Aqualung's war with Online Consumers

[oxyhacker]

Hmmm. On the other hand, I wonder if AL has ever clearly informed their dealers that they are NOT to use the gray market info as a basis to deny service, as that would be considered restraint of trade, and a violation of various state and federal laws?

Not to restart the debate, of course...

Over the years AL has put into place their global serial number tracking system to help control the grey market. AL is in no way suggesting to dealers thet they deny service for grey market items. If a dealer is telling you that, he is making that decision on his own and the consumer can respond accordingly to that dealer.

 

[mike_s]

Hmmm. On the other hand, I wonder if AL has ever clearly informed their dealers that they are NOT to use the gray market info as a basis to deny service, as that would be considered restraint of trade, and a violation of various state and federal laws?

Not to restart the debate, of course...

Aqualung already restains trade.

They officially don't allow their dealers to sell their products for any disoCOUNTs off list price. (or more than 10% off list price).

The debate already begun, long ago....


EDIT: Great typo... didn't even notice it!

 

[Cave Diver]

Aqualung already restains trade.

They officially don't allow their dealers to sell their products for any diso****s off list price. (or more than 10% off list price).

The debate already begun, long ago....

Dude! You said ****

The idea of not providing free parts to service grey market gear seems reasonable. Some of the other stuff does not.

 

[PhilEllis]

Hmmm. On the other hand, I wonder if AL has ever clearly informed their dealers that they are NOT to use the gray market info as a basis to deny service, as that would be considered restraint of trade, and a violation of various state and federal laws?

Not to restart the debate, of course...

I can't imagine how any smart company would create a resource like the little "serial number lookup bug" that Aqua Lung WITHOUT informing dealers that it cannot be used as a basis for denial of service. Now, I think it is perfectly legitimate to say that the free parts can't be given to any regulator that doesn't show up as sold from an "authorized" dealer, as long as there is an appeal process to allow customers to make a case that the data base from which the search is conducted might have a "mistake".

While I am not an attorney, I would expect that using such a resource to "blacklist" someone from getting service unless the product was procured through "preferred" sources would cause all kinds of trouble. It would certainly seem to be the beginning steps of a cartel as defined by the Sherman act. I am also sure that there are other federal and state laws that would prohibit such action.

Phil Ellis
www.divesports.com

 

[oly5050user]

Why don't we just assume the rumor is true and avoid AquaLung at every opportunity. Just stop buying the stuff. The survival of AquaLung is not important to divers, there are other manufacturers.

Now, we can't extend the idea to simultaneously include ScubaPro and Oceanic because we have to get quality stuff somewhere. How about just avoiding AquaLung forever and putting the other two on notice. If things don't change, Oceanic is next. I'm saving SP for last simply because they make a couple of decent regulators. In terms of BCs and such, who cares? There is an industry full of small BP/W players.

And just avoid LDSs that even suggest that they won't service your gear. The first hint that there's going to be an issue and you just walk out the door. Just the slightest suggestion that there might possibly be an issue and you're gone. "See ya!" Perhaps the demise of a couple of thousand LDSs will do a lot to change the industriy's point of view on service; customer and equipment.

One thing the customer has is leverage - we have the money and the industry wants it. They need it, have to have it, it's an addiction if they want to stay in business. We, the divers, control the money. We can spend it any way we want.

To put my money where my keyboard goes, I promise to avoid AquaLung on ALL future purchases. Forever...

Richard

By participating in a "boycott' of aqualung you are not going to accomplish what you desire..You will be possibly eliminating competition and thereby raising the costs for all by leaving less manufacturers.This policy is most likely a rumore as we have heard nothing to prove this is true.More likely AL is attempting to alert dealers that there are many grey market items they may be asked to service and to be sure that the warrenty is in fact legit. The LDS should ask for proof of purchase/proof of recent service to prove item is from authorized dealer.If not then charge for rebuild kits at appropriate rates.
I understand that the consumer wants the best deal/lowest price , we all do,but at what cost?
Somewhere there is a cost to pay and someone will have to pay it.
Either pay for rebuild kits if item purchased grey market or used, with little or no service from provider ,OR pay at an authorized dealer along with hopefully receiving a good to excellent level of service from the dealer.
You cannot expect to get free parts if purchased from unauthorized dealer/used,the US distributor cannot be held liable for something they did not provide.Purchasing anything from a grey market source is in fact purchasing "used/previously "owned gear.It may never have been out of the box,but it may have gone thru multiple owners(manufacturer to distributor to overseas lds dealer to unauthorized internet seller to end user)That would be another reason why a manufacturer will not honor the warrenty,which is usually only good for the original owner from an authorized dealer.AL or any manufacturer is reasonably assured that the item is original from factory and has not been altered in any way-parts or assemblys removed and replaced by anyone with the idea to sell item at a lower price and then sell removed original parts to compensate or make additional profit from.Not to say this happens very often but has in the past.I have seen it happen with Al and Sherwood products that had been brough in for service.

 

[mike_s]

Dude! You said ****

.

Ha!... If I had meant to do that, I would have used it in reference to Aqualung directly!

 

[OldNSalty]

Aqualung already restains trade.

They officially don't allow their dealers to sell their products for any disoCOUNTs off list price. (or more than 10% off list price).

Minimum pricing is not restraint of trade or illegal. Can we get past this point already?

 

[Nemrod]

None of it makes sense. Let' see, AL sells their stuff to LP who then undercuts the AL dealers. Then AL uses serial numbers to trace which units it legitimately under the table sold to LP vs "legitimate" dealers? Oh BS.

Hey, AL, Scuba Pro, the more you people burn both ends and cheat customers by selling to so called "grey" market and then trying to shaft the consumer the less of your crap I will buy.

It is the 21st century and in time ALL sales will be on line---deal with it.

N

 

[PhilEllis]

AL or any manufacturer is reasonably assured that the item is original from factory and has not been altered in any way-parts or assemblys removed and replaced by anyone with the idea to sell item at a lower price and then sell removed original parts to compensate or make additional profit from.Not to say this happens very often but has in the past.I have seen it happen with Al and Sherwood products that had been brough in for service.

Are you actually saying you have seen AL and Sherwood products where the original parts were removed and replaced by "cheaper" parts prior to retail to the customer?

I would be VERY interested in any details of this. Now, I can see how you might have gotten regulators in for service that had PREVIOUSLY been serviced using parts different from those supplied by the manufacturer, but this would be a dealer service center action, not one of an unauthorized resale source. There simply is no economic sense in removing parts from a name brand regulator and replacing them with "cheaper" parts. After all, the parts in the name brand regulator often have the same sourcing as parts in less well known brands.

Phil Ellis
www.divesports.com

 

[oly5050user]

Are you actually saying you have seen AL and Sherwood products where the original parts were removed and replaced by "cheaper" parts prior to retail to the customer?

I would be VERY interested in any details of this. Now, I can see how you might have gotten regulators in for service that had PREVIOUSLY been serviced using parts different from those supplied by the manufacturer, but this would be a dealer service center action, not one of an unauthorized resale source. There simply is no economic sense in removing parts from a name brand regulator and replacing them with "cheaper" parts. After all, the parts in the name brand regulator often have the same sourcing as parts in less well known brands.

Phil Ellis
www.divesports.com

Phil; I'll send you a PM..