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Some consumer electronics, appliances and cameras are done that way.
Terry
Terry
bwerb:
Buying Gear at your LDS VS internet!!!
- Thread starter Tampabay
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bwerb
Hoser/English Translator, eh
I figured appliances would work this way as many are built specifically to distributor spec...personally...I think the camera and some consumer electronics manufacturers like to play the same games as the scuba manufacturers...
orcatwiggy
Guest
I haven't read through all 7 pages of this post, but let's get back to the original question. I too have the same question. I think I already know the answer, but here goes anyway.
In pricing the equipment on the net, I come up with a significantly lower cost than my local lds. However, there are the intangibles to consider.
The easiest way for me to think about this topic...or any product that is specalized regardless of sport is the follows: I would not expect my local lds to provide me with the same attention/care/patience if I bring in equipment that was purchased elsewhere. You have invested in yourself not them. Human nature being what it is...you may not receive that warm fuzzy as you do from a trusted confidant. In the retail business, a trusted confidant comes from loyalty - beginning with a purchase. Being a novice diver, this is of paramount consideration.
There is a cost difference, perhaps very big. BUT, when you need a trusted source, you are more apt to get that little extra, reach that comfort zone with your local lds if you purchased there. It is like any relationship. The more you put into it, the more the other half will be willing to help. Yes, it is economics, but we need to look past that as consumers.
I look for my local shop to be the big brother, my sounding board. Considering that this is not golf, and I am an avid golfer (4 handicap), this sport can kill you if you are not careful. Isn't establishing that relationship more important, in the long run, than saving even a thousand dollars.
The personal attention received by a local merchant may save your life. In fact, you may never even know that one of the small checks/recommendations that they made for you equipment may save your life. Yes, divers do look out for each other, even at a strange dive shop. But if you ask me, I would rather have my friend tell me that everything is ok rather than a stranger.
Just my opinion.
In pricing the equipment on the net, I come up with a significantly lower cost than my local lds. However, there are the intangibles to consider.
The easiest way for me to think about this topic...or any product that is specalized regardless of sport is the follows: I would not expect my local lds to provide me with the same attention/care/patience if I bring in equipment that was purchased elsewhere. You have invested in yourself not them. Human nature being what it is...you may not receive that warm fuzzy as you do from a trusted confidant. In the retail business, a trusted confidant comes from loyalty - beginning with a purchase. Being a novice diver, this is of paramount consideration.
There is a cost difference, perhaps very big. BUT, when you need a trusted source, you are more apt to get that little extra, reach that comfort zone with your local lds if you purchased there. It is like any relationship. The more you put into it, the more the other half will be willing to help. Yes, it is economics, but we need to look past that as consumers.
I look for my local shop to be the big brother, my sounding board. Considering that this is not golf, and I am an avid golfer (4 handicap), this sport can kill you if you are not careful. Isn't establishing that relationship more important, in the long run, than saving even a thousand dollars.
The personal attention received by a local merchant may save your life. In fact, you may never even know that one of the small checks/recommendations that they made for you equipment may save your life. Yes, divers do look out for each other, even at a strange dive shop. But if you ask me, I would rather have my friend tell me that everything is ok rather than a stranger.
Just my opinion.
kawboy579
Guest
Furner:
My local shop has been very accomodating as well as giving me some unbeatable discounts for being a prior (and future) student through their shop. Negotiate with your LDS a little, and you might be surprised at how reasonably priced the goods can be, as well as having on-call support for what you buy there. Good Luck!
raposarose
Guest
ryanarcher:
I know the shop too (just moved from San Diego). I have a free air card there, but I don't think that makes a big impact on how much they make from me. I have gotten good customer service there so I keep returning. If I can then I'll go there for the free air, though I don't always since it is not always the most convenient (including gas cost to get there these days...). Still, the fact that I have incentive to go there, even though they are not the closest dive shop, gets me in the door where I may buy more gear.
Many divers who but a tank will not even take full advantage of the air offer, but they will buy the tank because of the added value. People who do go back to get a lot of free fills probably are hooked to diving and will buy other gear from them. All in all I think it is not a bad deal...if the majority of customers start to just go there for the free fills then they can reevaluate providing the air card to new tank buyers...
My process is to find the best price online and then haggle with my LDS. Most shops on Oahu don't haggle, but my LDS does-at least for me.
Back in the day, I probably would've paid sticker price for things. Then I got a job in a dive shop and learned there was plenty of wiggle room. I definitely prefer buying locally, but $ is $. I'll generally give the LDS a little more than the online quote since they'll give me certain advantages.
Back in the day, I probably would've paid sticker price for things. Then I got a job in a dive shop and learned there was plenty of wiggle room. I definitely prefer buying locally, but $ is $. I'll generally give the LDS a little more than the online quote since they'll give me certain advantages.
scubapro50
Contributor
First off "BUY NEW EQUIPMENT" ....... don't purchase used equipment off E Bay your first time around. Your LDS is a good place to start or try one on the larger internet providers of gear. Stay with one of the big names like Scubapro, Aqualung , Mares , ect. because you can always find parts and service anywhere in the world for them. As for warranties most diving companies require yearly service and inspections to keep in warranty. This is a good idea but too many divers don't follow up every year and do it like they should. Usually after a couple of years you have "voided" your warranty by not geting it done.
darylm74
Contributor
Wow this is getting nasty. So I figured I'd throw my 2 cents in...
....but then I got to the last page after I had this big long msg typed up and ready to paste in and seems like everyone got their heads out of where the sun doesn't shine and stopped the bashing
....but then I got to the last page after I had this big long msg typed up and ready to paste in and seems like everyone got their heads out of where the sun doesn't shine and stopped the bashing
Ishie
Guest
I have a problem because I am loyal to my dive instructor who goes through an LDS that has caused me to become increasingly frustrated.
The instructor sells some of his own stuff (my boyfriend just got a great reg/octo/comp set up for $300) and I'd never object to going through him, but I'm trying to keep a good relationship with the dive shop so that there's no hassle with any classes I want to take.
I do buy a bit of gear from the internet. I got my basic gear package from the dive shop. Got the hard sell. Heard about how great this one pair of fins were. HAD to have them. Wanted them; couldn't afford them. The ones I got turned out to be a little too much fin for me, and my father, hearing my plight, ordered the great fins online (forty dollars cheaper). When the LDS heard this, suddenly it was about an even BETTER fin, not like the crud I had (the same one they'd been hocking). I love my new fins and they're great, but Grrr!!
That was irritating, but not really one of those big "problems". Since then though, I'm still having problems. EVERYTHING is significantly overpriced. The neoprene mask strap I got at Sport Chalet cost me 9 bucks vs. the LDS's 18. A BC at Sport Chalet (again, not "online", but not what people really equate with LDS) was 120 dollars less than the same BC at this shop.
As for service, the instructor does the servicing, and we love him. He's already diagnosed the problem with my BC (which I didn't buy from him) as a leaky O ring, which he's fixing for free. Unfortunately, much of the gear there is apparently too old. I figured it was just a price thing until my boyfriend's rented regulator FELL APART at 20 ft. Apparently when these regs get old enough, the outer piece can pop off (not unscrew, pop off), leaving pieces of regulator all over the bottom of the ocean. (Boyfriend was fine, grabbed his own octopus before I could even get mine, so I picked up what pieces I could and we aborted the dive).
The funniest part? Did we get the reg rental back? Nope.
So for now, I'm instructor loyal, and an internet shopper. I am gaining loyalty to a dive shop in Monterey (not where I live, but where I dive), so I may end up buying more of my critical gear from there.
Ishie
The instructor sells some of his own stuff (my boyfriend just got a great reg/octo/comp set up for $300) and I'd never object to going through him, but I'm trying to keep a good relationship with the dive shop so that there's no hassle with any classes I want to take.
I do buy a bit of gear from the internet. I got my basic gear package from the dive shop. Got the hard sell. Heard about how great this one pair of fins were. HAD to have them. Wanted them; couldn't afford them. The ones I got turned out to be a little too much fin for me, and my father, hearing my plight, ordered the great fins online (forty dollars cheaper). When the LDS heard this, suddenly it was about an even BETTER fin, not like the crud I had (the same one they'd been hocking). I love my new fins and they're great, but Grrr!!
That was irritating, but not really one of those big "problems". Since then though, I'm still having problems. EVERYTHING is significantly overpriced. The neoprene mask strap I got at Sport Chalet cost me 9 bucks vs. the LDS's 18. A BC at Sport Chalet (again, not "online", but not what people really equate with LDS) was 120 dollars less than the same BC at this shop.
As for service, the instructor does the servicing, and we love him. He's already diagnosed the problem with my BC (which I didn't buy from him) as a leaky O ring, which he's fixing for free. Unfortunately, much of the gear there is apparently too old. I figured it was just a price thing until my boyfriend's rented regulator FELL APART at 20 ft. Apparently when these regs get old enough, the outer piece can pop off (not unscrew, pop off), leaving pieces of regulator all over the bottom of the ocean. (Boyfriend was fine, grabbed his own octopus before I could even get mine, so I picked up what pieces I could and we aborted the dive).
The funniest part? Did we get the reg rental back? Nope.
So for now, I'm instructor loyal, and an internet shopper. I am gaining loyalty to a dive shop in Monterey (not where I live, but where I dive), so I may end up buying more of my critical gear from there.
Ishie
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