LDS's are just too expensive

[ReefHound]

REALLY??? :no

Ya' need to forget "Ecconomics" and study "accounting"... a $100,000 overhead to a $10,000,000 grossing company is a lot less significant and has less impact on the bottom line than a $100,000 overhead to a $90,000 grossing company. The 'check numbers' are the same... the financial impact vastly different.

Yes, really. A business owner that forgets about economics will soon be an ex business owner.

Inventory is a part of overhead. As a consumer, we don't care about percentages in measuring the amount of inventory, it's about size of selection. Let's say you have two stores. Store A is a little shop doing $100k annually and has a dozen regs/BC/etc. in stock. Store B is a big shop doing $5M annually having over a hundred regs/BCs/etc in stock. A good friend calls you up and asks who has the biggest inventory, what you gonna tell him? Store A, because their inventory is much higher relative to their revenues? Get real.

Can a shop doing $100k annual revenue and stocking 5 BCs at a time afford to place an order for 200 BCs? Of course not. But by carrying a larger inventory and pricing them at a lower margin he should be bumping that revenue way up. Chicken or egg? In business, the answer is clear. The LDS owner has to make the capital investment to expand, to increase his inventory and lower his margin, THEN hope it results in sufficiently higher volume. That's business.

 

[Hoosier]

I like LDS's but I just have to go online for my equipment. I saved so much money by purchasing online compared to an LDS. And I purchased my equipment from online authorized dealers, that sent me warranty cards.
With all the competition, why can't LDS's lower their prices. Shouldn't diving be for everyone, not just the upperclass?
How does everyone else feel?
If it weren't for online sales, I would not be able to afford anything.

Have you ever tried "Dive Right in Scuba" on this board?

Mike is nearby Chicago area. I think he is a right LDS that you were looking for.

 

[keyshunter]

REALLY??? :no

Ya' need to forget "Ecconomics" and study "accounting"... a $100,000 overhead to a $10,000,000 grossing company is a lot less significant and has less impact on the bottom line than a $100,000 overhead to a $90,000 grossing company. The 'check numbers' are the same... the financial impact vastly different.

Uhhh! I would say that a $100,000 overhead would be rather significant to a $90,000 grossing company. Overhead @111% of sales would probably be fatal.

 

[JKPAO]

Having dove for many years, I would have to say to each his own!
I persoally like to use my LDS as much as poss. I can walk in and can get service
within a reasonable time. (usually < 1 hour) I have switched from one
LDS to another but that was only because of closure. Also being a return
custumer can get you some priviledges. IE Discounts: being able to call
in an orders; or just getting on the dive that I want. This is just from my
years of experience. See you topside John

 

[newjack06]

Have you ever tried "Dive Right in Scuba" on this board?

Mike is nearby Chicago area. I think he is a right LDS that you were looking for.

i found i pretty good dive shop as far as homely atmosphere, but their equipment is on the pricey side. as far as classes, and a place to complete my DM and beyond, its the shop to be.

 

[J.R.]

The LDS owner has to make the capital investment to expand, to increase his inventory and lower his margin, THEN hope it results in sufficiently higher volume. That's business.

So now we're going to saddle the LDS with yet more debt servicing overhead in order to flood the market so that we can pick the bones of the dead when they go belly up?? Interesting...

You wouldn't be a sales rep for a manufacturer, would ya'???

now that's an idea. so do we as divers have control over the pricing of manufactures selling their products to LDS's? And would the LDS's give us the price breaks in return.

Well, some may disagree (What? ... on ScubaBoard???? ... naw, say it ain't so...)... but I don't think we do... manufacturer's create and react to market demand... as long as we think we "gotta' have it"... they're driving the bus...

 

[Hoosier]

i found i pretty good dive shop as far as homely atmosphere, but their equipment is on the pricey side. as far as classes, and a place to complete my DM and beyond, its the shop to be.

Have you mentioned that you are a board member?
Mike is alwasy ready to work out some deals if you ask.

He isn't a typical shop monkey who doesn't know the business in mid-west




Note: I am not affiliated with his shop at all. So, it is my fair review...

 

[newjack06]

i found i pretty good dive shop as far as homely atmosphere, but their equipment is on the pricey side. as far as classes, and a place to complete my DM and beyond, its the shop to be.

i think you can still get that without buying their products depending on the shop. LDS's have classes and little nic nacs divers need for a dive, like airfills, litature and dive sites, ect. do get me wrong, im not saying don't go to LDS's. If you have a limited amount of cash on hand for equipment, maybe a LDS is not a right choice. but we do need classes, air fills and service. you can only get that from an LDS

 

[Dive Right In Scuba]

Newjack....pm sent....You can have a great LDS and great prices....our online prices flow into the store prices so you get the best of both worlds! Im glad you found a shop that fits you and you are happy with, but still feel free to drop in some time and check us out....

Thanks for the kind words hoosier...Are you still wearing your superbowl shirt

Dont worry next year is our year GO Bears!!

 

[ReefHound]

i found i pretty good dive shop as far as homely atmosphere, but their equipment is on the pricey side. as far as classes, and a place to complete my DM and beyond, its the shop to be.

Ooh, if you're thinking of doing your DM, think very carefully of who you want to do it through and what equipment you buy now. Most shops require you to wear the shop "uniform", i.e. the brands the shop sells. Don't go out and buy a Sherwood kit if your shop pushes ScubaPro.

One of your roles will be to serve as a role model so that students will buy their gear in that shop. Your shop absolutely will not want you wearing or talking about gear bought online. You might get away with a shop brand that you bought online if you keep it hush, but don't don a LP brand wetsuit and whip out a scuba.com reg bag.