulators. He wouldn't mind, I asked him if I could forward our private messages to another member here. I would say that I am sure you would be all right with an envoy deluxe, 50D and DS-V those would probably be in your budget without going through the hassle of driving to say Washington State. BTW buying from the states and bring it back with you actually sounds like a grand idea. Whoever posted that, good job Likewise give jimmer a ring.

 

[castanagajt]

Thanks for the info - I guess I'll inquire over the border, but probably end up settling for Zeagle or something, which seems to have a reputation nearly as formidable.
Scubatoys, unlike Leisurepro, seems to offer a full manufacturer's warranty on their new gear. No Apeks though - I don't think Apeks sanctions any online sales.

I am afraid not. Apeks, Aqualung also Scubapro for a fact don't deal with internet sales like Scubatoys and Leisurepro. I would think they do this so they can protect their brand and place a foot hold pricing on Local dive shops or corporate businesses like Sport Chalet. Also, to force the divers to pay a bit more so we can maintain a manufacturers' warranty. Any of the seasoned divers please correct me or add into this so I can furthure understand this concept as to why their gear are not sold online.

If it helps any, Zeagle regulators was once manufactured from Apeks many years ago. Some of the models of the Zeagle regs looks like they were copies of the predecessor Apeks regulators manufactured. I apologize that I am not aware of what models but I do know that this information holds true and I apologize to all I didn't give enough information.

 

[wedivebc]

Anticarus - as a fellow Canuck, I know we tend to get hosed (eh!) on retail prices on many things. Have you checked into purchasing in the US and having any warranty work done locally? I would think your local dealer would perform work regardless of where the item was acquired. I bought my various pieces of Apeks stuff in Portland OR.

I strongly disagree with this statement. You are not being hosed by the retailer (well maybe some) but the cost of doing business in Canada is higher and it is not the retailers fault. The manufacturers often charge more, duty and customs gets a piece of the pie. Many offshore companies deal though distributors located in the US and of course the strength of the Canadian dollar has a huge effect on the overall price.
When all you guys buy online there won't be a local store to get your warranty work done. Too bad for you but at least I own a compressor :mooner:

 

[cavew0man]

I strongly disagree with this statement. You are not being hosed by the retailer (well maybe some) but the cost of doing business in Canada is higher and it is not the retailers fault. The manufacturers often charge more, duty and customs gets a piece of the pie. Many offshore companies deal though distributors located in the US and of course the strength of the Canadian dollar has a huge effect on the overall price.
When all you guys buy online there won't be a local store to get your warranty work done. Too bad for you but at least I own a compressor :mooner:

Very nice bum.

To clarify, I am NOT saying that we are being hosed by the retailer per se - we are in general the victims of being citizens of a fabulous country that doesn't have the same consumer base in population as our closest neighbor, the net result of which is yes, the cost of doing business is higher, and in the case of retail, where inventory is held over an extended period of time, nor do we see the immediate benefit of fluctuations in our currency versus the US dollar. Very clearly illustrated in new car prices.

From a business perspective, as a former successful Canadian business owner, I will say yes, please spend your dollars at home and support the economy and create jobs and be an upstanding citizen and so forth.

However, as a consumer, I have choices. One of those choices is how much I am willing and able to allocate to discretional spending on my hobbies. Particularly looking at my portfolio the last few months, I am going to look very closely at how far these dollars go.

Would I cross the border to purchase a new vehicle? No. Would I pop into a dive shop while on a business trip and buy a new regulator? Absolutely, if the cost-benefit-risk analysis is right, and it often is. If the same equipment can be purchased at half the cost (from a legitimate vendor), yes, I am probably going to do it, like it or not.

It's tough to run a small business, and doubly so when the business is centred around a non-essential activity like diving. Retail is a pain at best, it ties up capital and time, and the margins at the end of the day may have the owner wondering why they do it at all. So all of you LDS owners have my sincere apologies for cross-border shopping on occasion, but I am being honest. Your customer likely has disposable income, is educated, and quite possibly has the means and opportunity to shop elsewhere.

This means that, as an LDS or any other business large or small, to retain my loyalty (and I will give it, if earned!) you need to continually give me a reason to do so. Exemplary service, knowledgeable, friendly and helpful staff, quality of product, competitive prices, and a smile when I walk through the door will all go a long way towards me making my next purchase with you, whether it be equipment or my next course. Arrogance, pushy sales tactics, unnecessary upselling, and refusing to service a legitimately purchased product from somewhere else will all result in my walking out the door, never to return.

In reality, if you are a Canadian business owner, one of your risk factors is the fact that your prices will likely not be internationally competitive. Work with it, don't just bemoan the fact that some of your customers may make some of their purchases out-of-country. If you do it right, you still have an equal shot at their next purchase, and you have a chance to earn and keep that customer's loyalty by continuing to support them. Look at this particular scenario - you are the LDS. I am the customer who has purchased my new reg in the US. You have two choices - refuse to service me, or service me. Refuse, I don't come back. If you choose to support me, I spend the next 5 years spending money in your shop on various equipment, and maybe a course or two or three. So you blow off the customer for the sake of the margin on one regulator, and you lose all future business from that person. The math is not in your favour.

The mandate of a business owner is to constantly innovate and improve. Unless you're the phone company. Although sometimes they get it in the end too.

We live in a global economy. Deal with it, or fail. Markets evolve, new business models emerge to serve those markets, and old models fall by the wayside. Refuse to change, and you shall eventually be an ex-business owner. The "save the corner store from WalMart" mentality is quaint, and futile.

I am not condoning grey markets - they're poison. No good for the consumer, or the industry.

I have lived in three countries in the last four years - Canada, U.S., and now Mexico. I have purchased gear in all three of them. I would expect that if I purchased a piece of equipment from a legitimate vendor in any of these countries, that the manufacturer would support me as a customer, regardless of where I happen to currently reside.

So enough blathering, Viva el Canada, and celebrate the fact that wherever you buy your new reg, you'll be breathing underwater with it.

Sorry for the diatribe, and boy, I wish I had a compressor......

 

[imasinker]

Ok think I need to correct something may have been misleading. I bought two DS4 "first stages" for the price I listed. That price was not the Apex DS4 and reg complete setup. Sorry If I mislead anyone.

 

[annasea]

If you're open to buying used, this looks like a good deal.

Thanks for the PM, imasinker!