Was I ripped off?

[neutrallybuoyant]

Hi everybody, I'm new to the board and have a question. about a month ago i took my reg (a cressi airtech with a genesis octo) in to my LDS for annual service. It's only about two years old with less than 40 dives on it and has never given me trouble. When it was time to pick it up i was surprised when i was informed that they overhauled the reg. Now my main issue with this is that an overhaul costs quite a bit more than just a regular servicing. Now if this overhaul was actually necessary then i'm glad it was done. But i asked the worker if my rinsing of the reg appeared ok, she said yes, i asked if there was any corrosion, she said no. Apparently it was just "ordinary wear." Now again, if my reg really needed the overhaul that's great, but i'm skeptical that it did. What do you guys think? Was I ripped off? Is overhauling a reg even a viable way for a shop to make money? thanks.

 

[scuba70]

I hope not. I'm no regulator tech, but you should be able to trust your LDS. If you can't I'd say find another shop. I know that there is no way to know for sure, but you could call another shop and ask their opinion. My LDS always gives everyone their old parts back. They are very good about explaining what needed replacing and showing you why with the old parts. Good luck.

 

[ScubaSteve]

Did you happen to ask specifics on what was required and why? If yes, post those details and watch the posts fly.

 

[300bar]

1st define overhaul and service.
When a reg comes in to our store we can do 2 things,
1 pre divetrip checkup,IP,leaking,hoses and mouthpiece.
2 annual or bianual rebuild,then we take it apart and replace all by the mfg.stated parts.HP seat exhaustvalve,membrame and all O-rings.clean it inside out and reassemble and test.

Btw.you left out the "best"part the $$$

 

[neutrallybuoyant]

I guess i didn't ask too many questions (I would like to think I can trust them). As said above I asked about rinsing and corrosion and if there were any problems. I got an answer to the effect of "just normal wear and tear." Now the person i was talking to wasn't the one who serviced the reg. Is anyone out there familiar with cressi regs?

 

[ScubaSteve]

This response makes the answer to 300bar's question of the cost even more important. Unless you can define what was done and what it cost, it is unlikely that anybody will be able to say if it was good value or not. I would say more than likely you were not ripped off, but post the specifics that you have and you will get great service here at the SB Cafe.

I guess i didn't ask too many questions (I would like to think I can trust them). As said above I asked about rinsing and corrosion and if there were any problems. I got an answer to the effect of "just normal wear and tear." Now the person i was talking to wasn't the one who serviced the reg. Is anyone out there familiar with cressi regs?

 

[neutrallybuoyant]

1st define overhaul and service.
When a reg comes in to our store we can do 2 things,
1 pre divetrip checkup,IP,leaking,hoses and mouthpiece.
2 annual or bianual rebuild,then we take it apart and replace all by the mfg.stated parts.HP seat exhaustvalve,membrame and all O-rings.clean it inside out and reassemble and test.

Btw.you left out the "best"part the $$$

i guess my definition of service is what you would call a checkup. what my LDS did was a rebuild, and i can't remember the exact cost, but it was somewhere around $130. Quite a bit for a poor student.

 

[Scubakevdm]

Regulators are routinely overhauled annually as preventive maintenance, and parts that wear during normal use are replaced before they need to be. The philosophy is that if this is done, the reg will not malfunction. The two year periodicity is on the long side, but with only 40 dives on the reg, it was probably okay. Even sitting in a closet, orifices get pressed into seats and reduced performance can result. I don't think that it was a bad call overhauling it, but I do think that it was a bad call overhauling it without telling you before they did it. Kinda sneaky.

 

[300bar]

i guess my definition of service is what you would call a checkup. what my LDS did was a rebuild, and i can't remember the exact cost, but it was somewhere around $130. Quite a bit for a poor student.

Ok here we have the culprid,There is a thing called (mfgs.)"mandatory"(bi)annual service.
In that case you'll get a complete rebuild.
Most mfgs. use rules like every (2)year(s) or every 100 dives.
Yes it's a lot of $$$ but not an accessive price,don't forget 1-1 1/2 hour work +parts.
There's only one solution to this......


Go dive more.

Actualy there's a 2nd.DIY,but ONLY if you know howto.

 

[MauiScubaSteve]

There's only one solution to this......

Go dive more.

Actualy there's a 2nd.DIY,but ONLY if you know howto.

I think there are more than just two solutions;

If you get on the Divers Direct e-mailing (finaddicts) list there are a few times per year when you can get a new 1st & 2nd stages for $130.

April '07 I bought two PX-3/Alpha 8's for $259.96 shipping to Hawaii included. They are located in Florida and are listed on the Oceanic web site as an authorized dealer.

One plan might be; buy inexpensive reg and use for a few years until it's not working right, sell it on eBay as-is, buy new reg. Other plan might be; buy expensive reg with lifetime service, have serviced on the manufacturer schedule, use for decades.

The current Finaddicts sale includes a Mares Origin Sport MRS Plus BC for $199.99.