What the ?#$@ is the deal with LeisurePro?

[AXL72]

I will start believing rubbish from LDS's about "the ills of buying online" when they stop spewing the rubbish about requiring new open water students to buy weights and weight belt, of all things, for an open water class.

Jimmeny Christmas!!!

Ohh, the guy checkng out sizes and ordering online is just rude. His correct response should have been, "well, you don't have anything I am looking for right now. Let me think this potential purchase over a bit and get back to you. Thank you. Bye now."

 

[AXL72]

Exchanging thoughts and ideas is what make SB great. But, when someone walks into my house and starts slapping the kids, it's time for them to leave. My opinion anyway.

Don't slap the kids!!

Beat the dog and kick the wifey instead...j/k

 

[mike_s]

I will start believing rubbish from LDS's about "the ills of buying online" when they stop spewing the rubbish about requiring new open water students to buy weights and weight belt, of all things, for an open water class.

."

I never have figured out why weights are not provided for the class as part fo the OW package since the Reg, BC, and usually the westsuit are.

In reality it's a "pay me now" or "pay me later" though as you need to buy them to dive with later.

 

[ReefHound]

Did you read my post? I'm talking about "if one of my employees did this" and, YES, I spend the money to train my employees. As far as I know, it industry standard that the shop pays for training it's employees and provides the tools.

Do you only hire employees who start off knowing nothing?

When you train your employees do they tend to remain your employees for life? If they leave (or you fire them) are they not qualified techs free to go elsewhere?

Do your employees usually have repair benches set up at their own house?

Point is, Catherine's tech sounds like he is set up independently and just also happens to do jobs for a shop. You don't know what arrangements he has with the shop.

 

[CaptPaul]

So do something about it.

Don't let the guy leave your shop to go buy online.

tell him you'll sell it to him for the online price and offer him customer service before and after the sale.

Agree.

One of the BC's was Mares, which has MAP pricing on internet authorized dealers. We can certainly match that price. Two of the BC's was Aqua Lung, the other was ScubaPro, which do not have internet authorized dealers. The LP price on these BC's are not realistic to match. This is grey market gear, mostly from Europe or Israel. Actually we would be violating our dealer agreements to match the LP price. Therefore, it is not always possible or realistic to exactly match the online price, though we try to be as fair as possible.

Sometimes, if not done correctly, that "customer service before and after the sale" sales pitch sounds like its coming from a car salesman. I try to be very careful about how it is presented to the potential customer. It is, however, a very important reason to support the LDS, and vice versa, and a useful tool that someone may not have thought about.

 

[CaptPaul]

Do you only hire employees who start off knowing nothing?

No, of course not. Some know a lot, some not so much at first.

When you train your employees do they tend to remain your employees for life? If they leave (or you fire them) are they not qualified techs free to go elsewhere?

Nothing is forever, though we have a high retention rate. Sure they are.

Do your employees usually have repair benches set up at their own house?

Not that I know of.

Point is, Catherine's tech sounds like he is set up independently and just also happens to do jobs for a shop. You don't know what arrangements he has with the shop.

Absolutely true. I reread Catherine's post and would like to hear from her exactly what relationship, if any, the tech has with the LDS. You know, the one she talks about in her post.

 

[CaptPaul]

Why don't you call the cops and report a theft of service? You think he "abused" you.

Not a bad idea. You think it will work?

BTW: I like your Tooth Fairy's Secrets site. Very cool.

 

[oly5050user]

I will start believing rubbish from LDS's about "the ills of buying online" when they stop spewing the rubbish about requiring new open water students to buy weights and weight belt, of all things, for an open water class.

Jimmeny Christmas!!!

Ohh, the guy checkng out sizes and ordering online is just rude. His correct response should have been, "well, you don't have anything I am looking for right now. Let me think this potential purchase over a bit and get back to you. Thank you. Bye now."

I have my students purchase weights/belts for ow class..Reason is it saves them time that is better spent in class/pool/ow ..try adjusting belts for 6 or 8 students every time you have them in the pool or ow.Alot of time wasted with students fussing with it and the question always said"How much weight I need" or "I don't remember how much I used last time"..Its an integral peice of gear like a mask or fin..What I do for them is after the course /training dives are over I would take the weights back if they want and give them store credit for them or work out a rental fee based on use in class..

 

[RonFrank]

Why is it that the big e-tailers out of NY always seem to have rude customer service reps? I've found that they're typically very short and act bothered that they have to speak to you - this is even more annoying when it's them calling you! Just the other day I bought a new camera and I get a call, trying to upsell me on some accessories and stuff and the guy was rude! If I wanted additional stuff with my order, I would've done it online. If you're going to call me, at least be polite. /rant

In Part, this is just the NY culture. The life is fast paced, they generally have a thick accent (which many find a bit grating), and they are generally very busy.

OTOH, if you were called by someone for an upsell, then you are likely NOT dealing with a very reputable retailer. B&H for example NEVER contacts the purchaser for once an order for an upsale.

I hope you get what you ordered as a lot of these types of business offer things at such low prices that unless you do order overpriced accessories, the item suddenly becomes backordered, and they refuse to ship until the customer cancels the order in disgust. Unfortunately this is the way some merchants do business.

 

[redacted]

Not a bad idea. You think it will work?

BTW: I like your Tooth Fairy's Secrets site. Very cool.

Nope. Unfortunately, the customers are like a pack of dogs and you are wearing milkbone underwear. It's hard to compete with LP with the Scubapro shopper. With regs, you've got some room to throw in service entisements if you are not too small of a shop. But with a BCD and most other stuff, there probably isn't much you can do when so little service is required and the potential savings to the customer is so great with LP. Perhaps you should pick up a line of BPs & wings and show the customer the advantages they have over a knighthawk. That way you might be able to let Scubapro incur the profit loss rather than you as a result of their policies and practices. Or display the Apollo frameless right next to that $120 SP frameless. It's crazy.

Thanks, the TFS site is my daughter's.