Dive Shop Etiquette

[koozemani]

I'm fairly loyal to my Lds. That being said, if they don't have what I'm looking for, or if their trips don't coincide with our plans, so be it. Phoenix and Tucson shops make many of the same trips, you could always jump on another trip and shouldn't feel bad. You shouldn't suffer because a trip is full.

 

[fjpatrum]

Shop loyalty has to work both ways, in my opinion. I have a shop I used to like a lot. I'm liking it less and less as time goes on but that's because a few employees have left. One of the owners is very nice and she tries to fix problems (some of which the shop caused) but some of the other owners (including her husband) I can do without. I buy used gear, almost exclusively. I take my tanks in for viz and hydro through the shop, though that may change next time since their prices seem to keep going up, and I get fills from the shop. I buy small things and I might even go on a trip with them if they are ever running one that is semi-local and not bad timing for my schedule.

We are fortunate enough to have some dozen or so shops within a half hour drive of my house, so I have the luxury of choice.

In the end, you have do what's best for you. By all means, if the shop treats you well, treat them well. If they don't continue to treat you well, kick them to the curb and find somewhere else to spend your hard earned money.

 

[DivemasterDennis]

I work part time at my LDPS. I received all m,y certifications through the professional level with them. I have gone on 4 trips with them and over 20 not with them, most of which we did on our own. I but most, but not all gear through my local shop, but some items I prefer elsewhere ( exposure suits, eg.) We get along fine. I am loyal to my lds, and a big fan, but I am not a slave to them. We enjoy doing trips as a couple or with one other couple. The point is to not go make a deal elsewhere, come back to your LDS and say how much better some other place is. Live your life freely, just to undermine the local shop.
DivemasterDennis

 

[fnfalman]

I've booked trips with many dive shops in Southern California. I've gone on open boat charters.

I go with whomever that can support my needs and wants at that moment.

 

[XS-NRG]

Don't let a dive shop tell you how and where to spend YOUR money. If their trips are full go somewhere else or plan your own. My LDS hardly bitched and complained when I did my own trip to Australia. They're only going to push you away and lose your business if they start telling you what to do (trust me I've run into this issue already in other ways.......). It's not in their best interest. So what if this time around you don't go with them, what are they gonna do complain to you even though they had no open spots left. It's not even logical. Don't worry about it and go diving however you are able to

 

[TMHeimer]

There are one or two smaller operations in my area, but I haven't had any reason to patronize anywhere
other that the shop that certified me and I DM for now. I have see situations elsewhere where shops are friendly toward each other and even send business to each other when they, say, don't carry what you want. I have also seen situations where one shop simply ignores another. Haven't seen any real animosity yet anywhere, but I gather it exists. I agree that it is not a matter of loyalty. If you go on a trip with one shop it's a business deal only. They did get your $ and you got your trip--not unlike pro athletes getting traded--it's a business.

 

[dmoore19]

I did a trip other than what my LDS offers. Upon my return I was asked how I liked it, what were the trip was like, where did we stay, what dive op did we use and many other questions. I did not feel guilty and they were looking for better places. It usually works out. I often wonder why shops act the way they do. I have never experienced any kind of animosity towards other shops or equipment they didn't sell. Must be different in places other than land locked CO.

 

[victorzamora]

I worked at my LDS before I moved. I would tell customers about better deals, that certain items were a waste, or about how to maximize their budget.....especially if they were loyal. Before I worked there, I found a great deal online and took it in to them. I asked them to match it. They did. They gained my loyalty. I'm normally willing to pay a little over "lowest" to support the brick&mortar shop nearest me, but refuse to pay 200% of what I can find it for online. Even while I had a good employee discount, I'd go online when they couldn't match it. One owner confronted me, and I told him I'd be MORE than willing to buy from him if he'd match. He didn't. I didn't. I still went back for TONS of other stuff.

One thing to note is something one of the owners of that shop told me: Dive shops aren't necessarily competing against eachother. They're competing against other outdoor activities. If your dollars are being spent on trips with another shop, you'll want gear that you might buy from MY shop. It's much better for me for you to spend all of your disposable income on scuba, and split it between my shop and others than it is for you to split your disposable income between scuba and other hobbies, and then split THAT between shops. If you're diving, you're doing the diving business good as a whole.

If a shop felt like they owned me, I wouldn't go back very much. If a shop has a good back-scratcher, I'll scratch their back to access it. As an employee, I may not have been the best upseller....but I had the best back-scratcher. I was also the highest selling employee at the shop by miles.

As far as etiquette goes, there's not too much to learn. Most of the dive industry is very laid-back (something you'll learn quickly) so a laid-back attitude is something you need to have as well (something that might take a while to get). Diving is about stress-release. It's a hobby. If a shop bends me out of shape for loyalty, grating personality (gun store owner had a full-blown yelling match with an employee because he was showing me a gun I was about to buy instead of running inventory....I haven't been back sicne), or simple "etiquette" issues then I don't enjoy it as much. If I don't enjoy an aspect of my hobbies, you can be sure I stop going. Tipping is the only etiquette that's hard to get.

 

[iluvtheocean]

As far as etiquette goes, there's not too much to learn. Most of the dive industry is very laid-back (something you'll learn quickly) so a laid-back attitude is something you need to have as well (something that might take a while to get). Diving is about stress-release. It's a hobby. If a shop bends me out of shape for loyalty, grating personality (gun store owner had a full-blown yelling match with an employee because he was showing me a gun I was about to buy instead of running inventory....I haven't been back sicne), or simple "etiquette" issues then I don't enjoy it as much. If I don't enjoy an aspect of my hobbies, you can be sure I stop going. Tipping is the only etiquette that's hard to get.

that gun store owner would be an idiot - yeah inventory needs to get done - but lose a sale in process because of it? that's bad business. if inventory is so important at that time and a sale would mess up the inventory -- most places temporarily close for inventory. I know we do periodically - and 100% accurate inventory for us is essential since we supply a good portion of all the rum (and other hard liquors and wine) to the entire state.