scubapro mk17 service kit backordered?

[randykiw]

sorry for the double post - I originally posted this in another forum but it was suggested that I move this over here to hopefully get a response.

I am wondering if any authorized scubapro dealers can tell me if there is sometype of back order on mk17 service kits? I have regs in getting serviced and the lds keeps telling me for 7 weeks now that they are waiting for kits for the mk17, my second stages are done.

This is the first time I have had the regs serviced. Does it typically take this long or do I need to find a different LDS?

 

[akscubaduck1]

It's possible, but are shop just received 50 kits last week.
I think maybe your LDS might be full of it.
7 weeks is just a little to long to wait for service.
Has that 7 weeks put you outside you 13 month window for warranty work (free parts)?

 

[randykiw]

It would put me past the 13 month window for warranty work, but the lds had the regs on the 12 month service date.

 

[cbrich]

Make sure they honor free parts since they have had it in their hands before the 12 months. They should let you borrow a reg free charge since the work on your reg will take 7 weeks.

 

[randykiw]

I don't think the free parts will be an issue. But when you pay a fair amount of money for equipment and it takes an unreasonable amount of time for something that is not brain surgery, it tends to p!$$ a person off. Ya they will give me loner regs, but when you buy regs don't you want to use your own.

Lessons learned:
1. Find a good lds that cares about their customer service after they make the sell. (Maybe this also means a higher volume dealer that has more kits in stock)

2. Don't buy two regs that need yearly service at the same time. One is my wife’s but she does not dive with me all the time - so if it was on different service interval I would have it to use.

 

[Couv]

Hello again Randy,

I'm happy to see you will be looking for another dive shop. Your statement about the second stages being complete before the first stage tells me that something could be rotten in Denmark. While your LDS may actually mean the second stages are complete with the exception of final tuning, they cannot be complete until the first stages are finished. The second stage final tuning is set to the intermediate pressure the first stage delivers, so without finishing the first stage, the second stage cracking pressure can only be guessed at.

The next issue to think about is service frequency....do you really want to spend the money on having your regulators serviced every year? Have a look at this thread where we addressed the issue previously. The post by LuisH, Awap, Mattboy and Herman, Pesky ....I'm sure there are others, are particularly enlightening.

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/regulators/254164-how-often-does-regulator-need-serviced.html

Finally, have a look at the former sticky the Usual Suspects wrote to help you with a few pointers re regulator inspection.
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/4320058-post14.html


Take care,

Couv

 

[randykiw]

Thanks for the info couv - interesting reads. I believe the yearly rebuild stuff is just so the lds can make money. Question I have is if i skip the yearly rebuilds how much is a shop going to charge me for parts when I take it in for service? Realistically I could probably buy a new reg every few years from an online shop with all the money i saved by not having the rebuilds done.

Looking for an IPG now.

 

[NJDiver07866]

Hello Randy... I'm a DIY guy and own a good variety of SP regs. The main reason I am DIY is because I was too frustrated with the service of my regs. It is not rocket science, but it's also not as simple as fisher price. Scuba Pro charges a truck load of money for their kits... I have purchased a few MK17/11 kits through the gray market and they ran me ~45 each a kit.

As far as 'skipping' a annual service. Don't think of it as 'skipping', you should never go two years without inspecting the regulator and giving it love. Just how you should never go two years without checking the air in your tires or checking your oil. But also I know LDS like to call it 'rebuilding' your regulator with 'fresh' parts. You don't 'rebuild' your car engine every year?!??! It is a marketing ploy to make you feel good about spending $$.

Point being, 7 weeks is nuts, find another shop. As far as reg service, If you are not skilled or willing to take the time to learn how to 'check the tires' or 'change the oil' etc.. then it's better to just pay the $$. But honestly, it's not that difficult to service your own regs if you have the mental capacity. But on the otherhand, I meet a good amount of people that honestly would make terrible reg techs. For example, my brother in law, I love em.. but his hands are soft as butter and he works in a cube all day. He has difficulty working a 3 hole punch.

You have to make a choice, change LDS, and continue to pay $$$ for service and if there is a problem just give the reg back to them with no head aches... this is how it should work and they should support you the diver by giving you rentals when you need to dive.. this is what you pay top dollar for. Along with the insurance, heat, light, etc.. it costs to run a dive shop... For people like my brother in law.. I say just spend the $$$...

The other side of the coin is to learn how they work and do it yourself. What's your time worth, who is willing to teach you, how will you get parts, You can buy top of the line tools at scubatools.com.... some DIY go cheap and just get the bare minimum...

For me I'm nuts.. and bored... I spent ~500 bucks building my tool bench... o-rings, tools, guages, trinkets and do dads... hours reading books... reading scubaboard, asking a few LDS about reg repair.. (some will share, some will only give you 10% of the story because they are protecting their rice bowl)... I find pleasure in it..... and think it's good to know how they work and know what common problems are etc.. I'm the type of person that will take apart my DVD player when it's broke. I won't fix it, but I just like seeing all the tiny gears and thing-a-ma-jobs...

Just keep in mind the legality of it all. Honestly you are right in PA and I would love to sit down and show you how the MK17 works. But I'm S*hi*t scared because what happens if you expire and I'm named in a suit? That's the thinking behind reg service and why you pay good amount of money at the LDS. So your two choices are continue to pay $$$... (which goes to their 5 Million Dollar GL policy to save their @-s-s- in the event you expire an mommy brings them to court)... and the $$$ goes to Scuba Pro for their 5000% markup kits... (they have to have insurance, heat, light, file cabinets, and employees).... or come to the dark side... we have cookies...

 

[randykiw]

NJDiver07866

All good points. I kinda figured they would charge a outragious price for the service kits if they are not under warrenty. I am somewhat technically inclinded but don't really want to get in to servicing the regs myself. I was just considering checking the ip on the regs and not taking them in for service unless I felt there was a reason too. I basically subscribe to if it ain't broken don't fix it. But having said that I really don't mind paying to get them serviced annually if I can find a good tech that does it in a reasonable amount if time. I know as of now I spent my last dollar at that shop. And what they don't realize is that I recommended 3 other people who went there an did there ow cert there and are looking to buy regs. But now they will not buy equipment from that lds, they have been shopping around at several other lds that are much farther away than buy from them.

 

[oxyhacker]

It's always worth, if a dealer tells you parts or kits are not available either because they are backordered or in the case of older regs discontinued, is to just call the manufacturer and ask them if they really are.

In the case of a reg which is still under warrantee and is supposed to have free parts, you have every right to ask the manufacturer for help if the dealer cannot provide servicing is a timely fashion.