Costs $220 to change batteries for Uwatec Air Z?

[MSilvia]

This debate is just another venue for a "mine's better than yours" venting.

Really? I don't see anyone arguing that way at all. In fact, I usually use a Uwatec bottom timer, so thinking the Uwatec battery replacement cost is a little bit unreasonable for second-hand buyers has nothing to do with mine being better.

It seems more like "This policy caused me grief/That policy shouldn't be a problem" venting, and I think those threads are good in that they give potential buyers something to consider before making a purchase. A reader might say "I like the long lasting battery and the gel-filled sealed housing", or "I was going to buy one used on eBay, but not any more!" Either way, as I read it the thread's full of a lot more useful than "mine's better than yours".

 

[MSilvia]

You consider the purchase of the computer responsible for your health and wellbeing to be "minutiae" not worthy of research?

Do you really think that the battery replacement policy of the manufacturer is something that it would occur to most prudent buyers to investigate? It's not like that minutiae (yes, I think it is) has anything to do with how well the computer does it's job. If I were to buy a secondhand computer, I'd obviously investigate things like what algorithm it uses, how conservative it is, if it allows gas switching, if it has gauge mode, if it beeps incessantly, etc. I might even (but probably wouldn't) have looked into whether or not the battery can be replaced easily, but I can honestly say that checking to see if the manufacturer would charge me $200 to change it would not have been on my list until now.

 

[Geoff_H]

You consider the purchase of the computer responsible for your health and wellbeing to be "minutiae" not worthy of research? :shakehead
.

For me, the costs of changing a battery on my dive computer is definitely minutiae. I know by buying a popular brand like Uwatec or Suunto the computers will be safe. For what it's worth - I am responsible for my well and wellbeing - not my dive computer. It's just an aid.

 

[CompuDude]

I believe my SP EDI may predate the SP/Uwatec linkup and associated current algorithms. In any case. I've done live comparisons of my EDI with both TUSA and Oceanic computers and it was clearly the most conservative.

Tusa and Oceanic are indeed among the most liberal. A fact easily discovered via search. As such, by comparison, ScubaPro/Uwatec's would certainly be more conservative (although I don't know what the older units changed). But I still wouldn't call them "conservative". That term is usually reserved for Suunto, which is notoriously conservative by comparison to darn near every other manufacturer.

 

[CompuDude]

For me, the costs of changing a battery on my dive computer is definitely minutiae. I know by buying a popular brand like Uwatec or Suunto the computers will be safe. For what it's worth - I am responsible for my well and wellbeing - not my dive computer. It's just an aid.

Of course. That said, it certainly helps, else you wouldn't be buying one.

Perhaps you're the type of person who simply looks at the brand and makes assumptions based solely on the name. I do a little more digging. Good luck with your choice...

 

[ApexLongimanus]

I love the UWATEC Air Z.

Unfortunately, I also will be faced with the battery issue once mine drains from it's current 70% level. This will hopefully in a couple of years from now and MAYBE a miracle will happen and ScubaPro/Uwatec give up on their anti-consumer policy by then.

Hey, PADI is doing EANx now and recently acknowledged online marketing.... Not all hope is lost....

 

[Web Monkey]

I love the UWATEC Air Z.

Unfortunately, I also will be faced with the battery issue once mine drains from it's current 70% level. This will hopefully in a couple of years from now and MAYBE a miracle will happen and ScubaPro/Uwatec give up on their anti-consumer policy by then.

What happened? Did you buy it used?

Terry

 

[crispix]

I buy batteries for my Aeris Atmos AI at the local CVS drugstore. It takes only a coin or screwdriver for me to change the battery, five minutes tops. A good example of how Aeris/Oceanic is grasping the realities of the modern world and not forcing users into a shop for every minute thing.

I'm not normally one to reply to a post with a "me too", but it seems appropriate:

Me too.

I really, really wanted to get a Suunto computer, but price-gouging battery replacement costs led me to the Aeris Atmos AI, and I have zero regrets. It's a great computer, and a battery replacement costs $2.95 every few years. The battery compartment is sealed apart, so even if it floods (never happened to me) it's easy to clean and replace the o-ring. Also a plus: it has excellent resale value. The OP is right to complain.

 

[bperrybap]

I was trying to find out the cost to change the batteries of a Scubapro Uwatec Alladin Air Z Nitrox computer and transmitter, for non-original owner. The Scubapro rep simply gave me a link to search for dealers. I did not find any in or near Toronto, but found some in NY state.

Well I called up the one in Syracuse. The lady said she needs to check with Scubapro. After she checked, she said the computer has to be brought to them (I cannot mail to Scubapro myself?!), and to change battery it costs $120 for the computer and $100 for the transmitter.:11:

Wow. That's a lot of money to change batteries. Is it true that I have to go through a dealer to change the batteries? And are the prices of $120 and $100 reasonable? It sounds so high.:shakehead

Do you know or can you locate the original owner?
If so, perhaps you could work out an arrangementl with them
to get the free batteries.....?
At that cost, it would be worth looking into.

Instead of fighting the system, simply figure out a way
to take advantage of it and make it work for you....................


--- bill

 

[bperrybap]

OK. Let's play a game.

How many batteries will your computer need over the course of 10 years?
3?
5?
More?

My SmartCom will need none.

I've had it for 6 years and more then 200 dives, and the battery is still way over 3/4 full.

Out of all the battery changes you'll need, what are the chances that at some point, someone will get a hair in the o-ring, or something won't be quite right and the computer will flood?

My chances are zero, since it never gets opened, and the case is not only sealed, it's packed in gel.

It's fine of you don't like the computer, but the battery arguments are pretty silly. It's like complaining about how long it takes to change the steering wheel on your car.

Terry

I bet alot of people would avoid buying a car that required
changing out the streering wheel every so often depending
on how often it was driven. Even if the replacement was free,
if the car had to be returned to the factory for some period of
time, which might be lengthy, people wouldn't be happy.

And somtimes TIME and convenience is more valuable than free service/parts.
For exmaple, suppose you check out your dive gear a week
or two prior to your highly anticipated livaboard trip and notice
a low/dead battery on your dive computer. It sounds like
in some cases even having a few weeks of time may not
be enough to get a Uwatec battery changed.
In that case, having "free" battery replacement isn't good
enough. You would not be able to use your computer for
your dive trip. With other computers, you can walk into your
LDS and walk out with a new battery installed.

I really like the Uwatec computers & features but to me, not
having user replaceable batteries is a complete deal killer
and moves that computer to my do not buy list.
With my Aeris, I can replace the battery in about 1 minute
using only a quarter as a tool and if necessary this can even
be done during repetitive diving without losing any NDL
calculations or dive log information. The battery is also readily
available any Walmart or grocery store for about $3.00-$4.00 as well.
My sister-in-law, who is uncomfortable doing such operations,
just had a battery replaced in her Aeris AI today at ScubaToys
for $4.00. Took all of a couple of minutes.

So if some manufacturers can make it easy for users or their
LDS to replace batteries, when some manfacturers don't, it
kind makes me go hmmmm.....................

--- bill