What' Up with Draeger

[Desert Diver]

Has anybody heard about the deal that Draeger has sold its recreational rebreathers out to Aqualung. I was going to buy one, but now I'm not sure.

 

[ScubaClicks]

from what I have heard Draeger is still the manuf but Aqualung is the US ditribution partner.

Overall I think this should be viewed as good news.

Jeff

Ps. I love my Dolphin..

 

[o2diver]

This is a copy of an email that I recieved.


The following statement is direct from Draeger headquarters in Germany and
is what was received by the DDA staff:

" Several actions were initiated to consider how we could break into this
difficult market and realize a return on investment. These actions where not
successful. Therefore we have decided to discontinue our sales and marketing
activities effective December 31st., 2001. This applies to the Sports Diving
Market only.

Dräger and AQUALUNG International have signed a worldwide exclusive
agreement which gives AQUALUNG the rights to market/sell/service re-breather
products sold to customers in the Recreational Diving Segment.

Dräger will retain and continue to design and manufacture re-breather
products and strengthen this core-competence."

Dräger Safety AG & Co. KGaA
BU Personal Protection Technology

Jim Varah
BU Manager

Now for the explanation of what has happened and what is going to happen:

1)All current dealerships with Draeger Dive America have been canceled and
given thirty days notice
2)All staff in the Draeger Florida office were dismissed on Wednesday
November 14, 2001
3)All calls to the Draeger Florida office are automatically forwarded to
Draeger Safety in Pittsburgh
4)All current dealers and non-dealers are able to purchase any available
inventory
5)All orders will be honored until December 14, 2001
6)All orders must be prepaid
7)The end of year specials that started on November 8, 2001 will still be
honored
8)Effective January 1, 2002 Aqualung International will start distributing
Draeger Recreational Diving Product
9)If you are not an Aqualung dealer and wish to continue with the Draeger
product line you MUST contact Aqualung directly for instructions
10)All sales representatives have been given thirty days notice and are
finished on December 14, 2001

 

[carlislere]

Our shop received a similar letter from Drager. The only problem was when we called about ordering around Thanksgiving we were told orders were not being taken and the shop could not purchase Drager equipment. I conferred with our Drager rep and he verified that Drager was no longer taking orders.

 

[scubabunny]

So...I guess I contact AqauLung about orders placed right after their "going out of business sale"? Still waiting for an order from the middle of November. We are a dealer for AquaLung so that is easy...but will we still get the pricing?

And...by the way...we did not get any warning on this. Would have been nice!

 

[scubabunny]

Oops...sorry guys...just venting!

 

[carlislere]

Scubabunny,
You're not alone in the venting area!

 

[scubabunny]

Thanks ron! Glad I'm not the only one!

Let me know if you get any info, and I'll do the same.

 

[BigJetDriver]

Just a quick note. I spoke with George Rosenberry of Aqualung at SeaSpace last weekend. He assured me that units, and parts are available. He further stated that Aqualung will have advertising and press releases "shortly"!

Just a report from the field. Stand by for "film at eleven."

 

[caveseeker7]

The US market lacks some serious effort by Aqualung. Strange, as they're are very effective in the German/Swiss/Austrian markets. So much so that one fairly new agency, NRC, which only does Nitrox and Dräger SCRs, sells about half of the annual Dolphin production.
Maybe the can't make enough to sell more ... ... naaah.