Should I walk and/or run from this LDS?

[GSDMan]

I have a LDS near my house that is very convenient. I purchased just about all of my gear there last summer and have been wanting to see how they did with training. Recently, I got their newsletter where they offered a Sea Signs class for $50 and I figured, "What the hell, it may be fun." I signed up and paid on 5/27 for the class which was scheduled for 6/9. I got a call 6/2 from the LDS saying that the class scheduled for that night was being cancelled since I was the only person to sign up and my credit card would be credited the $50. I said, "Uh, okay, I paid cash." To that they said, "Really? Okay, we'll send you a check." I said, "I don't think so. I'll stop by the shop and take cash since that's how I paid you." To that I got a pissy, "Fine." Then I asked, "By the way, I thought the class was scheduled for NEXT Monday and not tonight." Dead silence. "Uh, hold on." More silence. He comes back and says, "Wow, you're right. Do you still want cash?"

Should I be worried?

Jim

 

[diver 85]

That's probably their way of record keeping ie checks back to customers vs cash showing IRS they have reimbursed some funds.........As far as the date error, I would not worry about that----now, if you get the check, that's a different story.....lol.....btw, we do the same thing in my office---cash in checks out, have never had one patient say anything about this method in over 30 years........

 

[DeputyDan]

Yep - the check gives a trail of where the money went.

Cash is more questionable.

I think this is a normal practice.

 

[Oxy]

Doesn't sound like anything to worry about, unless you plan on shopping there a lot.

 

[The Chairman]

Things don't always go as planned. Of course, you could always help them out and put in a blurb about the class you want to take in your local Trips and Market Place. You might get a few buddies to join you and teach your LDS about :sblogo: at the same time.

 

[Rhone Man]

I think it shows what most people probably worked out a while ago. Most LDS owners are slightly haphazard businessmen. It is a labour of love.

 

[Debraw]

I think it's ok. The dive shop industry is not nearly as organized as say the...hmm let me think....brain surgery business for example. Go by there, chat with them and see what happens. Maybe they just need to get a few more people together and it will make in another two weeks or so. They just got their dates confused. It's normal for checks out, better for accountability to the IRS, if they are ever asked. Mistakes are made. Some shops are better than others. You might want to just check another one or two out that are close to you.

 

[seaducer]

ehhh, most LDS owners are divers first, buisnessmen (and I use that term loosely) second. As long as they are personable to deal with and knowledgeable about diving, I will cut them alot more slack than I would a major retail mart or a utility company.

 

[ScubaSarus]

Unless the check bounces, its good business sense to refund using a check as proof of refund. B e thankful you are not getting a rain check or being strung along

 

[Colliam7]

I got a call 6/2 from the LDS saying that the class scheduled for that night was being cancelled since I was the only person to sign up and my credit card would be credited the $50. I said, "Uh, okay, I paid cash."

The person who called was probably looking at the list of people signed up, not how they paid. Since, most people pay for virtually everything these days with a CC, he/she was probably making (what turned out to be an incorrect) assumption.

To that they said, "Really? Okay, we'll send you a check." I said, "I don't think so. I'll stop by the shop and take cash since that's how I paid you." To that I got a pissy, "Fine."

Is it possible they were just trying to be accomodating by offering to send you a check in the mail, to save you a trip to the shop to pick up cash? Obviously, I wasn't on the call and you have to judge the tone, but this doesn't seem like bad behavior.

Then I asked, "By the way, I thought the class was scheduled for NEXT Monday and not tonight." Dead silence. "Uh, hold on." More silence. He comes back and says, "Wow, you're right. Do you still want cash?"

It is not uncommon for Sea Signs classes to be taught through dive shops, but by independant contractors. Unfortunately, in some cases shops don't take much ownership of these courses, don't pay as much attention to the details of date and time, and will cancel if it looks like they aren't going to fill. Sounds like the shop made a mistake, after which the person on the phone was asking if you still wanted a refund, or wanted to wait another week to see if anyone signed up.

Should I be worried?

No.