How new is new?

[jefffalcone]

Hypothetically, if you were to buy a piece of new gear at a LDS and when you put it in your mouth for the first time it tasted like salt, would that be a problem? Other than the clear taste that indicates it has been in the ocean at least once, it looks new enough. Should this be a problem or is it standard practice to resell returned murchandice or demoed merchandice as if it is new? Should the LDS inform the customer the gear has been in the water and why?

 

[Tigerman]

I wouldnt call something that taste saltwater "new" if im in an LDS. Id also call it a poor attempt at selling it as such..

 

[hvulin]

if it tastes like salt it doesn't mean it IS salt... (maybe it's something much worse )

 

[DivingPrincessE]

Did you ask the LDS about this? Did you already buy the reg or were you testing it out in the shop?

 

[Walter]

The fact that something has been dived once or twice shouldn't really concern you. OTOH, the fact it tastes of salt indicates it wasn't rinsed properly after use. Salt crystals destroy SCUBA gear.

 

[PhilEllis]

I don't know what others do, but we NEVER sell an item that has been used or demonstrated in the water as new. About four times a year, we load our USED EQUIPMENT page up with stuff we have purchased, taken as trade, or used as a demo and move it out at a very reasonable price.

Merchandise that is on our shelves for display is rotated very quickly and we view this as brand new equipment. We don't typically sell any "floor models" that have been out in the open for very long at all. Merchandise that is returned by customers as brand new (never used) is throughly inspected and we make sure that it is EXACTLY as we received it from the factory....all cards, promotional pieces, manuals, etc. If not, we return it to the manufacturer for a SAME AS NEW repackaging.

When you receive a regulator from DiveSports.com, it will ALWAYS be opened prior to you receiving it. Regulators (none of them, from any manufacturer) are intended to be delivered to the end user as they came from the factory. All need testing and possibly some slight adjustments. That is simply common sense and safety. Stores that don't do this simply aren't giving you what you paid for. Regulators from us come in the original factory carton, but those who have purchased from us know we typically put the regulator in a heavy, tie-wrapped poly bag after testing. Only then is it reinserted in the original box and sealed. We also remove computers from the factory box and make sure that all is well.

Dive stores should explain to a customer exactly what the in-store life has been like for any product. Dive stores should perform the dealer testing and service on every product before delivery. Anything less is, well.......less. It is only fair.

Note: "Authorized dealer" doesn't mean someone who just buys directly from the factory as a result of a contract or dealer agreement. It means a dealer that DOES ALL OF THE STUFF that a reasonable dealer should do. Not all "dealers" are equal.

Phil Ellis
Discount Scuba Gear at DiveSports.com - Buy Scuba Diving Equipment & Snorkeling Equipment

 

[PhilEllis]

I forget another note. We occasionally get a call from a regulator customer that says their regulator looks like it has "water spots" on it and they are concerned that it might be used. ALL regulators we ship have been "wet". That is one of the final stages of testing and adjusting a regulator. It goes in a water tank to check for micro-leaks in hoses and such. While we attempt to dry them completely, we don't always succeed. That is also one of the reasons we seal them in the poly bag. Little drops of water hiding in the regulator after testing can make the cardboard factory cartons look, well....used.

Phil Ellis
Discount Scuba Gear at DiveSports.com - Buy Scuba Diving Equipment & Snorkeling Equipment

 

[jefffalcone]

The fact that something has been dived once or twice shouldn't really concern you. OTOH, the fact it tastes of salt indicates it wasn't rinsed properly after use. Salt crystals destroy SCUBA gear.

This is my concern exactly. I don't know how much it has been dived, because it was sold to me as new. I also don't know how well it has been cared for after it was used. Since it tastes like salt, I know it wasn't rinsed as well as I would have rinsed it.

 

[Diver Dennis]

The fact that something has been dived once or twice shouldn't really concern you. OTOH, the fact it tastes of salt indicates it wasn't rinsed properly after use. Salt crystals destroy SCUBA gear.

If I bought a regulator that had any dives on it I would be very pissed off. Testing is far different from having someone diving with it.

 

[Garrobo]

Yep, I'd be a bit PO'd if someone tried to sell me a used modern reg as new. On the other hand I've got a couple sets of old Dacors which were made in the early 70's which have been rebuilt a couple times and which work perfectly. They were built sort of like a '57 Buick, indestructable. Maybe the new rigs aren't as tough as these old Dacors and one should be a little more careful about buying them used. Makes you wonder if these reg builders have a division called "planned obsolesance" like the auto manufacturers.