When should a shop request your C-Card?

[Bob3]

OTHER:
I'd say that tanks, regs, & air is the standard stuff, the so-called "life support" blanket is pretty subjective.

 

[AleksaS]

You should buy things from well known sites: Amazon, eBay....
They can't be scams

 

[Danielle's_Dives]

have always been asked in any new dive shop when traveling from the keys all the way up to Merritt Island. We do however have three LDS shops we frequently use with fill cards at most. I still get asked for fill card at Deep six even though we have had several talks with Jim there about equipment and he knows who we are. In another and my longest LDS shop where I got cert, they have some new famiyt staff and they ask. We have spent $1000's on equipment with them.
How about boat diving, they ask for cert cards before you go out as well, or at least all the ones I have been on do.

 

[Danielle's_Dives]

You should buy things from well known sites: Amazon, eBay....
They can't be scams

Again as many know this is a peeve of mine,
why cut out your LDS? they fill your tanks and without them you can't dive. No getting air online.
Also, I read a recent post about a guy getting BCD online and guess what? Not authorized and he was SOL.

Many LDS will match or get close to online prices if you ask an they are reasonable. But even if I have to pay a bit more, isn't it worth the WEALTH of knowledge they share with me when I go in on current conditions, what they are seeing and do they recommend a great spot.
While there are some LDS that get under my skin by overcharging for basics like masks, major equipment is your lifeline and IMHO I want to make sure I come up alive, not in a bodybag from faulty equipment.

 

[spectrum]

Other

Air Fills and any other engagement that their insurance cares about, such as classes, charters and so forth.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

Again as many know this is a peeve of mine,
why cut out your LDS? they fill your tanks and without them you can't dive. No getting air online.
Also, I read a recent post about a guy getting BCD online and guess what? Not authorized and he was SOL.

Many LDS will match or get close to online prices if you ask an they are reasonable. But even if I have to pay a bit more, isn't it worth the WEALTH of knowledge they share with me when I go in on current conditions, what they are seeing and do they recommend a great spot.
While there are some LDS that get under my skin by overcharging for basics like masks, major equipment is your lifeline and IMHO I want to make sure I come up alive, not in a bodybag from faulty equipment.

The BCD or regulator you would purchase at LeisurePro comes from the exact same place as the one you would purchase from your LDS. Why would it be any less reliable?

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[mike_s]

The BCD or regulator you would purchase at LeisurePro comes from the exact same place as the one you would purchase from your LDS. Why would it be any less reliable?

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

because it doesn't come with all that "high priced LDS Kool-Aid" that some LDS's serve...

 

[String]

Again as many know this is a peeve of mine,
why cut out your LDS?

Because they generally dont carry much stock from many different brands, aren't usually competitive on price and often try to push their gear onto people whether its suitable or not.

they fill your tanks and without them you can't dive. No getting air online.

Useless argument. There IS a market for fills so shops will always offer that service. Plus lots of people and groups own compressors. Market forces will ensure you can still get fills.


Also, I read a recent post about a guy getting BCD online and guess what? Not authorized and he was SOL.

Many LDS will match or get close to online prices if you ask an they are reasonable.

Many wont. Many only stock products from 1 or 2 manufacturers as well.

[quote[
But even if I have to pay a bit more, isn't it worth the WEALTH of knowledge they share with me when I go in on current conditions, what they are seeing and do they recommend a great spot. [/quote]

Or in the case of most they offer no sensible advice, they try to push unsuitable products on people that dont want/need it, they needlessly try to rubbish the competition or state things that are quite simply wrong.
If i want advice on equipment i'll ask actual users NOT the gear that stands to profit out of it. If i want diving advice i'll ask someone that specialised in that field NOT some shop owner looking to make money.

While there are some LDS that get under my skin by overcharging for basics like masks, major equipment is your lifeline and IMHO I want to make sure I come up alive, not in a bodybag from faulty equipment.

Are you seriously claiming that dive shop stuff is "safe" and online is "bad"? Its the SAME equipment, made to the same standards in the same factory undergoing the same QC.

 

[Brewone0to]

Never for purchases at all.
Understandable for waivers and show of c-cards
for diving at a location on someone else's real estate.
This also applies to charters as well.

 

[scubadobadoo]

Again as many know this is a peeve of mine,
why cut out your LDS? they fill your tanks and without them you can't dive. No getting air online.
Also, I read a recent post about a guy getting BCD online and guess what? Not authorized and he was SOL.

Many LDS will match or get close to online prices if you ask an they are reasonable. But even if I have to pay a bit more, isn't it worth the WEALTH of knowledge they share with me when I go in on current conditions, what they are seeing and do they recommend a great spot.
While there are some LDS that get under my skin by overcharging for basics like masks, major equipment is your lifeline and IMHO I want to make sure I come up alive, not in a bodybag from faulty equipment.

Oh crap not THIS AGAIN. While you are at it why not bring up politics, religion and her. They are more pertinent to the convo than the old online vs. lds debate AGAAAAAAAAAIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNNNN. :mooner: Btw, you typed all that BS ONLINE.