My LDS is just ticking me off....

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as far as not going on faraway trips. Fortunately, my shop supports the efforts of our local dive club. Maybe you could try to form one in your area.

Ours meets once a month through the year, and during the season have a club dive once a month. We only do local diving with the club. (Warm water trips are offered by the shop). It is great for the shop, because just by encouraging diving, it promotes sales for the shop.

Something to consider.

Julie
 
Geez, I know I am going for my AOW through my LDS and it is set up for the Bahamas. If I look at the price for the hotel, flights, dives, etc. I could never beat the price that we are getting through them. They also sponsor quite a few trips and looking at the prices I was very impressed with what I saw versus what I could get on my own. Not that they are cheaper in all instances but man are they close. The benefit is that you dive with someone you know and have fun with the group!!!
 
The only reason to stay in with the Dive shop is to have an air source. Where I live the shops are far and few between. Since I have all of my own equipment and dive buddies I do not need or want to go on trips with people who only dive prestine clear blue and warm. We dive it all and when we want the deep blue we plan it ourselfs.

Just make sure you have an air source.
 
Pillow:
The only reason to stay in with the Dive shop is to have an air source. Where I live the shops are far and few between. Since I have all of my own equipment and dive buddies I do not need or want to go on trips with people who only dive prestine clear blue and warm. We dive it all and when we want the deep blue we plan it ourselfs.

Just make sure you have an air source.
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Bah Humbug!

I must admit where I live there are several dive shops in a reasonable radius of my house.
The shop I use most (just about exclusively) is more than just an air source. Its a place where I get to meet other divers. This shop I get to meet everything from a guy coming in inquiring about getting certified to Andrea Doria and U Who veterans.
I learn from the veterans. And I can also learn something from a newbe as well.
The best part is just interacting with divers of differing experience.
As for local dives, the shop does charter various local boats on various days, and the cost is the same as if I booked directly with the boat. The shop is interested in promoting local diving. Yes it does in the end become benificial to them, but it is benifical to the whole community.

Oh yes they do run a trip to nice clear warm water, but that is when the local water is too hard to chop through. And they don't gouge the price. They are a dive shop, not a travel agency.

I am sure there are some shops that are more travel agency than dive shop, but that may be a problem of locale.
 
You are mixing your personal feelings with business, very hard not to do..... I did this with my LDS and got burnt myself...used to be a regular, but I hardly go in there anymore. I plan my own trips, where I dive at locally has air so I really dont have a need to go there, but anyways....

Seriously, get some people together and do you own little trip planning for whatever time you can get away..you dont need a dive shop to plan that. sounds like you dont have many options for an LDS though...there are still other options if you dont want to spend any more $$$$ there.
 
I have used the same LDS in SE FL for almost 10 years now. I buy equipment from them, book dives, shoot the breeze, service my regulator, learn from them. Sent my precious 4th daughter to them for her OW check-out dives (she is the only one who dives). If I am in the Keys, I go somewhere else, but normally there is only one LSD for me. I like their attitude.

Here in Chicago, I do not like any of the LDS's, so I travel to Racine, WI. Again, I like the attitude. So much so that I intend to dive in fresh water this summer.

Used to have an LDS in NJ, but he closed up and moved to Bonaire.

If a dive shop wants your business, they must work at a relationship. So must you.
 
To the original poster...

In my limited experience on this board, when people post threads like this, they already have a course of action in mind, but are waiting to hear others echo that same thought...

What's your gut feeling at this point?

JAG
 
I agree with Juls64 in that joining a local dive club serves to provide the social interaction that the local LDS can't/won't provide. I went through a similar situation...I certified with my LDS due to the convenience of their location. I realized that they had nothing to offer other than the classes and a hard sell each time I stepped through the door. The instructor no longer dives recreationally and he's basically just a card mill. Once you're certified you are pretty much on your own. As a new diver, it's important to meet others to socialize with and to dive with, especially if you live in an area where diving is not common. I now gladly drive the extra hour to give my business to the dynamic, progressive shop who is as passionate about diving as I am. When I asked the LDS about clubs in the area, I was told there was none..until I found the group on my own. I've learned since then about the animosity between this individual and local divers that has been festering for years. He does a disservice to his own clientele because of a personal vendetta from years ago. There's a big sign outside his shop now...Scuba Lessons..Anytime!
 
Even when I am going some distance to dive with another operator I often get my LDS to make the booking for me. I don't pay anything for this, the commission was already built into the original price of the remote operator, I have often tried to get a discount when booking direct but it never worked.
The advantage is that if I have any complaints or problems the remote operator pays a lot more attention to my LDS which is a steady source of clients than it would to me, a one off client.
 
awap:
I assumed the "around $500.00" includes the costs to & from La, tips, and probably nitrox.. 250 is too low. My recollection is weekenk trips come in around $325 plus about $80 for nitrox. The Thur/Fri 2 day trip is around $290.
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Wasn't that much for me but I haven't been in about 2 years. I've never heard of shops throwing in nitrox on somthing like that and the if the shops around here don't provide transportation to Florida trips, I doubt a gulf coast shop would provide it to Houston.
 
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