PADI Card renewal ripoff

[Christi]

I know Aow doesn't really mean anything, but it is often required in the US probably becasue of insurance requirements and legal liabilities.

This is an accurate statement and I guess I should have elaborated more to that end. The AOW card means that you have at least 9 dives and have done basic navigation and a deep dive. BTW, a deep dive as defined by PADI standards is over 60 feet. For liability purposes, I can see why a US op would require that minimum certification.

OMG Chrisit, didn't recognize you. I need more coffee, but it would help to put your pretty smile on your Avatar.

Tahnk you Don...haha! It's not so pretty right now, I have braces again..at 38 years old!

 

[fairybasslet]

Tahnk you Don...haha! It's not so pretty right now, I have braces again..at 38 years old!

Didn't wear your retainer, huh? I'm going to have to tell my son that. He got his braces off about 6 months ago, went for recheck a couple of weeks ago, and the orthodonist said his bottom teeth are shifting already. I am not paying for braces again, that's for sure.

 

[rockjock3]

If you do the Nitrox course, they only want to give you the Nitrox card - which is not actually a Dive card. Then they want to charge another $30 to get the combined card! Ripoff plus insult.

When I got my last Padi card, I phoned, got a supervisor, griped, and she finally agreed to issue the combined card.

Might have just been the person you talked to. When I got my MSD I simply wrote on the bottom of the form "Please add my Nitrox cert on this card." I got my card in the mail with the combined cert and no additional cost.

 

[Axeman]

Your logic kind of escapes me. If going direct costs $30, why would using a middle man i.e. the LDS be cheaper? Is the LDS going to eat the extra $10 that it costs? If anything, I would think that going through your LDS might cost more money since they are using their time and resources to get something for you that you can very easily get for yourself. Not only that, but it seems like you would have to make at least 1 trip, if not 2 to the LDS to pick up your card, unless you expect them to eat the cost of mailing it to you. And you just can't walk into your LDS and not buy something!! That's against the law. So now, a $30 card probably winds up costing you a couple of hundred.
BTW, when I got my CPR card, it only cost $5. Now I think that is a true "cost" price. And that included mailing. And when my son got his Basic EMT card, complete with a photo ID, that cost nothing. Now if he loses it, I have no idea how much it would cost to replace.

My logic is as folows. The shop can get you your card for total cost to them 22ish or if NAUI more like $14. If you are a good customer some shops would only charge you that. See cheaper....

/endlogic

I sign my paycheques over to the shop anyways so I dont have to worry about spending more money because I was at the shop.

I also frequest the shop quite a bit so its not a special trip and no one will have to mail anything to me.

So yes you are easily able to get it yourself but if you are a cheap whiner then you are probably used to going out of your way to save 5 or 10 bucks. Therefore it won't be a problem.

 

[Axeman]

The flaw in my logic is that most cheap whiners don't spend money at the LDS and try to get everything on the internet so their LDS probably hates them and wont help them out with a lost card.

 

[RonFrank]

The flaw in my logic is that most cheap whiners don't spend money at the LDS and try to get everything on the internet so their LDS probably hates them and wont help them out with a lost card.

Actually the flaw in your logic is that many LDS's are not in the practice of discounting ANYTHING for ANYBODY. Instructors/DM's being the exception.

I'm on very good terms with the owners, staff, and instructors at our LDS. But they are a business, and just because I know these people, have dove with them, and am on good terms with them does not mean they bend over backwards to give me, or anyone else, discounts on stuff.

 

[Christi]

Actually the flaw in your logic is that many LDS's are not in the practice of discounting ANYTHING for ANYBODY. Instructors/DM's being the exception.

I'm on very good terms with the owners, staff, and instructors at our LDS. But they are a business, and just because I know these people, have dove with them, and am on good terms with them does not mean they bend over backwards to give me, or anyone else, discounts on stuff.

Exactly, businesses are in business to make money, period. Just because SCUBA is a fun hobby for some, doesn't mean that shops and agencies should provide them with free stuff or even stuff at cost. While they are in business to support SCUBA divers, they are businesses as well. Some of these people that constantly complain about mark-ups on things or those that expect discounts at every turn obviously don't understand this concept.

Do these people get freebies or discounts from the grocery store, or gas station, etc. just because they frequent the place?

I wonder how they would feel if the tables were turned...if someone went into their place of business and tried to get a discount on something based on the fact that the product or service is marked up to begin with? Or because they are a frequent customer.

Anywhere you go to buy consumer products or service will be marked up from the actual cost of the item/service....it's called business!

 

[Axeman]

Thats really too bad because I have the oposite experience here. They are in business but for a lost card they are pretty good.

Also if you are a good customer that dives often the discounts always seem to be avaliable up here.

 

[fairybasslet]

The flaw in my logic is that most cheap whiners don't spend money at the LDS and try to get everything on the internet so their LDS probably hates them and wont help them out with a lost card.

 

[Axeman]

Exactly, businesses are in business to make money, period. Just because SCUBA is a fun hobby for some, doesn't mean that shops and agencies should provide them with free stuff or even at cost. While they are in business to support SCUBA divers, they are businesses as well. Some of these people that constantly complain about mark-ups on things or those that expect discounts at every turn obviosly don't understand this concept.

Do these people get freebies or discounts from the grovery store, or gas station, etc. just because they frequent the place?

I wonder how they would feel if the tables were turned...if someone went into their place of business and tried to get a discount on something based on the fact that the product or service is marked up to begin with? Or because they are a frequent customer.

Anywhere you go to buy consumer products or service will be marked up from the actual cost of the item/service....it's called business!

I dunno. I dont ask for discounts at the grocery store but I never pay full retail for anything big. I just ask for the best deal and dont give them a hard time. Dive shops are specialty stores and in most specialty fields there is a lot to move on margin so not many people pay the sticker price.

I agree if someone comes in and wants a discount on defog and hasnt been in the shop before. I wasn't saying that the shop should give you a discount becuase you hang around. But customers who are in the shop all the time spending money tend to get discounts and it is "possible" that they might be able to get you a replacement card for cheaper.

If you only stop in once in a blue moon then no you will probably be easier to get it from the agency directly.

I am not just talking out of my *** here. I was the manager of a LDS for 2 years and I frequently did things like replace a lost card for someone who had spent a lot in my store for 15 bucks (NAUI) instead of charging what we usually did. It is called building relationships and is also part of business.