Aqualung purchasing blues...

[Daner]

A couple things that I don't find clear on the OP. Are the extra charges by your LDS are for installing gear purchased through LP? If so, it is reasonable for one to charge for this service. My LDS doesn't charge for any setup or installation on gear I buy from his place but I am smart enough to know nothing is for free so I would have to be paying for is somewhere (perhaps in the higher than online profit margin). Perhaps the extra charges are a breakdown of the LDS margins to explain why the gear is higher priced at his shop?.. Maybe a few more details would help us provide you with better feedback. Otherwise this thread will just end up as another LDS vs. online thread.

IMHO is seems that you are concerned the the warranty may be voided. If so, only you can decide whether if it is worth the savings to assemble, service and/or take the perceived risk yourself. I find alot of the online shoppers are very knowledgable a products assembly and service and don't place as much value in the 'premium' for local warranty and service as others. This is OK! Decide what is important to you.

 

[NadMat]

If I bought a bunch of equipment elsewhere I would expect to be charged for the LDS to assemble and set up the equipment for me. If I bought a spg or computer, octo, etc.. from LDS I would expect assembly and set up to be free, even if it was going on a reg bought elsewhere. If not, I would find another LDS. I use several LDS's for equipment needs as one will offer certain brands of equipment and another others. Of course, I am lucky in that there are 3 LDS's within 2 miles of mi casa and about a dozen within an hour or less drive.

 

[oly5050user]

I've heard that aqualung doesn't honor their own lifetime warrantee if you do not buy their regulators through an authorized dealer. Now here comes the big ?... I'm looking at leisurepro.com and they have the regulator i want at $150 less that the LDS that carries the same. That is including difference with shipping and taxes accordingly.
I've heard that aqualung WILL NOT honor the warrantee if bought through LP .
Is this true? Will LP take care of any problems with the regulator? What all do I have to do to keep the warrantee intact?

IS THIS REALLY WORTH THE $150 FOR ALL THIS TROUBLE?

I called the LDS and asked them prices to confirm all this. Now get this. $30 extra to install any equipment bought in the LDS on the first stage (including gauges, octo, etc.) There is a $70 charge for items not bought in the store (ie. if i bring a lp hose that goes to a drysuit in)
Now here's another kicker...if i install anything on my own on this stage the warrantee is null and void.

Is this LDS an example of what to expect or should i just get whatever I want and just forget this troubles?

Side note the regulator I am wanting to purchase is the aqualung legend lx supreme

I usually take the lds side but this is foolish on their part..charge you $30. to put a regulator together that they sold you..get out fast if that is true..I can see charging for something purchased elsewhere but not $70 or even $30..assembling it yourself does not nullify the warrenty..I am an aqualung dealer ..sounds like this place does not want your business..go to a facility that has some understanding and buy from them Fully assembled inspected and warrentey intact,should get at least 10% off and a octopus included at this time at no charge..LP will most likely not include a octopus being that they are not authorized..

 

[UP4AIR]

No.1- Find a LDS that you are comfortable with the staff and their policies,pricing,etc.
The reason for this is simple. When you are ready to go on that big trip and a piece of gear goes south on you ,and you need a repair or replacement pronto. The familiarity of your smiling face at the LDS goes a long way in helping get that piece of gear.

No.2- ...and this has been said many times on the board.....the internet will not give air fills. Without SOME kind of support to the LDS...even if it is small..they can not stay in business.

No.3- In this months issue of RODALES SCUBA DIVING this exact issue was the topic of Lessons For Life. A new diver purchased a reg from the internet,assembled it himself,dived it....and nearly drowned. When the reg was disassembled for inspection/repair it was discovered that there were metal shavings in the seat of the first stage valve seat, and one of the LP port plugs was loose. All of this may have been avoided had the diver allowed the LDS to assemble/bench test the new reg(as they always should).

No.4- I have purchased gear from the internet( don't want to be a hypocrite here). In my OPINION all gear that pertains to life support, should come from the LDS. Yes you will pay a bit more but if you find a good shop, and build a good relationship with that shop, the money spent will be well worth the cost.

My .02 for what its' worth

 

[mike_s]

sounds loke you've got a crappy LDS.

The LDS in the thread above that Aqualung is "harrassing" is selling off it's Aqualung inventory at huge price reductions. My understanding is that they can still sell out their current inventory as an Aqualung dealer since it was bought as a dealer.

So I'd give them a call. I'm betting they won't charge you jack to configure anything to your first stage and will beat the socks off your LDS in pricing (from the stuff you stated).

 

[codecruncher]

I recently bought a pair of Aqualung Legend LX Supremes w/ the free octo deal and a Suunto Vyper wrist model from my LDS.

They were able to make the deal equitable to me by discounting a bit and then tossing in lots of free air fills. Since I'm into local diving for the long term, the end result is better than if I had ordered it over the net. I build a nice relationship wth the LDS and have the full warranty and free service parts. Air fills don't really add much to the LDS's variable costs so giving away a bunch is easy for them.

I bought 2 small Tusa SPGs over the net because the only SPGs the LDS could get were much larger Suunto console versions I didn't care for. I explained this to them, they had no qualms, had me bring the SPGs in, and installed them and let me watch and learn in the process.

I've taken classes with them and plan to join their weekly Tuesday night informal dive group.

Sounds like I'm very lucky to have a decent LDS w/ some nice folks. Maybe you should shop around for another one?

 

[redacted]

Contact:
Phil Ellis
Dive Sports Online
www.divesports.com
In US (800) 601-DIVE
International (256) 350-1122

He is or was an AL dealer and he will not try to take advantage of you.

 

[jbichsel]

If you are buying all the related gear through the LDS, they should NOT be charging you for assembly, initial adjustment. If they are, I would report them to Aqualung. I've been buying Aqualung gear since 1989 and have NEVER been charged extra for that.

Here's some more food for thought on LP vs. LDS (good LDS implied):

1. Annual service - parts run $20-$50, covered under warranty by LDS.
labor runs $25-$??, you pay no matter what.
- Purchase at LP or other online, non-Aqualung dealer, you either pay for parts and labor at an authorized LDS, or send it back to LP and wait for their schedule, pay for shipping both ways, and hope it doesn't 'disappear' in transit. Plus you hope it is adjusted correctly.

2. Something goes wonky on a dive trip -
- If it is a part failure, parts are covered because the local Aqualung service will check out the warranty. I've had this happen.
- Labor, you may or may not pay. If it is a part failure covered by warranty, you may not have to pay.
- If purchsed at non-authorized siource, you pay for repairs on the spot and 'cha-ching $$' or
- You rent other gear and send yours back to LP when you get home.

My thoughts: Regulators are life-support. They are expensive. Maintain them as if your life depends on it (IT DOES!). What money you save on the initial purchase can easily be spent on one annual service. After that, the savings by purchasing online diminish rapidly.

Many people only look at the initial purchase price and not the TCO (Total Cost of Ownership), what are the related costs 1, 2, 5, 10 years later.

Also, as stated by someone else, hoses are your responsibility no matter which way you go.

Hope this helps.

 

[Skyjunky]

My thoughts: Regulators are life-support. They are expensive. Maintain them as if your life depends on it (IT DOES!). What money you save on the initial purchase can easily be spent on one annual service. After that, the savings by purchasing online diminish rapidly.

Many people only look at the initial purchase price and not the TCO (Total Cost of Ownership), what are the related costs 1, 2, 5, 10 years later.

Very true. I did the online route with my Legend purchases. As a result I now get the privilege of paying $177 per annual.

 

[herman]

Very true. I did the online route with my Legend purchases. As a result I now get the privilege of paying $177 per annual.

But how much of the bill is parts and how much is labor...only the parts are "free". We are talking about the value of the warranty. You are going to pay the associated labor reguardles of the warranty.