What to buy, were to buy, how loyal to LDS

[Fire_medic_RescueDiver]

Ok here is what my problem is right now. I am going to update and upgrade my current dive equipment this year and I am very torn between buying my equipment from my LDS or buying the equipment off the internet from places like www.scubatoys.com, www.leasuepro.com , and www.diverdirect.com . Here is what my question is, my LDS sells most of the equipment that I want but may not have it in stock and will need to order it, and then they have there markup on it, in some cases a very large markup. I have talked with a few of the people from the internet shops and have found out that some of the internet shops my not be authorized to sell a piece of equipment and when they due it does not come with a warranty. Is this true?? So what is everyone feeling about how loyal they are to there local dive shop even if they can get the same equipment from an internet base dive shop with full warranty at a lower cost in some cases like $100 to $200 cheaper? My LDS carries APEX ATX series but not Zeagle and I am still trying to find out which one is best or are they the same. I am currently a PADI rescue diver and am getting ready to dive into my Dive Master program and have lately been tossing around getting my PADI instructor due to the fact that a lot of my friends in Fire department, Police Department, and the Ambulances that I could train and would like to learn to dive but I have to send them to other instructors and sometimes there is a problems getting classes put together due to the size of the class.
Here is a list of what I want to buy this week.

Set of regulators both 1st 2nd and Octo
7 mm two piece wet suit
And about $200 worth of accessories

What I will be buying this summer
DIR or Dive rite BCD
Dry suit
Mask
Fins
4 LP tanks
Stage bottles
And a lot of others odds and ends

So as you can see I plan on spending a lot of money this year and really need to watch how much I spend so I can get the most out of my money. So please post and let me know what you think and if you are a internet dealer PLEASE POST so I can get your take and this. I Plan on buy my regulators, and wet suit Monday or Tuesday just don’t know which one get. The reason I am buying them Monday is because I am leaving for Key Largo on the May 12 for a 10 day dive trip, I may buy my BDC also if I get all the information on it before I leave.
Thanks for reading and look forward to reading your posts.
Matt
Rosebud, Missouri

 

[cerich]

Select exactly what you plan on getting. Give your LDS the chance to get the same gear and see if they are in the ballpark.

Please do not buy gray market!

 

[Fire_medic_RescueDiver]

What is "gray market"???

 

[cerich]

Leisure Pro for many brands.

 

[ScubaKimmie]

Gray market is gear sold outside of hte US without a factory warranty and then outfits like Leisurepro buy it up and resell it here cheap, without warranty. Just their own warranty.

I dive a couple of apex200's myself and love them. When you find a shop that has them in stock, over a year old, they are no longer restricted to the maxium 10% discount. It goes to schedule 2 after a year.

Many times dive shops make up for higher initial purchase costs by offering discounted yearly service charges and free parts for life. Talk to your shop and see what they offer.

 

[Fire_medic_RescueDiver]

Ok so where would you buy from?

 

[ScubaKimmie]

I buy only from authorized dealers. The brands I like are at the local dive shops. There are authorized dealers online but not for the brands I like.

 

[AZ Desert Diver]

From what I've read on SB, Scubatoys sounds like a great place to deal with. One thing that you are going to have to look at and keep in mind is how quickly you need to get your product. This plays into my decision making a lot of the time. I do love my LDS here in the Phoenix area, there are some nice perks when I work with them that just can't be provided by online stores.

 

[redacted]

If you intend to keep up with the mfgr recommended maintenance schedule and the reg includes a free parts for life program, you are almost surely better off buying from an authorized dealer. Look at the initial purchase cost as well as annual service costs. You may get free parts but you will still be required to pay for labor, the cost and quality of which may vary greatly by provider. If you go the authorized dealer route, give your LDSs a shot. As Kim said, they can throw in some entisements to make the sale competative that Internet guy may have a hard time matching. Some of them might even be cute.

Unless you intend to DIY, blow off the mfgr service requirements, or not keep the regs for long; the grey market guys like Leisurepro may seem to be the cheapest but, in the long run, will probably not be.

If you know what you are doing, there are also some great buys in used gear, either from an LDS or from sources like Ebay. But the risks are clearly greater and any parts for life deals are not transferable.

 

[skierbri10]

Ok so where would you buy from?

Scubatoys, call larry.