Do you support your LDS (and does your LDS support you?)

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These type of threads never cease to amaze me. Is it really that difficult to find a respectable LDS?
In my little part of the world, there are 2 LDS's within 10 miles of one another, and while I perfer one over the other, I would still shop in the other. All the professionals in this area know what they are talking about, and if they can't answer your question, they will find somebody who can.
I just hope I never have to deal with any of these "nightmare" dive shops that I keep reading so much about in these threads.

I think the difficulty increases in relation to distance from the ocean. Some are blessed with excellent LDS, others are cursed with terrible LDS.

 

[huskychemist]

In answer to the poll questions:

Do I support my LDS? Yep!

Does my LDS support me? Yep!

 

[diver 85]

LOL....what LDS, the closest one is 50 miles away........I get everything on 'my own'....even get some things from others here, thanks everyone............

 

[amascuba]

I voted "Yes - I buy trips and service from my LDS". While my LDS owner and I are good friends, it would be a lie for me to say that I buy everything from my LDS. There are items or brands that my LDS doesn't carry/can't get and I get them elsewhere. He understands this and encourages not only me to do so, but anybody else who is in the same situation. He'll even go as far to give recommendations of where to find items if he can't get them himself. IMHO it's rare to have these qualities in many dive shops and it's a shame that they don't have the same customer service that mine has.

 

[Buoyant1]

My LDS is great! (and I'm not just saying that because I know a few of them hit this site) Their prices are VERY competetive with the online outlets, their service can't be beat, they're fun to dive with, and have a lot of great "event's" to either learn of just have fun!

I've used some of the online places, mainly for things that they DON'T carry, or things that they didn't carry when I purchased them, but I never comparison shopped (especially for my regs and BC) because I know that they service the stuff! Recently I bought a tank with an H-valve, and it was less expensive than the online store's tank ONLY! (not to mention adding the valves, and shipping, VIP etc...)

Every once in a while last year I got comped on fills or tank rentals, so that comes in handy as well!

I support them and they support me, and I hope they are around for a long time!

Thanks guys!!

Check 'em out:

http://www.diversdescent.com/

 

[DiverBeth]

I support my local LDS. Though I don't buy exclusively from them I do buy all my big purchases from them and I do get a good price. I've had a blast with the trips I've taken with them and every year they throw a party for their customers its just kind of a open house thing but I've heard it can last all night (I never stayed past 1 am)

 

[jduncan]

Recently....two drysuits direct from O'Three (UK), Two OMS doubles (80 and 100 CF with valves and bands) from LDS, wings and BP - from Leisure Pro.

It just depends who has what, when.

 

[garyfotodiver]

I would be happy to support my local LDS but the one closest to me has owners and staff who are extremely rude and unaccepting that other divers might have a different perspective than they do. There has not been one time when I went in to purchase an item that the salesman has contradicted my wants. Imagine going to buy a gage console and being told that I wanted to kill myself if I didn't buy a computer!

Not to mention that their prices are very high.

 

[GulfDiver77]

I have a great LDS that I have purchased my equipment through.

 

[shellbackdiver1]

Trips, regs and pool work from the LDS I am attached to but everything else i'll shop around at other LDS's.