Sorry LDS but I want to Dive

[deepocean]

Hi

there are other online (and at the same time they have also "normal" stores)stores that DO repair and warranty stuff.

Xerxes

www.scubastore.com
www.simplyscuba.co.uk

 

[Tavi]

Originally posted by SubMariner
Just to play Devil's Advocate...

Will the equipment manufacturer WARRANTY the gear sold online? Several of them have indicated that they will not.

IOW, if you have problem with your Leisure Pro purchases, to whom do you turn?

Just wondering... :grip:

~SubMariner~

LeisurePro Warrantees what they sell. I Don't know about the others.

But, I wouldn't want to send my stuff back to them when I could just go to my LDS.

 

[JDostal]

I'm having the same indecision problem right now...I bought my basic stuff (mask, fins, boots, gloves, hood, snorkel) from my LDS before I took my OW class. I purchased a (barely) used BC from a friend of mine that got me into diving. Now the time has come to get my reg and my console....I will be buying a Poseidon Odin/Jetstream. My LDS has it listed for about $430...Leisurepro has it listed for $249.

I want to buy from my LDS because I value the relationship I have with it. I get great service from them. I had a zipper break on my boots, and I walked in and he tossed me a new pair of the rack, no questions asked. And he even changed up the size for me as the pair I had were a little too small.

But, I have a hard time spending $200 more on something just to buy it from my LDS.....

I know I'm more than likely going to buy from my LDS, just because I know and trust them (especially with something as important as my regulator), but it kinda hurts to know I'm passing up such savings....which I realize may not be the greatest savings when I have to give it up to Leisurepro for service....argh.

Maybe I can ask him to see if he can come down on the price a little bit...that would at least make me feel better about it!

 

[MSilvia]

It IS possible to get service done on things that aren't under warranty. I just had my (internet purchased/not under warranty) Genesis regulators (1st, 2nd, and Oct.) serviced and tuned at my favorite local LDS for about $55.

$800 in savings can buy a lot of service!

Originally posted by SubMariner

Will the equipment manufacturer WARRANTY the gear sold online? Several of them have indicated that they will not.

IOW, if you have problem with your Leisure Pro purchases, to whom do you turn?

~SubMariner~

 

[cstreu1026]

Does anyone know why all the LDS expect to get full retail price on equipment. I am very new to diving but have been skiing for the last 13 years and even work in a ski shop, for the last eight. Cincinnati is not a hot bed for either skiing or scuba diving. No shop in their right mind would ask full list price for ski equipment. What makes SCUBA gear so special? Now if only I could find a LDS owner that skis so we could do some trading. Then all would be right in the world.

 

[metridium]

Possibly for the same reason a car dealer has a posted list price: as a starting point for negotiations?

 

[JamesK]

Possibly, but then again, how many of them actually negotiate? Most I know only do if you are a long time customer.

It may be because the prices are set by the manufacturer. Some manufacturers do not want their gear sold for less then retail.

I used to be in the firearms business. A Glock 17 retailed for $619. I could not sell it for anywhere near that. I had to sell it for $459 to remain competitive. This was after paying $419 for it, plus $10 is shipping. If scuba shops did the same thing, i would have a LOT more gear! lol..

 

[NJdiver85]

Dive shops sell at full retail because they can! It's as simple as that. Sure, some manufactures will take away a shop's "authorized seller" rating if they sell below retail, but that is not the main driver. Most of the subscribers to this scuba board are price and cost saavy and well informed about purchase options and all the pros and cons. However, we here are NOT representative of the scuba gear buying public. Just go into your LDS and hang out there for a couple of hours and you'll see the reality. People new or relatively new to scuba plunking down buttloads of money for their first set of gear. They've never heard of LeisurePro, Simply Scuba, DiveInn, or any other online retailers. They don't know that they can get that regulator or new fins for 50% less somewhere else. That is the reality!

 

[metridium]

Originally posted by JamesK
Possibly, but then again, how many of them actually negotiate? Most I know only do if you are a long time customer.

Some will; if you're in the market for a large amount of gear, just shop it around for the best price. It may take awhile, but in my case, it was definitely worth it.

Originally posted by JamesK
It may be because the prices are set by the manufacturer. Some manufacturers do not want their gear sold for less then retail.

True. Two ways around that are either to buy those regs from European distributors, or get the LDS to throw in some gear or a useful class or two in for free. That way the manufacturer doesn't notice anything when auditing the prices their regs sold for.

 

[metridium]

Originally posted by tbg
They've never heard of LeisurePro, Simply Scuba, DiveInn, or any other online retailers. They don't know that they can get that regulator or new fins for 50% less somewhere else. That is the reality!

I can't imagine that'll last for long, though. The times, they are a-changing.