I'm paying retail for equipment from LDS

[NJMike]

No offense....but isn't the LDS a retail store? Shouldn't we ALL expect to pay retail at a retail store? And if...mind you - IF...we are fortunate enough to buy somewhere where we hear the words "...since you are a preferred customer, your price is 10% lower..." then all the better.

Lessons are no good if we don't learn from them...

 

[bet63]

Susan,

Your experience is quite different. You went to and LDS and tried to give them some business. As an educated comsumer, you priced the gear and made a wise choice getting the gear someplace else.

The original post was about person who went into a dive shop, picked up some gear, didn't look at the price tags, didn't look at the total on the credit card slip he signed until he got home and then was unhappy with the price he paid. If you are to busy to look at what you are signing the money most not mean that much.

Of the few businesses in the US that let people negotiate prices gives discounts without being asked. I you walk into the Honda dealer and say "I want the blue civic, here is my credit card" Do you think they they are going to lower the price?

Brian

I had a similar experience with my LDS. Went into the shop and told them I needed to buy two sets of gear beyond mask, fins, and snorkel. After he priced out the regs and octos with computers, (Scubapro again), he price was so high he had already exceeded my budget and I left the store to "think it over". After doing a little research, I was convinced he only showed me the Scubapro since I couldn't really "shop it". I know it's a fine product, but he never even showed me another line.
Went online and found he too, was charging full retail. At the end of the day, I wound up buying Oceanic anyway, but paid less for two sets including BCD's and snappy Apollo fins for less than what he quoted on just the regs. The regs were similar to the Scubapro in feature and benefits. In short, I gladly would have paid him 20 to 25% more just to have the convenience of going back so he could explain the computer, or help me adjust the regs, etc. The price he wanted for that "warm fuzzy" was just too high. Escpecially since you can not only buy gear online but such a wealth of information about it is here on the boards. I don't need him so much when I can post here and the Oceanic rep answers my questions about my gear in a few hours.
About going back in and renegotiating with him, it was never an option. Once he tried to gut me on the regs I didn't really want to pursue a purchase with him. And as far as his overhead goes, I get that. Everyone's gotta make a buck. But these guys really have to look at their business model and rethink thier ideas about the "hit and run" high net sale vs. a long term selling relationship.
Disclaimer: I'm probably going to get hate mail from every LDS, this was just MY experience, and I'm sure there are thousands of guys out there doing the "right thing" for their repeat customers and former students. Mine didn't.

 

[jpsexton]

As I said to the OP you should at least ask "how much" before you pay, I still understand how he felt.

Would'nt it be nice to have an LDS like ScubaToys, DiveSports, or Divers Supply? Every time I go to Florida I always stop at Divers Supply on the way down or go to Divers Direct when I get down there.

It's nice to just walk in, browse around, and buy whatever you find without having to "haggle" to get the best price.

 

[Bullswan]

As I said to the OP you should at least ask "how much" before you pay, I still understand how he felt.

Would'nt it be nice to have an LDS like ScubaToys, DiveSports, or Divers Supply? Every time I go to Florida I always stop at Divers Supply on the way down or go to Divers Direct when I get down there.

It's nice to just walk in, browse around, and buy whatever you find without having to "haggle" to get the best price.

EXACTLY John!
Brian (and a lot of others) are insinuating I am simply a whiny, rich guy because I went to a place I thought I had somewhat had built a relationship with (took classes, bought a mask and Sea Drops etc etc etc) and where I knew I might pay something over a "discount internet shop" (but was willing to because of the assistance he had given me and given his standing with Scubapro as a licensed dealer).

Listen to me everyone!!!! I AM NOT COMPLAINING ABOUT WHAT I PAID! And I will enjoy the purchase and diving with my son using equipment I have confidence in (that hasn't already been in 100 other mouths).

I should have said EXACTLY what John said in the first place...... <Thinking outloud> Wouldn't it be nice to have a place like Divers Direct in your neighborhood where you could try on, touch and feel, and get advice on hundreds of different items but when you got to the register you didn't have to pay bust-out retail AND YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO ASK FOR A DISCOUNT OR HAGGLE?

That is all I am saying. Thanks for your insights and thoughts on the topic. Did you notice a similar thread on the general forum? I think a lot of LDS's are going to have to change their business model in a hurry or they risk dissappearing. The services the LDS supposedly exclusively provide, namely advice and fast delivery are more than adequately provided by forums like this one and fast shipping services from discount houses IMHO.

Sail and dive safe,
Greg

 

[letterboy]

 

[Ber Rabbit]

I should have said EXACTLY what John said in the first place...... <Thinking outloud> Wouldn't it be nice to have a place like Divers Direct in your neighborhood where you could try on, touch and feel, and get advice on hundreds of different items but when you got to the register you didn't have to pay bust-out retail AND YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO ASK FOR A DISCOUNT OR HAGGLE?

How's this for a story, I teach scuba at the local university and am not directly affiliated with any shop. We have 2 shops in town, one of them offers my students a 15% discount (on most items), the other won't offer any kind of discount. My students get points for bringing business cards from the local shops to encourage them to visit them, they also get tips for internet shopping. I have had many students come back to me after visiting both shops and buying gear and ask why the shops slam NAUI and badmouth my class. These shop people have never seen me teach yet feel comfortable badmouthing my organization and my class to my students who I sent to them to buy gear.

Welcome to the wonderful world of scuba retail
Ber :lilbunny:

 

[shellbackdiver1]

Yawn....I actually breezed through this whine and cheeze thinking that maybe, just maybe there might be something that has not be repeated hundreds of times on this board.

I could not have been more wrong. Why are we compelled to often look at threads that are repeated?

 

[Rico867]

Sounds like your the perfect customer, you just throw a credit card and don't even find out the price. Your basically telling hime the sky is the limit but don't feel to bad, I'm sure most of us in here learned the hard way at least once when it came to buying gear.

 

[Maule]

Yawn....I actually breezed through this whine and cheeze thinking that maybe, just maybe there might be something that has not be repeated hundreds of times on this board.

I could not have been more wrong. Why are we compelled to often look at threads that are repeated?

I wasn't aware any of us were compelled to look at any thread. Here's a thought! Don't read any thread you don't want to.

 

[Cheekymonkey]

Ber Rabbit i've had similar experiences, sending my students to a shop I condsidered myself friendly with, and having the shop try to ocnvince them to switch to their class. When I was doign them a favor in the first place, I could have just as easily sent my students to scubatoys or leisurepro.