Lead_carrier once bubbled...
Lilman had already shown where is loyalty lay. With LP. I don't think putting the reg together should rip a customer off but it should be enough to make an impression before his next purchase.
All of my dive buddies that buy off of the internet know going in, that if they bring their equipment in for me to service that they will be paying full price for parts and labor. I don't care how nice of a wife she is.
I honestly don't feel my loyalty lies with anyone.. I checked out Dive Inn, I checked out LP, and a few LDS's that carried the parts I wanted. Two LDS's told me i shouldn't buy those parts I did, but instead buy Titatium reguators! Another said, Scuba Pro sucks, buy Apex (go figure since they were an authorized dealer for Apex and had 50% more of their marketing material than scuba pro. my guess, they got an extra commission for every reg they sold) I used to be sales man, I know how to sell products, and those guys saw an opportunity to try to win me over with products that were probably a little far beyond what I needed for my first set of regs.
I don't have a problem paying the 60 dollars a year for service and parts. Given what I've read on this board, Scubapro makes rather durable products. I doubt it will even come to that.. Need I even service every year since I only dive maybe 8-10 dives a year anyway?
I live in southern california.. There are almost as many dive shops within 20 square miles from my house as their are starbucks (wee bit sarcasim), and I go in there from time to time.. I do see equipment that looks appealing, and yes I do chat with the store owners (and yes they typically are just hanging out talking about their most recent trip) and I listen to what they have to say.
Then again, I do the research for items on my own. I use this board, I use my friends who dive, and I use the websites of the products to physically compare my purchase.
When it comes down to purchase time.. I have all my homework done, and am ready to make an informed decision.. Last step, price.
I typically check out online sites first cause its a little easier than driving down to an LDS. Then i visit the shops and I can't understand why they would mark up the same prodcuts 20-30% over cost? Thats the equivlant of like 8-10 repairs?
Granted, we live in an expensive town.. Rent is not cheap, owning a business is not cheap, but good god 30%?
And by the way, everyone who buys from online vendors is protected from crap by their credit card companies.. I tested all my equipment within two days of getting it and am going for a simple dive this weekend. Should I have any problems, I will call LP. If LP gives me the runaround, I will simply dispute the charge with my CC Company and let them help me out. I've done that in the past and they have helped me solve plenty of problems.
And yes, there are definate advantages from buying local, but then again, I haven't found any yet.. I find what i want, buy it, and go about my merry way.
I agree completetly with jamiei though.. I will leave a store very very content if the owner or sales clerk takes the extra few moments out of their not so busy day to assist me in assembling the gear. From that, low and behold that will be the next place I go when I need something unsual or something custom fit (like a wet suit, which I wont' buy online). And I will subscribe to their newsletter and find often times spend my money with them in the form of training, or dive trips, which I get more out of anyway.
Anyhow, let the remarks fly folks! =)
I gotta get back to work, otherwise I wont' be able to afford the airfills if i get fired.. LOL
Paul
