Does anyone still believe in "Support Your LDS"?

[billt4sf]

With the internet today we no longer NEED an LDS. Comcast just doubled my internet speed today, so I am set! After all just click HERE and get your tanks filled (Recommend high speed internet for HP fills).

But what if you don't have a USB port?

 

[CAPTAIN SINBAD]

You should never support your LDS because that will cause the internet retailers to go out of business.

 

[nimoh]

if I could shop at my LDS while sitting on my toilet, I would, but luckily the internet saves me a lot of embarrassment.

 

[divingpyrate]

it is all about customer experience
If you prefer an impersonal experience of online to what is happening when you visit your LDS i would have to wonder about the shop
We are in Scuba Toys backyard
I love going in there, could not think of ordering online
But I have been in other shops here and traveling, and had horrible impressions

So can LDS hold its own in the internet world, Heck yeah

Sent from my A500 using Tapatalk 2

 

[Peter_C]

But what if you don't have a USB port?

Not a problem at all!

EtherFill 5000™ Cylinder Fill System - Dive Gear Express

 

[tom041959]

If they have what I'm looking for at a fair price I will support them if not internet gets my money. Just sayin

 

[chrpai]

It seems to me that the vast majority of certified divers in our area do not dive locally much, if at all. Sure there are exceptions (like us for example), but if you were to check out the scuba MeetUp groups around here you will find that they don't meet up to dive locally - they meet up to have drinks and talk about diving. No thanks, I say. This group of divers, as a whole, probably are not interested in the same items you are.

That was my experience with the Houston Hammerheads dive club. They wanted to meet at Hooters ( ok with that part ) to talk about their dive trips and their blue water photos. When I asked them about local diving the response was "who would dive around here?"

Yes, you and I are interested in different gear. BTW, haven't seen you around in awhile. When are you going diving again?

 

[oreocookie]

A year and a half ago, I probably would have said no about supporting the LDS. The shop that I then considered my LDS was the shop I got certified at and had, to that point, done all my courses with, then management decided to change a few things that really irked me. At around the same time, I realized that a shop closer to me had something I was looking for... then I realized they had something else I was looking for. I ditched the first shop because they had very little that I wanted, or maybe it was a lot that I didn't want. In the process of realizing the closer shop carries a lot of stuff that I'd consider buying, I realized that I like their staff. Then I realized they organized trips I'd want to go on, and then I met some of the other divers who go there... How can I not support something that's more than just a store to me?

 

[captainhook426]

I just got back from a trip to my LDS, I actually have two that are about 5 miles apart from me. I live in the southeast corner of Kansas and other than the local dive club to get air fills, there's nothing to look at and touch ( possibly my favorite thing about a LDS, being in the certification process still ). I have to go to Joplin, MO to visit these shops which is about a 40 minute drive from Pittsburg. Joplin, some of you may know was torn apart about 2 years ago by a f4 - f5 tornado that traveled down the center of the major shopping areas. The way I see it every penny I spend in Joplin helps someone recover from this horrible storm.

Also, after spending a little bit of time at both shops today looking at regulators I got the very basic "need to know" information from one shop that sells Scubapro. The other shop sells Aqualung, Apeks, and Atomic gear. Going to the second shop, the owner pulled out the three most common regulators that he sells put them on the counter and sat on the "customer" side of the counter with me going over the specs, differences, and pricing of each one. He took the time to make me feel comfortable, as well as answer all the "newbie" questions I had. He also did the same with the dive computers and gauges.

I told myself going into the hobby that I would try to spend money at both shops because pricing is honestly a little better to me at the first shop than the second. But the second shop has me sold on just about everything other than the occasional rental. I think I will get the majority of my exposure protection from shop number 1, but the bulk of the gear (except my BP/W) will be coming from shop number two. I've also have two of everything to purchase/rent so they made a good choice today.

 

[nimoh]

it is all about customer experience
If you prefer an impersonal experience of online to what is happening when you visit your LDS i would have to wonder about the shop
We are in Scuba Toys backyard
I love going in there, could not think of ordering online
But I have been in other shops here and traveling, and had horrible impressions

So can LDS hold its own in the internet world, Heck yeah

Sent from my A500 using Tapatalk 2

I wouldn't say it is all about customer experience. For some it is mainly about price, and others the convenience of having items shipped directly to their house.

I also wouldn't say that people that shop online "prefer an impersonal experience" but rather that they are willing to accept an impersonal experience due to other benefits....then again some might actually prefer it.