CaptPaul:
You got proof of this? I'd love to see it. If proof was ever obtained in the form of an AL invoice showing gear funneled through a shadow, it would turn the SCUBA industry upside down. Heads would roll, people would lose their jobs. I wish a disgruntled ex-LP employee would spill the beans on this. I had a hour long conversation with the AL national sales manager about this. I asked very pointed, hard-nosed questions. He had all the right answers. Of course, I don't believe everything I hear, but he was very good at defending AL wrt what you're talking about above. I even went down the road "this may be happening at a very high level in AL that you would not know about". Didn't seem to be the case. Maybe the best option is to open the onliners as authorized dealers and make them follow the MAP. We talked about this. Seems AL and SP are approached at every DEMA show from the big online guys to open them up as authorized dealers...."we'll place a $5M order". Problem is that they'll then have $5M worth of real AL gear, won't follow the MAP and will not care if AL pulls their dealership because they will already have the gear.
I agree, everything has serial numbers. It can be tracked. Either stop it or get on the program. Don't pee on my shoes and tell me it's raining.
Hi CaptPaul. Welcome to ScubaBoard.
I wanted to stay out of this, but I can't resist......................
Like you, I am a local scuba store owner. I also operate a FULLY-AUTHORIZED online scuba sales site. I bet you have been in the scuba business much longer than I have, but I would like to pass along these questions for you to think about. Often times, when we use our own common sense, it is easier to make sense of a situation than if we simply listen to others.....our suppliers, our friends, others in our business. Remember, I am not talking about any SINGLE manufacturer here and am not directing any accusations or disparaging remarks toward any company in particular.
1. Many people surmise that Leisure Pro does something in the neighborhood of 25-28 MILLION dollars annually in scuba equipment sales. This is larger than ANY scuba retail store in the world....even larger than all but two of the individual scuba brand names. Do you REALLY think Leisure Pro could run a purchasing operation with the degree of sopistication necessary to get that kind of volume from "hidden" sources, closing scuba stores, foreign suppliers, and any of the other places you are lead to believe their stuff comes from?
2. If a scuba company WAS selling directly to them, or to a shill, while proclaiming to the world that they were not, do you think any one hour conversation you have with an executive of such a company would result in your breaking them down to make an admission that they are TRAINED to never make?
3. Do you realize that much that you have been told by the major scuba companies about how they are protecting you with their restrictive and closed policies is really nothing more than giving a COMPLETE UNOBSTRUCTED, UNMOLESTED EXCLUSIVE franchise to Leisure Pro to do as they please, at whatever price they please, without any worry that they will face any price competition from their authorized dealers?
4. Do you see that the restrictions placed on you by some of the major scuba companies has NOTHING to do with protecting your "margin" and EVERYTHING to do with keeping harmony among the authorized dealers, reducing for THEM the need to do real, sincere dealer support and maintenance?
5. Do you realize that if you place an advance order for the next great new regulator, bc, or computer - MONTHS IN ADVANCE OF THE RELEASE DATE - that Leisure Pro will have that item in their inventory for sale as fast as you do? Now tell me, how in the world can this happen unless they are getting it from the EXACT SAME efficient distribution channel that you do?
6. If you can click a little link on your desktop and enter the serial number of any regulator to determine who it was shipped to, what date it was shipped, and what date it was sold.....why couldn't the scuba manufacturers, who claim be be doing everything possible to protect you from "unauthorized" dealers, use that same tool (which THEY designed) to find out where Leisure Pro got the regulator from and simply go out and SHUT DOWN that source, solving the problem of "unauthorized" sales once and forever?
7. This is the most important issue. NAME ME ONE THING that any of your major scuba suppliers has EVER done to protect or isolate you from the ravages of your most serious retail issue - your inability to compete with a mail-order operation that sells your same brand of equipment for half the price for which you are REQUIRED to retail that merchandise. Just name me ONE thing. If you are successful in naming just ONE thing, I will shut up and never again post another word about this problem!
I WOULD LIKE TO REPEAT THAT I AM NOT TALKING HERE ABOUT ANY PARTICULAR SCUBA COMPANY! I AM EXPRESSING MY OPINION; AN OPINION THAT I HAVE FULL RIGHTS TO EXPRESS ON THIS OR ANY OTHER PUBLIC FORUM.
In this tough retail business we are in, we must look out for our own interests. Remember, as much as you might like the individuals you deal with at your various suppliers; and as much as you might believe they are operating in your best interest; and as much as may believe that they are your "partners" in this business, working to assure you success......they are nothing more than people that you give YOUR money to. They need YOU! You do not need them.
Oh, just one more question. Since the Christmas shopping season is the LARGEST consumer spending season in America, with some estimates that over 40% of all retail spending occurs during a single month, every retail store should benefit greatly from such a season. To benefit, you have to offer bargains that will bring the customers into your store and you have to promote your sales with advertising telling the customer how THEY benefit by spending their Christmas money with you. Remember, they know they can get 40% off at the ski shop, 35% off at the electronics store, gigantic discounts at Sears, Best Buy, WalMart, you name it........Christmas is also the discount season. If your scuba companies require you to sell scuba equipment in December at the exact same price you sell it in July, stripping you of any ability to advertise, be competitive, and promote your business during this gigantic selling season........well, how were YOUR Christmas retail sales in 2006?
Anyway, thanks for your time.
Phil Ellis
