LDS: Point of Pain

[oversea]

I partially agree OS. I agree that you shouldn't just support any old LDS. If an LDS is repeatedly ripping you off, not doing right by you in other service areas or both, then by all means take your business elsewhere.

I disagrees that LDSs in general should not be supported. Find one worthy of your business and support it. Support a reputable LDS that also deals on online and is an authorized dealer of the items they offer.

You get what you pay for. There are lots of good reputable LDSs that are worthy of being supported if you give them the chance.

In other threads on here I have heard the mantras of, I don't need no stinking warranty, It's not worth the extra money that I can save buying it online...

Well it is funny because those people who have come to our shop with warranty work were all crying a different tune when my shop told them that their gear wasn't under warranty, ie bought online by an unauthorized dealer, and that we'd fix it but here are our rates. I think some of the people who buy online think that we in the LDS trenches won't check to ensure the warranty is still active and/or valid.

My shop does.

Funny thing too is the same people who come in to get this work done are always people we have never seen before. They waltz in hand us their gear and basically say it's under warranty. fix it. A recent young lady who tried that came back three times the first time we told her we'd need to see the warranty paper work. The second time she told us she bought it online and insisted it was still under warranty. Sorry...
the third time she came in with an e.mail print out from. you guessed it, our friends at LP, which said "take to any LDS they are required to service it." This after I have seen e.mails from them saying if it doesn't come with a Mfg warranty we will warranty it.

Another thing that irritates regular LDSs is those of you who use them as an online fitting room. You can't try it on to get the right size at good ole LP so you saunter on in to your LDS, waste their time trying the item on, don't even ask if they can do better then the list price and then go an buy it online. How fair is that? Would you like it if folks came into your business to sample your wares then went behind your back and bought it elsewhere without even an courtesy "can we make a deal"?

And before the flamers get too spooled up I am not saying not to buy online and I am not saying to blindly support your LDSs.
I am saying if you buy online use reputable, authorized online dealers.
If you support your LDSs support one you trust and whom you feel is supporting you.
It is a two way street and the good LDSs know and understand that.

I agree with everything you had said. My LDS for the most part has been good. Can't say I've got much of a deal, but all in all good service. I recently have been a bit dissapointed by the owners position or opposition to backplates and wings so needless to say he got some of my business but took the other elsewhere as I had to make my own decisions so why bother with them. I find it absurd that someone would try on gear and then buy online, I know it happens and would never do it. Usually if I have an item in mind and know where to get it cheaper, not needing any support, I just buy it. I will never look at it in their store or try it, thats rude and would weigh heavy on my conscience. Oh and the last thing I posted was just referring to the people that assume all online retailers are not dive shops, it just is not so.

 

[RIDIVER501]

I agree with everything you had said. My LDS for the most part has been good. Can't say I've got much of a deal, but all in all good service. I recently have been a bit dissapointed by the owners position or opposition to backplates and wings so needless to say he got some of my business but took the other elsewhere as I had to make my own decisions so why bother with them. I find it absurd that someone would try on gear and then buy online, I know it happens and would never do it. Usually if I have an item in mind and know where to get it cheaper, not needing any support, I just buy it. I will never look at it in their store or try it, thats rude and would weigh heavy on my conscience. Oh and the last thing I posted was just referring to the people that assume all online retailers are not dive shops, it just is not so.

I wasn't pointing a finger at you OS. I was just segwaying off your initial comment.

 

[divad]

Online merchants of dive gear have no soul for the sport. It's like buying your car from a bakery

Wow. Assuming its the same car, I would way prefer to buy my car from a bakery than a car salesman. Those soul-less *******s are way to kneady.

 

[pilot fish]

Just keep in mind, many online retailers are dive shops. There are some such as leisure pro who are not but still supporting the LDS is not so valid IMO.

I have NO problem with dive shops, divers, that sell on the internet. It's the non diving merchants that are a blight. What you THINK is a deal turns out not to be with them.

 

[pilot fish]

all of my equipment was purchased from an authorized retailer with warranties. I do not shop leisurepro because they are not a member of the diving community.

AMEN

 

[pilot fish]

I partially agree OS. I agree that you shouldn't just support any old LDS. If an LDS is repeatedly ripping you off, not doing right by you in other service areas or both, then by all means take your business elsewhere.

I disagrees that LDSs in general should not be supported. Find one worthy of your business and support it. Support a reputable LDS that also deals on online and is an authorized dealer of the items they offer.

You get what you pay for. There are lots of good reputable LDSs that are worthy of being supported if you give them the chance.

In other threads on here I have heard the mantras of, I don't need no stinking warranty, It's not worth the extra money that I can save buying it online...

Well it is funny because those people who have come to our shop with warranty work were all crying a different tune when my shop told them that their gear wasn't under warranty, ie bought online by an unauthorized dealer, and that we'd fix it but here are our rates. I think some of the people who buy online think that we in the LDS trenches won't check to ensure the warranty is still active and/or valid.

My shop does.

Funny thing too is the same people who come in to get this work done are always people we have never seen before. They waltz in hand us their gear and basically say it's under warranty. fix it. A recent young lady who tried that came back three times the first time we told her we'd need to see the warranty paper work. The second time she told us she bought it online and insisted it was still under warranty. Sorry...
the third time she came in with an e.mail print out from. you guessed it, our friends at LP, which said "take to any LDS they are required to service it." This after I have seen e.mails from them saying if it doesn't come with a Mfg warranty we will warranty it.

Another thing that irritates regular LDSs is those of you who use them as an online fitting room. You can't try it on to get the right size at good ole LP so you saunter on in to your LDS, waste their time trying the item on, don't even ask if they can do better then the list price and then go an buy it online. How fair is that? Would you like it if folks came into your business to sample your wares then went behind your back and bought it elsewhere without even an courtesy "can we make a deal"?

And before the flamers get too spooled up I am not saying not to buy online and I am not saying to blindly support your LDSs.
I am saying if you buy online use reputable, authorized online dealers.
If you support your LDSs support one you trust and whom you feel is supporting you.
It is a two way street and the good LDSs know and understand that.

Well said. If you buy from LeisurePro and think you can get it fixed under a warranty I suggest you reread RIDIVER' s post.

 

[pilot fish]

Wow. Assuming its the same car, I would way prefer to buy my car from a bakery than a car salesman. Those soul-less *******s are way to kneady.

Yeah, but if you buy your car from a bakery you get a crummy car and have to spend a lot more dough. waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

 

[divad]

Yeah, but if you buy your car from a bakery you get a crummy car and have to spend a lot more dough. waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

Why would you assume the crumby car is coming from inside the bakery when they're all just sitting outside baking on hot asphalt waiting for some *** to try and sell it to you? Its your own phalt you know.

 

[pilot fish]

Why would you assume the crumby car is coming from inside the bakery when they're all just sitting outside on hot asphalt waiting for some *** to try and sell it to you? Its your own phalt you know.

groannnnnnnnnnnnnnn

Yeah, but they are not selling like hot cakes.

 

[divad]

groannnnnnnnnnnnnnn

Yeah, but they are not selling like hot cakes.

And you would rather buy hot cakes from where? A car salesman?