Point taken. And actually a very good point.
To clarify my position a bit, I would love to be able to give my business to a local dive shop. I tried. Believe me, I tried. I was willing to give them 10% over and above what I'd pay on the internet. They couldn't match it. I have no problem paying "a bit" more to purchase locally, but when it becomes 15-25% more for the same product, that's too much. I do not buy from the gray market (i.e. Leisure Pro). Well ... OK ... once. And that was simply the USB cable for connecting my computer to my PC. Big deal. Really has nothing to do with actual diving. All of the gear I have purchased online is fully under the manufacturer warranty. All of it ... 100%.
Now you do make a very good point about training, service and air fills. I fully intend to give the shop closes to me my business in these areas. Well, OK ... not the training. Not any more. But that's not my fault, that's the fault of lousy instruction. I will, however, give them my loyal business on equipment service (which they do make a profit on), air fills and misc items (silicone, mask straps, computer battery kit, etc). When I'm in the market for a dry suit, I will buy from an LDS someplace. If not here, I'll find a good one in OH, IL or MI. I won't buy a dry suit off of the internet. Many have without issue. But given the cost and the importance of sizing, I will try VERY, VERY hard to find a knowledgeable LDS who can offer me a fair price.
I would very much like to see the LDSs in our area succeed. There are technically 6, but in two instances there are two shops owned by the same person (I think) on different parts of town. So 6 shops, 4 owners. Anyway, the one closest to me is actually expanding. This is the shop I took my OW from, but not the shop I'm currently taking AOW/EAN/PPB with (which will no longer get any of my business in the future :shakehead ). I have given the shop closest to me a fair amount of business on initial OW training for me and my daughter, basic equipment again for me and my daughter, equipment rental and misc stuff. I will be giving them my business for equipment service (except for computer ... they don't service the brand I have) and air fills. I will do my best to give them more business, but when it comes to higher priced items (dry suit, steel tanks, o2 analyzer, pony bottle/reg), I will shop around.
scubapolly:
:blush: Thanks Jim
As to the LDS issue. As has been mentioned by others, keep in mind the things an LDS has to offer that you cant get from the internet. Where are you going to get the annual on your regs done? Airfills? What do you do when your BC inflator starts to stick.
It sounds like your LDS isn't filling your needs (retail, education, service), but there are others out there. As far as $$ goes, make sure you are looking beyond the imediate costs. For example my shop offers a discounted price on the labor for annual service on regs bought from us. You save about $30/ year on the labor. For most gear we come VERY close to the prices charged on the internet. In the occassions we don't come close, the internet site is sometimes selling the prices under the "dealer cost" often due to them going through the overseas grey market to get the gear.
Polly
!thats no B.S.
