Buying Suunto from LDS or LeisurePro and warranty info..

[dherbman]

Point of clarification - since ScubaToys.com is an authorized dealer, the warranty IS the same as any LDS. In fact, I sent items back to the factory with the Scuba Toys listed as the vendor on the warranty card w/o a problem. You just have to call the manufacturers 800 line, get a "Return Authorization Number", and ship.

It depends on the manufacturer. Scubapro/Uwatec are very clear about online sales. It doesn't matter if it is from an authorized dealer. Other manufacturers have similiar policies. Whether they hold you to it or not depends on several things, but it doesn't change the stated policy of no internet sales..

 

[KansaiKitsune]

It's your choice. I don't rely on my LDS heavily for support though. You might.

I have watched a person at a dive shop buy a product from LP that he intended to stock at a store with a markup. I have also seen them buy from eBay and Yahoo Auctions to do the same.

LP may not offer warranties, but I would make sure yours really does too -- and that they'll honor them once time comes for service.

 

[redacted]

It depends on the manufacturer. Scubapro/Uwatec are very clear about online sales. It doesn't matter if it is from an authorized dealer. Other manufacturers have similiar policies. Whether they hold you to it or not depends on several things, but it doesn't change the stated policy of no internet sales..

When Scubatoys dropped its Scubapro dealership and moved the remainder of its line to their internet store, I inquired of Scubapro as to whether the warrenty would be good. They acknowledged that the warrenty would be honored. Dealer agreements are between the Mfgr & the dealer. Warrenties are provided to the retail customer by the manufacturer.

 

[dherbman]

Dear Dave

This letter specifically addresses Leisure Pro, New York but covers any internet sales.





Thank you for considering SCUBAPRO UWATEC equipment.

Please be aware that Leisure Pro, New York is not, nor has ever been, an authorized SCUBAPRO UWATEC dealer.



Leisure Pro obtains our products through “gray-market” sources and not from our factory. We have no way of assuring the ultimate consumer that any item purchased via this source has not been tampered with or modified. Nor can we assume that our product has been properly tested and inspected. As such, SCUBAPRO UWATEC does not extend any warranties on its products purchased from Leisure Pro or any other "unauthorized” dealer.



SCUBAPRO UWATEC USA does not authorize sales via the internet nor via mail order. We maintain a minimum pricing policy that our authorized dealers adhere to. Although some of our dealers advertise our equipment, once again they are not authorized to make direct sales through the internet, but rather, authorized dealers are only authorized to sell SCUBAPRO UWATEC USA equipment over the counter at their retail location.



All online companies that sell and make direct purchases of our product, like LeisurePro are not an authorized SCUBAPRO UWATEC dealer and SCUBAPRO UWATEC equipment obtained through channels other than SCUBAPRO UWATEC Authorized Dealers does not carry the SCUBAPRO UWATEC Limited Lifetime/Limited Warranty. If you so choose to purchase SCUBAPRO UWATEC products online, the warranty will be voided.





If you still decide to purchased SCUBAPRO UWATEC equipment from anywhere other than an Authorized SCUBAPRO UWATEC Dealership, we recommend that it be inspected by an Authorized SCUBAPRO UWATEC Repair Center to be sure that it is operating and performing to SCUBAPRO UWATEC specifications



LeisurePro may offer their own warranty on the equipment that you are considering, however, LeisurePro, like many other online companies that sell our product, has not been trained by SCUBAPRO UWATEC nor is certified to perform maintenance on SCUBAPRO UWATEC or UWATEC equipment.





You can find an authorized dealer in your area at http://www.scubapro.com/dealers/usdealerlocator/usdealerlocator.asp?group=SCUBAPRO&NewSearch=1

Please feel free to contact us should you have further queries regarding this matter.





Best regards,



Patty Savinski

SCUBAPRO

Product Registration

Certainly not the last word, I'm sure.

 

[redacted]

This was their response when I inquired in the Scubatoy's case:

____

Dear Mr. Delgelo,



Thank you for contacting us with your warranty query. Your confidence in SCUBAPRO products is sincerely appreciated.



Scubatoys of Texas is no longer an authorized SCUBAPRO dealer. However, because this is a somewhat recent occurrence, we are honoring warranties on products purchased from Scubatoys within the next few months. Please refer to our website – wwwscubapro-uwatec.com – for future servicing information and listing of authorized dealers.



Sincerely,



Mario Valenzuela

Sales Director

SUBAPRO UWATEC - Americas

____


I guess authorized dealers have to be treated a little differently than Leisurepro.
I had to do some searching for this one.

 

[dherbman]

There is no mention of online sales in your letter.

 

[scubadobadoo]

It has already been clearly stated by scuba manufacturers on this board that LP does buy items directly from some manufacturers and that some manufacturers won't admit this. Is Scuba Pro one of them? I don't know, but do you think they would say if they were? Do you think Scuba Pro is going to pay the bills of the dive shop that is going under? NO. Scuba Pro only wants to protect their pricing structure and when a a lds tries to sell at a lower price Scuba Pro and Aqualung pull the plug on that business and tell them to shove it. They don't really care about the thousands in stock at that shop and they don't care about the lds owner's kids and bills and more and more lds's are starting to realize this. The business will change folks. Soon. LDS's need to reconsider their business model. Soon. Manufacturers need to reconsider theirs too. Price will always win in this battle. People generally want a good price for good or for bad.

 

[dherbman]

LDS's need to reconsider their business model. Soon.

What would you say that model will look like?

 

[redacted]

There is no mention of online sales in your letter.

It was in my inquiry:


Dear Mr. Delgelo,



Thank you for contacting us with your warranty query. Your confidence in SCUBAPRO products is sincerely appreciated.



Scubatoys of Texas is no longer an authorized SCUBAPRO dealer. However, because this is a somewhat recent occurrence, we are honoring warranties on products purchased from Scubatoys within the next few months. Please refer to our website – wwwscubapro-uwatec.com – for future servicing information and listing of authorized dealers.



Sincerely,



Mario Valenzuela

Sales Director

SUBAPRO UWATEC - Americas




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Degelo, Gary Mr. OTC [mailto:Gary.J.Degelo@otc.army.mil]
Posted At: Thursday, December 15, 2005 11:23 AM
Posted To: Scuba Warranty
Conversation: Warranty inquiry
Subject: Warranty inquiry


I have located a dealer (Scubatoys in Texas) who claims to be an authorized Scubapro dealer and is offering the Mk25/S600 for sale over the internet. Is this an authorized dealer and will this regulator be covered by the Scubapro warranty. I would appreciate your quick response.



Thank You,

Gary Degelo

 

[scubadobadoo]

What would you say that model will look like?

More like Scuba Toy's. It's a global economy now and the idea of what is considered "local" is changing.

Edit: I fully understand that this comes with both positives and negatives. The internet isn't the future anymore. It's now. Here we are on the internet discussing this. We wouldn't be having this conversation and the manufacturers and lds's wouldn't be having troubles if it weren't for the internet. So what is the new business model? If you can't beat them, join them. The rules have changed and some lds's and manufacturers are desperately still clinging to the old rules.