Messy dive shops... do you care?

[sabbath999]

I am a newbie, but I am struck by the differences between the various dive shops I have been to... they range from nearly spotless to a complete sty.

Personally, I am not the neatest person in the world (anybody who knows me can laugh now) but I am not sure I want to buy equipment from a dive shop that isn't at least reasonably neat.

I understand rental, used and gear to be serviced comes in the door wet and dirty, and I understand that SCUBA isn't a "dainty" sport, but I do think that a reasonable amount of order in the work area (and most especially around the compressors) is in order.

Does the appearance of a LDS make a difference to the more seasoned hands here? Am I just being a silly NOOB?

 

[Doc]

Well discussed previously. http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/basic-scuba-discussions/247763-disgusting-dive-shop.html

All dive shops used to have a table and chairs, a pile of SCUBA magazines, a coke machine (or better yet- a beer cooler). Cigars after 5 pm.

Understand what constitutes a "clean" compressor room (it doesn't involve Windex) and do business there.

How many LDS to pick from are there in Edina, Missouri?

 

[sabbath999]

Exactly none.

The nearest LDS (not one being mentioned here, BTW) is 100 miles away, then after that there's one 130 miles away that is closed on weekends, then there is Kansas City, St. Louis and Des Moines.

We are a town of 1200 people, in a county of about 4,000... and as far my wife and I are the entire population of divers in the county.

We also have a quarry with crystal clear water in it about a mile from my house... too bad they are still using it, and I can't get permission to dive in it.

 

[Randy43068]

My opinion about this applies to all shops providing me service. I've found the more messy the less professional they tend to be. I'll ( in the general case ) take my business to the shops that are clean and orderly. Again, that applies to more than SCUBA shops.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

Doesn't bother me ... you should see my house ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[Randy43068]

Doesn't bother me ... you should see my house ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

Mine too, but no one is paying me for service.

 

[tkdgodess]

Our shop is messiest on Monday after all the weekend rental gear has been returned, and the staff is having to rewash all the gear the renters signed out stating it must be returned cleaned and washed. Food in the bottom of the bins is common. The compressor room is always clean.

 

[AlaskaDiver]

When I first go into diving I entered a dive shop where service personnel were friendly, but around the area where my regs were being serviced there were bikes being worked on and skis being filed. I had only one choice at the time for service and went to them each year until I was able to see other shops and gain more experience in choosing my dive shop. I want a knowledgeable dive shop where they have an area that is suited for a clean work environment. Generally speaking I would not want a messy dive shop working on my gear, but messy does not always equate to dirty. I do want the best advantage for getting my gear serviced in as clean an environment as possible. Knowledgeable people should not service life support equipment in a dirty environment.

 

[uncleavi]

I hear you you guys and I agree.
I would be happy to hire my Governor as a shop clean up gal.
She would do a very good job and I could use my blood money oil check and buy some dive gear that is made in the good old US of A!
Hoo Yah!

 

[eponym]

IDoes the appearance of a LDS make a difference to the more seasoned hands here?

Funny you should ask. I was just comparing notes after a trip to dive in the Tacoma (WA) area.

The shop I teach in tends toward the immaculate (it moved into its new building, complete with training pool, just four years ago.) But it does my old heart good, as happened in Tacoma, to occasionally call in at a shop of a different sort for tank fills.

Carpet not changed since it was laid in the '70s, lots of disorder, but absolutely the nicest and most astute staff, the slowest fat fills, and great help with consulting tide tables and planning some tricky current dives.

When the staff are so obviously on top of things and attentive to our needs, whether or not they've vacuumed recently is not a biggie. Ask to see their latest compressor air analysis--that will tell you more about what you're getting in your tanks than the state of the fill station (assuming it's not actually fly-blown).

-Bryan