New Free Parts for Life on Scubapro regs.

[Aqua-Andy]

I would be excited if I didn't already sell off my SP regs in favor of a company that doesn't play games. I am happy for all the current and future SP reg owners though. Although I would like to hear how they improved there regs so they could handle going two years between service.

 

[halocline]

Its a step in the right direction after SP took a huge leap in the wrong direction by requiring a package purchase and not allowing anyone who missed a year to get back on. It's fairly clear to me that they're trying to finesse this policy to stop the bleeding of sales that undoubtedly resulted from what must have been a PR nightmare when they announced the new restrictions on the policy.

Beaver, you love to fly the SP flag. Why don't you march right in the corporate office and tell them that the smart thing to do in this extremely competitive world would be to just give customers the damn parts, without any restrictions. I'm talking about if someone buys a regulator new, not a whole package, they simply get the free parts every time they service no matter when it is. The cost to SP on the 'parts' (rebuild kits) is probably under a dollar for most regulators and most service. They're going to get the dollar or two back in PR and customer loyalty, plus it'll make the dealers feel a little less like they've just been bent over and 'serviced' themselves with the new package-only policy.

And then, to make it even more refreshingly simple, put a price tag on the rebuild kits that's at least somewhat less insane, and just sell them to anyone who wants to buy them....you know, like EVERY OTHER freaking business in the world.

---------- Post Merged at 07:07 AM ---------- Previous Post was at 07:00 AM ----------

Although I would like to hear how they improved there regs so they could handle going two years between service.

I'm assuming this is tongue-in-cheek.....I agree it could be an entertaining moment to read the explanation for why the decades-old 'annual service required' mantra is no longer a life-saving necessity.

Of course there's no change in the regulators, only in the admission of the companies that annual service is not necessary for normal use. Think about this; for most recreational divers, I suspect the average use is less than 20 dives/year. Does anyone really think that these things are so fragile and poorly built that they need to be overhauled after what amounts to less than 20 hours of use or 1 year of shelf life? If that were really true, I'd be pretty nervous about using one in a cave.

 

[Scared Silly]

Who here is old enough to remember "new" coke? I think SP has followed suit.

 

[idive2]

Seems the biggest objection SP reg owners have is not being able to purchase the kits. I suppose the logic is
that the regs will be only serviced by trained scubapro technicians. That being said many others see not being able
to get the kits as a negative and a possible lost sale. I have to admit that the parts for life program brought me in
for a service before I otherwise would have but if it's two years now that's closer to when I would be bringing in
a reg that is used regularly and not sitting around.

 

[Damselfish]

Too much need to be in the right place at the right time with all these policies. I've got 3 SP regs I don't use anymore, and we've owned 3 SP BCs. 2 of the regs were even bought with 2 of the BCs, but long before they started that part of the game. The only way I'd care about a new policy and maybe put them back in service would be if parts were truly "free for life" whenever I decided it was time for service. (I can see limiting how often you get free parts.) No complications and no games, no concerns about "reinstatement", and my LDS would probably get a bit more service revenue from me.

Not that I improved things for myself by moving to Aqualung. But I'm out of that program too and am happy enough to skip the game. Certainly, not being ripped off for inexpensive parts would be nice and a great PR move for any of them. Of course there would be no need for "free" parts if they just priced them fairly to begin with, but we all know why they don't do that and have these programs to begin with.

 

[OldNSalty]

So what is really in those free kits? I've seen several O-rings and maybe one or 2 little parts-hardly worth the $12-$36 a kit that I have seen them go for on ebay. Then again, I needed some o-rings once for a tank and the shop wanted something like $2 per...I needed them, they had them.

 

[Scubadude_LA]

I'm unimpressed, too little too late, more games. I don't even care about the free parts anymore, just allow me to buy the parts at a reasonable price for self servicing. The SP kits on ebay are way overpriced because of supply and demand of a product that cannot be bought from the dealers. My LDS was doing such crappy service on my SPs I've moved away from most of my SP regs to Brand X that sells me parts. Life is a lot better now, I'm not looking back.

My Dive Rite regs have free parts for life and a 2yr/100 dive service interval to keep the warranty up. Or you can like me, still just buy the DR parts kits and do yourself to make sure it's done right, I like having that option. Then there are my other regs that have the pigs on the purge button, nuff said...

 

[Rich Keller]

Scubapro is missing the boat again. With the market turning more towards on line purchasing and divers getting more involved in doing their own service they still do not consider the diver to be their customer, they do not care what you think, the LDS is the only customer they have. They have made some changes as they have seen their sales diminish but these are just half steps to try and look like they are doing something new. Manufactures like HOG see what the future of diving is going to be and are out in front of that change. If Scubapro started to consider the diver as their customer and started listening to what they have to say they could easily get out in front of these changes and remain a main stay of the diving industry. The parts for life thing was a good idea taken to a stupid extreme, these parts cost them pennies and they have created nothing but ill will by reneging on providing them. The really stupid part is not selling parts to the few people who do their own service. Scubapro uses the same parts in a lot of their regs just giving them new part numbers for different models so unlike other companies they still make parts for just about every reg they ever sold. They are in a unique position to get way out in front of these changes but they will probably never do it.

 

[flots am]

So, the only new thing is they have gone from a 1 year service requirement to a 2 year requirement. I have to wonder if they have switched to using the same extended life components that Aqualung and Atomic are now using.

I believe Atomic gets the 2 year interval on the second stage by unloading the seat when depressurized. AFAIK, SP doesn't do this.

In any case, the whole thing is silly. If they wanted to impress me, they would offer "free parts and labor for life". While expensive retail, I'm guessing a rebuild kit costs the manufacturer maybe 50 cents.

flots.

 

[redacted]

I believe Atomic gets the 2 year interval on the second stage by unloading the seat when depressurized. AFAIK, SP doesn't do this.

In any case, the whole thing is silly. If they wanted to impress me, they would offer "free parts and labor for life". While expensive retail, I'm guessing a rebuild kit costs the manufacturer maybe 50 cents.

flots.

A few of the SP 2nds also relieve LP set pressure but they make no differentiation in there service requirements. I do have to acknowledge that for some divers who don't do a good job of caring for the gear, even a one year requirement is not enough. But divers who care for their gear should easily be able to go 2 years or more. The 1 year requirement was just a way of supporting their retailers by forcing customers who wanted to maintain their PFL program and their warranty into what was unnecessary service expenses for the vast majority.

50 cents might be a good number for the classic downstream 2nd or the unbalanced piston 1st but is probably quite low for the more complex stages like the balanced piston 1sts. But I just don't believe any supplier who suggests there is not a bunch of profit in their kits going to at least two or three levels in their supply chain. And I really don't mind the profits. What I do mind is their efforts to deny or suppress competition. I am very happy to see some aftermarket sources starting to have some success. Competition is what will keep profits in balance.

BTW, I'm a bit surprised that beaverdiver has not been back to clear up some questions and tell us more. He has been active on the board a few times since his original post. Maybe he just does not have anything to add worth shaking the pompoms.