Did I take it wrong?

[Bob Vincent]

I live in St. Louis and went to a shop that has bought by this other LDS. ( the owner passed away which at one time was one of my students to DM many years ago ) This LDS touts it's the best ...

Ok, so took 4 tanks into that LDS. 2 needed Hydro's, one a VIP and one a fill. I told the person running the shop I'll pay for everything now. Not knowing how to do that, he called the main store and was told how. Now he handed me a receipt and told me they will be done in 2 weeks. Fine, I handed him a check for $66.& change.

He handed me the one tank that just needed a fill. ??? How about the VIP? Oh! That will be done in a week ... Ok, you don't know how to do a VIP? No ... they won't let me ... Well since I needed two tanks to get in the pool with a nephew that's learning to dive I told him just give me the tank and I'll take care of it. Was going to run to another Shop. He said, did I want a refund on the $15.00 VIP? Well I think so ...

Now I ran out of the house in swim trunks, tee shirt and top siders. Grabbed keys, cert card, check and drivers. ... now the problem ... he needed to refund $15.00. Another call to the main shop ... Oh, can't return the $15.00 because paid by check ... Ok, I understand ... but ... I'm leaving two steels there for hydro that's was paid for and wasn't getting them for 2 weeks so a $15.00 refund should not be a problem to my way of thinking. So the kid wasn't getting the message through to the person on the line. I asked to talk to him ... fine.

Then he told me he won't do it because its a check and having the 2 tanks and paid in advance meant nothing ... he said it's, "OK" He just give me a store credit to use. It didn't matter the check would clear before the 2 weeks. If it didn't he had my 2 steels more that $15.00 to cover the refund.

So being rubbed wrong I told him it's ok I'd take my tanks and the check back and go to Y-kiki Divers another LDS.

Then I'd just drive home again ( which I didn't want to do in the first place) to grab my wallet with cash and plastic.

This just rubbed me the wrong way ... What do you think?

Right? Wrong? Tell me your thoughts ... on this self proclaimed great shop.

 

[KyDodenhoff]

What really surprises me is that he couldnt do the VIP right then and there, I did a crap load of them when I worked at a dive shop and it's truely not rocket science! As long theres damage its all good. So yea I would be a little errked too! I think they need to train that kid some more!

 

[ZenDiver.3D]

You know, people nowadays, can't even mentally compute and make change..... This is not a surprise. And ridiculous policy's that dealers don't know how to interpret or modify are what causes many shops to flounder. Welcome to the world baby..... The more people I meet, the more I like my dog...
Dee

 

[Cajuncru Diver]

"Did you take it wrong". Short answer No. I would have done the same thing. If they want to be the best local dive shop around they best train or hire more knowledged staff and practice better customer relations.

 

[dkktsunami]

I would have been out of there in a heart beat but I have no patience for silly rules with no logic. Do they think you are going to make a break for it with 15 whole dollars?

 

[Walter]

This just rubbed me the wrong way ... What do you think?

I agree with you.

What really surprises me is that he couldnt do the VIP right then and there, I did a crap load of them when I worked at a dive shop and it's truely not rocket science!

Actually, that part impressed me. Too many shops have people doing VIPs who are not qualified to do so. I'd much rather a shop only allow folks who've completed a PSI course inspect tanks.

 

[dkktsunami]

ZenDiver, I am right down the coast from you in Darien. Good luck in Kuwait.

 

[ZenDiver.3D]

ZenDiver, I am right down the coast from you in Darien. Good luck in Kuwait.

Hey thanks. It is not a bad life here, really. I have a 3,500 sq. ft. villa, 2 full time maids, a Mercedes, Jeep, Chevy 2500, and all the designer stores I could look for.

I am living way above the ole trailer park now. And I dive 3 days a week....... I sail a 44ft. sailboat 2 days a week.... Yeah, I'm hating life. Those weekend trips to the Red Sea are tough too. It actually is a good life for being in a sandbox with all the rest of my family in Ga. My kids are learning to read and write Arabic too. Good skill to have.
We come home for a month vacation on June 18th. How about some close bby dive info?? I can't go a month without diving....
Dee:14:

 

[TSandM]

Well, it does seem a little cheesy not to be willing to refund your $15. But I would never expect my shop to do a VIP right on the spot. They're usually fairly busy, and I know they budget the time to do those things (and try to batch them if they can). They HAVE done a VIP for me on the spot once, but I appreciated it as a personal service in an unusual situation, and not as something I would expect on a routine basis.

 

[ucfdiver]

VIPs are easier to do when the customer isn't around, that way you don't even have to take the valve off.

And no, I'm not kidding. Mark your valves with a small sharpee before taking them to get VIPed, so you know they actually DID the vip.