Info Aqualung Financial Troubles

[jellycatsdad]

It does kinda seem gatekeepy.
It’s always kind of been that way as long as I can remember, which isn’t really that long.
It actually used to be worse when I first started, LDS’s really had the sport and its participants by the balls. But due to the internet, the flow of information and a lot of myth busting, it has helped to give the consumer more knowledge and more empowerment to take charge and control of their hobby. I would never have gotten into DIY and all my involvement in the working guts of the sport if it wasn’t for the power of the internet.

Yea, I’ve been diving for a year - and I’ve feel like there’s a lot of things that can change. The LDS is slowly becoming an endangered species - like the LBS. But we do need a source of air and sundries at the dive site, which leads us to a quandary.

 

[cerich]

It's call business and most companies work like that. Do you think a company can survive selling a product that is 20 years old and not trying to say that there is no improvement or cosmetic change ? Some can but that's pretty rare. There are also companies that specialize on top products (even if it is only cosmetic) and some that stay on the lower end market. Always pointing out a company like Scubapro is expensive for instance is so childish. Buy if you can or want and that's it.

then there is Gibson Guitars, makes SP and Atomic look like slackers

 

[jellycatsdad]

then there is Gibson Guitars, makes SP and Atomic look like slackers

Snap-On has entered the chat

 

[BoltSnap]

Snap-On has entered the chat

??

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

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Snap-On Tools.
Known to be the most expensive tools around but also known to be top quality. Some people say they are stupidly expensive, and others won’t use anything else. They are known for fierce brand loyalty similar to Harley Davidson Motorcycles.
If you were to look into a BMW or Mercedes mechanics tool box that’s probably all you’d see.
They also have step vans which are rolling showrooms and they drive around to dealerships and mechanical facilities and come to the customer on a weekly basis.

 

[tridacna]

Eric beat me to it. Those vans are franchises BTW.

 

[ADVRider808]

Snap-On Tools.
Known to be the most expensive tools around but also known to be top quality. Some people say they are stupidly expensive, and others won’t use anything else. They are known for fierce brand loyalty similar to Harley Davidson Motorcycles.
If you were to look into a BMW or Mercedes mechanics tool box that’s probably all you’d see.
They also have step vans which are rolling showrooms and they drive around to dealerships and mechanical facilities and come to the customer on a weekly basis.

You forgot to add that most of these rolling tool showrooms are the modern day equivalent of the "company store" with a credit and incentive system setup in a way to encourage their customers to become indebted to the "brand" in way that truly goes against the customer's best interest. This system is in turn feed into by the cult-like following of the customer's peers. It's almost as if there's a marketing course taught that helps business use their customer's psychology against them. I get it, that's business.

This is not to say that the tool truck isn't selling quality merchandise. It's hard to keep the fans engaged if you are turning out sub-standard kit. A discerning customer will look for the product that offers the same amount of "GO" without paying a bunch of extra money for the "SHOW". I look at a large portion of marketing to be an effort by manufacturers to capture a customer before they can develop that discerning eye.

 

[OMyMyOHellYes]

I have a couple of Snap-On torque wrenches. Approaching my tool chest(s) I find a smattering of other Snap-On, Proto, Mac, SK, KD, Fluke, HP/Agilent/Keysight, Grace, Knipex, a little Husky and Kobalt, but mostly old-school Sears Craftsman tools (before Stanley bought the Craftsman name and whored it out).

But to steer it back on course, I also have some specialty gunsmithing and scuba tools and I have/use Atomic, ScubaPro, SEAC, HOG, Halcyon, and Apeks regs.

I feel like Bluto at the college cafeteria:

(My college actually had AYCE meal plans, so that was me, 4:45 PM every evening at the Collins cafeteria, 1984-85. 19 YO boys can put food away.)

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

I was in collision repair for years and have stepped on many Snap-On, Mac, and Matco trucks and spent a lot of money. It’s the convenience of them coming to you and then payment plans make it easy. They also have the best warranties around, lifetime for most hand tools.
One of my Snap-On guys told me that one of the big aviation companies developed a special nut/bolt for a wheel hub that was very large and also very specialized. They came to Snap-On to design and produce the special socket needed to use on that bolt to the tune of $6K each.

 

[jellycatsdad]

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I could also use lululemon or Specialized as examples too.