craracer
Contributor
- Messages
- 895
- Reaction score
- 72
- # of dives
- 200 - 499
About a month and a half ago I bought a brand new drysuit ($1700.00) from a local LDS.
The problems began immediately. They didn't have the inflation hose because they had sold it to another customer.
I ended up driving back and forth between home and the shop (about 60 miles) three times, and still don't have a hose. The shop loaned me one of their rental suit hoses, which I had to return after use.
When I first brought the suit home I noticed that there was a tear inside the bag for the suit. I took it back to the shop for a replacement. When I got home with the new bag, I noticed that someone had written, in Sharpie, the letter "M" on it. So, they didn't give me a new bag. It was another one of the rentals. So, one more trip back to the store. At this point, I still hadn't even dove in the suit.
When I bought the suit, I also paid for dry gloves, and a ring system to retro-fit them (made by the manufacturer for this suit). I spent hours trying to get the rings into the suit. It finally took a phone call to the manufacturer so they could walk me through it. They told me that it was "extremely difficult" to put the rings in, so I know it wasn't me being a tard. They also told me to purchase 2 additional rubber gaskets to help secure the rings. So, back to the shop I went. During the 45 minute drive to the shop (one way without traffic), I kept thinking "Why the heck didn't they come with the extra gaskets?".
There are 1/2" rubber strips that go around the neck and wrist seals of the suit. They were coming unglued. I could see that the glue holding the strips to the suit was dried out. I started thinking "How long has this suit been sitting on the shelf?" So, I went back to the store, where they told me that it was no big deal as they were "decorative". They wouldn't give me the suit cement to make the repair. I had to buy it.
The dry gloves were "On back-order", so they were kind enough to loan a used pair to me as my Advanced EANx/Deco class was in 2 days. I had to return them after my class. Out of curiosity, I called the manufacturer, who stated that they were not out of stock.
During my first of three deep/long dives, the left arm leaked a lot, but my hand was dry. During the second dive, not only did the left arm leak, but the right followed suit. Both hands were still dry. More of the same during the third and final dive.
The next day I returned the suit to the shop and explained all of the problems I had been having. I also told them that, under no circumstances did I want this suit back. I want a new one. They apologized and assured me that they would take care of it.
It's been a month and 3 days since I returned the suit to them. I've called them twice to request that they call the manufacturer for an ETA. Twice they've told me that they would, and would call me back. I have yet to hear from them. The shop told me that it could take up to two months to get a replacement because "They may need to make one if they don't have it in stock". This is an off-the-rack suit with no modifications. Again, I called the manufacturer and they told me that, at most, it would take 2 weeks (but typically one week) to ship a suit to a shop.
I only have the manual, CD, and hood for the suit. The rest is God knows where.
They told me that I could use one of their rental suits whenever I want. However, what do I do if it's rented out? It also requires me to drive 45 minutes, one way, to get it (then I have to return it).
Needless to say, I'm pretty nervous. The last LDS punked me when they sold me a fill card, and then promptly went out of business the following day (the owner sold me the card).
If you were me, what would you do?
The problems began immediately. They didn't have the inflation hose because they had sold it to another customer.
I ended up driving back and forth between home and the shop (about 60 miles) three times, and still don't have a hose. The shop loaned me one of their rental suit hoses, which I had to return after use.
When I first brought the suit home I noticed that there was a tear inside the bag for the suit. I took it back to the shop for a replacement. When I got home with the new bag, I noticed that someone had written, in Sharpie, the letter "M" on it. So, they didn't give me a new bag. It was another one of the rentals. So, one more trip back to the store. At this point, I still hadn't even dove in the suit.
When I bought the suit, I also paid for dry gloves, and a ring system to retro-fit them (made by the manufacturer for this suit). I spent hours trying to get the rings into the suit. It finally took a phone call to the manufacturer so they could walk me through it. They told me that it was "extremely difficult" to put the rings in, so I know it wasn't me being a tard. They also told me to purchase 2 additional rubber gaskets to help secure the rings. So, back to the shop I went. During the 45 minute drive to the shop (one way without traffic), I kept thinking "Why the heck didn't they come with the extra gaskets?".
There are 1/2" rubber strips that go around the neck and wrist seals of the suit. They were coming unglued. I could see that the glue holding the strips to the suit was dried out. I started thinking "How long has this suit been sitting on the shelf?" So, I went back to the store, where they told me that it was no big deal as they were "decorative". They wouldn't give me the suit cement to make the repair. I had to buy it.
The dry gloves were "On back-order", so they were kind enough to loan a used pair to me as my Advanced EANx/Deco class was in 2 days. I had to return them after my class. Out of curiosity, I called the manufacturer, who stated that they were not out of stock.
During my first of three deep/long dives, the left arm leaked a lot, but my hand was dry. During the second dive, not only did the left arm leak, but the right followed suit. Both hands were still dry. More of the same during the third and final dive.
The next day I returned the suit to the shop and explained all of the problems I had been having. I also told them that, under no circumstances did I want this suit back. I want a new one. They apologized and assured me that they would take care of it.
It's been a month and 3 days since I returned the suit to them. I've called them twice to request that they call the manufacturer for an ETA. Twice they've told me that they would, and would call me back. I have yet to hear from them. The shop told me that it could take up to two months to get a replacement because "They may need to make one if they don't have it in stock". This is an off-the-rack suit with no modifications. Again, I called the manufacturer and they told me that, at most, it would take 2 weeks (but typically one week) to ship a suit to a shop.
I only have the manual, CD, and hood for the suit. The rest is God knows where.
They told me that I could use one of their rental suits whenever I want. However, what do I do if it's rented out? It also requires me to drive 45 minutes, one way, to get it (then I have to return it).
Needless to say, I'm pretty nervous. The last LDS punked me when they sold me a fill card, and then promptly went out of business the following day (the owner sold me the card).
If you were me, what would you do?