Is Scubastore.com Really an Authorized AL, SP and Apex Dealer?

[rostyvyg]

Just wondering if claims of Spanish online store scubastore.com to be authorized dealer for ScubaPro, Aqualung and Apeks is true and if regulators bought there can be warranty serviced in the USA?

Any insight will be greatly appreciated...

 

[Plumb bob]

I thought that was an internet store based in Spain..

 

[AceszHigh]

Just wondering if claims of Spanish online store scubastore.com to be authorized dealer for ScubaPro, Aqualung and Apeks is true and if regulators bought there can be warranty serviced in the USA?

Any insight will be greatly appreciated...

I heard the same, and had the same question as you regarding this..

 

[Brandon]

They are an authorized dealer for Spain and parts of Europe, but the Euro warranty doesn't transfer to the USA.

On-line sales of SP/AL/Apeks are actually allowed in many other countries with FULL manufacturer's warranties.

-B

 

[redacted]

They are an authorized dealer for Spain and parts of Europe, but the Euro warranty doesn't transfer to the USA.

On-line sales of SP/AL/Apeks are actually allowed in many other countries with FULL manufacturer's warranties.

-B[/QUOTE

It is not so much that they are "allowed" as that many countries consumer protection laws prohibit a manufacturer from regulating their retailers to the extent that occurs in the USA. And I suspect the manufacturer's warranties will remain in effect as long as the conditions are met. However, in the USA, you will have a hard time finding an LDS that will honor the warranty (they do not have to) so you would probably have to send your regs to a Scubapro service center for warranty service. And the free service parts is a USA distributor program so it would not be honored for purchases outside the USA distributor ares.

 

[Brandon]

I was trying to keep it simple =)

-B

 

[AceszHigh]

They are an authorized dealer for Spain and parts of Europe, but the Euro warranty doesn't transfer to the USA.

On-line sales of SP/AL/Apeks are actually allowed in many other countries with FULL manufacturer's warranties.

-B[/QUOTE

It is not so much that they are "allowed" as that many countries consumer protection laws prohibit a manufacturer from regulating their retailers to the extent that occurs in the USA. And I suspect the manufacturer's warranties will remain in effect as long as the conditions are met. However, in the USA, you will have a hard time finding an LDS that will honor the warranty (they do not have to) so you would probably have to send your regs to a Scubapro service center for warranty service. And the free service parts is a USA distributor program so it would not be honored for purchases outside the USA distributor ares.

So what does this whole "free parts" thing mean? That if I get a ScubaPro product that is under warranty, I would get free repairs & yearly service on it for life? Or what?

 

[NorthWoodsDiver]

NO!!!

In the United States IF you buy a Scubapro regulator from a certified Scubapro Dealer (in good standing) you are entitled to free annual service components.

you still have to pay for parts that are broken or worn outside of the annual kit and you still have to pay a labor charge which for my most local shop is $15 per stage for the service. So if I have a normal regulator system composed of 2 second stages and 1 first stage I would pay $45 for the labor and the parts are free.

Scubapro will only cover the replacement of the components its its annual kit like O-rings and seats and filters unless a component is recalled and in that case scubapro will cover any and all recalled components forever I believe.

The service kits for a stardand mk2+ first stage cost about $15 and for an S600 I think they are $21 ish so if your reg is not covered (and these are the stages you had) it would cost an additional $57 on top of the labor so about $100 to service the 3 stages.

In that example their program would save you about half the cost but the requirement to stay in good standing is that you have to service the reg each year so every 2 years your still paying the same amount in the end because many people only service regs every 2 years or so.

If you service regs yourself you only pay for parts but that can be just as expensive because the parts kits are hard to come by and very expensive. plus there is some investment in tools also.

I have bought regs over from European dealers and had the parts cost covered by one shop but not by another. I cant explain that. If you save half the cost of the reg by getting it online though it is probably worth it and if anything should be recalled no matter where you buy it scubapro will cover it no questions asked.

Leisurepro offers the same free parts plan I think but you will have to pay shipping each way and whatever their labor charge is, find out ahead of time if its something you wish to take advantage of.

Many people service Scubapro regs and your dealer will do it no matter where you buy them, if they dont then dont use that dealer because they have other issues. T

 

[hudson]

Nice summary. The only thing I'd add is the free parts program is probably a good deal for the diver who makes 50+ dives every year and not interested in servicing own regs at all. For everyone else it's pretty worthless.