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

[vondo]

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.

Or even try to upsell you on things that are included in the box in the first place like cables, batteries, etc.

If an outfit tried to upsell me, I'd cancel right then and there. Be careful out there, folks. Many of the NY camera dealers are very sketchy. They have been for 20 years or more.

 

[Buoyant1]

Yeah, I guess if a manual is worth a hundred bucks to you that's another reason to go to your LDS.

Actually my LDS is pretty competetive with the online stores. When they DID start carrying the model I purchased it was slightly higher than what I paid...The cylinder I just purchased was nowhere near the price LP was selling them, and I got mine VIS'd, set up, AND filled..In fact, I had a modular valve put on it, received the valve that came with it and STILL paid less at the LDS...I'm sure it depends on where you shop!

 

[Buoyant1]

Just a note to the OP...I've dropped a couple grand at LP and the one issue I had with an ill-fitting wetsuit was made right and an exchange made promptly...not an LDS but a damn fine business in my book. They catch a lot of crap for the relatively few (in the grand scheme of things) goof-ups they put out in the millions of orders they process.*No I don't have any affiliation with LP, just a satisfied customer*

Technically LP is an LDS for the New York City area...I'm not against them as I HAVE purchased several items from there, but they aren't the end all to my dive purchases. (and of course my LDS can't carry everything that I see that I want...which is why I buy things at different places)

I've bought at LP, Scubatoys, Divers Direct etc. In all cases any problems were handled quickly and effortlessly...I think LP's return policy is pretty flexible actually...I think that the OP is just dealing with a bad timing issue....but in his defense, LP should have contingencies for their holidays!

 

[redacted]

OOps, wrong thread

 

[mike_s]

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. 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.

screw Aqualung and Scubapro, with their price fixing dealer agreements.

take care of yourself and your customers. Sell the product for a price that keeps your customer happy and makes sure you get the sale. You don't have to report yourself to AL or SP. You owe them nothing.

I think you'll find that here LDS's that abide by that rule usually don't get customers $$$. Saying you can't sell it for below MSRP because of the dealer agreement sounds exactly like that car salesman thing you were talking about.


I know that LP has AL & SP items for sale for prices that are hard to beat based on LDS's cost... but most folks don't want an exact price match on something like that from their LDS, they just want a 'fair price' to get it from a local authorized dealer. (Of course you'll have some folks complain about 95 cents difference).

This is grey market gear, mostly from Europe or Israel

Not unless Europe and/or Israel recently annexed in San Diego!.

Maybe some of it is froim over seas... but I think you'd be surprised that most of it is knowingly shipped from the manufacturer through certain shops or shipped directly to LP but billed through a 'shadow company'. Aqualung knows where the gear they are selling is going. They just turn a blind eye to it.

 

[jefffalcone]

\ We provide a toll-free phone number for our online customers to actually discuss, in depth, any pending purchase. This is another difference you will notice between the new LDS/online combinations (divesports.com, scubatoys, scuba.com, 123scuba) I challenge you to phone LP and get the kind of advice and discussion you can get from the combinations.
Phil Ellis[/quote]

You can call LP to discuss gear. Any piece of gear you ask about mysteriously happens to be the exact piece of gear that the salseperson "dives" with and he loves it. Really, try it. It's uncanny.

 

[oly5050user]

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.

sounds to me that the employee repairing regulators for an lds customer at his home stole the customer from the lds.Customer most likely was in store and this "employee" took her aside and told her he could get repairs done cheaper than the lds..If the guy was honest she could drop off regulator at his house as she claimed to do and he would take it to work,get it done and return it to her..Customer claimed 30% less expensive than lds..So lets say the lds repair is $60..she saved $18. and whatever the tax there is..is it worth it to get unwarrented service?To get bad feelings at lds?to jeopardize techs job? If she was a loyal ,regular customer I am sure she would get deals/service/free fills at times that would FAR outweigh any savings she may have gotten..At least that is what I do here for my customers that are loyal,and they know of the LP's and scubatoys of the world and still come to us for their needs.Those that do not and look for shortcuts,well good for them and good luck to them, and I will try to help them out wherever I can,but do not expect to get same deals/free or discounted air/discounted services as my loyal customers get.Most lds are "mom and pop" type stores and would work with you when they can to keep you a happy and loyal customer.Give them a chance and communicate your needs to them and I am sure most of the time after communicating you will be pleased with the outcome.If not go elsewhere or online.

 

[Cacia]

Not unless Europe and/or Israel recently annexed in San Diego!.

he he...Werner

Here on Oahu, a SP dealer with high prices recently sent in a spy with a wire to bust my favorite SP shop. They took his dealership away. (South Sea Aquatics)

The scuba mafia is alive and well.--- not that there is anything wrong with that, but it is all very territorial, dog eat dog, and I agree it is price fixing. I don't lose sleep over buying grey market when I can.

It's not like it is child labor or anything, there are better ways to exercise your morality.

Hey, the guy I drive my reg one mile to is a SP certified repair guy who has been doing it for 35 years! He is the same guy the shops are charging to outsource their repairs, so not sure I get your point.


Warranties? You guys must be living on another planet than I do....I don't use warranties for anything. Are you seriously collecting on warranties? For me they are like factory rebates....too much hassle.

I personally like the SP product...but I have never seen anybody have one to fail, seriously. They are bulletproof. If it ever breaks, just buy another one...far easier than all this concern about warranties. Warranties (to me) are a big brainwash number on consumers for the most part.

Ron Frank did make a good point about warranties on really expensive items like high end cameras, to me, the other day....digital electronics that go "poof" and that made me rethink my position a tad. But a regulator? With all these times interval service requirements to be in compliance? Nope, isn't realistic, most people have too many other timelines to worry about.

 

[moxie]

Have never been called by LP or any other online retailer for that matter. When you do place an order with LP or other retailers, it's not uncommon for them to ask if you need some batteries (when buying a computer) or some other little accessory like a safety sausage. I don't see any harm in that, and in fact once saved some money because they were running a special. To me the bottom line is flexibility. The online retailer, and the mailorder firm before that, can be a good complement to the LDS if used wisely. This shouldn't be viewed as an "all or nothing" issue. As examples, I buy Scubapro regs at my LDS because with annual service that I get a special deal on I also get free parts, and free adjustments should the need arise between servicing. On the other hand, I order a pair of fins for $65 from LP that cost $110 at the LDS. Not much value the LDS can add to a pair of fins. In addition to LP I've used several other online retailers, and I frequent 3 different LDS. And when on a trip I usually buy something at the LDS, whether it's a cap or a light or whatever. Flexibility! You use what you need from the vast array of services provided courtesy of the capitalist system. No consumer should feel compelled to shop and buy at only one place; nor should the retailers expect it.

 

[fire_diver]

sounds to me that the employee repairing regulators for an lds customer at his home stole the customer from the lds.Customer most likely was in store and this "employee" took her aside and told her he could get repairs done cheaper than the lds..If the guy was honest .....

I just love how everyone here is psychic! So many people who have never talked to Catherine OR her repair tech, just *know* exactly what the story is. :shakehead
Good grief people, even calling the repair tech dishonest.

This is really getting quite disgusting.