Empty V
Contributor
Wow that's really lame, sorry to hear that you got "fleeced" (corniest word ever) by a dive shop. I know I'll never do business with this sham of an LDS.
Billy
Billy
Socal Chartered Boat Dive Protocol
- Thread starter peraevum
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Damselfish
Contributor
Is there something that we as local So Cal Divers can, or maybe I should ask should do in a case like this? I.e. would it help for us to contact the shop, politely, and let them know we think what they did was wrong, and that we will be advising other divers about the situation? I wonder if she was local and not from Chicago if the reaction from the shop would be different?
They would do well to re-word their "check in by 6am" to be clear that if your not there by 6am, you are out of luck ... sounds almost like a ploy to make people miss the boat more often
I am sorry this happened, and I would have hoped that you would get your refund, maybe you should persue the BBB aspect
DB
I am sorry this happened, and I would have hoped that you would get your refund, maybe you should persue the BBB aspect
DB
Looking at their web site it appears they already have.
By all means file a complaint with the BBB. Others can email them to let them know what they think of their questionable business practices- their contact page is here- Scuba Center Temecula - Your Local Full Service Dive Shop
They've been given the opportunity to respond but have not done so yet, Hmmmmm, wonder why?
And the best recourse, don't spend your money with them!
The problem is that Temecula is a bit of an isolated area. I doubt there are many options for those inland divers that live near there. The impact from all us outsiders will be negligible. I doubt I would have spent any money with them anyway, other than if they had a convenient charter lined up. I think they need to hear the voice of the dive community, and/or at least let us know their side of it.
I also doubt it is a coincidence the check in time has been changed now. Anyone looking it up will think that's how it was.
Sport Chalet in Temecula, several options in Riverside and northern San Diego county, Scuba Center at Camp Pendleton would be a few other options in the area.
And you are correct- except for the occasional charter impact from divers outside the area would be minimal.
Their honesty has been questioned here- interesting that they choose not to respond.
And you are correct- except for the occasional charter impact from divers outside the area would be minimal.
Their honesty has been questioned here- interesting that they choose not to respond.
ScubaCenterTemecula
Registered
First let me say this, I hesitate to reply because I’m concerned that what I say may be analyzed, over analyzed and/or distorted from what I meant. With that said, I’d like to thank John for bringing this post to my attention this morning. I’d also like to thank Ken for actually looking at our website and finding out some of the facts behind the issue. As well as Ann, I’m not sure why I didn’t get Ann’s e-mail or a message that she called but, none-the-less, here’s my side of the story.
When this person called she was talking to me, the owner, so I know exactly what was said to her. I very clearly told her our policy on departure times. I told her that check-in was by 6am as we like to get an early start. I informed her that she could sleep on the boat the night before if she wanted to AND told her that MOST of our people do that because of the 6am check in. I NEVER told her that the departure time was 7am, never, not once. What I told her was this, “Check in is no later than 6am, once you have checked in you need to get your gear on the boat as soon as possible as we NEVER leave later than 7am.” I say that so people don’t stress about having everything on board by 6… just that they have checked in.
For those of you that have reserved judgment until you’ve heard both sides of the story, my hat is off to you, and I appreciate it. The facts are like this… even though the boat will hold many more, we limited the total to 18 divers and in 2007 sold spots for only $115.00, FYI in 2007 that would equate to just a little over $8.00 per person above cost. She was aware that we only sold 18 spots and that there would be no refund if she missed the boat. I spoke with her more than one time as she called several times and was ALWAYS told the same boarding and departure policy. We don’t charter this or any other boat for profit… I’m sure we could, but we do it as a service to the divers in our area, and yes, occasionally divers from out of the area. We aren’t a big company that doesn’t care about customer service, we are just a husband and wife team that are divers and have a dive shop in our area so people can get quality products and service for a fair price without having to travel a long distance.
Please don’t take this wrong, it’s not that we don’t care… In fact just the opposite, I care deeply and am truly sorry that she couldn’t make it to the boat on time. However, anyone that has ever chartered a boat can tell you just as many horror stories about divers that never show up and/or never call for whatever reason. Is it fair to the other divers that WERE on board On Time to wait for unknown reasons for unknown amounts of time for people that may or may not show up? After missing the boat, this person called the Bottom Scratcher on Saturday and told them that she arrived at the dock at 6:45am. Then on Monday when she spoke to me on the phone she claimed 6:15am and now on this board she claims 6:30am. I bothers me when people distort the facts to bend them into their favor.
I offered her spots on a different trip anytime in 2008 and she said, “If you don’t give me back my money I’ll just trash your name on the boards and deny the charge to my credit card company.” That’s when I took the hard line of “No Refunds” as our policy clearly states. I still to this day would let her join us on a trip, even after having dragged our name thru the sludge.
If anybody still doesn’t understand my point and has an honest to goodness question, please feel free to contact me at my personal e-mail account at the store. phillip@scubatemecula.com. I only ask that we all be civilized about this, and not pass judgment until we know ALL of the facts.
Phillip
When this person called she was talking to me, the owner, so I know exactly what was said to her. I very clearly told her our policy on departure times. I told her that check-in was by 6am as we like to get an early start. I informed her that she could sleep on the boat the night before if she wanted to AND told her that MOST of our people do that because of the 6am check in. I NEVER told her that the departure time was 7am, never, not once. What I told her was this, “Check in is no later than 6am, once you have checked in you need to get your gear on the boat as soon as possible as we NEVER leave later than 7am.” I say that so people don’t stress about having everything on board by 6… just that they have checked in.
For those of you that have reserved judgment until you’ve heard both sides of the story, my hat is off to you, and I appreciate it. The facts are like this… even though the boat will hold many more, we limited the total to 18 divers and in 2007 sold spots for only $115.00, FYI in 2007 that would equate to just a little over $8.00 per person above cost. She was aware that we only sold 18 spots and that there would be no refund if she missed the boat. I spoke with her more than one time as she called several times and was ALWAYS told the same boarding and departure policy. We don’t charter this or any other boat for profit… I’m sure we could, but we do it as a service to the divers in our area, and yes, occasionally divers from out of the area. We aren’t a big company that doesn’t care about customer service, we are just a husband and wife team that are divers and have a dive shop in our area so people can get quality products and service for a fair price without having to travel a long distance.
Please don’t take this wrong, it’s not that we don’t care… In fact just the opposite, I care deeply and am truly sorry that she couldn’t make it to the boat on time. However, anyone that has ever chartered a boat can tell you just as many horror stories about divers that never show up and/or never call for whatever reason. Is it fair to the other divers that WERE on board On Time to wait for unknown reasons for unknown amounts of time for people that may or may not show up? After missing the boat, this person called the Bottom Scratcher on Saturday and told them that she arrived at the dock at 6:45am. Then on Monday when she spoke to me on the phone she claimed 6:15am and now on this board she claims 6:30am. I bothers me when people distort the facts to bend them into their favor.
I offered her spots on a different trip anytime in 2008 and she said, “If you don’t give me back my money I’ll just trash your name on the boards and deny the charge to my credit card company.” That’s when I took the hard line of “No Refunds” as our policy clearly states. I still to this day would let her join us on a trip, even after having dragged our name thru the sludge.
If anybody still doesn’t understand my point and has an honest to goodness question, please feel free to contact me at my personal e-mail account at the store. phillip@scubatemecula.com. I only ask that we all be civilized about this, and not pass judgment until we know ALL of the facts.
Phillip
Now we have both sides of the story. Thank you Phillip for posting this information. All too often, and given only one point of view, people judge based on the information given. I’m sure you will discover most of the membership will react fairly given the same set of facts. Again, thank you for posting.
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