Downsides of being cheap, sharing examples

[formernuke]

Snap bolts and double enders from the hardware store.

 

[Rayk]

Specially with dive equipment I always follow “buy once cry once” motto, however I always buy cheapest bolt snaps

 

[FF / EMT]

We all want the best value for our money, but over years of diving and reading Scubaboard, I can think of so many times cheapness leads to a net total negative, and even danger and death.

My example is I did not want to face not fitting my wetsuit, did not want to pay for another one. However, squeezing into a suit two sizes too small for TWO YEARS(!) was making me miserable-why the heck did I wait so long? Cheap cheap cheap.

A cheap man pays twice.

 

[rob.mwpropane]

Perfect example of the consequences of being cheap... @rob.mwpropane didn't want to pay for his friends, so he got me! He's still kicking himself.

So true! I'm not sure if I'm the cheapest SOB on this board... but I've got to be pretty close!

And I'll go against the grain a little... there's a HUGE difference between finding good gear used at a nice discount vs buying crap. I haven't really bought any "crap" and I've been pretty happy with all my gear purchases (drysuit seems to be shrinking... but that's a different story!).

I've spent less than $10K to get all 5 of my family members certified, all outfitted for cold water, all have their own reg sets, loads of tanks, and a compressor to boot. Not too shabby.

 

[Tracy]

So true! I'm not sure if I'm the cheapest SOB on this board... but I've got to be pretty close!

And I'll go against the grain a little... there's a HUGE difference between finding good gear used at a nice discount vs buying crap. I haven't really bought any "crap" and I've been pretty happy with all my gear purchases (drysuit seems to be shrinking... but that's a different story!).

I've spent less than $10K to get all 5 of my family members certified, all outfitted for cold water, all have their own reg sets, loads of tanks, and a compressor to boot. Not too shabby.

I hear you. Both of my wife's rebreathers were purchased new. All of mine were used. Up until a few years ago, I don't think there was a single piece of kit I used that was purchased new. I have always been in the "Built, not bought" camp.

 

[VikingDives]

Training. There have been a number of posts with people asking about the cheapest OW course.

This. I get several calls a month that start out with, "How much is your open water class?" My standard reply is that we are the most expensive shop in town, give some examples of why we charge more (5 dives in OW, 3 to 1 student to instructor ratio etc.) but none of that will convince the bargain hunters.

A few weeks later I'll see them scooting around like sea horses to a line that takes them down to 60 feet, because they can't control their buoyancy well enough to descend without the line. Some bargain.

 

[Altamira]

Many people never learn the difference between a good price on a quality product, and a cheap price because it's a cheap product. Like others, I am usually attracted by a good sale price, but I before I buy, I always reminded myself of the story of the guy that grew up eating mostly hamburger for dinner. When he grew older, had a job and a little money in his pocket, he decided to finally treat himself to a nice steak dinner. So he went to a well reviewed steak restaurant, looked at the right side of the menu, and picked the least expensive steak on the menu. What did he get for dinner? You can imagine his disappointment when a Salisbury Steak showed up on his plate.

 

[Rob9876]

I'm not sure if I'm the cheapest SOB on this board...

I believe I'm also in the running. I'm buying gear for 2 and travel for 4, so I watch my budget. So far being cheap has been working out really well for me. I definitely do research before I buy, and I have been diving with some of the cheapest (new) equipment available for a while now, and my gear has been holding up fine.

I'm strictly a recreational diver, and have to travel a good distance for salt water diving -- so I'd rather have less fancy gear and more travel. I've never finished a dive and thought having more expensive gear would have made it any more enjoyable at all. No real desire to upgrade, just want to dive more, more, more!

 

[rob.mwpropane]

This. I get several calls a month that start out with, "How much is your open water class?" My standard reply is that we are the most expensive shop in town, give some examples of why we charge more (5 dives in OW, 3 to 1 student to instructor ratio etc.) but none of that will convince the bargain hunters.

A few weeks later I'll see them scooting around like sea horses to a line that takes them down to 60 feet, because they can't control their buoyancy well enough to descend without the line. Some bargain.

I wonder if you took a diver that paid for good instruction and one that paid for crap instruction... waited for both to have 100 dives under their belt in recreational gear if the 1st would still be better than the other? Honest question. I wonder if it's the instruction... or time underwater that makes a good diver. I'm sure instruction has some to do with it, at least in the beginning... but there's something about taking the training wheels off and just seeing what works (for me). I learn better hands on.

Having time underwater after class did far more for me than any in class instruction... they even said it at the end of OW... "this is a license to go practice"

(this is not at all directed at you or meant to be offensive towards your shop... just talking)

I believe I'm also in the running. I'm buying gear for 2 and travel for 4, so I watch my budget. So far being cheap inexpensive has been working out really well for me. I definitely do research before I buy, and I have been diving with some of the cheapest most inexpensive (new) equipment available for a while now, and my gear has been holding up fine.

I'm strictly a recreational diver, and have to travel a good distance for salt water diving -- so I'd rather have less fancy gear and more travel. I've never finished a dive and thought having more expensive gear would have made it any more enjoyable at all. No real desire to upgrade, just want to dive more, more, more!

"Inexpensive" doesn't seem to offend people and stir the pot as much as the C word does, lol.

I always ask myself "will this piece of gear get me to dive more.... or is it just a want?"

 

[Rob9876]

I wonder if you took a diver that paid for good instruction and one that paid for crap instruction... waited for both to have 100 dives under their belt in recreational gear if the 1st would still be better than the other?

I think it totally depends on the diver. I took a "less expensive" OW course that, while covering the essentials, was definitely light in some areas. This actually motivated me to study more after the course, both books and online, and also motivated me to take further classes with different instructors, and continue to practice skills in my local quarry dives. A different person might not do as much follow-up work, and might not improve their skills much.