RTdiver
Registered
Hey guys, for my birthday a couple of weeks ago, I got a gift cert from my fiancée and she paid for my scuba cert. The only thing that I'm waiting on is for the shop to get enough people together for a Saturday class. At this time they only offer classes during the week which conflicts with my work schedule. I can probably adjust, but instead I'd prefer to use the time to prepare for classes and research gear.
My question is in regards to the gear, the shop only carries 6-8 brands of which only two are ones that I recognize as major brands. Scubapro and Oceanic. I spoke with the DM and he said that all he uses is Scubapro so he cannot speak to the quality of the other brands that the shop carries. My issue is that I'd like to be able to have some type of selection. It makes me wonder if I am really getting a good deal on things when I have so little to choose from. The fins that carry are all about $200, not that it's a big deal, but I've seen so many other brands that I'm interested in looking at. All of the fins that I have seen are also split fins too, I'm sure that they could order others, but there are only about 6 pairs on display.
The advantage of going through the shop is that they offer a 10% discount since I am taking the class through them, but with their pricing, I'm not sure if this is much of an advantage. For example, the spring straps that are on the back of the open fins run $79, but when I look online at other retailers, they are much less. They service the brands that they sell so that's a good thing. At least I won't have to ship anything off if I purchase through them, and if there is something that I purchase that does not work for me, they will let me exchange it.
Am I really missing out by purchasing through this shop and not buying online or is it really not going to make much of a difference in the end? BTW this is the only dive shop in town. I do not know any other divers so I really have no one else to ask but you guys. I live about an hour and a half North of Los Angeles, so worst case, I can drive to LA and make purchases there.
Thanks for all of your help!
My question is in regards to the gear, the shop only carries 6-8 brands of which only two are ones that I recognize as major brands. Scubapro and Oceanic. I spoke with the DM and he said that all he uses is Scubapro so he cannot speak to the quality of the other brands that the shop carries. My issue is that I'd like to be able to have some type of selection. It makes me wonder if I am really getting a good deal on things when I have so little to choose from. The fins that carry are all about $200, not that it's a big deal, but I've seen so many other brands that I'm interested in looking at. All of the fins that I have seen are also split fins too, I'm sure that they could order others, but there are only about 6 pairs on display.
The advantage of going through the shop is that they offer a 10% discount since I am taking the class through them, but with their pricing, I'm not sure if this is much of an advantage. For example, the spring straps that are on the back of the open fins run $79, but when I look online at other retailers, they are much less. They service the brands that they sell so that's a good thing. At least I won't have to ship anything off if I purchase through them, and if there is something that I purchase that does not work for me, they will let me exchange it.
Am I really missing out by purchasing through this shop and not buying online or is it really not going to make much of a difference in the end? BTW this is the only dive shop in town. I do not know any other divers so I really have no one else to ask but you guys. I live about an hour and a half North of Los Angeles, so worst case, I can drive to LA and make purchases there.
Thanks for all of your help!