LDS pricing

[boomster]

I've been lurking for a while and have read several takes/opinions on how and why you should support your local dive shop. Of course, this topic is usually broached when someone discovers they can buy from leisurepro or scubatoys for prices that significantly undercut their LDS. I agree with essentially 95% of the points made in the discussions of this ilk that I've seen: reasons ranging from needing to subsidize your LDS to warnings that a lot of this gear is 'gray market' stuff. But, I think I have a bit of a twist on this question...

My LDS is consistently about 15-25% above MSRP on stuff that is already expensive and rarely discounted (i.e. Halcyon BP/W stuff and Scubapro regs). The strategy seems to be to then offer 10% off this so that the customer thinks he's getting a deal, but you're still 5-10% above MSRP after that (again, on expensive stuff). I will note that I've already taken this deal on a SP reg and octo, figuring it was my 'duty' (before anyone comments on that, I know it wasn't, in any sense, a duty...)

So, here's my view:
a) You can't buy Halcyon gear and SP regs at leisurepro, etc. anyway.
b) You can buy Halcyon gear from several retailers that have web storefronts.
c) Every one (I checked the list at halcyon.net) of the Halcyon retailers with a web
storefront is at OR slightly BELOW MSRP for a BP/W system (and yes, I compared apples to apples in each case). The basic story becomes that to beat one of these online shops, my LDS is gonna have to give me about a 25% discount.

These guys are just like my LDS. Why should I have to negotiate down from an artificially inflated price with my local guy? It really ticks me off...

 

[redacted]

If you agree with 95% of the points made in LDS vs online discussions in terms of supporting your LDS then support an LDS. If you don't like what they are doing with their retail prices, find another LDS to support. But if you don't like the prices yo9u are faced with, then look elsewhere; both in term of retailers and brands. That is, unless you just can't live without those "S" and "H" symbols.

 

[ams511]

Leisure Pro does sell Scubapro regs. They buy them from Scubapro dealers either here in the US or abroad. These regs are manufactured by Scubapro they are not counterfit goods. I would play hardball with your LDS, give them an online price and then ask them to match it or beat it. They have a choice, either to accept some profit or none at all. From my understanding, quantity discounts in the scuba industry are not that great so any deal should be able to match another dealer's price (even non-dealers like Leisurepro).

Before I get flamed on this let me say. There are good dive stores and bad ones, good stores should be supported and bad ones left to die. Any store that marks up over MSRP and then discounts it to MSRP IMHO is a bad one.

 

[The Kraken]

Why don't you just take a brochure or magazine that has an MSRP listed and, at point blank range, ask, "Why are you charging 15% more than MSRP?"

the K-westioner

 

[rawls]

boomster...

I am pretty much one of those support your LDS folks but I can definitely see your, and everyone else who buys gear, dilema. And it's a tough call. My basis for supporting my LDS is because I ocean dive and my LDS provides the boats. That costs alot of money for them. But my LDS also charges retail...not more than retail. I would call around to other dive shops that sell the gear you want...not neccessarily in your area...Just any place that sells SP or Halcyon. If it is cheaper then go back to your LDS and let them know. I will bet they will cut you a deal. I would also ask them why they charge over retail. Call them to the floor with it. Do a little digging and you will get the deal you want. The other option is to order online but you then have to deal with who you ordered it from if it breaks. Make sure these places are authorized to sell the gear you are ordering. Alot of leisure pro stuff is not covered by warranty of the manufacturer...Scuba Pro is one of them...Call these online places to make sure their products are covered by warranty. Also remember that dive shops...as ams511 said...do not make alot of money on markups...but if your LDS is overcharging you then I would deal elsewhere...

 

[deepblueme]

The shop I ran Made about 25-35% profit on most hard goods Reg's,Bcd's, MFS wetsuits and such by selling them at MSRP and 40-60% on some of the soft goods like weightbelts mesh tank covers and such.
We had to list at no less than MSRP by dealer agrement but were allowed to sell for 10-15% less in order to have sales and do packaging (BC&Reg/Gauges).

When you think the normal resturant makes 30-35% its not really that much profit to keep the doors open.
Try telling a waiter you want to pay less than a menu price....

Now selling above the MSRP and offering a discout is normal in the retail world most of your box stores do this, but for a LDS to do it is not really good business.

 

[scubapro50]

If you buy anything off the internet you may have a problem getting the stuff serviced. I know several dive shops that if they suspect you of purchasing new equipment online then they don't want anything to do with it. One shop owner I know made the statement "if they want to save a few bucks on it fine .... "sent it back to where they bought it when it breaks or needs service". The same shop owner loves people that purchase used equipment off ebay. No warranty means he can charge them for all parts and service. Buying online whether from Leasurepro or ebay might save you a some money in the short run but over a period of time it may cost you more. Drop by several local shops in your area and see what they carry. Talk with the shop owner and ask if there are any discounts he can give you. It's not uncommon to have a shop knock off 10% or 20% because you're a student, or a member of a local dive club, or in one case I know because you work for the fire dept. and the LDS gives discounts to all firemen because he sold the department the equipment and he fills their tanks for free.

 

[Charlie59]

Don't you wish you could belong to a dive shop that had a membership that you could pay and then get your stuff for 10% under MSRP. The shop would have capital to operate and you wouldn't have to haggle.

 

[LindaBluedolphin]

Don't you wish you could belong to a dive shop that had a membership that you could pay and then get your stuff for 10% under MSRP. The shop would have capital to operate and you wouldn't have to haggle.

Actually a dive shop here in NC recently did just that, new store. The deal was to the first 100 people.

Pay $100 and get 10% off
Pay $500 and get 20% off
Pay $1,000 get 30% off

Don't know if that was a one time payment or an annual thing. They are not that close to me so the chances of my ever going there are slim to none.

 

[Charlie59]

Another reason to consider moving to North Carolina!