LDS tank rental policies?

[Brishar]

To answer your question, I'd be less than satisfied with shop "B" but I understand a hour of driving the wrong direction, including better service and prices from shop "A", may not be cost effective.

I suspect shop "B" knows this, and uses it to their advantage.

I feel your pain!

Tanks are usually the last thing divers buy and I don't presume to tell you how to spend your money. I own nine; 2 hp 100 steels, 1 lp 85 steel, 2 alum 80 nitrox dedicated and 4 alum 80 air dedicated. The last three were purchased out of hydro and vip. I gave $25.00 each and paid for the hydro, vip, and fill at $50.00 each.

At $75.00 each, that's about half the cost of a new Alum 80 here and I'm good for the next five years.

The convienence factor was the driving motivator for me and I wish I had been smarter about buying them all used instead of 6 at the retail price. Somebody has to save the economy!

I have saved a couple of dive buddies that couldn't get to a shop in time to get tanks. As long as they fill them or reimburse me I don't mind.

I always assumed I was invited to join a number of dive outings because of my rapier wit and charming personality. Not to mention my superior dive skills and leadership abilities. My wife says it's because of all those damn tanks.

I'm afraid she just might be right.

 

[heavyjeffd]

I guess the question is, are you using the tanks Sunday as well?

I mean I get what you're saying that it really shouldn't matter to them: either way they can't rent those tanks, however, if you are using them then you're really not being screwed out of any money. However, if you only plan to use them on the Saturday and get charged for the Sunday just because they aren't open, then I'd be pretty upset.

Most dive shops around me are open 7 days a week, so it's not a big deal.

No, I had not intended on using them Sunday. However, even if I were, I'd planned on diving so early I could be at their door to return them before they opened, which in normal circumstances, would still only result in me be charged for Saturday.

 

[heavyjeffd]

I am sorry to hear that shop B charges for the extra day. I have never been to a shop that charges for a day that they are not open. It is not fair to the consumer to be charged extra if your return falls on a day that they are closed. Did the shop give a reason for charging on the day that they are closed? I would be curious to find out.

I did ask, and that's when they got rude with me. They did not give me a reason other than "well you have the tanks".

I responded with "well, you aren't open to return them to or re-rent them, how do you deem that fair?".

More snottyness ensued.

I'd planned on buying my own tanks (again, I've owned some in the past), these experiences will probably accelerate that. At least they only charge $7.50 for air (which is $1.50 more than Shop A, of course).

There are a few places to get air that I may look into, so at least that opens up options for me.

 

[oly5050user]

how late are they open to on Saturday? at the location I each out of if the tanks are rented on Friday they are expected back on Saturday by 6pm.If rented on Saturday -1 day rental-then expected back on Tuesday-we are closed on Sunday and Monday.No charge for the days we are closed.

 

[rollerboi]

My new favorite dive shop charges one price ($8) for a tank, checking it out on Thursday and returning it Monday. The price is the same if you pick it up on friday or saturday. They're closed sundays, but the weekend price is the weekend price.

 

[Peter Guy]

I don't know what is "fair" regarding pricing of anything and I've always believed it was an irrelevant question -- as it is here. "Fairness" as a concept is meaningless (in almost everything, but I digress) because one must ask "Fair as to whom or as to what?"

You write that the "bad shop" is "convenient" but what none of us know is whether the "convenience" negatively effects its cost structure (just to take one example). If it does (as compared to the "nice shop") then you should expect to pay more for the "convenience."

You also write the "nice shop" is an hour away -- what does that compute to actual expense for you to drive there on a Sunday? Assuming you have no gainful employment opportunities on the Sunday, then maybe it is actually cheaper for you to rent from A and drive out there on Sunday to return them rather than pay the extra fees.

Both shops have made their own business decisions and each shop should be permitted the opportunity to operate as the owner desires. You, as an intelligent shopper get the pleasure of determining which shop is "best" for you after considering all the parameters.

Fair? Who cares?

 

[ReefHound]

I did ask, and that's when they got rude with me. They did not give me a reason other than "well you have the tanks".

I responded with "well, you aren't open to return them to or re-rent them, how do you deem that fair?".

Tell them fine, you'll drop off the tanks at their front door Saturday night.

Unless your car runs on water, driving an hour away each way has to add significantly to the cost of renting from them.

You hit on the solution - time to buy your own tanks. Sounds like you'll recover your costs very quickly.

 

[SteveAD]

just buy tanks. at 10 bucks a pop you will spend enough in 20 rentals to buy an al 80 and then you will keep on spending. own the tank and you only need to get to the shop once per dive day for fills instead of twice pick up and drop off. I have never understood the rental mentality.

 

[AndrewST]

Sounds like you might want to buy a tank, and save some trouble.

 

[MaxBottomtime]

I've never known of a shop to close other than Christmas.
I've only known shops to charge for 24 hour periods. If you rent a tank on the close of business Friday, you had to return it before close of business Saturday or be charged a second day. Shop A was letting you slide. Although Shop B was a little snotty, I think you should be expected to pay if you don't return it by Saturday night.