Why do regs cost so much more

[Scott M]

i hate to jump in the middle of a war on my 2nd post but... How am i supposed to service my own regs when i cant get parts. I would love to service my own regs, but i dont want to be limited to the one or two regs that actually sell replacement parts. I have a sherwood oasis 2 and a standard usd for my octo and i will be dammed if i can find parts for them. So that leaves me having to use an lds. I know for a fact that i could and would service my regs far better and with greater care than any lds would, but untill you can get parts with ease serviceing your own regs will remain out of reach to me and alot of others.

Some say that you just have to get to know your lds and they might slip you your parts... thats fine and dandy if you have known the people for a long time, and that still does not always work.

So im not trying to flame or anything but how about constructive critisism... if you are going to bring up self serviceing of regs lets us know where we can get parts to make your argument valid.

Or tell us of a better place to get our regs serviced than the lds, and i do mean name places. That way you lend creedance to your argument because you have backed it up with alternatives. (hence constructive critisism)

Hope i didnt step on any toes, just wanted to point out that people might listen more if you give a valid alternative instead of just saying its better this way or that :54:

P.S. i even got vance harlow's reg manual, but its doesent do any good if i cant get the parts... i.e. hp seat, filter..etc... o rings are easy, but those are not nearly all the parts you need :frown2:

A good LDS will service your regs no matter where you got them.

 

[rgerman95]

A good LDS will service your regs no matter where you got them.

That's true, but in my area there is a substantial surcharge (almost 50%) to service regs which were purchased online. I suspect that shops here are not too different from shops elsewhere, except maybe in resort areas.

I am just pointing out this fact - I don't want to add to the continuing debate about LDS vs. on-line shops.


I have read with interest this thread and, after considering what people have said, two questions are uppermost in my mind. (Consider that they come from a relative newcomer to the sport - 20 dives.)

First, how do you tell whether the service you get from a shop, by that I mean regulator service, is good? How do you shop around for a competent service technician? I would like to hear some specific answers; there are many good people on this board who could point to some concrete things for the neophyte to look for.

And, second, the point being made about the difficulty in obtaining parts is certainly legitimate. Catch-22. A few specific places to get these hard-to-obtain parts would be appreciated.

I have the feeling that people don't want to mention real places, else their own source of parts will dry up. Is that whats preventing people from being candid?

Just my reaction after having read the thread.

 

[JPBECK]

Thats what it is...Thats all it is... It is Hypocrisy pure and simple----

 

[Pugsly55]

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.

I buy both online and at the LDS. But, my LDS prices and LP are not that far apart (like $50 on a $450 item). I prefer to save the money on some stuff (fins, snorkels, computer, etc) while buying at the LDS for stuff they have really helped me select by lending me it to try or measuring me for proper fit (dry/wet suit, regs, bc, camera, etc). I am not at the skill level yet to service my own stuff, so I would prefer to have a relationship with the LDS especially when it comes to regulators. But, if you can service things yourself or the price disparity is huge, of course that would change everything.