Newbies, Don't make the equip mistake I did

[AmyJ]

Just $ .02 worth from another newbie. We are just getting in to this and have taken our OW from a LDS... this was our first experience with a LDS and we went with them because the class was a good deal. Since then we have visited a number of shops as well as bought stuff online and the differences are amazing!

At LDS #1 they are ONLY willing to discuss what they have in their shop... everything sounds like a sales pitch with a focus on the $$ not the divers best interest. We hate to ask any questions or even talk to them. You better buy from them and you better buy it now or else you will be ripped off and it is not their responsibility.

Other LDS visited since... wow... nice, talk about equipment.. even things they don't carry... Urge us (especially as newbies) to look around... try different things... can recommend things that might be best for us, even if they don't carry it.

I have to say that although we bought some equip. at LDS #1 (VERY PRESSURED).... any more purchases will be made elsewhere. And online is not ALWAYS bad... there are reputable places online that do offer returns and warranties.. you just have to be careful. (and yes, we agree it's not nice to try everything on in the LDS and the buy online...)

 

[Cousin]

When people come in I don't pressure them into selling what I have on the shelf right here and right now. I have first hand expirence with most major brands and can tell you +/- about almost all of it. I get rather offended when a student buys equipment else where. I make more money off of the selling of equipment than I do teaching. The shop I came from charged an extra $100 if you supplied your own equipment and all of that money went straight to the instructor. Every customer that I have had that has bought something major online, has always said they wished they would have spent the extra $ and bought it from me. It's amazing what you can do, when you treat your customers right and they treat you right.

 

[Genesis]

Well, masks have exactly one real important attribute - fit! If it fits, its cool. If it doesn't, its horrible, irrespective of anything else. Then you get into the "volume" debate (I prefer as low as is reasonably possible without grossly restricting angle of vision)

BUT, you will find perfectly servicable US Divers/Aqualung (made by the same folks!) masks at WALMART! And they are nicely-priced too. The SAME mask in the LDS will cost you close to DOUBLE as much.

Oh, if the mask breaks from Wallyworld in a reasonable amount of time, they'll give you another one - no questions asked - on the spot. Try THAT in a LDS.

 

[Cousin]

BUT, you will find perfectly servicable US Divers/Aqualung (made by the same folks!) masks at WALMART! And they are nicely-priced too. The SAME mask in the LDS will cost you close to DOUBLE as much.

Are you 100% aure about that?

Oh, if the mask breaks from Wallyworld in a reasonable amount of time, they'll give you another one - no questions asked - on the spot. Try THAT in a LDS.

You haven't been to any of the shops that I have been with. All of our masks come with a lifetime warranty, except if you loose it, it only has one replacement. Then you have to buy a new one.

 

[Genesis]

Are you 100% aure about that?

In my experience, yep. And where its not true, does it matter if the mask fits? No, it does not.

You haven't been to any of the shops that I have been with. All of our masks come with a lifetime warranty, except if you loose it, it only has one replacement. Then you have to buy a new one.

I have never seen this policy on masks at any LDS I've been in. Anywhere. This is truly rare and, if in writing, worthwhile.

 

[Cousin]

The "Walmart" masks that I have seen are normally "junk"

The mask policy is a great thing to have, it has does keep the customers coming back. I have never had anyone bawk about the price when I throw in the policy.

 

[Genesis]

The "Walmart" masks that I have seen are normally "junk"

They're not "Walmart" masks. They're US Divers/Aqualung masks. They have some real cheap ones, but they also have some of the same ones you'd pay $60 for in a dive shop, for about half that price.

The Wallyworld down here is now also carrying diopter masks! This is only useful if your script is the same in both eyes (most people who need 'em aren't) but for those who are, its a MAJOR cost saving, as a "custom" mask can easily run you $100+.

The mask policy is a great thing to have, it has does keep the customers coming back. I have never had anyone bawk about the price when I throw in the policy.

Heh, 2 for 1 ain't bad

 

[jonnythan]

They're not "Walmart" masks. They're US Divers/Aqualung masks. They have some real cheap ones, but they also have some of the same ones you'd pay $60 for in a dive shop, for about half that price.

The Wallyworld down here is now also carrying diopter masks! This is only useful if your script is the same in both eyes (most people who need 'em aren't) but for those who are, its a MAJOR cost saving, as a "custom" mask can easily run you $100+.
Heh, 2 for 1 ain't bad

I've done some looking, and I've never seen a mask in Wal Mart that doesn't have plastic lenses. Lucky you.

 

[Skipraha]

After reading all the threads and the pros and cons it seems to me everyone should read what his intent was. When I read his thread it sounds Oh so familiar how people in all walks of life get taken advantage of. All he was trying to do was inform new divers buying gear to do their research and shop around and ask experienced divers what they thought.QUOTE]

Thanks Jrider. I am glad that my point was obvious to some.

 

[Skipraha]

since I started it, let me please ask those on the board who OWN, OPERATE or WORK AT a dive shop this. From my marketing background, I am always looking at other businesses and thinking about how they operate. On the bottom of the 2nd page of this thread (and I had no idea we would reach 4, 5, or 6), I suggested a way an LDS could use the pricing advantage of an online retailer to the LDS's advantage but not carrying much product in stock, but by carrying few display models, assisting the customer with advice, fit, etc, and then ordering the product online for the customer and charging a service fee or consultation fee or whatever. I outlined several advantages I saw to this system, but no one has commented on whether this would work. Any thoughts?