Scubapro does limit discounts to no more than 10% below MSRP. And they require an over the counter face to face sale. At soem point the customer has to come in the store (although they could call you and ask you to ship it to them later as long s they were in the store at some point.)
Where some dealers get around the price restriction is to package SP gear with other equipment that is not price controlled. For example, if the dealer is selling a $600 regulator he can only discount it to $540 (and his cost is in ball park range of $325). But if he packages it with a $250 wet suit that only costs him $125, he could sell them both to you for $550 and limit his mark up to $100 total on both items. As fas as SP is concerned he sold the reg for $540 and the wet suit for $10 - which is where it gets impossible for SP to effectively enforce the MSRP.
Now, it is hard for the LDS to stay in business that way unless they have phenomenal volume, but it is one way to work around the MSRP issue.
Discontinued items are another way that a dealer can offer steep discounts as MSRP no longer applies. When SP discontinued the Mk 16 for example, the dealer cost did not decrease but the dealer could sell it for any amount he or she wanted and that included whatever second stage was attached even if the second stage was still in production. In some cases dealers will buy up large mounts of discontinued items as it gives them a means to compete with internet retailers price wise while still being able to offer full warranty support.
Where some dealers get around the price restriction is to package SP gear with other equipment that is not price controlled. For example, if the dealer is selling a $600 regulator he can only discount it to $540 (and his cost is in ball park range of $325). But if he packages it with a $250 wet suit that only costs him $125, he could sell them both to you for $550 and limit his mark up to $100 total on both items. As fas as SP is concerned he sold the reg for $540 and the wet suit for $10 - which is where it gets impossible for SP to effectively enforce the MSRP.
Now, it is hard for the LDS to stay in business that way unless they have phenomenal volume, but it is one way to work around the MSRP issue.
Discontinued items are another way that a dealer can offer steep discounts as MSRP no longer applies. When SP discontinued the Mk 16 for example, the dealer cost did not decrease but the dealer could sell it for any amount he or she wanted and that included whatever second stage was attached even if the second stage was still in production. In some cases dealers will buy up large mounts of discontinued items as it gives them a means to compete with internet retailers price wise while still being able to offer full warranty support.
Even if there are 15 dive shops (albeit, not all SP dealers) within 20 miles...I still want piece of mind
