The Great local dive shop vs. online debate

[Krisscuba]

the dive shop(s) i.e. Bens in Savannah is a ScubaPro dealer and they get together and have BC's made witgh the Dive Shop name on them.

I have owned s couple pieces of scubapro crap before.

 

[Krisscuba]

If you love to dive in tropical locations, why do you live in MA?

I have been diving 3 times as long as you have. I live in Florida.

Those who can ,...do! Those who cannot teach!

If your dive shop is not less then a hour from year round diving, it is a joke. It is one of those that think their business or hobby should be supported by others. It is only for Want a be divers and newbies! Such as described on the back of that garbage rag "Dive training" Cut the cord.

I have lived all over Florida and Hawaii, not too many snow ski shops around!

Bought my first wet suit early 70's custom, and my last late 90's custom.

Try www.aquaflite.com get a farmer john , custom made, 7mm wetsuit for $109.50

www.skindiving.com for custom wetsuits, or www.eaglereef.com design you own suit with your measurements.

I live about 6 miles from Vortex www.vortexspring.com, check out their web cams.

 

[LUBOLD8431]

Ya know, I really wanted to reply to your smartass comment, and say some real nasty things about you and your ugly wife (or is that your boyfriend?), but I decided against it....

People like you are scum, and not worth my time and energy.

Have fun on planet earth. I hope we never meet...

 

[bwerb]

LUBOLD8431 once bubbled...
Ya know, I really wanted to reply to your smartass comment, but I decided against it...<snip>... not worth my time and energy.

I try to make it a rule not to feed the trolls who can't spell

 

[Krisscuba]

Your PM calling me an ass, I resemble that comment in this situation, so It does not bother me. 12 years in the Marines I am sure I can out do you in the name calling. Getting your panties in a bunch when I called you a clown on the net, instead of your request of a private PM. I only called you a clown on the net after you called me one.

Sure sounds like you are one of those guys that runs a land locked, capitalistic, faggeet dive shop. this is what destroyed the indusrty and turned so many people off to diving.

You say you dive year round, on who. do you suck on more than regulators. I bet you blow more than bubbles.

 

[adjuster-jd]

I was recently OW certified and decided to purchase a BC at my LDS when I returned my equipment from the weekend's OW diving. I opted for the Oceanic Probe which is the same as my instructor uses. LDS price on this is $499 which represents a 10% discount from suggested retail. Ok. This sounded reasonable and I do get good service in the store.
THEN, I came home and looked at Leisure Pro's price. $349!!! Geesh, I realize there are some shipping charges, and I did expect to pay a little more locally, service has some value, etc, but a $150 difference in price???
What is a reasonable markup on BC's, etc?

Thanks.

 

[jonnythan]

They don't necessarily have a choice. A lot of manufacturers dictate the maximum discount the dealer can offer.

I would like to know how much my LDS pays for a piece of gear compared to how much I pay. But then again I really don't buy anything at the LDS.

 

[Al Mialkovsky]

It's true that many shops can't sell items for discount prices. What I found was I could get entire packages for pretty good prices through LDS's. But if you want the latest greatest then you'll pay plenty through the shop.

At my LDS I have spent plenty of money but recently I bought some fins online. There was a 75 dollar difference. I told the shop I was going to get them online and they couldn't lower the price more than a few bucks so I sent away for them.

Personally I would't spend an extra 150 bucks for a BC. Money is too tight for me to "support" the LDS. But they've gotten pleny of my money along the way.

 

[Northeastwrecks]

A reasonable markup is whatever the market will bear. That's called capitalism.

 

[the_kuang]

I usually buy small stuff from the LDS so that they see me spending money there and know that I'm trying to support them. However, for big ticket items I just don't have enough money to spend an extra hundred bucks in the name of "being loyal". Plus for me, my LDS doesn't carry the brands that I want to buy.