What DO you like about your LDS...

[RonFrank]

There is a LOT of bashing about the LDS.

Rather than just focus on that I'd like to focus on what we DO like about our LDS's.

I'll Start.

1) Great instruction 10 MI's, two course directors, a 5 star PADI shop, and they deserve it.

2) A lot of STUFF to try.. my LDS has about every mask you would want to try, as well as fins.

3) Great service.

4) Nice facilities.. clean and professional.

5) They are INTO diving. EVERY person I've talked to at my LDS is into diving, and it shows.

6) Very friendly. I spent about 20 miniutes on the phone with them today scheduling my AOW and Nitrox certs. Very friendly, and they work hard at customer service.

So while they may not be the cheapest place to purchase scuba gear, I like my LDS very much, and while I don't think we should all just pay 2X the price for gear to make them happy, I try to support them.

Ron

 

[boulderjohn]

There is a LOT of bashing about the LDS.
Rather than just focus on that I'd like to focus on what we DO like about our LDS's.

I will go next, and I will start by describing an incident that took place when I was a dive master candidate.

As a part of my DMC work, I was taking part in an OW confined water class one Saturday afternoon. The class, with about six students, was being led by the LDS Director of Instruction. One of the students, a very overweight woman, was struggling. Her eyes were like saucers, and it was taking her a long time to get each skill. She was very determined, though, because her husband was an avid diver, and they had a trip on tap in which she wanted to do the Open Water requirements. At the end of the day, we talked about it, and we did not see any way she could succeed by the end of the day Sunday. She was also slowing everyone else down.

When I came in the next day for the remaining CW dives, the woman was already in the water with one of the other store instructors. The LDS had brought in another instructor to provide a private session for her. She finished right about the time we got the rest of the class through. There was no additional charge. As she walked out the door, she turned and said, "No one can ever say this store does not take care of you."

When we talked about it later, the general attitude was that you have to do what it takes to make it happen.

 

[SuPrBuGmAn]

1. Incredibly helpful as well as friendly - I go into the shop atleast once a week, even if I'm not buying/filling - they have quite a few other groupies as well

2. Its a pretty big shop with lots of goodies - which you can try out in there heated indoor pool. Fascilities are always clean

3. Great instruction here as well, even though they don't offer every specialty I may be interested in - they cover more than enough for me to keep busy for quite a while

4. Great custom service, whether it be working around schedules, working with gear

5. The current staff has never given me a short fill

 

[RICHinNC]

My LDS closed down and was bought by an idiot....what else can be said/.

 

[CBulla]

I switched LDS's a while ago to a shop thats been in the area for a while. I chose them because the owner and manager were friendly, the store has a nice selection of equipment, and good folks visit the store and hang out. It's one of those places you can go in and hang out for an hour or so and never feel like your wasting someones time or an imposition.

 

[Scubakevdm]

I like my LDS because of their knowlegable, highly skilled, friendly, and pleasant smelling employee.

 

[Uncle Pug]

I like my LDS a lot. Great nitrox fills that are virtually free and dead on % wise... and most important... available anytime day or night. The guy will put as little or as much in the jugs as I want too!

He doesn't always have everything I need in stock all the time... but most of the time he does and when he doesn't he is willing to either order it for me or actually get in his car and go find it!

He even let's me use his boat and hang all my gear in his shop which is so close to where I live I can walk there and only take a few steps.

 

[moneysavr]

Wow up here when we dont dive we go to the shop to tell tales,dive stories and to learn.Do set ups,change rigs,buy stuff! Heck we can even do the pay plan! wifes dont need to know! I love it,just a great group of folks! Service is par none! Your life support equipment is in trusted hands,Viz-Hydros,Ean Cleans,Yearlys, ect,. this shop would close Im screwed!!! its a 38 mile drive for a fill vs 10miles.so the air fill that dose not make the shop dime one is not my reason to go,I go to buy most items,and service all items,buy my tanks,,ect may be more. But well worth it all!
TONY DONT CLOSE TO GO TO ROATAN!

 

[moneysavr]

I like my LDS because of their knowlegable, highly skilled, friendly, and pleasant smelling employee.

Hey Kev,
Hope all is well=Brad

 

[SeanQ]

Why do I like my LDS so much? They take care of their customers. They make an effort to know you. Just last week I went to one of the stores (the store has two locations) to talk about taking an AOW course. Not only did the employee know who I was, even though I have only seen him twice in 8 months of being a customer, he also knew the conditions in which I was planning my AOW course. This isn't the only reason I like my LDS, but for me it is the most important.

The store may not offer the tech training or equipment I would like to pursue in the future but they have my business for everything else.