I think go to your local DS try the item on,make sure to use the shop owners time by several calls and stop in's too! or even take to the pool use it for a week or so after that return it=of course with a credit card so he can loose the 2 percent card fee,Heck your just going to dive once twice on a trip Eha? I here Larry at Scuba Toys got a DOT deal on partial pressure fills on Pressed steel 100's shipped to your door from the PS plant O-2 cleaned you supply the NITROX sticker free shipping!- NOT!!!
OK I am a bit sarcastic!
kudos on saving a buck in these depressed economic times, I got’s to admit ya I have done the deed and bought on line or from shops 1200 miles away, but while on dive trip needed the item so bought at shop near were I was diving,or yes on line service kits due to unavailability at local LDS due to a non dealer status.
That said the dive industry as a whole has created this mess !! by lowering itself to E-selling!! something years and years back NO WAY COULD BE DONE BUT THEY GOT GREEDY! and now in a short time will slowly self destruct IMO due to the sport as is ,Is a dying sport!! with the median age trending towards old soggy farts like me! and newer divers being the 1 or two diver dive vacation diver due to the lack of presentation to the market place, in shows like Cousteau's under water explorations, Sea hunt,Flipper and other shows that got new divers into the sport years back.
The GREEDY MONEY machines like PADI and all that follow have been doing every thing possible to destroy the local LDS REALLY, if they could E cert your pool work on a video conference call which they probably will now thru SKYPE! they will to rip the last dollar from the shop owner!
What dose this have to do with your question on saving a buck or how will it affect you? not much at all because your not going to be affected being a vacation diver, Divers like me ,us that tend to be on and underwater 3 to 4 times a week year round,,, big time as shops close we have to go further to shops for visuals, and fills, supply's, and next as this happens the stronger shops implement rules on what tanks they will fill! forcing fees and more charges, and will raise prices to cover overhead and limit our choices!and its happening now!
Now as divers we have to take VI “tank inspector” classes not much money and some basic tool’s to do visuals and well worth it, purchase air compressor to fill tanks a great idea because now you know the service history on oil & filters not just some slip of paper stating a good air test, and yes you can charge other divers to cover your over head!
in all the local LDS will be gone, with supper mega dive shops only to be found near major dive locations,probably offering self service fills and self check out lines!
ya buy it on line I got to take my meds ,a nap and watch a old dive video! from my wheel chair!!
