How to talk smart at LDS

[piikki]

This post in another thread made me think

I know just about every LDS is paranoid about "Teh Intarwebs", but the LDS I frequent has really competitive prices and I've purchased virtually all my equipment through them. When I was talking to the owner about buying a dry suit, he was steering me towards a particular model he liked and used himself. I told him I wanted to check online to see product reviews for it, and he blew a gasket. "Why do you need to look at reviews, I just gave you mine!"

There should be a sticky or something about “the things to avoid blurting out loud at your LDS” and “what to say instead”. There are a lot of witty members on SB, come up with the LDS-approved lingo that does not ruin your future chances for good deals.


Examples for dealing with a shop that has internet allergy.

Instead of saying: “I want to go home and check the online reviews on this product”

Say: “I need to ask my wife if I can buy it this month”


Instead of: “Scubatoys has it for 30% less”

Say: “Wife took our credit card this weekend, I have the cash if you take 30% off right now”

 

[DaleC]

After trying on all of the masks and doing the old "suction" test complain loudly about what a bummer it is to have been just diagnosed with Hep C.
You should get a discount.

 

[FiN85]

HAHA. Works every time for me.

 

[300bar]

As an LDS owner,I like my customers to be honest,as I am to them.
Want to check the internet,please do,but also come back and show me what you found.
Stupid lies just won't work.The LDS lost a (potential)customer (you won't go back anymore)
and you missed out on a good relationship with your LDS.No win-win here.

Oh and youDO need your LDS,no such thing as online airfills.

 

[H2Andy]

i have always been honest with the local dive shops

i found this piece here for X. how can you match that?

i don't mind paying a little more to keep the money local.

there's only one guy who got upset at me. he eventually matched the price of the computer i wanted, including shipping.

like i said, i don't mind paying a little more to keep it local

he tried to tell me some gray market voodoo stuff and i basically told him (politely) that if he wanted to make a sale, we should discuss price

 

[piikki]

Oh and youDO need your LDS

I absolutely agree. But I think there are many people like me who have noticed there their LDS has some red flag sentences that drives them off the edge. I am not only talking about the references to the internet. There are plenty of things for me.

Like I can't say:

I just swapped the spool on my spg but something is still wrong.

Instead:

When I was traveling my spg mucked up and another authorized shop changed the spool but something is still wrong. (So it's not the spool/o-rings)

See... that was not witty but it's a red flag to the LDS that I went and touched my stuff... Now I need to figure out a way to express things right to not get them all huffed ...

 

[NorthWoodsDiver]

As an LDS owner,I like my customers to be honest,as I am to them.
Want to check the internet,please do,but also come back and show me what you found.
Stupid lies just won't work.The LDS lost a (potential)customer (you won't go back anymore)
and you missed out on a good relationship with your LDS.No win-win here.

Oh and youDO need your LDS,no such thing as online airfills.

I'm a vote for the buy your own compressor crowd or buddy up with someone who does own one.

Even so, if I dont buy gear from you but I drop tanks off twice a week for air fills then there is no reason you shouldn't fill them or I am not a "good" customer. Considering what it costs to pump air v.s. the price I have seen charged for air the LDS shouldn't complain if thats the only thing I buy from them.

I'm not a going to lie to the LDS, if they dont like that I can buy it online for 30% less and wont budge on thier price. I make sure they know I will be buying elsewhere. Doesn't mean I wont drop tanks off their though.

T

 

[Belmont]

It's like the soup guy on Seinfeld

 

[300bar]

IMO,you just need Or a good talk with your LDS, Or you're in need of an other one.

IF you screwup on your spg(or what ever) your LDS should just bill you for correcting for what ever you did.No use liying about it.

I absolutely agree. But I think there are many people like me who have noticed there their LDS has some red flag sentences that drives them off the edge. I am not only talking about the references to the internet. There are plenty of things for me.

Like I can't say:

I just swapped the spool on my spg but something is still wrong.

Instead:

When I was traveling my spg mucked up and another authorized shop changed the spool but something is still wrong. (So it's not the spool/o-rings)

See... that was not witty but it's a red flag to the LDS that I went and touched my stuff... Now I need to figure out a way to express things right to not get them all huffed ...

 

[NJ to FLA]

At a LDS here in Florida (Divers Direct) they have a "Low Price Guarantee" which states, "If you find the identical product for less by an U.S. authorized dealer within 30 days of purchase, we’ll refund the difference plus an additional 10% of the difference." Besides prices, the people are great as well. (although we have bought 3-BC, Reg, Computer, and tank set ups, 2 pairs of fins, Omer gun and accessories, wetsuit, maybe we're getting carried away with this scuba idea..) When they didn't have a wetsuit in my size they RECOMMENDED A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT SHOP! You can also get points for every dollar you spend to put as discounts toward future purchases which is helpful. Their work ethic was not just about selling you their item, but it was about the comfort of the customer. We'll definitely be going back there in the future.