Why buy the best gear?

[Trisha]

What about the dive computers and gauges that are "top of the line" for their dive brand -- but all come from the same manufacturer?

Lev Andropov: [annoyed] "Components! American components, Russian components, ALL MADE IN TAIWAN!" -- Armageddon, 1998

 

[Moogyboy]

Well as a newly certified diver myself with less than 15 dives under my belt I will say I bought my equipment after doing some research and ALOT of reading. AND because I CAN. I make decent money and money was not my motivating factor when buying. Sure I could have bought cheaper gear that works just as well, but I could also buy a ford escort instead of a Mustang, they'll both get ya there. I purchased an Apeks black pearl Reg with ATX50 octo, Ranger LTD BCD and a Suunto Cobra computer and a Bare SGS 7mm wetsuit. And I bought with the intention that my 2000.00 or so odd dollar investment would last me a long time. And I thought that after buying this gear I would not want for more scuba gear. WRONG!!! everytime I go in the LDS my palms sweat and I want to buy more!!!!!! ANYHOW for me it comes down to I like toys!!! My LDS by the way did not push me into anything. Actually they were a little upset I bought equipment from other sources for things I wanted that they did not carry. I think the original poster just forgot rule number one. He who dies with the most expensive toys wins!!!!! "It has nothing to do with how functional it is!! " I mean Geez how could I possibly go to my neighbor and show him my 225.00 reg when he spent 400.00. I would be ashamed!!!

Your LDS didn't need to push you, Dave...your lust for new "toys" simply makes their job that much easier. They love guys like you.

Other people here will tell you that I'm not a big fan of this kind of thinking--no personal offense intended, by the way--and I've been reamed for it on here before. But I stand by my position--I don't care a whit how impressive my gear looks compared to my buddy's. I'm into diving as a recreational sport, not as a conspicuous consumption contest. If people laugh at my gear, I'll laugh at theirs. I think the whole gear marketing thing is a racket. I don't need it.

For the record, the only piece of my gear that could be considered high-end is my Conshelf SE2 reg, cobbled together from pieces won on eBay for under $200 and was probably hot $#!t maybe 15 years ago. It's still a fine reg, from everything I hear. I don't expect to need another reg for a long, long time. The most expensive piece of gear I own is a base model Genesis computer, at $300-odd from my LDS, because that was the only computer I could afford and I needed one fast. It works fine for what I do.

cheers

Billy S.

 

[RonFrank]

While I have yet to see this in the dive indusrty, I won't be surprised if it's coming. I was in the camera industry for a while, and you would not believe the amount of fake Sony, Nikons, and Canons we saw.

Say what you want, my life is worth the $700. I wouldn't skydive with the cheapest parachute, either.

I shot professionally for over a decade. Not much since my son has been born, but I do an occasional gig, and photography remains a passion for me. I have NEVER seen a Fake Nikon or Canon?

Where were these? Who was selling them? I'm talking still, as I don't pay much attention to video.

I've heard of such a thing, but in my 25+ years of doing photography, I've NEVER seen of such a beast, and I've been in a LOT of camera stores from LA to NYC, and everything inbetween...

Certainly I've seen some Knock offs, but they were never marketed or sold under the Nikon/Canon name.

As for safety, is a Mares Abyss at $299 from ScubaToys less safe then a Mares Abyss that comes from the LDS at the price of $450? If people feel that spending $700 makes a regulator SAFER than IMO they need to do a bit more research on the topic, and Instructors/LDS's who insinuate that $$$ = safety IMO are misleading nebie divers whom do not know any better, and rely on LDS training to provide them with good information.

 

[Moogyboy]

One more thing, re: the Escort vs. Mustang argument: IMO spending a lot of money on high performance gear is justified--if you're actually going to use the extra performance. If you're buying solely for the sake of showing it off...well, you're certainly entitled to, that's all I'm going to say.

As for me, I love Mustangs...but I'd probably buy a used one in good shape. Still, I admit my Escort ZX2 was a blast back when I still had it.

cheers,

Billy S.

 

[PhotoTJ]

I shot professionally for over a decade. Not much since my son has been born, but I do an occasional gig, and photography remains a passion for me. I have NEVER seen a Fake Nikon or Canon?

Where were these? Who was selling them? I'm talking still, as I don't pay much attention to video.

I've heard of such a thing, but in my 25+ years of doing photography, I've NEVER seen of such a beast, and I've been in a LOT of camera stores from LA to NYC, and everything inbetween...

Certainly I've seen some Knock offs, but they were never marketed or sold under the Nikon/Canon name.

We had customers bring them in, they had bought them online. They would ask us how to load the camera, or something like that. It's the same camera, they just change the sticker.

Hey. there are people who want the best gear jsut so they can show off the best gear. They seldom need it.

 

[shooter226]

Ah, the Instructor/LDS affiliation . . . !!!
I personally know of an instructor who, when working for one LDS, avidly positioned one of the makes/brands of fins they sold to be the very, very best fin on the market. Needless to say, it was the most expensive sold by that particular LDS.

Imagine my astonishment that when he changed employers he found another make/brand of fin at the new LDS that was the very, very best fin on the market, and also the most expensive sold at the LDS.

Hmmmmmmm . . . .

Pushing what is sold, perhaps ????

The Kraken's Law of Instructor:Gear Recommendation:

to wit:

The quality of a specific make/brand of gear recommended by the instructor is directly proportional to what LDS signs his paycheck.

the K

The dive shop is a business. They are there to make money.

I have seen Instructors recommend another brand that the store doesn’t sell that were fired.

The more Instructors students that by equipment the more classes he is allowed to teach.

Some agencies make their Instructors work only through LDS too (SSI).

When applying for a job as an Instructor at a LDS one of the questions asked in the interview will be, can you sell our equipment? If you say no I bet you wont get the job.

 

[NutJob]

Why buy the best?

Cause it looks cool! (And it performs nice, too!)

 

[toodive4]

Remember... in SCUBA... the most expensive equipment does not = the best equipment. LDS's tell divers the more expensive item is better because they can charge more money for it and the diver doesn't know any better.

REALITY CHECK

A complete set of BRAND NEW - EXCELLENT dive gear should not cost more than about $1400.00... and that includes a pair of new aluminum 80 cylinders in that price. I'm talkin mask, fins, snorkel, wetsuit, regs, gauges, computer, boots, hood, gloves, BCD, tanks, weights etc...

I see newbies walk into dive shops and drop $3000 - $4000 dollars and I cringe everytime. Why? because they pay that much for the same stuff I paid $1400.00 for... and my stuff is all top of the line... lifetime gear that will never go out of style... and if well maintained will never need to be replaced.

Anyone who wants to know what I use may send me a private message. I'll happily provide you the list of gear by brand name and price to pay for it... and guess what... it's virtually all Scubapro.

Ken

I have been helping out at my LDS and it seems that whenever someone who is new to diving comes in, they have to have all of the best equipement and "coolest" accessories. It just makes no sense to me why some instructors and LDS owners try to convince their charges that the more expensive an item is the better. Aren't we teaching the wrong message? It just doesn't seem responisible as most of these people will only be diving once a year or less. I know what many will say; That it is how a LDS makes money, and that there are many people who do "strenous diving" that need the best equipement. I myself have been useing the same equipement since I started diving, and have over 500 dives on it, and I do not feel the need for anything else(and my gear is far from the most expensive) I guess I feel we should let new divers get their perverbial feet wet before we throw them in the deep end, equipement wise.

 

[NutJob]

Hey, does anyone need a Cadillac? No, but they still buy Cadillacs.

You're not going to to get a top of the line gear set for 1400. You may get something servicable, but it won't be top of the line.

 

[corybaby]

have you used "the best" ? compare an atomic b2 reg to a sherwood or any other inexpensive regs .... go to 100 ft and then tell me your reg is as good as mine............it will last for years and makes the diving way more safe and fun, its fun when your not worried about your 200$ first stage exploding after 5 years of service