Don't we all get tired of trotting out the same old, tired crap on these types of subjects? Do you trumpeting moralists seriously think that blasting the "sinners" in your righteous indignation is really going to "convert" them to your point of view? What tactic is that, "shame them into joining me"? Now I like to think I have morals and ideals myself, but the way they're used on forums like this is just ugly. And besides that, it's really just a cop out since you can't think of a real way to solve the problem, which is more an economics version of an unstoppable force meeting an immovable object than a moral dilemma.
Let's please put this one to rest -- the "support your LDS" mantra is simply not going to work. It never has. If you can give me a good historical example of protectionism beating out efficiency in the long run, I'd love to hear it. So if you want to contribute to the solution, start thinking about ways the industry can CHANGE to survive. Otherwise, all you're doing is venting. And that's using us readers and our time, without asking. Shouldn't YOU be paying a THERAPIST for that? That's my industry, so maybe I should start whining about that.
Here's another one virtually everyone agrees with, so let's quit repeating it: it's lame/poor taste to knowingly take advantage of someone. That includes a dive shop whose equipment you use with no realistic intention of buying. It's my belief that very few people actually do this. In other words, almost anyone would pay a reasonable markup to support the store that is offering the service of trying the gear. Problem is, most stores haven't figured out a successful business model that allows them to limit their markups to what's reasonable. And the guy or gal who walks into the store, knowing that they might buy it online if the price isn't reasonable, does so with a conscience unburdened by the fact that they know that in their heart of hearts, they would support the dive shop if it wasn't so ridiculous. And they're giving the store the chance to change and earn their business every time they walk in the door, even if they know the shop most likely won't. That's the shop's fault, not theirs. And there's nothing wrong with continuing to give them the chance if you honestly would buy at an *honestly* reasonable price.
Really, exorbitant prices are the result of shop owners who cannot/will not come up with a more successful business strategy. Whine all you want about how there's nothing they can do, but how are you going to explain the class-act brick-and-mortar dive shops that also make significant revenue selling gear online (ahem...ScubaToys, CaveAdventurers, etc.)? I personally witnessed a local "internet only" dive shop start small, then get big enough to branch into a brick-and-mortar store with training and the whole bit. That might be part of the solution. Maybe dive shops are starting at the wrong end of their sector. Maybe they need to become good businessmen AS WELL AS great dive mentors to succeed. If a dive shop owner can't do that, maybe he or she will have to get another job, just like the rest of us have to when things don't work out. But whining and despising the unwillingness of their customers to pay more than something's worth is NOT a winning long term strategy.
So take that to the bank, stick it in your pipe and smoke it, or do whatever you want with it, but please stop crying about how life isn't fair for you as if the same isn't true for all of us.
Now, to practice what I preach (and man is this a long sermon--sorry), let me introduce a new idea. Maybe dive shops are not the answer. Maybe independent dive CLUBS are the answer -- co-op kinds of things. With an organized club, deals can be made with manufacturers, compressors (and their expenses) can be shared, and divers will have to become more responsible for themselves and their equipment. There would be waivers galore so no one could sue for their own stupidity. And then only the serious and competent individuals would be in the sport, bringing down a large proportion of diver-error accidents, cattle-boats, and manufacturers who refuse to sell o-rings and plastic seats to surgeons, engineers, and transmission mechanics because they don't have the "proper training" available only to those who have enough time (and lack of need for much money) to work at least part time at a dive shop. Sure, there would probably be volunteering, donation drives, the whole bit. But there would also be the dignity of not being gouged, of being treated as an equal, of being worthy of buying o-rings directly from the manufacturer gods who grant us underwater breath!
END RANT
