theduckguru
Contributor
PSI is offering the VIS course a various locations for $279. I think I'd start doing my own visuals.
Did I just get Shafted by my LDS on a VIS?
- Thread starter awadsworth
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PSI is offering the VIS course a various locations for $279. I think I'd start doing my own visuals.
My shop charges $25 for a VIP which includes an eddy current inspection, a new o-ring, cleaning the valve (not rebuilding it) and an air fill. I think that's pretty reasonable.
Just beware that some shops will not honor inspection stickers from non-commercial sources. They claim wanting a liability insurance fallback but it may be a ploy to guard territory.
Pete
David_57
Contributor
Going rate here in Montreal area 15.00 for Vis and 10.00 fill total 25.00 per tank
ShamusBaker
Registered
Sounds pretty cheap to me... though I live in Australia and yearly inspection are AU$45+ (~US$40) which doesn't even include a valve service.
I made my own VIP decals and use them all the time. I get free VIPs when ever I like and in three years I have been using them I have not been questioned once--even in Flariduh.
Of course, I do VIP the tanks and inspect them carefully inside and out, replace O rings etc. I don't have any junk. I have one tank, I flunked it for my VIP, it has some rust so I am not going to pass it on a VIP until I tumble it and inspect it again.
I simply have too many tanks to pay 15 dollars for a VIP every year. if I only had two tanks I would play the game, but with my fleet, sorry, no can do.
N
Of course, I do VIP the tanks and inspect them carefully inside and out, replace O rings etc. I don't have any junk. I have one tank, I flunked it for my VIP, it has some rust so I am not going to pass it on a VIP until I tumble it and inspect it again.
I simply have too many tanks to pay 15 dollars for a VIP every year. if I only had two tanks I would play the game, but with my fleet, sorry, no can do.
N
I plan on getting my VIP cert this year to solve this problem.
Eric Sedletzky
Contributor
I VIP all my own tanks and I'm very anal. I only own steel tanks.
I learned from a local guy that has been doing his own VIP's for years and has worked at dive shops on and off for years.
I get the stickers from Leisure Pro for $1.99 each.
I also have special wire bruch tools that go on the end of a drill I use to get them spotless. I also do my own Nitrox cleaning and valve work. None of it is hard once you learn how to do it.
I've only been questioned once about the stickers. One time I walked in to my LDS and they saw the generic sticker on my tank. The guy looked and looked and was mumbling "Hmm, hmmm" Then he says "Where did you get this last VIP done?" I was straight up and told him "I do my own VIP's, I'm trained. I'm extremely anal about my VIP's so I don't trust anybody to do them but myself. Do you want my money for the fill or not?". I even offered to drain the tank and let him look inside, but he said, "Naw, that's OK, I believe you".
He filled it, and I've never heard another word out of them about my own stickers.
Even though they aren't necessarily my favorite shop to deal with, they do have the best quality air, their compressor never goes down, and they're close to my house, so they get my air fill business.
And to answer the OP's original question:
Yes, you got screwed.
I learned from a local guy that has been doing his own VIP's for years and has worked at dive shops on and off for years.
I get the stickers from Leisure Pro for $1.99 each.
I also have special wire bruch tools that go on the end of a drill I use to get them spotless. I also do my own Nitrox cleaning and valve work. None of it is hard once you learn how to do it.
I've only been questioned once about the stickers. One time I walked in to my LDS and they saw the generic sticker on my tank. The guy looked and looked and was mumbling "Hmm, hmmm" Then he says "Where did you get this last VIP done?" I was straight up and told him "I do my own VIP's, I'm trained. I'm extremely anal about my VIP's so I don't trust anybody to do them but myself. Do you want my money for the fill or not?". I even offered to drain the tank and let him look inside, but he said, "Naw, that's OK, I believe you".
He filled it, and I've never heard another word out of them about my own stickers.
Even though they aren't necessarily my favorite shop to deal with, they do have the best quality air, their compressor never goes down, and they're close to my house, so they get my air fill business.
And to answer the OP's original question:
Yes, you got screwed.
The valve "inspection" should be included in the price of the VIP. Now if the valve was disassembled, cleaned and rebuilt, then that's a different situation all together.
Here in the Philadelphia area, the going rate for a VIP with fill is about $15.00
Here in the Philadelphia area, the going rate for a VIP with fill is about $15.00
captain
Contributor
All you could want to know about inspecting aluminum cylinders.
http://www.luxfercylinders.com/downloads/docs/scubaguide.pdf
http://www.luxfercylinders.com/downloads/docs/scubaguide.pdf
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