I have a problem I just wanted to shed light on about local dive shops (LDS). Recently I was in the hunt for a dry suit. My LDS gives me a discount because of continuing education on my purchase but after trying out his suit I wasnt happy with it. I received a good chuck of money from the family over the holidays to put towards this purchase. My parents (who have no clue about diving) 60+yrs had some great advice, go try out some others and pick the best one. So I tried 2 more manufactures and settled on another brand than my LDS can sell. So I went across town to purchase this suit.
I walk in to this shop which was impressive and I inform the owner I would like to purchase this product. (This is the closest place for this brand of suit). He asks me the usual questions and follows it up with; What is your height and weight? I respond, and his quote is you can be on my dive team. (He wasnt making a pass at me) His ego was so big. He proceeded to tell me he is the greatest diver around and all that other hoopla. Then he asked questions about the LDS I normally dive with and he proceeded to talk them down. So at this point I was like measure me, lets get this over with. Then he asks what kind of gear I dive. I answer, he then tells me I dive all the wrong gear for all the wrong reasons, shows me his rig and says, this is what you need at 300+ feet in our area. Let me clue you in, I just started diving last May and only have 70 dives to my credit and a basic nitrox cert. So my 300+ days are nowhere in sight. Everything was about his dive team and his way.
Considering its a 2 hour drive to the next dealer I bought the suit from him, which he informed me I have to take the dry suit specialty with him. Here is a guy I dont want to listen to anymore, (I zone him out like I do my wife sometimes) and when this suit comes in we go on a few dives. I dont like egos, actions speak louder than words and you only get to make a first impression once.
My LDS has also on occasion talked down about the other shops in the area, including the one I went to the buy the suit, like he has this whole business figured out. Im looking for a shop where the welcome sign reads please check your ego at the door or all opinions accepted here. I feel that this is just a myth. When my LDS says negative things about others it helps me paint a bad picture of him. I mention that I want to take DIR-F (which is shunned upon at this shop)or maybe some advanced training he doesnt offer, and he makes me feel like Ive been disbanded from the church.
Why do shops do this? I mean no shop carriers every brand so when we buy something inevitably we must go somewhere else to find it. I will take advanced training at some point, so in meantime I will look for shops in the state I feel comfortable with. Have any of you had any similar experiences? Are there any board members that live in western Michigan and know of a shop that isnt like this. Also should I waste the time to write the manufacturer of the dry suit and tell them about the need for another dealer in the area, and how I was treated by this LDS? Like I said earlier, Im new and this is a learning experience so any lessons, comments, and concerns will be appreciated.
