The great big, all-inclusive Leisure Pro note

[Wreck]

Leisure-Pro and other sites like them do plenty of business now, but I predict their reign will come to a screatching halt soon!

If they're anything like some of the old mail order camera places based out of NYC, I don't think so (e.g. Adorama, Tri-state). I've dealt with the bait-and-switch runaround from these guys before, although I was savvy enough to guide them down the right path. I'm still amazed that they do enough business to support the heavy advertizing I see in all the pro mags. They should have enough disgruntled customers by now to burn the place down!

I've bought from leisure pro (mostly small-ticket items ) and have been completely satisfied with them. Mileage is going to vary though.

 

[neil]

PS. I don't think the staff dives. I asked what type of gear he used and the guy on the other end of the phone, began to stutter

I lived in NYC for a long time. I'm willing to bet that nobody who works there has ever dived, or ever will. They are retailers: they saw a market and jumped on it. The dive store used to be over the camera shop that was the original business.

Neil

 

[Wreck]

There is something called the "grey market". It is a methodology that marketers can use to get products at less than wholesale and sell for a lower retail.

I'm not sure if the correlation is direct or not, but "grey market" items in the photographic market are purchased overseas at foreign market pricing (always lower than in the US) and resold in the US at a mark-up but still cheaper than the same model sold for sale here. Have a look at www.bhphotovideo.com to see how many products have a grey market equivalent. Usually, the only difference between grey and non is in the warranty. Grey market warrantees may not cover as much as a US one. For my pro Canon gear, Canon actually warratees grey market equipment in the US as if it actually had the US warranty, but they are not obligated to do so by the warrantee. Kudos to Canon for this generosity - Nikon would never do this.

I still have to ship some of my (US-warranteed) Canon gear to their factories for repairs (done this several times) so not having to ship may be a moot point depending on the company and item. At other times, a local shop can do the repair.

However, in general, I purchase things from my local scuba shops because I want them to stay in business.

I purchase big-ticket items from my LDC for the same reason. But everything else is so small in cost, they're not really going to lose much if I shop at another LDC or on-line. They also don't stock/carry every small item that I happen to want to buy. However, the convenience factor, try-before-you-buy, and follow-up service (hopefully unecessary) is where the LDC makes the most difference to me.

I have found that the difference in price--when all the shipping and handling, returns, etc. are taken into account--is small.
Joewr

If the final cost was really *that* small, why would anyone even bother with LP? I know I wouldn't. There has to be more reasons to shop with LP then...

 

[Wreck]

The Scubapro warranty covers free parts as long as you own the reg. All you ever pay for is the labor (typically $20 - $25 per stage).

Thanks, Ken
(Yes, I'm a Scubapro Dealer)

Actually, comparing the prices to their equals in other brands, the parts cost seem to be built-in to the inital cost of the whole reg. (Remember front-loaded vs end-loaded mutual funds?) It's always better to get as much money up front as you can due to the time-value of money, but I degress here. That doesn't make the warrantees any less valid.

I should start a new survey thread and ask how long people really use a single reg....

 

[sgtmnstr]

Bought BC, Regs ,wet suit, speargun , etc all through LP, I am very happy with there service and got exactly what I ordered quickly on about four seperate orders. I was also able to register my gear on different manufactures sites without problem. Again if they can't give a manufacturers warranty they give there own. At our LDS they tried to say our equipment would not be warranted. When I asked were they got that info, they said through there salesman. What would you expect!!!. What I saved on my BC and regs paid for my dive comp.(also at LP). as far as I am concerned alot of people in the biz are scared of the priceing because they can't or won't compete. I am all about supporting the local biz, here and at home, but I work real hard for my cash, and if you compare prices you know how badly you are getting beat by alot of shops. Think about it, Leisure-Pro is still making money or else they wouldn't be in buisness. Even in a worse caseno warranty situation, you could buy a new one and still save money.

Rich

 

[sgtmnstr]

Don't belive the Hype.

 

[armyscuba]

<------Hey Look over there it's a link to LeisurePro on ScubaBoard..I have Bought all types of Gear from them..an informed internet shopper. They still will get My business..Everything I have ordered..was what I saw on the Web..it came in the original packaging and I was able to register all the gear with all the MFG's on their websites or by mail. Great Prices..No Complaints here...I think Dive Shops get scared with their prices. If everyone wasn't trying to beat You for every dime they'd do more business lowering prices as well. Good Luck

 

[scubasean]

Genesis - check your sig for commas before the org.

Now back to our regularly scheduled program....

Genesis is long gone...

 

[VTernovski]

So, LeisurePro.com is a sponsor of Scubaboard.com... that's funny.

 

[H2Andy]

Genesis is long gone...

no he's not. he was on today at 9:01 a.m. check his profile.

he's just not participating as much.