Why buy the best gear?

[paolov]

it's because of the marketing ploy. "BEST" to new entrants , they would know less.

after a while with your skills up, whatever works works as long as the safety issue has been covered.

instruction point of view, the "suitable" gear would be proper however, its 80% income on gear. hence the "BEST" = "your life" sells. to the les sinformed that is

 

[Spoon]

so you wont have to upgrade anymore. will save you tons in the long term. what is the best for you anyway?

 

[Louie]

Best DOES NOT mean most expensive.

Shop staff will let you believe otherwise.

Yerp, was in the sports store today trying (politely) to get the ever-so-bright shop assistant to grab me shoes in my size and he ignored me and went straight for the guy looking at the very expensive model ("that is the best in the lineup..."). Markups, commissions, you get the drift.

 

[ShakaZulu]

If my life depends on it, I want the best that I can afford. Now where do you keep the APEKS regs??

 

[RonFrank]

I feel we should let new divers get their perverbial feet wet before we throw them in the deep end, equipement wise.

The truth is that most new divers have no clue what they need, and the LDS's are very happy to tell them that more expensive is safer, or better. In fact it may not be at all, it may be just more expensive.

Another thought. If the LDS really had the divers BEST interest at heart, they would direct them to ScubaToys where for the $350 one is about to spend on a LOW end Reg, they can get ,for the same price, a mid range better constructed and often better breathing reg.

Our LDS sold my buddy a bottom of the line reg for $100 more than I paid for my Zeagle 50DZX which is hands down a much better reg in all ways, and more suited to the diving we do here (sealed) which can be cold, or even Ice diving.

So as much as our LDS's MUST have our BEST interests at heart, it becomes increasingly obvious to me over time that they in fact... ummm, do not if it comes down to $$$.

 

[serambin]

I think that people who are purchasing scuba gear (or anything else for that matter) have a responsibility to do research so that they understand the differences in what they are interested in purchasing. By the same token, the LDS should show a potential customer a variety of options and explain the pros and cons of inexpensive/mid price range/expensive gear in a manner that can be understood by all.

I have seen situations as you describe and I don't do business there. I have also seen situations where the LDS is actually trying to *help* you make the right decision rather than trying to sell the most expensive gear. I do business with a LDS who operates in this manner as they are concerned with their customer as well as the bottom line.

I see what you are saying and to a degree I agree. However, most newbie divers are listening to their DI. In fact, they come to rely on that DI and to trust what ever he says, as the Gospel. This is completely understandable since they are learning a sport that could kill them if they make a big enough mistake.

Now, a DI should feel the responsiblity that the student places on him. Even if he had no financial interest in the equipment sales, his tendancy is to err on the side of safety - i.e. better equipment is safer. In fact, the quality of equipment may well be more important for a person who dives only a few times a year than for a frequent diver. No one ever died from having too high quality gear.

Stan

 

[gecko2gecko]

I guess I really lucked out. My LDS spent the time explaining to me the difference between the variety of gear available. When it came time to decide, the gear he recommended wasn't "cheap" by any means but they had far more expensive stuff available in stock. The only extra expensive thing he really recommended was a wetsuit. He said that I should consider a Hyperstretch wetsuit...that stemmed from the nightmare of wetsuit rentals. I loathe wetsuits! I could have spent much more without his advice. His subtle "Well, I'll sell it to you but..." was very telling. He was willing to accept the fact that I had a budget and was more than happy to accomodate all my questions and concerns. I guess some people aren't so lucky.

 

[PhotoTJ]

My customers almost all ask, "What do you dive?" As a result, most of my customers rigs look just like mine.

 

[DementialFaith]

Thats actually kinda interesting... I started breathing Aqualung Titans, but ended up settling with the B2 that I just fell in love w/. And now looks like the Titans I keep in the corner is gonna be a rental reg for da scuba club.
Still, if a novice but serious diver comes to me for gear suggestion, I'll take him to all the available LDS, explain what I know to him, but urge him/her to buy descent gears because of the condition he/she will be facing in california and the degree of comfort a descent diver deserves from hi/her own gears.

 

[1RUSTYRIG]

I think its ridiculous for newly cert'd divers to buy all their gear. They have yet to develop a dive "style" so how are they supposed to make an informed choice as to what gear would best suit them? Most haven't conquered bouyancy yet so why get locked in to a BC/weight system that doesn't suit them?

I tell everyone I know that is getting cert'd that they should rent from various places (to get an assortment) for a year or two before buying.