Dive Teck
- Thread starter D M I
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JohnF
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I already posted my thoughts on Dan's setup. If only I hadn't left so much money there. It's like an adult candy store.
JohnF
FreeFloat
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After leaving the OFWF get-together at Bud's on the Bay, someone had suggested to me that I might want to take the #2 Highway towards Kingston (convenient, as I live on the #2 anyway) instead of the 401. Long and winding and just as I had given up on finding the store I blew past this place with an IMMENSE Diver Down flag flying. Naturally I did a donut and came into it. Sure, enough, Dive Tech it was.
This was late at night (around 10:30 pm) and I felt a bit foolish coming in that late. I told myself I'd just take a business card and scram. HA!
The owners (?) were up filling tanks. Their garage is where the compressor is as well as simply racks and racks of rental gear. They were surrounded by a field of tanks awaiting fills. They were very friendly and wouldn't let me get away with 'just a business card'.
So I got to see inside a REAL LDS. Man! What a stock they keep! Sure different from the more "local" LDS's I'd seen before. One of the owners - I forget now his name - took the time to sift through his racks of fins and discuss fins with me, including letting me try a few on for size. He's even offered to do the legwork to seek out the perfect fins for me, if I'm willing to give him a bit of time to do so. I may end up getting a better-fitting mask through them too, I think.
Oh, and I got the business card I was after, too.
This was late at night (around 10:30 pm) and I felt a bit foolish coming in that late. I told myself I'd just take a business card and scram. HA!
The owners (?) were up filling tanks. Their garage is where the compressor is as well as simply racks and racks of rental gear. They were surrounded by a field of tanks awaiting fills. They were very friendly and wouldn't let me get away with 'just a business card'.
So I got to see inside a REAL LDS. Man! What a stock they keep! Sure different from the more "local" LDS's I'd seen before. One of the owners - I forget now his name - took the time to sift through his racks of fins and discuss fins with me, including letting me try a few on for size. He's even offered to do the legwork to seek out the perfect fins for me, if I'm willing to give him a bit of time to do so. I may end up getting a better-fitting mask through them too, I think.
Oh, and I got the business card I was after, too.
I told you you'd enjoy the visit!
JohnF
Guest
Now, if we could only get Genesis and some of his hardcore "kill-the-LDS' cronies in there, mebbe they'd lighten up on the mass extinction program, or is that LDSicide? 8)
JohnF
Yes! it's sad whats happening to the diving industry in Canada and thats one business I would never get into. whats the good of it if you can't make a good steady living. Why buy US Divers equipment from dive shops when you can purchase most of there dry goods at Cosco. I really liked Dans shop but I noticed he's realy more concintrated on sales now and has less time for social yapping. I wonder who his front man is.
D M I
D M I
deep_ocean
Guest
Please forgive the newbie's ignorance, but where else can you buy dive gear if not in the LDS's? Besides the internet (can't try it on, shipping, duty and worst of all, customs handling fees) which is a bit of gambling unless you know specifically what you're looking for, there isn't much alternative. I don't think the large sports warehouse style stores (Sportchek, Sports mart etc.) carry scuba gear, ceratinly Costco doesn't 
...
safe diving.
deep_ocean
...safe diving.
deep_ocean
JohnF
Guest
deep_ocean once bubbled...
Please forgive the newbie's ignorance, but where else can you buy dive gear if not in the LDS's? Besides the internet (can't try it on, shipping, duty and worst of all, customs handling fees) which is a bit of gambling unless you know specifically what you're looking for, there isn't much alternative. I don't think the large sports warehouse style stores (Sportchek, Sports mart etc.) carry scuba gear, ceratinly Costco doesn't
safe diving.
deep_ocean
There are some who would suggest that we have no need of LDS's and that they are bleeding us, then the same folks recommend going to those same LDS's (whom they would gladly see out of business) when you want to get sized for a piece of dive gear, then order it online. To my way of thinking a rather unethical, and certainly short-sighted attitude.
What particularly impressed me about the dive shop referred to in this thread is that they have the goods (even some fairly esoteric little repair items) and the owner, a very personable, jocular sort, didn't gouge me when I bought some stuff from him after dropping in only to check out the shop. Then, after quoting his retail price, he offered to install the piece no charge. It only took 10 minutes or so, but he had the tools to do it properly. Then he repaired a small problem with my Halcyon wing, again no charge despite the fact that he spent a fair bit of time and replaced some o-rings. It's the kind of service and/or attention that you can't get online. I like it. I'll be sure to refer anyone I can to him in the future.
I get similar treatment from a couple of local shops although they don't keep the inventory that Dive Tech does, but then they aren't plunked down smack in the middle of some of the best diving Canada has to offer.
Merely my NSHO
JohnF
Costco
Actually Costco sells wetsuits 3 mm long and short wich are cheaper than in an LDS. My LDS buys them from Costco and then resells them at minimum profit . Its cheaper at Costco than buying from the manufacturer fro the LDS. Last year in Quebec Costco was associated with Wadell an LDS in Montreal and sold scuba equipment at specific dates in specific stores. Equipment was 50 to 30% cheaper on a limited quantity of equipement. I wouldn't try to bring that equipment in an LDS for service in Quebec though word got around...
In other words divers are smart enough to shop around and can buy internationally so thats why if the already small community of divers in Canada doesn<t buy his stuff in LOcal LDS than well... LDS doesn't last long.
Tech dive is a very nice store however I don't know many LDS that can support that can of inventory based on their sales.
safe diving and support your local LDS
Actually Costco sells wetsuits 3 mm long and short wich are cheaper than in an LDS. My LDS buys them from Costco and then resells them at minimum profit . Its cheaper at Costco than buying from the manufacturer fro the LDS. Last year in Quebec Costco was associated with Wadell an LDS in Montreal and sold scuba equipment at specific dates in specific stores. Equipment was 50 to 30% cheaper on a limited quantity of equipement. I wouldn't try to bring that equipment in an LDS for service in Quebec though word got around...
In other words divers are smart enough to shop around and can buy internationally so thats why if the already small community of divers in Canada doesn<t buy his stuff in LOcal LDS than well... LDS doesn't last long.
Tech dive is a very nice store however I don't know many LDS that can support that can of inventory based on their sales.
safe diving and support your local LDS
[I don't think the large sports warehouse style stores (Sportchek, Sports mart etc.) carry scuba gear, ceratinly Costco doesn't
[I don't think the large sports warehouse style stores (Sportchek, Sports mart etc.) carry scuba gear, ceratinly Costco doesn't
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