Who is THE BEST online dealer?

[jsado]

OK. We've all had good and bad experiences with both online and LDS. This is a place to name the online retailer that you've had the best experience(s) with. Tell your story if you have one and let us know where to go to get the BEST deals. Here is mine:

eBay with a seller who goes by the name of scuba_discounters. They have given me some AMAZING deals. They are 100% legit and they have 2 brick and mortar stores in the Cali area called Dolphin Scuba Center. Basically, everything that I've bought from them has been about half of the price of my LDS.

 

[Bob Vincent]

Well good for you. But remind the new divers the net equipment can be a bad thing to. Why? Well lets see, maybe they don't know how to set there new equipments up? A LDS is not going to answer a lot questions. I know a few that told Internet buyers the Internet will help them.

Also look out for gray market. That is equipment that is not suppose to sell in the US and it has no warranty. And a few take free stuff you were supposed to get. Like one reg comes with 3 different color trim inserts but sent out with one. BUYER BEWARE!

 

[DennisS]

Different ones carry different gear, it definitely pays to shop around and see what's out there. If the govt with all it's wastefullness requires 3 bids for purchases, shouldn't you do the same.

 

[scubadobadoo]

I have found that the best shops have BOTH an internet and local store as well.

Personally I like Scuba Toys and I have dealt happily with LP many times but only in person and not online since I live in NYC. I also like NESS, Diver's Direct, and Dive Rite Express who all have BOTH online and local stores. The combo of both seems to work very well for both the business and the customer in this global economy.

 

[SparticleBrane]

Well good for you. But remind the new divers the net equipment can be a bad thing to. Why? Well lets see, maybe they don't know how to set there new equipments up? A LDS is not going to answer a lot questions. I know a few that told Internet buyers the Internet will help them.

New divers not knowing how to set gear up?
Sounds like a problem with their basic instruction to me.

 

[divad]

New divers not knowing how to set gear up?
Sounds like a problem with their basic instruction to me.

Well, we weren't all as privileged as you.

 

[bfisher]

Well, we weren't all as privileged as you.

I don't think I'd refer to it as being priviliged at all.

I learned about some basic tools when I was a teenager, some 45 years ago. I learned how to use a hammer to pound a nail. I learned how to use a screwdriver, a pliers, and how to tighten and loosen a nut with a wrench. Some of this stuff is just plain common sense.

From what I've seen setting up my own gear and working at my LDS most setting up of equipment is just that. Common sense.

Now would I start tearing my reg apart to do an annual on it? Probably shouldn't, but the YES, I'd do this too. How else can a person learn? And if I screw it up there's always John at the shop to straighten me out. But then, either way, I learn something.

Like many things in life, if you never try anything then you'll never accomplish anything. For those who don't know how to work on equipment? There is always a course at the LDS called "Equipment Specialty".

 

[SparticleBrane]

^ Unfortunately, there's always someone out there to hold your hand and coddle you, too.

 

[Paco II]

I have had great experiences with both ScubaToys and Leisure Pro, but going to have to lean towards Leisure Pro. Their website is top notch, not only for finding gear to buy, but also for tracking orders and making wishlists. But what really puts them over the top for me is how easily and painlessly I can return items.

 

[texdiveguy]

There are several very good ones.