Free Air Fills!
- Thread starter seahunter
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Let's not be silly about this.
You're not.
Many shops offer free air. Particularly if you've purchased the tank at the shop. But they also offer free air for other reasons too.
You're not.
Many shops offer free air. Particularly if you've purchased the tank at the shop. But they also offer free air for other reasons too.
UpperCanDiver
Guest
Because you are one of the many shops pumping uncertified air! You cannot charge for air that is not to Canadian standards.
Thats like selling Canadian Beef that hasn't been inspected yet.
Thats like selling Canadian Beef that hasn't been inspected yet.
Boogie711
Guest
Coke alert.... Coke alert... Coke alert...
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On a more serious note - this is just ridiculous. Is there anyway Seahunter can be given a "time out" or something?
pufferfish
Contributor
I had never thought of it in those terms. Does offering air for 'free' absolve a shop owner with employees from the requirement by the Ontario Ministry of Labour to have the air meet CSA Z180.1 requirements twice a year?
In other words by giving it away no quality assurances have to be met. This is analgous to a situation I once found myself in where by offering a guy a place to live for no rent in exchange for looking after the place, I found out when I ran into problems the Ontario Landlord and Tenant act did not apply as I did not charge rent. Won't make that mistake again as there were no laws to protect me from this 'tenant' from hell.
Could divers recieving 'free' air have no recourse under the law if they did get a bad fill from a shop offering free air?
Technically you may be right puff but I'd hate to be the defendent in any court on such an action as you found out yourself. It could be very sticky.
I suggest that any business (as opposed to an individual) that offers for sale or free any product or service that proves defective (air?) and subsequently causes harm is in deep water - too deep even for trimix!
As you know from our previous discussions, we don't offer free air for any reason other than to attract customers. Not much point in attracting them and then giving them 'bad' air.
Free air as DG as pointed out, is not a new concept. As far back as Sally Singer at Supreme Divers (1975?), divers got Free Air for Life with a scuba tank purchase. It's only the free air without restrictions that's different here.
I was about to delete this entire topic but, if we don't get dangerous in our comments (obviously silly is OK!), let's see where it goes.
Some unnamed store in Richmond Hill (and others I'm sure) also gives free rentals, free loaners (that's gear to use when yours is in for service), free tryouts (that's new gear that you want to try with the real expectation that you'll buy if you're happy) and so on. I hope there's no reason why those practices ought not continue. The divers sure seem to like them.
I suggest that any business (as opposed to an individual) that offers for sale or free any product or service that proves defective (air?) and subsequently causes harm is in deep water - too deep even for trimix!
As you know from our previous discussions, we don't offer free air for any reason other than to attract customers. Not much point in attracting them and then giving them 'bad' air.
Free air as DG as pointed out, is not a new concept. As far back as Sally Singer at Supreme Divers (1975?), divers got Free Air for Life with a scuba tank purchase. It's only the free air without restrictions that's different here.
I was about to delete this entire topic but, if we don't get dangerous in our comments (obviously silly is OK!), let's see where it goes.
Some unnamed store in Richmond Hill (and others I'm sure) also gives free rentals, free loaners (that's gear to use when yours is in for service), free tryouts (that's new gear that you want to try with the real expectation that you'll buy if you're happy) and so on. I hope there's no reason why those practices ought not continue. The divers sure seem to like them.
Groundhog246
Contributor
Seahunter. Can I get clarification on the free air? If I show up with a couple of cylinders I don't pay for air? Or do I have to join a "club"?
Since I live a fair drive away, I certainly won't be driving there for "free air", but nice to know in case I might be diving closer to your neighbourhood. Of course as a Groundhog (duly "hogged") I get free air at my LDS and associated stores anyway.
Since I live a fair drive away, I certainly won't be driving there for "free air", but nice to know in case I might be diving closer to your neighbourhood. Of course as a Groundhog (duly "hogged") I get free air at my LDS and associated stores anyway.
Dundas
Guest
It's interesting to see on the scuba board a number of occasions where people reference the Ministry of Labour. (note the labour portion).
Unless you work for the dive shop (and are compensated by cash or cheque), there is ABSOLUTELY no recourse with the Ministry of Labour. That is, the Ministry can't charge the owner of the shop, well I guess they could, but it'd be thrown out of court. The Occupational health and Safety act and the regualtions only apply to workplaces and they are designed to protect employees only, not the general public.
Having said that, there may be other government agencies whose regulations would apply. As well, the CSA code for breathing air, is a very good code to follow from a due diligence perspective, as well as industry standards set by PADI and other diving associations.
Jeff
Unless you work for the dive shop (and are compensated by cash or cheque), there is ABSOLUTELY no recourse with the Ministry of Labour. That is, the Ministry can't charge the owner of the shop, well I guess they could, but it'd be thrown out of court. The Occupational health and Safety act and the regualtions only apply to workplaces and they are designed to protect employees only, not the general public.
Having said that, there may be other government agencies whose regulations would apply. As well, the CSA code for breathing air, is a very good code to follow from a due diligence perspective, as well as industry standards set by PADI and other diving associations.
Jeff
Certified divers do not pay for air fills at our unnamed store.
It seemed like a good promotional ploy at first (almost 2 years ago) and there's no doubt a good many divers have come in because of it. It's never ceased to amaze me that Mississauga divers will drive 100 miles round trip to save $5.
However, it's not been the savior of my business for sure and I've no intentions of dropping my radio or printed ads.
Also, a phenomena that I've witnessed many times before has been evident here again. While many of the new divers have become good customers, a lot of the divers who want to save $5 will not spend any extra money here so it's a complete loss on them. It's like the $99 course. Some stores offer a cheap course in hopes of selling a lot of gear but someone who won't take a scuba course unless it's cheap also will not buy any gear. I'd rather have 10 new divers paying $500 for a course than 50 paying $100.
FYI we had to limit the free air fills to 2 per day. Some divers showed up with as many as 12 tanks. I don't know if they were heavy breathers or worked for other stores.
It seemed like a good promotional ploy at first (almost 2 years ago) and there's no doubt a good many divers have come in because of it. It's never ceased to amaze me that Mississauga divers will drive 100 miles round trip to save $5.
However, it's not been the savior of my business for sure and I've no intentions of dropping my radio or printed ads.
Also, a phenomena that I've witnessed many times before has been evident here again. While many of the new divers have become good customers, a lot of the divers who want to save $5 will not spend any extra money here so it's a complete loss on them. It's like the $99 course. Some stores offer a cheap course in hopes of selling a lot of gear but someone who won't take a scuba course unless it's cheap also will not buy any gear. I'd rather have 10 new divers paying $500 for a course than 50 paying $100.
FYI we had to limit the free air fills to 2 per day. Some divers showed up with as many as 12 tanks. I don't know if they were heavy breathers or worked for other stores.
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