Buy from LDS or Ebay

[Mayor]

Like many business these retailers get paid on turns. The smart one figure this out and the ones that charge full boat sit on gear for a few years then give it away. Or sadly go under. Regs, bcds, masks, etc. It only maters your turing the gear over at a higher price then you paid for it. It's not fine wine, it's not going to get better with age. Again just my thoughts......

 

[victorzamora]

33% off of online prices would be quite impressive. Was this a special deal or are all of their prices/deals comparable?​

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So if they can make money selling at such a cut rate, wouldn't they then make a killing by increasing sales at that price point and being an online leader in sales? Something smells fishy. Just what kind of "favors" are being traded here?

SEXUAL FAVORS!!!!!! Honestly, none. They're great guys and the more you deal with them the better they get. Every time I ask them about a price the answer is, "Well, MAP is **BLANK**....but we can make you a deal." This deal is a big package deal and is definitely a great deal, even for them. However, online dealers wouldn't come close to match. Not all prices are THAT good...but most are at least as good as online.

 

[Searcaigh]

Living in Dubai where prices of almost anything are more expensive than elsewhere apart from buying gold, I mix my purchases between LDS and some online purchasing which is generally sent to my UK address and I collect it the next time I am there or my daughter brings it over when she visits during breaks from Uni. There are some things that are just not available here in LDSs too, so online is the only way to purchase them.

Unfortunately my favourite LDS closed down last year as the owner was ill and returned to the UK, it has been taken over however by one of the competitors and fortunately the technical team have been retained as well as one of the sales guys, so I will be supporting them in some aspects, as I know that I can walk in and have something fixed while I wait if convenient to do so.

I can't get my tanks filled or tested online
I can't and would not trust having my regulators serviced online

In 2011 I purchased from LDS

3 regulators, pony bottle, octopus necklace, long hose, semi-dry suit, mask, various clips, SMB, reels, torches.

Online I purchased

Fins, spring fin straps, 2 computers (one for my daughter, they were almost half the price of what was available here once the VAT was claimed back)

 

[Oldbear]

Ditto to Searcaigh...

Living abroad sometimes buying online is the only option. In 2011 and 2012, I have bought from both LDSs in Englewood Colorado (hometown), Dubai, Kuwait, and Phuket; as well as bought from onlione retailers. With the exception of two online retailers who also run LDSs, the personal service at a "Good" LDS is invaluable. I have even bought from the Colorado LDS and they shipped the gear to me in Iraq. But if all things are equal and I am HOME...I will always support the LDS. They are memebers of MY community.

~ME~

 

[Doc Harry]

I wouldn't buy anything from eBay

 

[victorzamora]

I wouldn't buy anything from eBay

I would on two conditions:
1) Your LDS is terrible and you're buying from a reputable eBay seller (for example, Dolphin Scuba)
2) You find a deal that is AWESOME to the point that even if the majority of it is broken, you can pay to fix and still come out on top.

 

[Doc Harry]

1) Your LDS is terrible.

In that case I would still not buy from eBay.

I'd call Phil at Dive Sports.

 

[LowDrag]

I was looking at various online prices yesterday because of this thread and found that my LDS has prices that pretty much match or beat a few places I was looking at. I am pretty much convinced that getting my reg's local is a much better idea to avoid shipping. Paying to have my reg's shipped and serviced then paying return shipping just doesn't make financial sense to me. Plus, my LDS is a ScubaPro dealer so I can get in on the parts for life program by getting a set of reg's and BC's thru them. They are going to make me a really good package deal because I will be buying for two. I have decided to concentrate on getting the best reg setup's and BC's that I can afford and work my way through our other gear. My wife and I have decided that we are going to try to jump right into dry suits due the water temp when we went up to try to cert last month - 38° - burrrrr. Anyway, I am getting off topic. After looking at the prices at a few different online retailers I am pretty much gonna stay close to home. Support local when you can and buy online for smaller non-serviceable items.

 

[Scuba_Noob]

First off, I would rather prefer to buy from my LDS to support it. However, if the price is a savings of $500 or over from a reputable online seller, I will buy online. If the price difference is within $300, I will go with my LDS, and anything between $301-$499 depends on the item (e.g., for a regulator set, I still might buy it from the LDS because of ease of fixing).

Edit: Of course, I would ask my LDS about it first in order to see if there are any deals that could be worked out before buying online.

 

[fjpatrum]

I was looking at various online prices yesterday because of this thread and found that my LDS has prices that pretty much match or beat a few places I was looking at. I am pretty much convinced that getting my reg's local is a much better idea to avoid shipping. Paying to have my reg's shipped and serviced then paying return shipping just doesn't make financial sense to me. Plus, my LDS is a ScubaPro dealer so I can get in on the parts for life program by getting a set of reg's and BC's thru them. They are going to make me a really good package deal because I will be buying for two. I have decided to concentrate on getting the best reg setup's and BC's that I can afford and work my way through our other gear. My wife and I have decided that we are going to try to jump right into dry suits due the water temp when we went up to try to cert last month - 38° - burrrrr. Anyway, I am getting off topic. After looking at the prices at a few different online retailers I am pretty much gonna stay close to home. Support local when you can and buy online for smaller non-serviceable items.

So I'm wondering where these shops are that don't service regs unless they're purchased there. Every shop I've been in and asked about servicing my regs (which I bought off Craigslist) has said they'd do it, even under warranty if I had the appropriate paperwork (obviously I don't.)

I get the concern, I just don't get that shops won't support you if you don't buy your stuff there. That just hasn't been my experience in the 4 states and 20 or so shops I've asked about it. Am I just incredibly lucky?

As for ebay, I've bought an old horse collar (which I converted to a wing and use as my BC every dive) and a reg (sold as a parts reg but perfectly functional) and been very satisfied. Yeah, I'm willing to "fix" things and expect to have to do so for things bought on ebay, but that will never stop me from shopping there. There are actually some excellent deals to be had.