I have to admit this Chris... you have an interesting approach.

[The Chairman]

Somehow I found myself traveling through Georgia, through no fault of my own. As I approached Macon, I thought "Wouldn't it be nice to drop in on @cerich while he's launching Deep 6???" The answer to that question will always be "Yeah, let's go bother Chris!" So a quick phone call, and I soon pull up to a nondescript warehouse in Forsyth Ga.

When I got there, Chris was texting on his phone. Peeps have questions and Chris is answering them! I sit in his cluttered office as he finishes. He apologizes and I ask why? It's a new business, I've surprised you and I don't mind you taking care of business. In fact, I think it's healthy. We chat a bit about business. It's good and be blames me a bit. In fact, he tells me he was on ScubaBoard answering questions there as well. Life is good, even if he lives in Georgia! After some more pleasantries, we get up so he can give me the grand tour and the phone rings. He blows the caller off gently, citing my presence and we start the tour. Notice the lack of pics? Deep 6 is not really photo ready yet! There are a few things in place, but Chris is telling me his vision about how he want's it to be. "The set-up, test and repair will be in this room, where it's air conditioned! That's important!" It's kind of cool to see this mostly empty warehouse through Chris' vision for how he wants it. It's easy to visualize through his descriptions. The phone rings again and it's a call he has to take. It's quick, he's to the point and he gently extracts himself when he can and the tour continues. Now we're in his warehouse. HOLY CRAP, but that's a lot of orange. I think Chris should have protective sun shades for visitors to wear. He has boxes upon boxes of fins. You need fins? Chrissy has fins! You need regulators? Holy schnieke! He has boxes and boxes of regulators! What's that, Chris? You only have one first stage left? That's this big empty section??? The man has only been open a few months and he's blown through 400 first stages! Dayum! The phone rings again. Ah, it appears to be his reg supplier, Ryan. Chris is highly animated as he talks to him. He needs those regs ASAP. Before he gets off the phone, he knows that he'll have his regs in the next couple days. They're flying them in to fill the gap. BTW, I got to help certify Ryan a few years ago down in the Keys and I make sure he knows that he's still welcome any time. Chris was the instructor on record, but it was fun to teach together like that. We continue the tour and I saw where Chris wants the show room, the meeting room, the lunch room and more. Chris has a vision not only about Deep 6, but also how Scuba diving needs to return to the fun of diving. He's not shy about it. Ask him what's wrong with the industry and he'll be glad to bend your ear. You'll learn a bit in process.

There's no doubt that he has room to grow where he is. I look forward to him getting some help in there. But hey, it's still a new business and he's sure to have growing pains. I'm thinking we need to have a work party for Chris. Maybe we can help him get some of those tables built and shelves installed. Sort of like a house warming, only different. Just like Chris is different.

But this story isn't over. After the Grand tour, Chris and I are sitting in his office again. There are lap tops, leaning against the wall, a couple of underwater cameras here and there. You can tell that Chris is a diver still pursuing his dreams of underwater bliss. And the phone rings for the umpteenth time. Chris is always cordial, which is so typical of a Canadian. Hearing only his side of the phone conversation was kind of funny. Here's a paraphrase of how it went...
"This is Chris, how may I help you?
They are great regs.
How do they compare to an M1? Quite well. Honestly, we're less expensive and we allow you to do your own maintenance.
How do they breathe? You'll feel the venturi effect more with the Deep 6, but they both breathe well. Honestly, if you're going below 750 ft, I would opt for the M1 since it's a piston reg and can deliver more. That's truly extreme though and if you're asking me this, you're not that kind of diver yet.
What? You already own an M1? Why do you want to replace it?
Oh? They're talking about the Deep 6 Aegaeon on ScubaBoard? Imagine that? (He's looking at me and smiling as he says this) Pete from ScubaBoard is sitting here in my office right now. Yeah, the Chairman.
So, let me get this straight, you're wanting to upgrade your regs? Why?
No really, I don't see a need for you to change regs at this point. To tell the truth, the M1 is a wonderful reg with a great reputation. You should dive the hell out of it. In fact, take the money you would save by not buying a new reg and put it towards a dive vacation!
Oh you want it for a pony bottle.
Yes, all of our regs are O2 clean from the factory."
yada, yada, yada...

And so the conversation went. After he's off the call, I ask him if he tries to talk people out of his regs often. He gives that "I just swallowed a canary" smile and tells me that while he appreciates the guy wanting to buy his regs, he would rather see him diving instead. Wow. As the title goes: I have to admit this Chris: you have an interesting approach.

As a caveat, Deep 6 regs is an advertiser and Chris and I have been friends for years. I just thought that ScubaBoarders would love to read about this peek behind the Deep 6 curtains.

 

[flyboy08]

Thanks for sharing!

 

[AZNetEng]

Good read.

I run my business the same way, always have. Sometimes people want what they don't need, and Ill share that with them. Often times they seem surprised as it translates to NOT selling something I could have. I find in almost every case that they remember the conversation, sometimes years later. It leaves no doubt in their minds that if I tell them something it is what I think is best for them, not for me.

You cant buy that with a client. You sure as hell cant buy them telling someone who isn't your client today about it either.

Don't get me wrong. I don't do it to make an impression. It's just the right thing to do. I suspect Chris is wired the same way.

 

[tbzep]

while he appreciates the guy wanting to buy his regs, he would rather see him diving instead.

Cool.

 

[Schwob]

HOLY CRAP, but that's a lot of orange. I think Chris should have protective sun shades for visitors to wear.

Orange is good. (and I know nothing about "new black")

 

[CAPTAIN SINBAD]

Awesome! This was a really nice post to read. I think the man has a vision and he has really made technical scuba diving cheaper for a lot of people to get into. Furthermore he has done it without compromising an INCH on the quality of products.

 

[kelemvor]

Far out! It's good to see a scuba business being run intelligently. All too often, people take to scubaboard to complain about a shop or manufacturer. It's nice to hear the good stuff, too.

 

[cerich]

Somehow I found myself traveling through Georgia, through no fault of my own. As I approached Macon, I thought "Wouldn't it be nice to drop in on @cerich while he's launching Deep 6???" The answer to that question will always be "Yeah, let's go bother Chris!" So a quick phone call, and I soon pull up to a nondescript warehouse in Forsyth Ga.
.

Yes, you did surprise me, however I suspect that it wasn't as happenstance as you are playing it out...

Here is the truth...I have the pickup truck I bought new in 2000 when I moved to the US still. It has 300k on the clock and is now 17 years old. It hasn't rusted (which is still weird to me being Canadian) and it's like a old pair of sneakers..it's also been a ongoing project the last year for me as I tried to figure out why it has been running like crap. In fact a couple months ago I took it to join @The Chairman for some diving and he was nice enough to help me troubleshoot it. Pete is actually a mechanic in another life, like I was a Chef in another life.. Anyhow, the truck has been sitting since that trip as the troubleshooting lead to a possible diagnosis of a bad cylinder head. Now keep in mind, this is a 17 year old truck, it's not my only vehicle and really I am not likely to spend a couple grand to have a shop fix it when it's not worth a grand at this time (even being in generally good condition..it's old with miles). So, the head came in before my recent month long trip away and on Sunday I decided it was time to put it on. Now ..I am not a mechanic. I like doing maintenance on my cars. But mostly the brakes, oil, alternator type stuff. This was a bigger job than I have ever attempted. On Sunday evening, having gotten the engine apart down to the block..looking at the pile of parts in my drive way and the job ahead..I had a few concerns, timing among my biggest when I went to put it back together..and called Pete with a few questions. This was Sunday evening and he made the comment "you should have told me I would have helped!" I explained that he lived too far away and I kinda wanted to learn as well. So, I went to sleep Sunday night with my truck well apart and still some concerns on my ability to put it back together...

Monday morning comes... I get up, do all the family stuff and head out the door to drop my 10 year old daughter off to school and to get to work. I look at my phone and there is a text from Pete asking for an address for my place and a link to Glympse (cool app by the way) showing he is in central Florida, doing 75 and headed to Georgia! So...Monday afternoon he pulls up and soon I find myself with The Chairman sitting in his new lawn chair directing me on the timing and doing a mod on my thermostat housing (I actually got a head that had the wrong size thermostat housing bolt holes... ekk). The mod worked, Pete ended up bleeding as he tried to drill thru his finger..but...it worked great!

The truck is running now, I am now confident with doing the timing.

Pete and I have been friends for quite some time now. I have been a member on SB for a long time, I was among the very first industry people on the brand side to actually admit I was a rep (Mares Dacor back then) and when I went to Oceanic talked Pete into having the manuf Forums for manufs to interface directly with end users on SB. That lead to Pete and I knowing each other better, me being an Adviser on SB (really more to Pete on SB ideas for the board) and what has been a amazing friendship.

While it was super nice having Pete help with the truck, and always great to see him, what he DOES NOT know because I haven't told him yet was something that will outlast us both.

Yesterday morning I was once again driving my daughter to school, she asked me if Pete was still here, I told her yes that he was coming by the office later then headed home. She looked at me with a thoughtful look, then stated "Daddy, that is pretty a pretty good friend that would drive all the way here from Florida just to help you with the truck". I told her "yes, Pete is a great friend"

So Pete, beyond being a great friend to me, you showed a young lady a real example of what good friendship is, thank you. That said however, I am still not gonna do the reversible second stage for you.

 

[The Chairman]

All too often, people take to scubaboard to complain about a shop or manufacturer.

Unfortunately, all too often the shop and manufacturer give people less than stellar service and give them something to complain about. Frankly, I think there are far more positive posts here on ScubaBoard than negative ones, and I don't mind leading the charge to make it even more positive!

BTW, I have to admit that Chris had one first stage left. It's in my van along with an SPG and two second stages. I heard him mention that he was going to get orange hoses in soon. I want a set.

 

[tridacna]

How is the new DS Computer coming along? See anything in GA?