LDS tank rental policies?

[CalgaryDF]

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

Thats what I was also thinking.

 

[Rhone Man]

Your dive shop has days it's closed??? :shocked2:

+1. The dive shops here close on Christmas day and some on New Year's day, but other than that, they never close.

 

[heavyjeffd]

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?

Hrm. The devil's in the details...

Neither shop is open on Sunday (as stated in the OP). One charges for the day they are closed, one does not. The hour (each way) in the opposite direction of everything I do (work, gym, etc.) would end up costing quite a bit more in mileage, wear and tear on my car and fuel.

So the question of "fairness" was more a question of "is it just or not" to charge people on a day when they can not receive the tanks or re-rent them. It's essentially just a "gotcha" they are happy to exploit.

As far as overhead, they are in a far lower "rent" district than Shop A. I couldn't possibly imagine their overhead being higher.

 

[heavyjeffd]

Thats what I was also thinking.

Man I considered that, seriously!

 

[heavyjeffd]

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.

Yeah, I have come to the realization that it's going to be more cost effective for me quickly to buy two AL 80's and have those jerks fill them for $7.50/ea than rent them and have to pay the extra $25 the day they are closed.

I tried to talk to the owner or manager who was there (not sure which he was, but he seemed to be the person of authority at the time) and he simply said "you have the tank, you pay for it whether we're open or not".

So yeah... I hope they don't expect any other business from me than convenient air fills. :mooner:

 

[helimvee]

Any idea why Shop B is not that friendly? Do you buy anything from Shop B other than air? (I am not saying that is justification.) The price they charge is the price they charge and that will not change, but the customer service is another thing. Personally I like a shop that has a posted (fair) price and sticks with it (sales and large package purchases excluded). My previous LDS never had prices on anything and the response to "How much is this?" was always "It depends."

Like other posters we got tired of the Monday AM run to the shop (usually me) to return tanks and bought our own.

My current LDS bends over backwards to fill our tanks (TriCity Scuba) no matter how busy they are.

Buy your own tanks and smile when you walk in to Shop B and maybe consider your next purchase from them or grab a coffee and drive an hour down the road to Shop A.

 

[drdaddy]

I'm amazed at your LDS, no wonder people go to LeisurePro.

Buy your tanks at the shop that you like and have them filled at the one you don't like, unless, like some shops like mine, they have "free fills for life" if you buy you tank there.

By the way, you can probably buy your tanks used. At least there seems to be plenty of used Al 80s here. Personally, I would recommend buying HP steel 3442s, 80s and 100s. They will last forever, are negative buoyant when empty, and you can take weight off your belt.

 

[heavyjeffd]

I plan on making all my major purchases either from Shop A or Scubatoys.com (as they are "local" to me sort of, 1-day UPS ground and free shipping).

I try to buy everything from Shop A, but sometimes the deals Scubatoys has are just so good, it's hard to pay $300 more for the same item. :|

I do sincerely always give them first dibs however, I just make my decision after. That and the whole drive thing (I can order from Scubatoys and it just shows up the next day).

I have only rented from Shop B three times now. I am a personable guy and am always friendly whenever I enter a shop: I always give people the benefit of the doubt.

I did retail for years, so I understand how that goes.

Between the attitudes and the questionable business ethics, I'll probably just be using them for air fills since it's on my way to/from work and just get my own tanks.

Needless to say I've been begging Shop A to open up something closer to me.

 

[heavyjeffd]

I'm amazed at your LDS, no wonder people go to LeisurePro.

Buy your tanks at the shop that you like and have them filled at the one you don't like, unless, like some shops like mine, they have "free fills for life" if you buy you tank there.

By the way, you can probably buy your tanks used. At least there seems to be plenty of used Al 80s here. Personally, I would recommend buying HP steel 3442s, 80s and 100s. They will last forever, are negative buoyant when empty, and you can take weight off your belt.

Funny you mention that! I actually have another thread here about steel tanks. I am already negatively buoyant with an AL80 and a 3mm wetsuit; I can dive with zero weight, although I dive with 4lbs in the rear trim pockets sometimes to help with my trim/hover.

I've apparently sparked a debate about a person who's already negatively buoyant adding yet more negative buoyancy. It has been extremely educational, however.

Thread is here if you are curious: http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/advanced-scuba-discussions/295691-no-weights-steel-tank-unsafe.html

I will likely buy my tanks from Shop A if their prices are competitive with Scubatoys (within $80 or so for two tanks will work for me). They do give free air for a year, but being as they're so far away from me, that is kind of a moot bonus.

 

[guamguy]

Your dive shop has days it's closed??? :shocked2:

Well I guess our local shops are closed on the major holidays, and I'm sure that 24 hour period doesn't count.

There, no poll needed!

I haven't found a day when my favorite LDS is closed, except maybe Christmas. Even if I do have a rented tank I bring back 1 or even 2 days late, the guys in the fill/rental area don't really care. They've got a really large inventory of rental tanks, but if it was a busy holiday weekend, they might be a little less forgiving...