Leisure pro now authorized scubapro dealer

[offthewall1]

For those debating costs of gear and training... this is what quality courses and gear should cost (allow 20% +/- to account for area of the country)
Open Water to certification ($375)
Advanced ($250)
BCD ($300)
Regulator ($275)
Alternate ($90)
Computer ($300)
Mask, Fins & Snorkel ($125)
5mm Wetsuit ($150)
Boots, Gloves, Hood ($85)
Everything start to Finish Advanced diver - fully outfitted minus tank, weights, & accessory items)
$1950.00 - for all new - top quality brand name scuba gear & training (RANGE $1560 - $2340)

If you're paying more than this, you're most likely being over charged - OR - you have decided to be duped into paying more for over-priced brand names that perform no better than other brands.

You may also choose to pay more for classes - and if they're private lessons - they're worth more... but gear is very straightforward. $700 BCD's, $1300 computers, $900 regulators etc... are really not needed and in most cases are less dependable than tried and true lower end models. There are exceptions to every rule ... but as an Instructor, former dive shop owner and commercial dive business owner, I like to tell students the truth... don't overpay.

 

[redacted]

My guess is SP went to LP and begged for a deal... Johnson Outdoors (Owner of SP) certainly hsn't been happy with SP's sales numbers. LDS's closing across the country and world had placed pressure on SP to unload it's merchandise somewhere. Most LDS's are hanging on by a thread and many couldn't meet SP's annual minimum order requirements, nor could they compete being forced to participate in the price fixing scam of MAP and MARP. Where better to turn than the #1 seller of scuba gear on the internet.

SP also couldn't ignore the fact that Apex/Aqualung started selling on line - leaving them the only player without a true web presense. As usual, the only people who have lost here are the consumers... now forced to pay higher prices... which in the end - will hopefully put SP and the rest of the DEMA price fixing strategist out of business. Do they really think higher and higher prices in this economy are the answer? It appears so.

Yes, but this is a 2 party agreement. What made LP depart from its competitive price business model? Had to be supply problems.

I guess the next thing will be KFC selling hamburgers!!!

 

[Blue Sparkle]

For those debating costs of gear and training... this is what quality courses and gear should cost ...
Open Water to certification ($375)
Advanced ($250)

Everything start to Finish Advanced diver - fully outfitted minus tank, weights, & accessory items

This is a slightly off-topic nit-pick, but given the number of threads and debates about (essentially) beginners being "Advanced" divers.... I think this may be one reason why.

I'm guessing that you are talking about "Advanced Open Water" divers, but you are calling them "Advanced" divers. I took AOW with about 20 dives under my belt. Definitely NOT an advanced diver before or after that class (or even now, with 400% more dives).

Okay, sorry for interrupting the thread! Just a peeve that I had to get off my chest. Thank you for listening. (If only it were called something like "OW II" this would probably not even be here.)

Blue Sparkle

 

[k ellis]

I dont like to talk about how much I save for respect to the dealer but I can say that BCD I wanted from leisure pro was listed at almost 800 dollars. With one email I got a reply they would sale it for 350.00. You would be surprised what a few minutes of time can earn you if people are just patient!

 

[Jim Lapenta]

So they will have no problem with you selling to me at 25% below MSP (minimum selling price) when I send in my warranty registration? I bought one SP reg from an authorized dealer. What I paid was 35% off. I was told by him when I registered it to put down a higher price or he could could catch flack from them. I never did register it in any case and serviced it myself with kits the same dealer sold me. I would now consider a SP dealer selling me kits as beating LP's prices. Sold that reg BTW because I had a falling out with the shop that was selling me kits and did not feel like going black market for them.

That and the fact that I can get regs of equal quality and performance for less than half of SP's prices. I used to buy quite a bit from LP. Not so much now as when they started becoming authorized dealers for a number of lines the prices went up.

 

[offthewall1]

This is a slightly off-topic nit-pick, but given the number of threads and debates about (essentially) beginners being "Advanced" divers.... I think this may be one reason why.

I'm guessing that you are talking about "Advanced Open Water" divers, but you are calling them "Advanced" divers. I took AOW with about 20 dives under my belt. Definitely NOT an advanced diver before or after that class (or even now, with 400% more dives).

Okay, sorry for interrupting the thread! Just a peeve that I had to get off my chest. Thank you for listening. (If only it were called something like "OW II" this would probably not even be here.)

Blue Sparkle

Blue,

You are correct... you are not "advanced" after 20 dives... nor is anyone else. I have disagreed with this terminology for a long time. I have a couple thousand dives under my belt... and I still don't consider myself "advanced"... I consider myself as having had more experiences than many... and less experiences than others.

Slapping the title of "advanced" on divers is silly to me. You're either a diver or you're not. For some reason the industry felt like it had to give you a title to justify taking your money. In other words... you get the title open water diver when you take the first class... and then well... if you're going to take more courses... then you've got to have more titles... right? I mean you'd think less of yourself without all these titles... take a Wreck course and WOW... you get a card that says you're a Wreck Diver... woo hooo.

The best thing you can do is skip the silliness and save your money. Get certified, then begin diving whenever and wherever you get the opportunity - and do it with experienced divers such as myself and those nearby to you - who are willing to dive with you and give you pointers. Now with that said... don't limit yourself to one diver or even a small group... spread yourself out... share yourself with as many divers as possible... because they all have opinions and none are usually right or wrong. In Scuba, there are often many ways to the same end... and we all have preferences. I like jacket BCD's and you like back inflates. I need an environmentally sealed reg... you may not. Listen and learn from everyone... but in the end... determine your likes and needs and develop into the diver you want to be... and feel comfortable being. No other diver should be telling you their way is the only way... because if they do... they're lying.

If you've got an "advanced" card, good for you. Shame on the industry. This little scam was created in cohoots among the training agencies years ago... and later the resorts got involved at the behest of the agencies to drive more money their way. Many operators now require "advanced" training in order to dive with them... this is to push you back into LDS's for more training and the spending of more money. If you don't have time to get it before you get there... they'll sell it to you... to put more money in their own pocket. I call it organized crime.

I wish you could become "advanced"... I mean experienced for $275... but I'm afraid the experiences to make you "advanced" will end up costing far more... especially in time... and most likely in money too.

Cheers and Happy and Safe Diving to You!

 

[Blue Sparkle]

Ken,

It sounds like we are in agreement that the word "Advanced" in the AOW title could better be replaced by something else. However, given that we're essentially stuck with it, I think it just makes it worse to abbreviate it to "Advanced" or, even more misleading, "Advanced diver."

At least by using the full term of "Advanced Open Water" (or AOW), there is some clue that it is a continuation of the beginner class of Open Water (OW). So more of an advanced beginner, if you will.

That was the thrust of my earlier comment. Perhaps I distracted from it by speaking of my own diving.

Blue Sparkle

 

[DennisS]

Now that Leisurepro has joined the scubapro team, does anyone know who is taking their place in the grey market sales?

 

[crowny]

I just had the same experience. I guess they are now authorized Oceanic dealers, I wanted a vt4, got a price quote, then 2 days ago is went up $150! I called for a better price, and the guy on the phone wanted to charge me than their website even offered it for. Such a weird experience, almost my first of many purchases through them, but LDS is willing to cut a way better deal.

Funny to read this has happened to other people, the worst part is the guy told me it was never the price I had seen it advertised for. Now it makes me question their word. Being a beginner, the whole equipment world is very confusing, and a learning experience to say the least!

 

[scubamarketing]

We've been Oceanic authorized dealers for quite some time, so I'm not sure why there would be such a price jump. Then again, I don't personally have anything to do with product pricing nor do I track all prices.