The Golden Rule v. Dive Deposits

[fullytek]

It's not about what I can afford it's about customer unfriendly policies and having the choice to spend my hard earned money elsewhere.

If you can't afford to return deposits when your boat can't run you probably shouldn't be in the diving business.

Risk must be shared.
If dive boats keep getting stiffed there won't be anymore dive boats.

I said this already. If I'm not going to be able to make money then I'll spend that time with my fiamily or I'll go diving myself.

If you can't tolerate the financial risk of diving off my boat than you are going to miss out on some really nice diving.

 

[flymolo]

There's plenty of boats in my old neighborhood All of which gladly refund divers if the boat doesn't run.

Look it's your business you can do whatever you want and justify it how ever you please. I won't ever dive with you and I'm not the only one.

i thought you were from long island. there's only 2 boats left here.

 

[flymolo]

I was originally from Long Island. There never were all that many boats and I know of several where the Captain/owners aged out and retired or died.

Your claim that they'd still be in business if they kept their customers deposits is ridiculous.

i never actually said that.

i know a few of them that folded up because it's just not that profitable aymore, or because they were no longer willing to sacrifice the time.

if it were actually an easy business to run i would imagine you'd have younger captains stepping up to take their places, but that's not happening.

either way to address the OP, it doesn't make sense that a customer would be due a refund for thumbing the dive. it's not like the captain forced you to not dive..

 

[flymolo]

Sorry I was confusing you with the other poster who suggested the only way to successfully run a dive boat is to keep customer deposits even when the boat doesn't run.

yeah but he also said he often has to move the boat somewhere closer to the dive site. so now he's using gas to do that, and presumably he's paying additional docking fees at whatever marina he's gonna keep the boat at. you think all of that should fall on him if the weather doesn't cooperate?

 

[wetb4igetinthewater]

Risk must be shared.

Risk is shared. Customers who fly in risk not being able to dive when it was their plans to do so. But no one controls the weather. So it is what it is.

To me, the solution is simple. Just travel to places where dive charters have a reasonable refund policy. No limit to those. You've turned off who knows how many people from this thread.

Sure I'll miss good diving there, but I'll make good diving elsewhere. Works for me!

I don't expect you to change based upon some curmudgeon like myself. You have already shown you've dug your heels into your policy. I'm just expressing my viewpoint which others will hold the same view.

yeah but he also said he often has to move the boat somewhere closer to the dive site. so now he's using gas to do that, and presumably he's paying additional docking fees at whatever marina he's gonna keep the boat at. you think all of that should fall on him if the weather doesn't cooperate?

That should be factored into his prices. Why should an individual pay for services not received?

 

[flymolo]

Why should an individual pay for services not received?

because you setup the charter and picked the destination?

 

[fullytek]

Risk is shared. Customers who fly in risk not being able to dive when it was their plans to do so. But no one controls the weather. So it is what it is.

To me, the solution is simple. Just travel to places where dive charters have a reasonable refund policy. No limit to those. You've turned off who knows how many people from this thread.

Sure I'll miss good diving there, but I'll make good diving elsewhere. Works for me!

I don't expect you to change based upon some curmudgeon like myself. You have already shown you've dug your heels into your policy. I'm just expressing my viewpoint which others will hold the same view.


That should be factored into his prices. Why should an individual pay for services not received?

It's like this
The people who have a problem with paying a deposit are the same ones who are not going to show up.

I'm not sad about loosing the business of people who are not going to show up.


This policy is driving away the exact people we are trying to avoid.

 

[wetb4igetinthewater]

It's like this
The people who have a problem with paying a deposit are the same ones who are not going to show up.

I'm not sad about loosing the business of people who are not going to show up.


This policy is driving away the exact people we are trying to avoid.

I can't speak for everyone in the world, but no one reasonable has a problem with paying a deposit that they lose if they flake out. I'm all for the dive charter keeping that, as then they are losing revenue.

I, and others, do have a problem when the charter cancels for whatever reason. Now if I'm a local, not a big deal. but if I flew in, yeah, credit for the future doesn't work.

Your policy drives away more than just people who flake. But that's your call. It is literally your business.

because you setup the charter and picked the destination?

That's something I've never done in all my years of diving. Where you going? Oh cool. Sign me up. Here's my deposit.

 

[jadairiii]

If you can't part with loosing a deposit then you probably shouldn't be diving.

This should be the "Golden Rule" of diving.

If some diver is going to put a minor monetary loss over his/her safety, well, again, they shouldn't be diving.

 

[wetb4igetinthewater]

This should be the "Golden Rule" of diving.

If some diver is going to put a minor monetary loss over his/her safety, well, again, they shouldn't be diving.

Does safety include insufficient staff being available? Or not enough customers?