Love this board!!!!!

[dvr4lyf]

Boy I wish I had found this sooner!!! Hi everyone, I was wondering how many local shops around the country let there new students know about this site??
As I've found, none in my area do!? I can understand as a business owner, with soo many different product lines out there, that this resource can be a deterrent. Maybe even a little confusing to the extremely "Green" diver. But as a newbie myself I have found a lot of help in here!! I'm not trying to ruffle any feathers here. I further understand the need to have your new students comming to your shop for info, ect., but just a little confused.:06: Respond as you will.

Oh and by the way....I had to call my LDS today.

 

[The Kraken]

Dvr,

A most hearty "WELCOME" to the ScubaBoard!!!!
Take a few minutes to look at the different forums and you'll be able to find a wealth of knowledge about the questions which you post.

We're so glad you're here.

Personally, I hope you will find this a great place to learn and to teach and become an active and helpful friend.

the Kraken

 

[Divmstr223]

I'm a forum junkie.....and this has become my new favorite place to be; great people, great info etc...and the fact that SCUBA is the greatest thing on the planet doesn't hurt either....:14:

 

[moneysavr]

Hi,
Welcome !
I think the dive shops think that they loose money to e-bay & that any internet site that dose have scuba equipment for sale used thru members and new thru add's that pay for the site that any board that has adds is NO-GOOD!
But some shops have local boards that do not have much going on and no add's.
But This site rocks and I have found lots of dive pals on it!
Dive safe,
Brad

 

[spectrum]

Welcome, dig in and pay attention. many different diving styles and geographies are here so watch the context.

Why don't shop send students here?'
* Why surrender your position of authority?
* In many cases students would become wise to the short cuts
* It's harder to sell "what you have in stock" to an informed consumer

Those come to mind off the top of my head.

In diving there are many pros and cons concerning gear, configuration and even technique. I'm sure most instructors don't want to deal with a student that dosen't want to learn on and air-2 because of what the learned on SB. Refuse to do classes and dive in poorly fitting gear etc, etc.

Pete

 

[dvr4lyf]

Welcome, dig in and pay attention. many different diving styles and geographies are here so watch the context.

Why don't shop send students here?'
* In many cases students would become wise to the short cuts
* It's harder to sell "what you have in stock" to an informed consumer


Pete

( Watching context)
Thanks Pete, I honestly appreciate your feedback! Speaking of honesty, how can it be harder to sell what you have in stock to an informed customer? However I do agree with the shortcuts comment. I'm not promoting an uniformed diver ask for anything they could'nt handle.(after all it is up to the LDS to decide what they need, right?)
I'm just saying it seems that is what this board is for??!! Uniformed divers.
Just my 2 cents.

 

[spectrum]

( Watching context)
Speaking of honesty, how can it be harder to sell what you have in stock to an informed customer?

A good salesman knows all of the points and counterpoints. If you don't have the same info you will be sold what he has.

I had a salesman make a great pitch on an Atomics SS1 inflator/alternate second combo. He had selling points and presented them in a very convincng way. If I had not sorted things out in advance there is a very good chance I would have bought. My wife isn't a SB junkie and she was sold but we didn't buy that day. I sat down with her and we did a list of issues with combo versus dedicated alternate second stages and in the end she was informed and wanted a dedicated alternate. Lets not make that topic part of the thresd here, it's just an example.

Another classic is wetsuits where the three most important thngs are fit, fit and fit. Some shops will stuff divers into anything they have be it too tight ot baggy. They will sometime say this is the best fit you can get. The fact of the matter is that different brands fit differently and you may need to visit several shops to find that suit that molds to you. It may be that you are even destined to own a custom suit.

The instructor/dive shop.salesman is often seen as an authority figure, a protector something like the nurse/patient syndrome and some will take advantage of that.

Be informed, know the questions know the answers and make the best decisions you can baseed on yourself and what you know about the diving you at least plan to start with.

Don't get me wrong most shops are concerned about your safety and in some cases will save you from inapropriate purchases. Many are toatlly ethical will do right by you but then there are others, like in any other business.

Pete

 

[ththooft]

Welcome!
I didn't hear about this from any of the LDS's around here either, however I know a lot of divers around here do visit this and a similar local site.
Have fun digging around...I've learned a lot from SB!

 

[Ber Rabbit]

Welcome to the board! I tell all of my students about the board but I'm an independent instructor teaching scuba at the local university. This place is a great resource and I research here regularly to improve my classes.

You can do your part by mentioning the board to every diver you meet I've met a lot of great people through here and it's always fun to ask the divers you meet while traveling if they are members especially when you run into someone you know from online.
Ber :lilbunny: