Where to buy packages online?

[Safe Diver]

Make sure you read the fine print before buying equipment online!!! Have a look at this article...

http://www.divebooty.com/before_you_buy.asp

 

[landlocked]

Here are some options. Read the warranties carefully. I personnally had to trade my first set of fins after one use because they just didn't work for me. No problem because I went through my LDS. She just traded me. The BC I bought on-line had a small defect. Didn't figure it out until I got it wet. The on-line store (3rd on the list) would only give me 75% of what I paid in credit if I returned it. Hated the defect and the BC so I sold it to another diver for a $60 loss. I am buying another BC on-line. (LDS wants to sell me a BC that I don't want and at way more than I can afford.) My dive buddy traded both fins and mask several times until she found the ones that work. LDS never charged her any additional dollars. Sometimes the lowest price is not the cheapest. The first set of gear takes a little adjusting to get it right. No advice other than think it through and go slow.

http://www.aquaparadise.com/packages.html
http://www.diversdirect.com/affiliate/a00008.htm
http://www.diversdiscount.com/?refer=tgoemall.com
http://www.scuba-diving-gear.com/scuba-gear.htm
http://www.scubatoys.com/main.html
http://www.leisurepro.com/

Good Luck!:bonk:

 

[randyjoy]

I count myself lucky - I buy on-line all the time from http://www.scubatoys.com but they're just a few miles from me - they ARE my local LDS! So...I can buy on the web at great prices or go to the store for the items that cannot be sold on-line. Excellent customer service, too!

And no, I don't work there or anything, no paid commercial - just done alot of business there and have always been happy with them.

 

[blawler1]

If no one else has mentioned them, Diveinn at www.scubastore.com is reasonable and carries big brands like Mares, Scubapro, Apeks and Dacor. You can put together your own package and have it delivered in four days.

 

[Safe Diver]

DiveINN is not an authorized dealer in the US to sell scuba equipment... which means you get no Manufacturers warrantee. And you cannot buy ScubaPro gear online... If a retailer is selling ScubaPro online they are doing it against the manufacturer's wishes. Buyer Beware!!!!

Here is a good place to shop. All with "Authorized Equipment Retailers"

http://www.divebooty.com

 

[metridium]

Originally posted by Safe Diver
DiveINN is not an authorized dealer in the US to sell scuba equipment... which means you get no Manufacturers warrantee.

Really? Are you sure you wouldn't get a manufacturer's warranty valid in Europe? If so, why wouldn't you could ship it back there for high-dollar warranty work?

Given some price differentials I've seen, you'd still be quite a few $ ahead, even if you had to do that several times.

Originally posted by Safe Diver
Here is a good place to shop. All with "Authorized Equipment Retailers"

http://www.divebooty.com

Do you have a financial stake in that organization? Or does one of your family members?

 

[Safe Diver]

I never really thought about it that way. If you did buy something from Europe and then wanted to have it serviced, I guess you could send it back to them. But wouldn't there be a problem if the work needed to be done at the factory?

If you buy in the UK and fill out the warrantee card in the US and send it back to them are you still covered? I don't think so, but if you know differently please respond.

I find it hard to believe that the manufacturers would only punish us in the US, ... So it must work both ways. As for the initial poster of this thread... Be careful buying cheap scuba gear! It is a life saving aparatus!

 

[metridium]

Originally posted by Safe Diver
I never really thought about it that way. If you did buy something from Europe and then wanted to have it serviced, I guess you could send it back to them. But wouldn't there be a problem if the work needed to be done at the factory?

No need to sent it back for annual servicing; I'd have it done here in the US. I wouldn't anticipate a problem if the warranty work needed to be done at the factory, especially since some of the major manufacturers are located in Europe (Apeks, Mares, and Suunto spring to mind - I could be wrong about the last, but isn't it Finnish?).

Disclaimer: Verify all this with the retailer and/or manufacturer before you buy.

Originally posted by Safe Diver
If you buy in the UK and fill out the warrantee card in the US and send it back to them are you still covered? I don't think so, but if you know differently please respond.

If I recall correctly, in the US you are not required to fill out a warranty card for the warranty to be valid. But you should still have a valid European warranty, assuming you bought it from an authorized European dealer.

Disclaimer: Verify all this with the retailer and/or manufacturer before you buy.

Originally posted by Safe Diver
I find it hard to believe that the manufacturers would only punish us in the US, ... So it must work both ways. As for the initial poster of this thread... Be careful buying cheap scuba gear! It is a life saving aparatus!

It has less to do with punishment and more to do with distribution and liability issues, I suspect.

As for your last two sentences, I am in total agreement! Be careful, no matter where or what you buy.

Oh, and one other thing, Safe Diver: I notice you didn't answer the last question in my previous post.