Question About Regulator Store

[mike_s]

Biggest downside of Leisurepro is most LDSs hate them. Some will even blackball a customer they believe is doing business with LP. So be careful talking to your LDS.

While this might be true with some shops, any LDS that 'backballs' a customer because they shoped somewhere else is not worthy of any money most of us would spend there anyway.


As for LeisurePro, besides the warranty issue, they also often sell European models or the products come with a manual in another language. If you read the fine print on their website they actually list that somewhere. According to some manufacturers on here, products sometimes come with the serial number tag cut off a BC or something for example so the source of the unauthorized product can't be traced.

But non of this makes the product unsafe.

However, why buy from so a 'gray' dealer, when you can buy from a LDS that will match LP's prices and give full warranty? Many LDS's do that to keep your business. Especially those who want to keep you as a customer instead of 'blackballing' you.

 

[Stu S.]

I bought an Oceanic regulator from a local store and liked it. I bought a second one for a family member from Leisure Pro. They are exactly alike in all regards...except price. It came with a Leisure Pro warranty which is fine with me, as the probability of them being around in the future probably is greater than that little dive shop. Our family dive budget is not huge, and we can do more things when we spend less for good equipment. I can order Tuesday and get it by UPS ground on Friday.

Use the power and size of the internet market to your advantage. Leisure Pro is a tremendous asset for the modern diver. You will be hard pressed to find an un-satisfied customer. If local small retailers had pricing to match Leisure Pro, there would not be a Leisure Pro. Happy diving!

 

[Jim Lapenta]

As long as you do that you can be pretty sure that little shop won't be around. Have fun when you need that reg serviced on thursday or friday when you need it to dive on saturday and that little shop is closed. Get LP to fill your tanks too. I've bought from them but it was only when my shop did not carry what I wanted and have never bought life support gear from any place other than my local. If local small retailers had as many customers as LP and other businesses that support them(Adorama) and lower their operating costs they could buy enough to lower their prices. BTW Oceanic does not sell to LP and has been spending lots of money to find out where they are getting their products to cut them off. This also means cutting off their supply of parts to service your reg. Then you'd have to go to that little lds wouldn't you.

 

[Stu S.]

Hey, Mr. Jim, you are a lucky diver. If only I could find someone I can count on. One little dive shop could not fix a valve in a month. I had to take my regulator second stage apart in front of the owner and point at the exhaust valve. "Do you have one of these?" He rooted around in a box and passed me one for two bucks. I popped it in and was good to go. That's the only way I could get a timely repair. The other little guys could not fix an octo I bought from them, after two attempts. I thought I was being a "good guy" when I bought a premium BC from that shop. They told me to call the manufacturer when the weight pocket zipper broke. Sherwood apologized about them and sent me a new one.

What about Leisure Pro Service? My computer had a software glitch that affected the "Logbook" mode. It was not dive safety related. Leisure Pro gave me a full manufacturer's warranty, contacted Cressi for me, and I got a fresh new one in time for the next dive.

In 30 years, the scuba retail biz has come full circle. I bought my first gear at a department store. There is a new store up in Lake Mary Florida called Gander Mountain. It is an outdoor sports department store with hunting, fishing, archery, scuba gear, nitrox and air. That is probably the future the diving public wants, and we will find out, as people vote with their dollars. I'll be passing through there tonight, and I'll stop in and give you a full report if you like. I'll ask about equipment service, too.

When somebody asks about getting gear from Leisure Pro, I will gladly tell them that it has been a good experience for me.

Thanks / Stu S.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

Sorry about that. If I was in your shoes I admit I'd do the same thing. Not supporting an lds strictly because of price is one thing. But your experience is a different matter. I would not do business with a shop that could not provide basic service either. I'd like to hear about the gander mountain. We have one here but it does not carry scuba gear. In fact it seems to be hurting since Cabela's opened up a few miles down the road and a Bass Pro is supposed to be coming in even closer.

 

[mike_s]

I'd like to hear about the gander mountain. We have one here but it does not carry scuba gear..

The Gander Mountain scuba stores are actually stocked and run as a joint venture with Divers Direct. They just started this partnership this year with 4 Gander Mountain stores as a "test concept". Middletown, N.Y.; Spring, Tex.; Lakeville, Minn.; and Lake Mary, Fla., If the test concept works, I imagine they'll expand that to other stores depending on the market.

see
http://www.gandermountain.com/news/newsitem.asp_Q_id_E_7390

 

[carolrose]

The Gander Mountain scuba stores are actually stocked and run as a joint venture with Divers Direct. They just started this partnership this year with 4 Gander Mountain stores as a "test concept". Middletown, N.Y.; Spring, Tex.; Lakeville, Minn.; and Lake Mary, Fla., If the test concept works, I imagine they'll expand that to other stores depending on the market.

see
http://www.gandermountain.com/news/newsitem.asp_Q_id_E_7390

The Gander Mountain in Middletown is pretty impressive. They have a huge amount of gear, and most of it is out where you can touch it, check it out, etc. For basics like fins, boots, etc, there are more choices then you ever need, but in a good way. They are the most local dive shop to me, and will be very convenient for basics. I haven't bought anything there yet, but being that it's not a dive shop persay, I have to assume that they won't be experts on the equipment they are selling the way a traditional LDS might be. I guess it will be a matter of choice for local divers, do they go to the LDS where chances are they are more knowledgable, or go to Gander Mountain for the amazing selection.

 

[Stu S.]

O.K., divers... everything about the new Florida Gander Mountain store was roomy and bright. That store is well over 100,000 sq. ft. You can buy a 19 foot boat. There were a couple of these inside. The Divers Direct section was probably 4 or 5 thousand square feet. Right in the middle of the store traffic. Everything was presented in a very deluxe manner. Plenty of fins, for sure. There was good selection, but the brands were pretty much limited to Tusa, Mares, Aeris, and Oceanic. A lot of Florida divers like Dive Rite and Zeagle, and these were not there. Good prices on Faber. Prices were the same as Diver's Direct stores, as you would expect. No dry suits, or tech gear, just good basic stuff.

What impressed me was the number of people examining scuba gear. A lot of outdoor types in camo T-shirts were giving it a good look. Many dive stores are in out-of-the-way places, and this store is anything but. My wife liked the looks of the place and suggested I get the HP-80 tank for our daughter. Next week, maybe.

Lake Mary is a fairly affluent community (I don't live there myself), and the entire store has an ambiance that should please the locals. This concept has staying power, in Lake Mary, anyway.

That's it / Stu.

 

[mike_s]

Did either of these Gander Mountain stores have air fills available or have dive instructors on staff? (either in the store selling stuff or at least did they offer classes? just curious).

 

[Stu S.]

Gander Mountain in Lake Mary FL, has (or will have shortly) air, and I believe Nitrox. I did not spend a huge amount of time there. The news release posted earlier says that they will offer instruction, using local instructors. I did see the store is open until 10pm on Fridays.