My LDS cracks me up

[DandyDon]

that a boy Dandy!

Happy Diving

I did something good?! :11: Imagine that?

 

[huskychemist]

Either I'm very lucky to have a good LDS, or you are all going to the wrong place. My LDS (Underwater Sports in Federal Way) offers competitive prices and friendly service. I don't get accosted with suggestions for what I need. Instead, I get maps drawn for me of local dive sites I've never been to, showing me how to see the cool stuff. I get stories about dives that turned out great, or problems solved. I get good training for my AOW classes. I get my tanks filled. As I've said before, I have yet to find an Internet store that will fill my tanks.

Do I pay a little more? Yes. Am I willing to pay a little more? Yes. I have yet to feel like I was being gouged.

Call me lucky, but I'm happy with my LDS.

 

[Brandon]

Yeah, this shop is the only one in some 360 miles, so kinda stuck with it.

That said... I'm a big fan of Eugene Skin Divers in Eugene, Oregon. Great shop, friendly staff, and I'm more than happy to support them.

The place here though... I could care less if they go under. In the past 4 years they've moved away from being a dedicated dive shop, and are now trying to be something more like REI. Every time I go into the store, it's less about dive gear and more about XC skiing, canoes, kayaks, fly fishing, snowshoeing, camping, outdoor gear, etc.

Even worse, they're competing against 3-4 much larger and better established stores, rather than sticking with the niche market in dive gear that they already had.

The dive shop inventory is really starting to be lacking... I think they had the better part of 6 masks on the wall, including the fishbowl. Maybe 5 models of fins, and I think at least 2 of them were more suited towards snorkelling than diving. They've got to be close to no longer making their mininium orders...

When they realize they've failed, I expect the dive business will seperate again, or will be sold to someone who wants to run a dedicated dive shop. Until then, they're stuck with the halfass attempt at a dive shop they have now.

-Brandon.

 

[PhotoTJ]

If any of ya'll are in the Socal area, stop by and visit me. I have a comfy sofa, a decent library, and free bottled water. I won't lean on you to buy something, but I will show you any cool toys we've just gotten in. If you buy, great, if not, we got to talk diving, so it's all good.

TJ, Manager
Aloha Dive Simi Valley
3885 Cochran Unit K
Simi Valley, CA 93063
805-581-DIVE

 

[redacted]

A recently certified friend wanted a BCD, tried my Pro QD, loved it and wanted one for himself. Called the LDS, did the "we wanna support you but not at 40% - how about a deal" - guy is like "come on down, we'll do something for you". Get there and he says "nope, cant do anything about the price". !@$!$^#. Thanks for wasting our time, donkeyhole. That's the last visit that shop got from us.

You should continue to visit them --- Every time you need to size a wetsuit or whatever. Of course, you should give them a chance to price match before you ordered online. There is a bright side to finding a shop like that.

 

[Kat]

You're probably too young to remember them being called that around 1960.

Yes, I am too young to remember that. I wasn't even born yet.

That's quite a Sig area you have. I get angry PMs if I use more than 4 including blanks.

Ooopps...did not know I was over the size limit. You are the 1st to say anything. Maybe the powers that be are letting me slide, since it's an invite to a SB get together.

 

[DandyDon]

Yes, I am too young to remember that. I wasn't even born yet.

Ooopps...did not know I was over the size limit. You are the 1st to say anything. Maybe the powers that be are letting me slide, since it's an invite to a SB get together.

Maybe - really, I think it's a seldom enforced reg, but I'm supposed to set a good example.

 

[Doc Harry]

My LDS keeps trying to pawn off a mask just like it as "THE BEST" mask on the market!

I'll take Leisure Pro over my LDS any day of the week.

 

[426Scuba]

A couple of weeks ago I went into one of the LDS that was 3 miles from me that moved to a new location a few months back to see the new store and what they had for drysuits. The first thing I noticed was that the store was about a 1/4 of the old store and a 1/10 of the inventory. The store employee asked if he could help and I said sure I'm looking for a drysuit "we dont have any in stock" I said "Why not this is Minnesota!" . He went on to show me his book he can order them from. So I asked him what what kind of features does one have vs another he gave me the :thinkingo, so I asked what the price was for one "Well I will have to check". So at that point I decided to drop the drysuit thing and check out the computers they had. He said well we only have one. So I gave him the old well thanks anyway and promply worked my way out the door. The only reason I will ever go back in there is to claim the rest of my air fills I paid for last year.

I would like to support my LDS's but time and time again they don't have what I want or are 50% more than I would spend online. Its sad to say but I think in the near future all you will have in a scuba shop is the fill station, 2 masks & snorkle kits, and a one size fits all flipper. Im sure they will also only be open one day a week.

 

[Brandon]

A couple of weeks ago I went into one of the LDS that was 3 miles from me that moved to a new location a few months back to see the new store and what they had for drysuits. The first thing I noticed was that the store was about a 1/4 of the old store and a 1/10 of the inventory. The store employee asked if he could help and I said sure I'm looking for a drysuit "we dont have any in stock" I said "Why not this is Minnesota!" . He went on to show me his book he can order them from. So I asked him what what kind of features does one have vs another he gave me the :thinkingo, so I asked what the price was for one "Well I will have to check". So at that point I decided to drop the drysuit thing and check out the computers they had. He said well we only have one. So I gave him the old well thanks anyway and promply worked my way out the door. The only reason I will ever go back in there is to claim the rest of my air fills I paid for last year.

I would like to support my LDS's but time and time again they don't have what I want or are 50% more than I would spend online. Its sad to say but I think in the near future all you will have in a scuba shop is the fill station, 2 masks & snorkle kits, and a one size fits all flipper. Im sure they will also only be open one day a week.

It's amazing that some shop owners are thinking they can run a dive shop on $5-$15,000 worth of inventory. With the huge amount of e-commerce going on these days, "We can order it" really isn't a valid answer anymore.

The shop here in Fairbanks has -no- competition, but doesn't seem to have enough capitol to carry anywhere approaching a good selection of inventory. I doubt business is going well... Fairbanks isn't exactly the diving capitol of the world. It seems like they're just training folks and sending them to tropical destinations.

I wonder if they'd be better off moving away from big-ticket gear sales, and focusing instead on fills, tanks, odds and ends, clothing, training, rental gear, travel and service.

Heck, I wonder if a lot of shops wouldn't be more successful doing something like that.

-Brandon.