ElectricZombie
Contributor
There is no point in paying extra simply to purchase from the LDS. Buy your gear online; it's cheaper and a lot more simple.
Why do regs cost so much more
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ElectricZombie:
Nice one...This has been debated back and forth. But for you to come into this thread, spill that drivel, and then leave is utterly useless...
Lets just say one thing: Manufacturer's Warranty. If you dont buy at an LDS (or one of the online places that do have the MW) you wont get it.
Thats simple. DOnt just buy online because you want to save a buck. Buy your life support equipment at an authorized retailer. They will make sure your equipment is setup properly and that you are not receiving damaged goods.
I am appalled that an instructor would make a statement like that on a internet board.
ElectricZombie
Contributor
This topic has been discussed numerous times at length. I don't feel the need to elaborate when you can do a search to find out what I and countless others think. You've been here long enough to know that. You know both sides of this debate and I shouldn't have to explain it to you.LUBOLD8431:
This has been debated back and forth. But for you to come into this thread, spill that drivel, and then leave is utterly useless...
The warranty is useless. Do a search, I'm not going to lay this out for you again.
I don't allow any LDS to touch my gear, let alone set it up. I do a better job at servicing and it gets done right the first time. I could care less about the difference in cost if the LDS were actually offering some sort of useful service, etc. The LDS is not giving me any reasons to buy from them so, I'm going to buy online. When the LDS starts offering someting useful, I'll start giving them money again.
I'm sure the LDS community will be happy to know that they have brainwashed another consumer. "All bow to the mightly LDS!"
If you want to live in a fantasy world in which the LDS is some great purveyor of knowledge and services, go right ahead. Perhaps you have such an LDS in your area, but I don't. As an Instructor, my job is to provide top quality training and offer any available information to make the students entry into the diving world easier and more enjoyable. If I can save a student money, frustration and time by suggesting that they purchase certain gear online, I will. The student's best interest is the #1 priority and a blind allegiance to the LDS has no place here.
ElectricZombie:
Wow...
I feel sorry for your students.
ElectricZombie
Contributor
Opinion noted; not that your opinion really matters.LUBOLD8431:
Let me guess...you teach through an LDS. I guess you prefer to help the LDS make a little more money rather than help your students make an informed decision.
ElectricZombie:
Actually, No. I am an independent instructor now. I used to teach thru an LDS. I am also an authorized service tech for many brands of regs.
My students know where to get their gear serviced properly, and they also understand the value of manufacturer's warranty. If you read some of my previous posts on this subject, you might learn something.
ElectricZombie
Contributor
Same here. I used to teach thru the LDS and also have a few reg certs.
I quit teaching via the LDS because it was a conflict of interest. The LDS wanted the business from the student, but the LDS was not able to provide the services or proper gear. I'm not going to lie to students and tell them that buying from such an LDS is ok, so we parted ways. It would be different if the LDS could make good on the warranty issues and provide the needed gear.
Since you have a few reg certs also, you probably know that a LOT of LDS's do not service regs properly. Since the main bonus LDS supporters cite is the service issue, what is a consumer to do if the LDS is unable to properly service the new reg he bought? The consumer paid extra when he bought from the LDS, but is not able to take advantage of the "benefits" he was promised. In this case, don't you think he would be better off buying online? Why should a consumer pay more for a "benefit" that they never receive?
I quit teaching via the LDS because it was a conflict of interest. The LDS wanted the business from the student, but the LDS was not able to provide the services or proper gear. I'm not going to lie to students and tell them that buying from such an LDS is ok, so we parted ways. It would be different if the LDS could make good on the warranty issues and provide the needed gear.
Since you have a few reg certs also, you probably know that a LOT of LDS's do not service regs properly. Since the main bonus LDS supporters cite is the service issue, what is a consumer to do if the LDS is unable to properly service the new reg he bought? The consumer paid extra when he bought from the LDS, but is not able to take advantage of the "benefits" he was promised. In this case, don't you think he would be better off buying online? Why should a consumer pay more for a "benefit" that they never receive?
Well, I think a consumer needs to shop around for a good service tech. Second, if you have a manufacturer's warranty, you get free service kits as long as you own the reg (Aqualung, Apeks, Scubapro), plus you get any manufacturer upgrades they decide to do to that reg model. If you buy a reg online, you dont get free service kits, and you still have to find a good service tech.
I think that there are good and bad LDS's everywhere, just like there are good and bad online retailers. There isnt one answer that is always going to be a 100% positive experience. I have been diving for ten years now, and I have never had a problem with my LDS (the one I originally got certified thru, and still to this day go to them).
I think that there are good and bad LDS's everywhere, just like there are good and bad online retailers. There isnt one answer that is always going to be a 100% positive experience. I have been diving for ten years now, and I have never had a problem with my LDS (the one I originally got certified thru, and still to this day go to them).
ElectricZombie
Contributor
LUBOLD8431:
Right. However, do you think the average consumer knows enough about the issue to actively seek out a good service tech? I'm willing to bet not.
Lets just say that Joe Diver goes down to the LDS to purchase a new reg. The LDS employee explains the warranty; free parts, upgrades, etc. Joe thinks this sounds like a good idea and is worth the extra money in his mind. Joe leaves the LDS with a new reg in hand. A year or so later, Joe decides to have his reg serviced to keep up the warranty and takes the reg back to the same LDS where he bought it. The LDS attempts to service the reg, but ends up not doing it properly. They also neglected to tell Joe that he will be charged $70.00 - $100.00 for labor. Joe's wallet is now substantially lighter and all his has to show for it is a reg that does not work properly.
In this case, if Joe had purchased his new reg online, he would actually be better off. He would have saved on the initial cost of the reg and would not have to pay the additional labor fees. Joe would be better off purchasing online and learning to service the regs himself.
The problem is that when buying from an LDS, you may or may not get what you are paying for. People new to diving don't really know this and are not really able to make an informed decision.
Based on my experiences with different LDS's in my area, it is only logical that I recommend buying certain pieces of gear online to students. If I tell a student to purchase from an LDS that I know has issues, I am doing them a great disservice.
If there were a LDS that was able to service regs properly, I would suggest that my students who are not interested in servicing their own gear do business with them. That is not an option here so, I recommend online buying.
Maybe in your area you have a good LDS and buying from them makes sense. That's not the case here and is not my general experience anywhere that I have been. It all boils down to the fact that it is foolish to buy from an LDS and pay extra when you are not getting what you pay for.
I think alot of this is your opinion, and you are entitled to it. And, it is useless to argue with you. I dont think it is wise to suggest to every new diver that they should be servicing their own gear.
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