Aqualung's stance on e commerce

[redacted]

Charging 20% above msrp is just totally wrong on LDS part.

I agree with you BUT I feel that MSRP (or even 10% off) is similarly wrong when a consumer can purchase essentially the same item for 25% to 50% off MSRP.

So why do you feel the 20% over MSRP is totally wrong. It's a B&M shop with all the associated overhead. Doesn't this simply reflect the profit margin they need to survive? Or should inefficient, overpriced shops simply disappear and make room for more competetive operations?

BTW, I agree with what you are doing to provide competetively priced good & services with price controlled merchandise. But I still think you would be more effective in getting customers in the door if you could advertise that you will provide competetive deals with all other scuba retailers.

 

[redacted]

I myself would rather pay $10 more for the pair of fins I buy every 5 years and get while I wait fills 2 times a week.

$10 is not the problem. Scubapro frameless mask is about $120 in an LDS. Leisurepro has it for half that price. Keep a close watch on ebay and you can snag one for $30. I'll buy my own compressor before I'll pay 400% of what I need to pay for a mask.

BTW, my ebay fins have lasted well over 10 years.

 

[danktex]

Y'all are never going to be able to get EAN fills over the internet and once all the LDS's are gone you'll have to drop off your tanks at the county fill station and wait 2 weeks for them to be filled at $25 a pop. I myself would rather pay $10 more for the pair of fins I buy every 5 years and get while I wait fills 2 times a week.

Until some one else realizes that if they can sell air for half the price and a one day turn around they can make money. A new business starts and another one goes out of business or adapts. That is how our economy works. If you don't like your LDS's prices don't buy from them. If there is enough of a demand in your area a more cost competitive shop will open.

 

[The Chairman]

Y'all are never going to be able to get EAN fills over the internet and once all the LDS's are gone

Fill express (DiveRiteExpress) is proof that filling tanks does NOT have to be a loss leader. They grew their business from just that. Go figure.

 

[PhilEllis]

And unfortunately your Dad's friend was wrong. There are real downsides to people shopping price and nothing but price. The loss of our "downtowns" and the charachter of small town America is first among them. I myself will take a nice downtown over Walmart any day of the week.

Y'all are never going to be able to get EAN fills over the internet and once all the LDS's are gone you'll have to drop off your tanks at the county fill station and wait 2 weeks for them to be filled at $25 a pop. I myself would rather pay $10 more for the pair of fins I buy every 5 years and get while I wait fills 2 times a week.

Everyone always assumes that it is a "either/or" situation. The assumption is if online sales are allowed, the local scuba store will close down. That is not the case at all!

As time moves on, a business MUST make changes to their distribution policy, their price policy, their inventory mix, and a number of other things. When BlockBuster first started, they only rented videos. They rented them by the night and charged large late fees. When DVDs came around, they switched to renting DVD's. When online store started sending out DVD's by the mail, blockbuster adjusted and started doing the same. When the prices dropped at the online stores and they eliminated late fees, BlockBuster did the same. When the single-monthly-fee for unlimited rentals started, BlockBuster altered their policy and started doing the same.

You MUST change when consumer or competitive forces demand it! Very simple. Unfortunately, what many local scuba stores (and a couple of manufacturers) want is to simply keep things like they are. They don't want to change. They are comfortable with the status quo. That is their right. However, having made that choice, they have NO RIGHT to claim that Dive Sports Online, or any other online store, is "running them out of business". They have an obligation to make a change or live with their choice not to do so.

Phil Ellis

 

[shark.byte.usa]

Y'all are never going to be able to get EAN fills over the internet and once all the LDS's are gone you'll have to drop off your tanks at the county fill station and wait 2 weeks for them to be filled at $25 a pop. I myself would rather pay $10 more for the pair of fins I buy every 5 years and get while I wait fills 2 times a week.

This is such an absurd argument, I'm so tired of it. If the demand for air fills, EAN whatever is there someone will fill the void, if there actually EVER is this void to be filled. It's no reason for me to spend 20-40% more on higher priced gear. I don't think most are worried about $10 every 5 years. Heck I just spent $20 dollars more on a harness last weekend at my LDS, no problem, but I didn't spend $200 dollars more on my Ranger I bought 2 years ago.

-Garrett

 

[danktex]

The only way to change the policies of ScubaPro and Aqualung is to stop buying their equipment. Locally or gray market. People who reason that they can just buy from LP or others are not hurting the manufacturer. All that equipment doesn't just fall off the back of trucks. They get paid either way.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

The only way to change the policies of ScubaPro and Aqualung is to stop buying their equipment. Locally or gray market. People who reason that they can just buy from LP or others are not hurting the manufacturer. All that equipment doesn't just fall off the back of trucks. They get paid either way.

Actually, since the policy affects dealers and not consumers, the only way to change the policy is for LDS to refuse to carry the product line.

As it stands, people will buy the product regardless of the policy if they can get the right price (ala LP or other online outlet) ... they just won't be buying it from their LDS. The only one getting screwed is the LDS ... who's forced to live by the terms of their dealer agreement ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[mike_s]

Yes but just look at all the extra service you get for the extra $337. They are making you a commited diver and creating other commited divers for you to be friends with.

Haven't you been paying attention? Aqualung and the shops don't need you...it's you who needs them.

Heh... I appreciate your sarcasm.

Yep. Believe it or not, there are a lot of "committed" divers out there paying full list price (and sometimes 20% special order fee).

There there are the LDs owners that blame the internet for no one buying in their shop. When they can't even clue in on the fact that they need to change thier way of doing business. The world is changing. Change with it or get left behind.

 

[danktex]

Actually, since the policy affects dealers and not consumers, the only way to change the policy is for LDS to refuse to carry the product line.

As it stands, people will buy the product regardless of the policy if they can get the right price (ala LP or other online outlet) ... they just won't be buying it from their LDS. The only one getting screwed is the LDS ... who's forced to live by the terms of their dealer agreement ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

You are right a shop chooses to carry Aqualung or ScubaPro. As an individual your only recourse is to not buy the product. By the way I own five Apeks regs, all gray market or used, I am part of the problem.