aqua lung kronos or similar regulators

[fuggler]

Not only will they not give you the free parts but they will probably give you a lot of static. Apparently, they can check an AquaLung database and find out that it was not sold through an authorized dealer.

You can do a search for hundreds of threads on Leisure Pro versus LDS. They're all the same: support you LDS or you won't be able to buy air; support your LDS so you can get free parts; buy your stuff at LP and send it to them for service; buy your stuff at LP and send it to one of the online service shops; do enough business with your LDS and they might forgive this transgression; and so on...

One approach if you want local service is to just take it in, tell them you bought it on Leisure Pro before you ever started doing business with them and do they want to do the work or not? If they give you the least hint of static, walk out.

Richard

If I buy it in a package (+gekko computer) from my LDS, it'll be $130 more than leisurepro. I don't know if that's worth getting attitude from a buncha shops. It would help if I had an idea of how much maintenance parts usually cost, which I don't. :depressed:

 

[rstofer]

I don't know what they sell for either. But if you just guessed $40 per stage (2 second stages + 1 first stage), you would break even at the end of the first year. If you guess $20 per stage, you would break even at the end of the second year.

That seems like a reasonable tradeoff. You get the warranty parts free (as long as you take it in for service every single year, without fail) and you don't upset the LDS.

About the only way most shops will discount anything is if they can bundle it in a package. It you like the contents of the package and you like the price, why not?

Richard

 

[Deac in the Wake]

I'm certainly not passing judgement on anyone's decisions on where and how to buy a regulator, only adding my two cents and one of the criteria I use when reg shopping.

Short of the tank itself, there's no greater life-safety piece of equipment than a regulator. Some people- like me- decide that saving money for such an integral component that literally keeps you on the "healthy" side of the fence of life/death isn't as important as getting quality and getting it serviced by people you know personally and, at least in my case, dive with. I'm not an advanced diver with years of experience so take my point with a grain of salt. I have friends and family members who have thousands of dives and have been and are dive professionals who could probably make their own regs and dive without a problem. I am so far below that level, all I can do is trust the LDS and the training those technicians receive and know that when I drop off my regs for service along with a box of donuts and coffee, I am going to get the best service on a device that I trust my life with.

I'm sure my gear cost a few hundred more over the years at the LDS than online or second-hand. And defects happen and people are only human etc, etc. So it's like I told my wife: how much money saved is your life worth? Obviously that's hyperbole but at 60-feet I like knowing the guy diving with me also serviced my reg.

If anything goes wrong, I can at least stick him with my dive knife before I succumb...

To the point of the thread, I have heard that people *sometimes* have experienced hose-shorting when they turn their heads the opposite way of their LP hose. Anyone?

Anyone compare the ease of breathing at depth between the Kronos and Legend LX? As much as I like the side exhaust of the Kronos, the sealed chamber and over-balanced diaphram on the LX are more appealing.