LDS's are just too expensive

[Prostar]

Does anybody care about time, traffic, and parking..or am I the only one?
People keep discussing service....I must be so weaned from any kind of customer service that I don't even know what that is anymore. If I need to know something, I ask here or google.

I have to say, the fact that I discovered click n ship USPO this week and might never go into the PO again has made me very happy.

Every single time I discover a way to avoid driving somewhere, I am there.

I don't go in banks
I don't go in malls
I don't go in dive shops
even my Rx's are mailed

what are these customer service people doing for you that would not be easier to do for yourself? (just curious)

Um, where did you learn to dive? Did you set up your bank account online, or did you need to go in at least once? Was it there for you? Will it be there for the next person who needs to learn to dive or set up a bank account or whatever?

I find it interesting how people no longer see a need for the places they once needed, now that they are up and running.

I wonder what you would tell the folks who are interested in getting into diving?

Just curious.

 

[fire_diver]

Have you even read any of this thread, or just this page? Or maybe you are among the folks who refuse to see what you don't want to see.

Um, where did you learn to dive? Did you set up your bank account online, or did you need to go in at least once? Was it there for you? Will it be there for the next person who needs to learn to dive or set up a bank account or whatever?

I find it interesting how people no longer see a need for the places they once needed, now that they are up and running.

I wonder what you would tell the folks who are interested in getting into diving?

Just curious.

 

[serambin]

You could perhaps say, "Some LDSs are too expensive." Scubatoys is a LDS and their prices are generally very good. My LDS in Shreveport/Bossier is always competitive on larger items, often beating internet prices, and their service is excellent when I have a problem.

Broad generalized assertions seem to me to be in the trolling league in any event and you have my permission to buy where you want. No charge.

Stan

 

[AstroDad]

If I need to know something, I ask here or google.

"I read it on the internet". Yea, that's good, sound policy....

what are these customer service people doing for you that would not be easier to do for yourself? (just curious)

Fills my tanks, fixes my broken regulator (at 9pm on a Fri night for a Sat morning dive), etc...

I've been doing business with the same LDS for 21 years now. I pay about what you pay for online purchases, but I get to touchy feely first. I can take it with me, use it for a few dives, then take it back to Ed and say "I don't like it" and there's no problem. If something breaks, I walk in, drop it off and no one asks me for a warranty card - it just gets fixed or replaced. I even get free stuff - many times I'm in there and handed something that some salesman just dropped of as a sampler (two dive bags were acquired this way, plus a good bit of other misc stuff over the years). None of this has ever happened to me with an online purchase.

Your LDS is like any other retail outlet in your town/city. There are good ones and there are bad ones. There are those trying to get rich on one customer, and there are others trying to build a business. If you do not have a good LDS in your area, it's not the fault of online sales. There's plenty of room for both....

 

[AXL72]

Um, where did you learn to dive? Did you set up your bank account online, or did you need to go in at least once? Was it there for you? Will it be there for the next person who needs to learn to dive or set up a bank account or whatever?

I find it interesting how people no longer see a need for the places they once needed, now that they are up and running.

I wonder what you would tell the folks who are interested in getting into diving?

Just curious.

1. Good point, and very valid to bring up. Others have good points too. I do need my LDS for last minute $7 to $12 log book purchases when I loligag up until the last minute of a trip to buy a new one, because the old ones are all filled up.

2. My 2 centss = I learned to dive at the Chicago Park District for mucho cheap!!!

3. Words to remember, "Zayer", "Montgomery Ward", and "LDS"....first two things are out of business, but I needed them back in the day...they were great. Now I have ScubaToys, Scuba.com, and Wal MArt .....see any logical pattern?

 

[ReefHound]

Um, where did you learn to dive? Did you set up your bank account online, or did you need to go in at least once? Was it there for you? Will it be there for the next person who needs to learn to dive or set up a bank account or whatever?

I find it interesting how people no longer see a need for the places they once needed, now that they are up and running.

I wonder what you would tell the folks who are interested in getting into diving?

Just curious.

You would have a point if we faced the complete loss of the LDS. But as we've seen here there are many LDS that offer competitive prices and embrace the internet and welcome the diver who sometimes shops online. Those will survive and not lose their clients.

It's the other LDS, who insist on MSRP or MAP not a penny less, who vilify divers for even thinking about online gear, who use baseless scare tactics to bash the internet, those will eventually disappear. I say good riddance.

So there will be places to get training and service/repair and fills. Just not as many. But they will be much better places on average.

 

[AXL72]

You could perhaps say, "Some LDSs are too expensive." Scubatoys is a LDS and their prices are generally very good. My LDS in Shreveport/Bossier is always competitive on larger items, often beating internet prices, and their service is excellent when I have a problem.

Broad generalized assertions seem to me to be in the trolling league in any event and you have my permission to buy where you want. No charge.

Stan

ScubaToys is a fantastic LDS...I was waiting for someone to bring this up. I was shy

I am in the trolling league?:mooner: How is my batting average? j/k

 

[AstroDad]

3. Words to remember, "Zayer", "Montgomery Ward", and "LDS"....first two things are out of business, but I needed them back in the day...they were great. Now I have ScubaToys, Scuba.com, and Wal MArt .....see any logical pattern?

No, not really. The markets of the first two were replaced by other brick & mortars (COSTCO & Target). WalMart? Yuk. Spit, spit spit. The worst thing to happen to the American economy in a *long* time....

 

[ReefHound]

"I read it on the internet". Yea, that's good, sound policy....

"I heard it in a dive shop". Yea, another good policy.

There is plenty of good reliable information on the internet. Anything that can be said in person can be written and published. Regardless of where you get your information, you need to consider the source and apply the BS filter. One good thing about places like SB, unlike in the dive shop, is if someone gives you bad advice there will be plenty of others quickly step up and call BS.

Fills my tanks, fixes my broken regulator (at 9pm on a Fri night for a Sat morning dive), etc...

I've been doing business with the same LDS for 21 years now. I pay about what you pay for online purchases, but I get to touchy feely first. I can take it with me, use it for a few dives, then take it back to Ed and say "I don't like it" and there's no problem.

Sweet deal. Is that available to all customers of that shop or do you have an insider arrangement?

 

[AXL72]

ok...I have target (pronounced tarshey)

thanks for the correction.


In defense of my great neighbor, reefhound, I support his views. Houston is natorious for LDS's being on the high side of prices for everything from classes to gear. Are the Houston LDS's the ones that started the requirement for students to purchase weights and weight belts??

j/k...please correct me how you see fit. There must be at least one Houston LDS that will be the exception to the rule? and I want to know who they are...for future potential purchases