Why do regs cost so much more

[NDH]

My wife and I are new at this and we would like to have our own regs before cozumel. A lot of people say "support your local scuba shop," and we tend to agree but when the regs cost twice the amount as online shops why buy local? The owners of our shop are a great couple but I don't know if I want the Mares proton for 299 or go with the Zeagle Envoy which they don't sell. Both of these regs are considerly cheaper online. We are planning to get our AOW in cozumel and rescue diving class in June. So just to let know we won't be doing any cold water diving.

 

[ScubaRon]

Online shops are covering a large market and their business model is based on low margins and high volumes. LDS covering a limited local market and must sell at high margins.

 

[LUBOLD8431]

AHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!

Please!!!!! Hasnt the dead horse had enough!!!!!!!!

DO a search "leisure pro". Should bring up literally hundreds of posts...

 

[Warren_L]

NDH, yes, this has been a long hotly debated and discussed matter - you will find more information on this than you could possibly read in one sitting.

 

[NDH]

Thanks ScubaRon I understand what your saying but is their a warranty issue with dealing online? Our shop says Mares won't honor online sales is that true.

 

[Warren_L]

Thanks ScubaRon I understand what your saying but is their a warranty issue with dealing online? Our shop says Mares won't honor online sales is that true.

Yes, there can be, depending on the manufacturer. ScubaPro for example won't warranty online purchases and you don't get the lifetime parts warranty included. Although places like LP will do their own warranties for their customers.

 

[scubatoys]

And there are some on line dealers... where you will get a full manufacturers warranty. If in doubt... call the manufacturer - while it's nice that a place has their own warranty - that doesn't help much if there is a company recall, or you need it fixed at a dealer quickly... then the manufacturers warranty would be a good thing to have...

Even with a full warranty, you should be able to trim $100 off the price for a V16 proton... even more for the MR12 Proton.

 

[ScubaRon]

Some companies (e.g. ScubaPro) won't allow any online/phone/mail order sales, others (e.g. Dive Rite) will allow them as long as they are through authorized dealers and other manufacturers (e.g. Aeris)don't care at all. I don't know what Mares policy is.

Don't overrate the value of a warranty. It usually covers you against manufacturing defects: online sellers usually provide a similar warranty, but you may pay for shipping back and forth. Some manufacturers offer lifetime warranty on BC's and regs: however this requires annual servicing by authorized dealers. Lastly some manufacturers provide free regulator parts, so you only pay for the service labor. This may save you $30 or so per service. I don't think that Mares offers free parts.

When buying from a non-authorized channel you miss out on any lifetime warranty and any free parts. However, you may save much more than that is worth.

 

[TTSkipper]

MODs would it be possible to make a sticky at the top of every equipment and maybe the Basic Scuba Discussions Topics that is a FAQ regarding these issues? Lubold is right that this gets asked all too often. At any given time there are probably 5 to 10 threads going about buying online in one topic or another.

If this is not the place for this suggestion, please feel free to move this post.

Thanks,

TTSkipper

 

[wheezl]

I am suprised that no one on this board has told you to only dive Apeks or Atomics yet

Which BTW should only be at most $50 more at your LDS.