Hi,
I've been following these discussions on whether to buy online versus the LDS, and for the most part I think its better to support the LDS. But up here in Edmonton, AB, Canada, I just can't do it. I thought about ranting and raving about the incredible difference in price that there is, but thats not even the main issue. There is such a limited number of LDS's here that they can treat you like crap and get away with it.
It all started shortly after we got certified a couple of years ago. We dutifully went and bought our snorkle/masks/fins from the shop we were taking the course at. The pool/classroom section went fine. Then we go to Jasper for our 4 openwater dives - well they had so many students that weekend that their cascade system couldn't handle it, so they only filled tanks to 1800 psi. Thats a very very short dive when you're first starting.
So we got our ceritification in any case, and our instructor did a pretty good job. In fact, before we signed up he said 'we support our students after they're finished - anytime you want to refresh your skills just join us when we're teaching a class at the pool for free'.
We thought thats pretty good, it can't hurt to refresh your skills if you don't get out enough. So we find out they're going to be at a pool (nice deep olympic diving pool) and think about going. My fiancee calls up and they want $25 per person to join them plus pool fee ($9 I think). They say they never ever offered free pool diving. What a joke!!
So I'm still on they're mailing list, and I get an email saying they're going to go diving at West Edmonton Mall. (see
http://www.westedmontonmall.com/entertainment/deepsea.shtml - you dive where the subs go) They want $75 per person for this. Well I think this is rather expensive and decline. Then I'm looking around at the wesites of Alberta dive shops, and see a shop from Calgary offering the same dive for
$50. And they're in another city over 200 miles away!!! What a scam!! There is no way I will ever spend a single dime at this place again.
So, would you support an LDS that acted like that? Its absolutely ridiculous.
Anyways, sorry for the long rant, but stuff like this frustrates me.
Darryl