After much research and advice, and with plans to keep advancing with my diving (even at the ripe age of 56), today I ordered a full rig with SS back plate and 35lb wing from DSS. That in and of itself is unremarkable. But we live in an age when far too many businesses do not know the meaning of customer service, or have shipped a sad version of it to overseas call centers. DSS, and particularly its owner Tobin, very obviously never ascribed to the belief that real customer service is not cost-effective.
I called with a pretty good idea of what I wanted to order. But when I told the salesperson that this was my first time ordering a BP/W, he immediately got Tobin on the phone. Tobin then had me describe what gear I have been using, and spent the time necessary to make sure not only that he could recommend exactly what I needed, but also that I understood why he was recommending it. He took his time, explained everything, and didn't hand me back to the salesperson until he was sure we were on the same page. If all American companies provided service like this, we would have far less concern about foreign competition.
My new rig arrives in a week, and then I'm off to Seattle to start practicing with it. Can't wait.
I called with a pretty good idea of what I wanted to order. But when I told the salesperson that this was my first time ordering a BP/W, he immediately got Tobin on the phone. Tobin then had me describe what gear I have been using, and spent the time necessary to make sure not only that he could recommend exactly what I needed, but also that I understood why he was recommending it. He took his time, explained everything, and didn't hand me back to the salesperson until he was sure we were on the same page. If all American companies provided service like this, we would have far less concern about foreign competition.
My new rig arrives in a week, and then I'm off to Seattle to start practicing with it. Can't wait.