I'm ordering my first set of gear!!!

[scubadobadoo]

I would ask where you are going to get your gear serviced after getting it online.

I get my gear serviced from the same place I bought some of it. Leisure Pro. They have serviced my reg set and computer for the last three years for $39.99 (can't beat that price) and they do it quickly, professionally, with full Scuba Pro warranty(free parts), give me a baggy back with old parts, discuss the service with me, adjust it to fit my diving needs, change the batteries, and thank me for the business without the slap in the face crap I get from SOME other LDS's. Welcome to the global economy. LDS's don't want to change the business model? Bye bye. I have not only saved thousands by shopping there, I have saved the grief and hassle I get from SOME LDS's. Next you'll be telling me that if I don't like LDS's then I shouldn't buy from them. Well, I will tell you that if you don't like the internet then why hang out here? By hanging out here and posting, you are helping to further change the LDS business model and feed the internet scuba industry. Ever click on the Scuba Toys banner above? How about the LP banner? I have, and I am glad I did!

 

[pir8]

sounds like blackmail to me ... another reason to avoid that shop

Blackmail no. Human nature yes. Who would you expect to take care of first. Someone who bought their gear online or someone who bought their gear from you? If LDS can't stay in business because they can't charge enough to pay for the bricks, where are you going to get your fills.

 

[scubadobadoo]

where are you going to get your fills.

Oh god not the air fill threat again! Give me a break. I'll get air from the LDS's that don't suck so bad that they had to go out of business becasue they sucked so bad.:mooner: Why get defensive, if your shop doesn't suck so bad, then no problems for you.

Many of these shops go out of business because they sucked and because they wouldn't change their business model to fit this century or because their community wasn't a condusive environment for a dive shop or becasue they are loyal to a manufacturer that sells gear to LP behing their backs for much less than they will sell the same gear for and that's not the internet's fault and it certainly isn't the consumer's fault. Nobody wants to see a dive shop go out of business, but if all they have to offer the local dive community is air fills, lol, then they won't be around for long. Will this same LDS come to my rescue when I run my home into the ground and can't pay my bills? NOT LIKELY so don't pretend like they will.

 

[pir8]

Not threats just reality

 

[scubadobadoo]

I'm sure the LDS will do it along with everyone elses that bought their gear from them. But I wouldn't expect it to be put on a rush job.

I think the problem we have here is that you keep using the words, "THE lds," as if ALL lds's are equal and we all know that isn't the case. The OP pointed out that the lds in question sucked and wasn't flexible, and bashed other gear choices as many lds's sometimes do so why continue to defend them? Why assume we are talking about YOUR lds too?

 

[oly5050user]

I get more local diving info here on scuba board than I do from my local dive shops. I agree 100% with h2andy above.

how can you get local information from your lds if you do not patronize them??

 

[oly5050user]

i agree that a matching price offer is a good thing. i do that if i can. heck, i'll even pay slightly more to keep the dollars local.

thats a good attitude and would work here..

most of the time, the LDS says "take a hike." in fact, ALL the time, but once. just once, did they come down some (not all the way) to the internet price which they themselves checked (no need to take my word for it).

"instead, they act hurt (like you did above, "slap in the face"). "


Its not they feel hurt but very often know that the diver is mistaken and did not really get a deal online..perhaps in the short term but not long term..



"guys, it's a frigging business. you wouldn't give me air if i didn't pay for it, right?
you wouldn't give me gear if i didn't pay for it, right? you wouldn't give me lessons
if i didn't pay for them, right?"

yes I give air and nitrox out to regular customer at times..people on our group trips get free open water training dives for their inital certifications or free advance certifications or free drysuit specialities on purchase of suit or free uw photo course on purchase of camera system..



"we don't have a friend-friend relationship. we have a business-client relationship."


yes this is a business relationship but it is conducted for a leisure activity that both the client and business man enjoy..very much more social than any other business relationships.

 

[scubadobadoo]

how can you get local information from your lds if you do not patronize them??

Read my posts again. I don't patronize the lds's that suck. Nonetheless, this board still provides more local diving info than MOST lds's. BTW, your services aren't free if you REQUIRE your customers to purchase something else. Therefore, your relationship is based on money. Extra's are nice though, so good for you. Again, if your LDS doesn't suck then why get defensive? We aren't talking about you.

 

[ReefHound]

how can you get local information from your lds if you do not patronize them??

By logging onto the appropriate section of Scubaboard, visiting other boards, checking the websites of local dive sites, and being a member of a dive club. The days when the LDS is needed for local information is just about over. In our area, many of the LDS get their information from us, it's the ones that are not active online that are "out of the loop", unaware of many of the latest news and events.

 

[ReefHound]

Really I didn't want to get into that whole question of LDS vs internet, but was asking if they really were that bad that he didn't want to use them. I would ask where you are going to get your gear serviced after getting it online. I'm sure the LDS will do it along with everyone elses that bought their gear from them. But I wouldn't expect it to be put on a rush job.

And yet you keep introducing key points of the classic LDS/online debate. I agree that you're not interested in an intelligent discussion of the issue. Instead you want to throw out your potshots without fielding any in return. Some call that "trolling".

The OP clearly indicated problems with the LDS, saying he was tired of rental gear that failed and "taking my chances" with the LDS. The fact that you even questioned his decision to buy online indicates extreme bias. If he had said he just bought all new gear at his LDS, would you have asked why he didn't give the online shops his business?