ReefHound:
Amazing how people manage to get through life just fine on their own (or do they) yet need an LDS guardian angel to look after them when it comes to scuba.
Guardian angel. That's rich. Dive shops are service period. If your LDS is a "guardian ANGEL" they are way too hands on, and are perpetuating the myth that you can only dive with a professional; another bad trend in our industry - if that's the case I understand some of your feelings
You have never been on a shop trip have you? In todays economy, people work 50+ hours per week on a regular basis. Add to that responsibilities like kids and their events, family events etc, and they don't have time to get all done in a timely fashion. Many times they schedule a trip right after a "season" and never had time to attend to things properly. Additionally, many do not dive locally for many reasons "I don't do fresh water", "I don't do cold water", etc so they are not using the gear on a regular basis - so the trip comes up and as they are packing they come across an ooops, whatever that oops is. Guess what, the LDS takes care of it
BTW, I do not own, nor do I work with a shop. I teach for one after years as a GDI. I have seen the service, I came back form a night dive at 11:30 and the owner was in and doing regs so he could get them to a trip leader to bring for a customer that brought them in close to closing time. I have led trips and taken computers etc to participants because they called the day before and finally decided to buy but couldn't get in. Yes, this store does not stock EVERYTHING. What one can? SCUBA is a niche market, prices have to be higher so the owner can make a living. As a small business person myself, I understand the concept of "at risk". Everything stocked in the LDS was paid for by the owners money. He/she must decide which is the best things to buy with their money. There are certain things they turn over quick, and certain things they sell once in a while. The things that get turned over is where they spend the bulk of their money. It has to be that way, and having them order your special part is just a cost we pay to have them do it for us.
SCUBA is too small of a community to have people not supporting the LDS on some way. We could not thrive without them. Independent instructors can do well, no doubt w/o overhead, but where do their people buy gear for class, where do they get their rental stuff serviced?
And that persons comment about selling spots for a free trip etc. Don't for a minute think this does not go on in every industry. We are a captalistic society and no matter how we shave it, we want remuneration when we sell goods and services. If that remuneration includes commission and freebies after a certain level, so be it. When I was working as a corporate trainer, our travel agent kidded me that between myself and my trainers travel she had earned 2 trips to see her grandkids. I don't see the problem here. There is a grand tradition of non-money compensation in many industries. Talk to any sales person about company sponsored "reward" trips. If not for this, why would a store sponsor a trip.
Also, take a look at the local LDS trip schedule and try to match it. Every one I have led, I have tried. Closes I came was within $100. So for an extra $100 I can do all the research, make all the calls, book all the hotels, planes, boats; or save $100, write one check to LDS and go with them. Hmmm?