Taking The Gear Plunge

[showboat]

What LDS are you going to that were rude to you and if I were you then I would not purchase anything from them. There is a place in Davie that will take their time and answer all your questions that you may have.

Divers Cove on Univerversity and Nova Dr.
(954) 473-1220

I have been going to them for many years and would hate to go anywhere else.

Or Divers Direct are very helpfull as well you might want to consider some of these recommendations.

Search around before you buy as you are dealing with your life.
:doctor: =-) :boom:

 

[Krisscuba]

If you need an affiliation with a LDS, buy your gear there. I have long since cut the cord with LDS's. I have more gear then I can use,..used and new.

You are in FT Lauderdale FL home of the discount dive shops. You probably willnot find a better deal then going through the local discount diver's

 

[BIGSAGE136]

DIVER ALERT DIVER ALERT

Thanks in HUGE to the replies I am happy to say that The Scuba School & dive Center BEAT lp's package on reg octo and guage.
I am happy because these are great guys. Laid back, check them out.

 

[zuzanne]

Just my 2 cents worth on this issue. I have bought from Dive Shops & Discounters, I have also heaven forbid bought on eBay. One thing that I don't see addressed on this subject is that the Big Discounters or Chain Stores can buy from the MFG in bulk therefore getting a much better price than an individual shop can ever get from them. As usual it comes down to $$$, the small dive shop has to pay 2 to 3 times more for a piece of equipment than the discounters do, therefore they can't sell it for what the discounters can. Especially on the big ticket items like BCDs or Regs.

I agree that sometimes the customer service in some dive shops need to drastically improve. As well as attitudes of some of the instructors to new divers. They need to remember what it was like to just be learning this wonderful sport of ours and how confusing not to mention expensive all of the equipment is.

Like I said just my 2 cents worth.


Suki

 

[DandyDon]

:all: Of course, not all LDSs are the same...

It's surprising how many choices we have here on the Texas high desert, as enjoyable (to me, anyway) diving requires a 70 mile drive AND THEN at least two plane rides first to DFW, then to Florida, Coz, etc. And people here generally don't travel much. The common idea for any vacation is based on what a family can do with a day's car drive - to the Rocky Mountains, or downstate to Six Flags, etc. The connections seem to include:
(1) The LDSs wouldn't have much SCUBA interest locally if they weren't sponsoring group dive trips. If they weren't working at developing the sport/hobby locally, they'd have little reason to exist.
(2) If it wasn't for their development, finding a local instructor would be very difficult - even if one could select and order all of the right equipment on-line or by phone.

But we do have several in the Texas Panhandle/South Plains area, albeit larger than most countries. None within an hour's drive of me, but my local instructor helped me start with an LDS about 80 minutes north of my home, and he's been great, on prices, suggestions, instructions and service at and after the sale. Yet, he's still 150 miles round-trip away, and I don't go north otherwise.

I do go to the south metro area weekly, and we have three there. I don't yet like any of them as much as the north former, but I'm keeping at open mind as I re-examine my opions. Of those south, the one I like the best is not as focused as my north further away first choice, a good bit higher in prices I think, and not as helpful, but then - it could be me? :whoa: They're still my best day to day resource, so I keep working that direction.

But then - by the time I started with them, I already looked like a walking dive store when I boarded a boat, so I don't guess I'm taking much to the possibile relationship. I already have my AOW when I went to them for my Nitrox class, and I'm not interested in further C-card development. I work in retail, too, so I can appreciate their possible feelings. For now, I refer prospects their way, consider them for group trips, and consider them for possible purchases.

Anyway, I still support trying to buy locall, as we need the support of the LDS, and they need ours.

 

[ElectricZombie]

If you can find a decent LDS in your area and the prices are reasonable, I say buy locally. The real problem is finding a good LDS that isn't going to try and screw you over. I don't see anyting wrong with purchasing online if your LDS is unable or unwilling to help.