Question re: Scubastore.com

[gxtoast]

Is it any wonder with prices being as they are that new divers are in short supply?

Yep, I believe you have hit the nail on the head. That this is a major reason why Scuba diving is not a thriving sport in Australia and New Zealand. I don't know about the health of the sport in North America.

I just went into an LDS and looked at the price of the Aqualung Slingshot fins. They were $399 AUD recommended retail price (RRP). How much are they on Leisurepro? $124 USD. Convert to AUD and add $90 USD shipping and you get roughly $220 AUD, delivered. Add a couple more items and you get considerably better returns for your shipping cost.

Prices like these will help the industry thrive. If your LDS came closer to these prices (don't have to match) then people would purchase more from their LDS and be much more happier to spend saved dollars on more services and value added things unique to their LDS. Why don't people understand this kind of thing? People are happier to spend their hard earned $$ when they have a real perception of value.

Marketing is all about building on the perception of value and in some markets this means high prices and high quality. But Diving is no longer this kind of market. High quality yes, high prices no.

It is very interesting that Aqualung and Scubapro like to really voice their oppostition to shops like Leisurepro. Yet, they still sell to them. Is that law that requires them to sell to them? Or, is it the fact that they sell a lot of product?

Perhaps they also like the fact that they get to sell a lot of product without the cost of supporting warranty?

 

[BB1]

Yep, I believe you have hit the nail on the head. That this is a major reason why Scuba diving is not a thriving sport in Australia and New Zealand. I don't know about the health of the sport in North America.

I just went into an LDS and looked at the price of the Aqualung Slingshot fins. They were $399 AUD recommended retail price (RRP). How much are they on Leisurepro? $124 USD. Convert to AUD and add $90 USD shipping and you get roughly $220 AUD, delivered. Add a couple more items and you get considerably better returns for your shipping cost.

Prices like these will help the industry thrive. If your LDS came closer to these prices (don't have to match) then people would purchase more from their LDS and be much more happier to spended saved dollars on more services and value added things unique to their LDS. Why don't people understand this kind of thing? People are happier to spend their hard earned $$ when they have a real perception of value.

Marketing is all about building on the perception of value and in some markets this means high prices and high quality. But Diving is no longer this kind of market. High quality yes, high prices no.

It is very interesting that Aqualung and Scubapro like to really voice their oppostition to shops like Leisurepro. Yet, they still sell to them. Is that law that requires them to sell to them? Or, is it the fact that they sell a lot of product?

Perhaps they also like the fact that they get to sell a lot of product without the cost of supporting warranty?

That is exactly my thoughts as well. I tried to buy and support numerous of my local LDS's but none want to even try to come to the party except one and they are unwilling to come close enough. So my thousands of dollars will be spent in the USA and UK....

Recently my LDS did come up with a price that was close enough for me to part with my dollars, 3 weeks later I'm still waiting for my goods!!! Could have been here in 3 days from the USA!!! Yet another way locals drop the ball........

The losers in this are the LDS and the distributors but they seem happy to carry on overcharging those fewer and fewer very new divers who trust their LDS to advise them.

I want to buy what I feel is a quality product at a "fair" price. By fair I mean fair to me as a consumer and fair to the Vendor who needs to make a "fair" profit.

There is one new small player in the market who seems to match this and they will get my dollars!