Online Purchase - Lesson Learned

[Nudgeroni]

I just learned an important lesson about online purchasing that I thought I would pass on.

I needed to purchase a hood for my AOW class coming up, and found out I could get a reputable hooded vest on line for the same cost as the hoods (without vest) offered at my LDS.

My class was over a week away, so I figured there would be no problem. I called one of the larger online merchants and placed the order on 2-day mail, just to be sure I would get it on time.

Now for the drama: 2 days before the class, I received an e-mail from the vendor indicating that they had to special order the vests, and could have them to me in another 10 days! :11:

Enter the hero: I called another vendor, Diver's Discount Florida, and confirmed on their live inventory database that the sizes I was looking for were indeed in stock. They were, and were actually $10 cheaper than the other vendor, so even with overnight delivery I was only out $30.

Lesson Learned: If the purchase is time sensitive, even if it is 10 days or more away, call and confirm that the item and the size is in stock. In a day or two call again and make sure it was indeed sent. I don't think the first vendor was a bad guy, though I would have appreciated earlier notification of the delay. The mistake was pretty much my own. I will say that I am very happy with how Diver's Discount Florida handled the situation, and I would recommend them if you need something right quick.

 

[h2odragon1]

Time was you're concern for this purchase. You must also consider fit, did it fit?
Buying from a LDS, you can try things on to see if they fit.
My feelings are if it has to fit; your life depends on it, or you need servicing, buy at a LDS. I have bought a snorkel online and I am looking at a dive flag. Online, the dive flag goes anywhere from $19.95 to $44 for the same thing. If I buy from the LDS it most likely would be the $44. Allways check the return policy before buying online.

 

[Nudgeroni]

The return policy is solid for both the online vendors I worked with. Wetsuits by Bare (the vest brand) have the reputation of being true to size, so I figure I am risking the cost of delivery for the chance to have a hooded vest at less than half the cost of what the LDS offers.

Good point though, with exposure suits there is a risk that does not exist with an LDS. The problem for me is that there are few vendors in my area (only one within an hour's drive) that sell Bare, and those that do don't carry the complete line, so the risk is near to necessary.

 

[scratchmyback]

I would have purchased it at an LDS for various reasons but mainly because the class was fast approaching and especially after receiving the email two days prior, I would definitely have gone to a store to buy it. But that's just me. I would rather have something in my hand than worry about whether it's going to arrive in time. The extra savings are not worth it for me. JMO.

 

[redacted]

Buying from a LDS, you can try things on to see if they fit.

My experience with smaller LDSs is they don't stock the full array of sizes. So you get to look at a size Med to see how well it is made and then order the XL you think you need. But if that does not fit, they will exchange it for a "restocking" fee.

Or you can go to the better online sites, order 2 or 3 in different sizes that are sure to cover your needs; and then return the extra ones. The extra mailing charge usually still leaves you with a significant savings. And it is usually faster than ordering thru an LDS.

 

[SCOOBA PHAN]

I must not understand part of this. If the cost was the same as your lds, why not buy from the local guy where you get your air and get to know him a little better. what advantage is there to buying online if the cost is the same? tom

 

[Nudgeroni]

Good point awap on the multiple sizes. I may just do that with my westsuit purchase. I would think the online merchant would prefer sending out several at once to sending out one at a time until it's the right size.

Scooba Phan - the cost was not the same as the LDS. Even with overnight delivery the cost was less than half what I would have paid at the LDS. When I said I was out $30, I meant that after canceling the order for the first online vendor, the additional cost of the overnight delivery was about $30.

 

[ReefHound]

Good point awap on the multiple sizes. I may just do that with my westsuit purchase. I would think the online merchant would prefer sending out several at once to sending out one at a time until it's the right size.

Scooba Phan - the cost was not the same as the LDS. Even with overnight delivery the cost was less than half what I would have paid at the LDS. When I said I was out $30, I meant that after canceling the order for the first online vendor, the additional cost of the overnight delivery was about $30.

So what did you mean by "I needed to purchase a hood for my AOW class coming up, and found out I could get a reputable hooded vest on line for the same cost as the hoods offered at my LDS."?

 

[Debraw]

What was the cost of the hooded vest, plus the shipping fron the online store?
What was the cost of the hood plus tax from the LDS?

 

[redacted]

So what did you mean by "I needed to purchase a hood for my AOW class coming up, and found out I could get a reputable hooded vest on line for the same cost as the hoods offered at my LDS."?

For the price of a HOOD alone at the LDS, he could get a VEST w/ HOOD online. There is usually quite a price difference between a hood and a hooded vest.