attaching hoses, can I do this or LDS?

[AlexMDiver]

Why is it you are against someone trying to make a buck?

I agree that a shop shouldn't charge for putting hoses on your gear, but I think you are asking too much to expect them to do that for free. If they offer, then great... otherwise, you are getting what you paid for. Customer service goes both ways...

I find it funny that people are so willing to browse at a shop asking questions, comparing and if they ask nice maybe try out that new reg at the LDS pool. But hey, you can buy that new reg off the "grey market" website. Now this person wants the same shop (that maybe put in a lot of time to get that sale), to put together their reg. Why shouldn't they charge some form of compensation. The last time that I knew rent, electricity, in-store stock (so people can try out that new piece of gear) and sometimes shop monkeys don't come free. The last time I knew, a LDS doesn't make money filling tanks. Are you willing to get on-line air fills?

I think you are deamonising some hypothetical customer here. The original poster who asked the question says nothing that he test-dived the reg in a pool, then bought it on-line and now wants the LDS to change the hoses. That is a rediculous assumption. It even sounds paranoid...."oh no, not another parasite in my shop and look, I cannot even pay my phone bill and work such hard hours, and this fat cat is just using up my valuable time, then spends all of his easily earned money on the internet instead on hose changes with me". Really?

In most LDS I know, there is a person sitting behind the counter doing not a lot, waiting for someone to ask a question or to check out something. Talking about "if I were to change every hose for free in my valuable time, where would I be" etc etc is also not realistic.

LDS owners talk about their valuable exertise in this thread in relation to a hose change. Hmmm...

I also accept that in general shops try and sell you stuff you don't need. That is their mission, to sell stuff. Good if the customer actually needed it, also ok if he did not really need it. It is still a shop and not a charity organisation.

Some more personal examples of bad service not in the scuba industry:
1)I recently had my car serviced and they charged me 170 Euros for a variety of stuff. But they did not fill up my wiper fluid for that money. Thanks...great service. I expect that to be included, but this could be another thread on another board. I can easily do it myself, but so could the dealer.

2) I was at the airport and needed hot water for my infant son's food. I asked at a coffee shop. The guy said, sure, handed me the water and then charged me 3 Euros (3 bucks) for the price of a "tea"!! I told him to get lost, went to the coffee shop 20 m further and there I got it for free with a smile for my son.

 

[StewartG]

Not to get off topic, but...

I guess I *CAN* attach my own hoses?

 

[halocline]

Yes you can do it. Don't overtighten; hand tight plus a little more with the wrench, just enough to seal the o-ring.

 

[Ron Brandt]

Do it yourself as already mentioned. But I do not see why your LDS should charge you for this kind of service anyway. A good LDS should help you out with this stuff, whether the gear is from them or elsewhere. In an ideal LDS scenario, you should be able to ask the shop this question, but often you get some bad look and feel guilty for walking in with stuff from another shop.
Happy diving!
Alex

The guy I used to "work" for would charge $100.00 for this service...and get it.

Ron

 

[AlexMDiver]

The guy I used to "work" for would charge $100.00 for this service...and get it.

Ron

No way. Was the dive shop in Beverly Hills or something?
Ok, I will offer this service now. Please send me your regs and I will change hoses at 20 bucks a hose (not including the hose, conditions apply yada yada yady). Anyone?
Better yet, why don't some of the shops in question charge admission fee for entering the store, just to know that customers are not wasting the owner's time. And have a bouncer outside to kick out "non-purchase-looking" browsers.
Aaaaaahhh.

 

[Rick Murchison]

Auto-Zone and an LDS are working quite different markets.

Indeed... that's why the proper comparison would be Auto Zone and LiesurePro.
In my example, it is the garage and the LDS that I compare.
Rick

 

[H2Andy]

Not to get off topic, but...

I guess I *CAN* attach my own hoses?

lol yeah ... we already covered that

the only thing is not to overtighten ... i swag it by tightening by hand and then
a quick, short push with the wrench.

haven't had any trouble

 

[H2Andy]

you say the time it takes for the facility "costs them nothing"..it does cost for they are in the store all day waiting to serve customers like you..That costs money

they're going to get paid whether they are sitting at the front counter twiddling
their thumbs or helping create goodwill with a potential new customer

which do you think is a better investment of their time?

guys, does the term "service industry" mean anything here?

cars are a necessary evil, and when one breaks, you gotta fix it. you got a captive market.

scuba diving? leissure activity. you're talking a whole new ball game

 

[SteveAD]

different business model



now, let's approximate the example a bit better.

you go to the mechanic and want to glue a new rearview mirror, and you have
the mirror and the glue, but are not sure how to do it.

he does it for you (takes about two minutes) and charges nothing ...

has this EVER happened?
I have a good friend who is a mechanic, and he often helps me out because he is my friend and I do the same thing for him. but freebies are never and should never be expected.

on top of that I am truly amazed at the level of inorance involved in some of this advice. silicone or cristolube are used on dynamic (moving) o-rings. Static o-rings, like those on hose ends, or tank valves are not generally lubricated.

when I don't know how to do something I generally have it done by someone who does, and I am willing to pay for the service.

what is it called when somone offers advice that is against the best interests of the advisee?

malpractice

 

[H2Andy]

has this EVER happened?

yeah... it's happened to me exactly as told (that's why i used the example).

i also pay a GIZILLION dollars more in mechanic fees because the guy i go to
ALWAYS finds a way to accomodate my schedule if possible, knows who i am,
knows the car, and gets me out fast, when possible (i don't expect preferential
treatment if he's busy as heck ... just some consideration)

so yeah ... any industry can benefit from some real service. i think we've forgotten
what that is in this country

it's the difference between taking your drysuit to Steve Gamble and taking
it to any of half-a-dozen shops around here. night and day. which is why
i am never taking my suit to anyone but Gamble from now on.

this is the real value that LDS's can smoke the internet with ... and you guys
are pissing it away, except for a few savvy ones, who are doing quite well.

the rest are whining "internet internet" but it's your own darned fault for not
knowing how to work your advantages to your benefit. play to your strengths
and stop making excuses.

sad thing is, you can't figure this out yorselves, and when a customer tries to tell you, you immediately start telling them they're wrong ... smart, guys...