What the ?#$@ is the deal with LeisurePro?
- Thread starter PB125
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ekewaka
Contributor
The filters that most shops use are expensive because they have to fill a lot of tanks in a short amount of time. I don't need a 40 cfm filter. An old hydraulic accumulator will work just fine. Shouldn't cost more than about $200. I know electricity and maintenance on the compressor costs money, but not $15 for 80 cubic feet of air.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.mike_s:
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.
CaptPaul:
You got any proof that they are getting from Europe or Israel? Got any invoices to show us?
The purpose of a shadow company is to appear legitimate. The invoice wouldn't say "Shadow Company for LeisurePro" on it. You could be staring at the invoice and still have no proof. It would probably be to a non-retail organization that accounts for them as unspecified government/military/research/etc. usage.
On SB, does anyone ever talk about onliners selling SCUBA gear to uncertified customers? You know the goverment likes to regulate everything. Throughtout the years OUR industry has done a great job of policing itself. I won't sell a reg to a OW student until he/she completes the course. Does LP ask about dive certification?
What do you think will happen when non-divers start using gear bought online and have serious accidents with it? If the right people make a big deal over such incidents, gov agencies will take us over and regulate the bejesus out of us. We'll all suffer, including the LP guys who claim to be divers.
Please don't reply with "certified divers can have accidents with gear purchased on or off line" I realize that, but it's not the point I'm trying to make. We check c-cards.
What do you think will happen when non-divers start using gear bought online and have serious accidents with it? If the right people make a big deal over such incidents, gov agencies will take us over and regulate the bejesus out of us. We'll all suffer, including the LP guys who claim to be divers.
Please don't reply with "certified divers can have accidents with gear purchased on or off line" I realize that, but it's not the point I'm trying to make. We check c-cards.
CaptPaul:
You're really getting desperate now. This practice went the way of the dino over a decade ago. If there hasn't been a rash of serious accidents and lawsuits by now, it isn't going to happen.
For one, buying gear doesn't mean you are diving. People may be buying gear for friends and relatives who are certified. For another, I don't think there is any significant number of people out there interested in scuba diving that simply refuse to get certified. This isn't 1970 anymore, pops.
CaptPaul:
In other words, don't let the facts get in the way of your viewpoint?
I understand, but maybe someone from LP could provide a link to the shadow company. "We buy our grey market AL gear from JoeBob Underwater Research Co. I have the LP PO's or check copies to prove it." Someone out there knows the trail or pieces of the trail that can be matched up.ReefHound:
Don't get me wrong here. I'm not trying to bust AL or SP. I sell tons of their gear, like their sales reps, customer service, etc. I would actually like to firmly know that the "shadow" is not happening; that they have not lied to me about this for all these years.
bluewatertoy
Contributor
CaptPaul:
I sure hope you have deep pockets. To deny a purchase of gear to a customer without a C-card is cutting your own throat. I own an automotive shop and if your car is broken, you want it fixed and have cash in hand, it is not my problem whether you have a licence or not. Dont' try and be the scuba police. Just make a sale.
Kelly
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