Tank for life

[CAPTAIN SINBAD]

There are some dive shops that offer this program called Tank for Life. You buy a tank from them and they keep it for you and maintain it for you. You never get to pay for visuals or inspections and you get your air free for life. In return for that if you are not using the tank and the LDS needs it they will have others use it. Has anyone participated in such a program? Are there any disadvantages to sharing your tank with such a high circulation if your air is free? Or would it make more sense to buy a tank, keep it and pay for air when diving. Thoughts and Opinions welcome.

 

[oly5050user]

Sounds like a LDS that is limited in its capital out lay..How long are they going to be around before they close?.Why go with that plan if you have the same hassles of renting? Still need to drive there and pick it up..You would have to plan on diving in advance, no spur of the moment stuff..

 

[Dr. Lecter]

How much does it cost to "buy" a tank in such a program? What are the odds you'll get the tank if the shop goes bankrupt (hint: pretty much 0 if it's stored on their property when the creditors come knocking)?

 

[CAPTAIN SINBAD]

The cost is the same but as mentioned, the deal comes with some "perks." Free air for life means that assuming you are doing 100 dives a year locally on air and each dive is 8 bucks of air then that means you save 800 USD on air a year. Plus, free inspections etc.

Is this fairly common among dive shops? Or are you guys hearing this for the first time?

 

[Jim Lapenta]

I have never heard of this. And if they need to rent your tank to someone how much of the rental fee do you get?

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[Iknee]

I participate in a similar program with a Virginia Beach area dive shop. I purchased 2 tanks from them, and I get free air for life. The were used AL 80s, new hydro, vis and repainted. $125 each. The tanks paid for themselves the first year. The difference is that I keep the tanks, and have to pay for regular service (it can be anywhere).

 

[Dr. Lecter]

Never heard of this, and anything I supposedly owned would never be kept at a small business to which I did not have keys and a good knowledge of its solvency. Locally, a LDS has a membership program for $100/yr ($75/yr military) that gives you (among other perks) two free tank fills per day of air, 32%, or 36%.

The 'free air for life if you buy a full priced tank from us' approach makes a lot more sense to me. The hydro/viz costs don't balance out the investment risk and inconvenience of having to leave the tank with them as part of a rental fleet. If it was an O2 clean tank and they assumed the annual O2 cleaning fees for the tank and valve...I'd reconsider

 

[spectrum]

Unless you live next door the loss of having the cylinders at the ready in your dive locker makes this a loser in my opinion.

If your dive style is to always head out with the same shop group it could be a good deal. If you meet there or if they'll provide it at the dive site. This could make a lot of sense if you are quarry bound.

If it ends up making good sense then the risk of losing the cylinder in a bankruptcy or other snafu is moot. You will already be $$ ahead soon enough.

Pete

 

[halocline]

It could be an amazing deal if you dive locally quite a bit and if the shop is convenient. What you're basically doing is getting a lifetime tank rental for the price of a tank. If you do 5 dives/month that's more than $400 in air fills every year at our local prices. AL80s sell for less than half that. I'm not sure how any shop could make any money doing this to be honest. There are lots of details; what if someone they rent it to bangs up the valve, do they replace it? If it fails hydro or vis are you out? What if you show up to get it for a dive and they've rented it out to someone? Will they give you another? Do you have to give them a specific amount of notice? What about after diving, when is it 'due' back in the shop? You'd need some sort of contract.

I use tanks at home to work on regulators so this wouldn't work for me.

 

[Colliam7]

Is this fairly common among dive shops? Or are you guys hearing this for the first time?

I am hearing it for the first time. Now,m I am intrigued to find out more of the details. Sounds a bit like a time share, or executive jets where ownership is shared. It certainly might be advantageous for certain divers. Looking forward to learning more.