On the "profit" motivation at dive shops re 6351T6 cylinders............
Multiple people in multiple threads have advanced the notion that dive shops refuse to service and fill they cylinder primarily because of the profit in selling the customer a new cylinder. This actually does not work.
The lowest wholesale cost I can find for an aluminum 80 cylinder, with valve, is $124.00.
The shipping cost to get the cylinder to my shop is about $11.40 on average. This give a total cost of goods sold of $135.40. These cylinders typically sell for an aggregate average of $161.14 (this is the average in my database for sales over the last year). We typically give the first air fill and the visual inspection at no charge for a new cylinder. This is a gross profit after cost of goods of $25.74.
If we simply hydro, VIP, and fill the old 6351T6 cylinders, we would realize a revenue of $46 from those services. Our "cost" for those services to pay the outside contractor for the hydro is $18, plus undefined labor and gas to trip them over to the hydro station. This leaves a gross profit after cost of goods of $28.00.
So, we would ACTUALLY make more money on simply filling and servicing the 6351T6 cylinders than we would for selling a brand new AL80. Go figure.
Phil Ellis
Discount Scuba Gear at DiveSports.com - Buy Scuba Diving Equipment & Snorkeling Equipment
