The changing Scuba Industry

[cool_hardware52]

Well, and us non-professionals, cannot even attend DEMA to see what they have. Great show, feels like they are working against me.

DEMA is a Trade Show, not a consumer show. There is a legitimate place for both. Just look at the SHOTSHOW (which BTW makes DEMA look like it was held in closet by comparison) sets very tough requirements for attendance.

I'd suggest that they numerous consumer shows are doing a fairly good job, at least relative to DEMA, in reaching the *Consumer*

Tobin

 

[scubadada]

That's a silly assumption. It's called adapting to compete against the online warehouses that have little overhead.

Most small retailers in any industry have had to adapt and change to stay competitive. The ones that don't usually go out of business.

But it's the new culture. People go into the shop to see and touch that reg or dc and then go buy it online to save 10%.

So doesn't it make sense to just match that price for those who ask and capture the sale right there. Less profit is made up with not be volume sales.

I, and some others, are willing to pay a premium to handle gear in person, talk to a person face to face, have a place to obtain service and/or deal with problems. I buy some of my equipment online also.

 

[KevinNM]

That's a silly assumption. It's called adapting to compete against the online warehouses that have little overhead.

Most small retailers in any industry have had to adapt and change to stay competitive. The ones that don't usually go out of business.

Scuba Toys is a Dallas LDS. They have a pool for training in the back.

 

[CuzzA]

I, and some others, are willing to pay a premium to handle gear in person, talk to a person face to face, have a place to obtain service and/or deal with problems. I buy some of my equipment online also.

As do I, but unfortunately a lot of people don't appreciate that. I buy online as well; however, I give my LDS the first crack at the sale. Obviously there's simply some thing they just don't carry and it's too much of a hassle to ship it in for the little profit they would make.

At the end of the day, it's in my best interest that they stay in business. I like my jacked up fills and the access to helium and O2.

 

[CuzzA]

DEMA is a Trade Show, not a consumer show. There is a legitimate place for both. Just look at the SHOTSHOW (which BTW makes DEMA look like it was held in closet by comparison) sets very tough requirements for attendance.

I'd suggest that they numerous consumer shows are doing a fairly good job, at least relative to DEMA, in reaching the *Consumer*

Tobin

It's interesting though to see the social media numbers for DEMA as pointed out earlier. Social media is where people's eyes are everyday and it appears they are significantly lacking there.

 

[CuzzA]

Scuba Toys is a Dallas LDS. They have a pool for training in the back.

Perfect example of a company that has adapted. As well as DRIS, which spawned this thread. Good for them.

 

[dmaziuk]

consider the R&D costs of creating a new dive computer from scratch vs approaching an exist maker for a software tweek and bold new graphics.

You might be surprised. Google for Pi Zero (the only problem with those is they can't make them fast enough). The software is out there and open-sourced, for the pressure-proof body with buttons and battery compartment and all you'd have to find someone who can use 3D CAD and a 3D printer. I think it's well within a year one engineering course project at this point.

 

[cool_hardware52]

It's interesting though to see the social media numbers for DEMA as pointed out earlier. Social media is where people's eyes are everyday and it appears they are significantly lacking there.

I'm not defending DEMA, I think they are serving their dues paying members poorly. I do think Trade Shows should be limited to *Trade* only and consumer shows are the appropriate place for the end users.

Tobin

 

[Schwob]

You might be surprised. Google for Pi Zero (the only problem with those is they can't make them fast enough). The software is out there and open-sourced, for the pressure-proof body with buttons and battery compartment and all you'd have to find someone who can use 3D CAD and a 3D printer. I think it's well within a year one engineering course project at this point.

Great. How deep is it rated for? User changeable battery? The display looks a bit funny...

(Yeah I got your point about computer cost going down, just being silly... - and pointing out that these days the chipset is probably not the most costly thing in a good dive computer to begin with...)

 

[cool_hardware52]

You might be surprised. Google for Pi Zero (the only problem with those is they can't make them fast enough). The software is out there and open-sourced, for the pressure-proof body with buttons and battery compartment and all you'd have to find someone who can use 3D CAD and a 3D printer. I think it's well within a year one engineering course project at this point.

More than surprised, I'll be stunned. The numbers you need to pay off the R&D is huge. Can it be done as a labor of love and sold as a niche product? Probably. Will anybody actually make money doing so? I doubt it.

Tobin