Regulator sourcing discussion

[Chris Brown Tech]

Your list shrank... LOL



Your reading skills suck BTW. I did not state they bought regs from the same source. However..., Atomic buys parts they use in regs from the same source I have regs made. Poseidon and SP and I share quite a few vendors for quite a few parts and completely assembled and produced product.

You want to know more put in a resume with a brand and get some experience working that side of this industry.

OK, lets talk some specifics as Im interested in how you compare. Lets start with Apeks. Owned by Aqua Lung as you know, but with over 30 years experience in the Scuba Industry operating totally independently.

They own and operate a state of the art design and manufacturing plant in England that is considered by many in the industry as the best facility in the world for Scuba regulator manufacturing. They employ people in design, manufacturing, sales and marketing that have pay and benefits under European Law. They invest in R&D and operate to ISO9001 standards. How does procuring parts from around the globe and having third party manufacturing facilities stack up to that?

Do you have a manufacturing facility? What do you make? If you do, I stand corrected and kudos to you as I understand the pressures of outsourcing and offshore manufacturing.

 

[divad]

Get a higher quality reg would be my advice. Scubapro, Aprks, Aqua Lung, Halcyon, Poseidon or Atomic.
.

APEKS components are made where?

 

[Chris Brown Tech]

I think the bottom line here is that Edge/HOG provides an excellent product at a great value and some people don't like this. Now look at who these "people that don't like this" are and where there interests lie.

Well, I see it the other way around, which is why I posted in the first place. An almost cult-ish following of the brand by owners and dealers that just wont entertain anyone elses opinion. Reminds me of auto enthusiasts. You know, those car owners clubs who meet in a field somewhere and talk about their brand of car and spout vitriol about anyone who dares to disagree with them.

Im not a Scubapro dealer. Dont like what Ive seen of the company thus far to be honest, however I have huge respect for their pedigree in the industry. They have been around since the beginning and have brought some excellent products to market over the years. I still recommend their regs though, as I recognize quality when I see it. I personally own many of them too.

Poseidon invented the single hose regulator. Their quality and innovation is undeniable. Love them or hate them, they make a quality product.

The ONLY point Im making in this thread is that for me personally, I recommend higher quality brands than Hog. Thats all. I never said they were rubbish. I recognize their market share and I commend them for being successful. I only subsequently objected the notion being touted in this thread that they are either equal in quality to the high end Poseidon, Apeks, Atomics, Halcyon/Scubapros and AquaLungs or that those manufacturers are doing similar manufacturing tactics to Edge.

I stand by that. They are not in the same league. Sorry. Nothing personal and I make no attacks on anyone personally on here and I respect your opinion, but Im still not convinced.

 

[divad]

They [HOG] are not in the same league.

Could you please elaborate for the benefit of those of us who are still straddling the (barbed wire) fence?

 

[Aqua-Andy]

Well, I see it the other way around, which is why I posted in the first place. An almost cult-ish following of the brand by owners and dealers that just wont entertain anyone elses opinion. Reminds me of auto enthusiasts. You know, those car owners clubs who meet in a field somewhere and talk about their brand of car and spout vitriol about anyone who dares to disagree with them.

This can be turned around. Most dealers of other high profit margin scuba products talk about how Edge/HOG products are sub par in quality but have no evidence to back it up. Don't talk opinions, talk facts. All the manufacturers you tout have price controls, won't sell parts to the consumer.

Im not a Scubapro dealer. Dont like what Ive seen of the company thus far to be honest, however I have huge respect for their pedigree in the industry. They have been around since the beginning and have brought some excellent products to market over the years. I still recommend their regs though, as I recognize quality when I see it. I personally own many of them too.

"Dont like what Ive seen of the company thus far to be honest"
But you have no problem selling there product "Halcyon regs"

Poseidon invented the single hose regulator. Their quality and innovation is undeniable. Love them or hate them, they make a quality product.

Yup... Quality product I agree, just try to find someone to service them properly. Just because you were the first does not make you the best.

The ONLY point Im making in this thread is that for me personally, I recommend higher quality brands than Hog. Thats all. I never said they were rubbish. I recognize their market share and I commend them for being successful. I only subsequently objected the notion being touted in this thread that they are either equal in quality to the high end Poseidon, Apeks, Atomics, Halcyon/Scubapros and AquaLungs or that those manufacturers are doing similar manufacturing tactics to Edge.

You still have not stated any facts of why they are not the same quality as the the other well known manufacturers products.

I stand by that. They are not in the same league. Sorry. Nothing personal and I make no attacks on anyone personally on here and I respect your opinion, but Im still not convinced.

So you are saying what I and others have been writing here are opinions? What have you been writing?

---------- Post Merged at 09:21 PM ---------- Previous Post was at 09:21 PM ----------
sorry double post

 

[Chris Brown Tech]

Could you please elaborate for the benefit of those of us who are still straddling the (barbed wire) fence?

While Im still on an Apeks comparison I'd say that ISO9001 standards would be an example. Hopefully Chris will come back and answer what if anything he actually manufactures in house with his own employees and how it stacks up to Apeks' state of the art facility.

Id like to know how the quality of materials compare too. Im sure the big names will source some (probably rubber and plastic) parts from China which in todays economy is only to be expected. In my opinion theres a massive difference between having years and years of research and development into a product line and then outsourcing some less critical component manufacturing to an offshore facility, than taking an RFQ/RFP or similar to a foreign company that manufactures complete products and asking them to build something for you.

IMO the former guarantees further innovation and maintains high standards in the marketplace. The latter creates competition and keeps prices realistic and provides choices.

 

[diversteve]

APEKS components are made where?

England?

We design, develop, test, manufacture, and assemble products in our purpose-built factory in Blackburn.

All About Apeks

 

[Chris Brown Tech]

This thread had such potential because I myself am deeply interested in picking up two BP2's. I already have four D1 cold water 1st stages, one D2 special, and 6 HOG 2nd stages and have been in caves and tech dives with them and absolutely love them. The HOG's breath much better than my ScubaPro MK17/S555 and similar but more comfortably than my previous APEKS DST/XTX50's. I have also taken a service class on them and now happily service my own.

But it didn't take but the very first response on this discussion to derail any hope of having a meaningful answer. It is really pathetic. Most people stumbling onto this thread based on the title and original question very likely don't care in comparing against APEX. A separate thread should be opened for that with an appropriate title.

I dont think so. An opinion was aked by the OP and I gave my answer. I recommend buying high end regs. I still stand by that advice. Now Im being asked to explain why and others have chimed in with their opinion. Nothing wrong with that. This is a chat board.

 

[chrpai]

I dont think so. An opinion was aked by the OP and I gave my answer. I recommend buying high end regs. I still stand by that advice. Now Im being asked to explain why and others have chimed in with their opinion. Nothing wrong with that. This is a chat board.

You really should read it again. He didn't open the door as wide as you think he did IMO. He asked very specific questions about the BP2, not whatever brands you happen to sell.

 

[Chris Brown Tech]

You really should read it again. He didn't open the door as wide as you think he did IMO. He asked very specific questions about the BP2, not whatever brands you happen to sell.

I dont sell Scubapro or Atomic.

Point taken though. If a mod considers the bulk of discussion off topic, happy to move it elsewhere.