Thanks Vlad...
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awap:I believe that most consumer/divers will benefit from the loss of shops. In most areas, surviving shops will enjoy both more consumers and more manufacturers seeking to do business with them. Mfgrs will be forced to reevaluate their policies on pricing, service, and warrenties. They will not have the shops over a barrel. Trainers will still be plentiful but some may have to go independent of shops - another good thing in my book. We may have to drive a bit more for gas but there should be less shops who claim to lose $$ on their compressor. If the loss of shops is total in some areas, clubs should be able to facilitate gas, service, and training.
Hopefully the surviving shops will be the better ones. If not, the the more open competetive retail market should contribute to the ultimate failure of those that can't or won't satisfy their customers.
SNaslund:I am not proposing that the internet is a better place to buy, just trying to debunk the idea that the internet is driving the LDS out of business. The internet is just giving people options. This is no different than if a better LDS opens next door. If the LDS is lousy then they will lose some business to the new competitor. I don't believe that most people are really pinching pennies here, they just want selection and service at a fair price.
cyklon_300:going to remind us that we can't get fills online...remember, it's not an 'official' LDS vs Internet thread without this profound comment.
Yes, it appears to be. I can't walk off the 15 yards...I am at the bottom of the pile, on top of SKBRDVR1. SKBRDVR1: While I didn't agree with the 2 statements I quoted you on, I didn't mean to chop-block you either.vladimir:Piling on is the most frequent infraction on the ScubaBoard. I'll walk off 15 yards
HarryWhisman:Why??? It doesn't seem to work that way with anything else. Try buying a good lawn mower on line and see how much money you save. Try to save some bucks on a chain saw, a car or a TV. My experience has been that most of the time the shipping cancels out any advantage you get on line. There are exceptions of course. Some I have found include boat motor parts, pressure washer stuff and unfortunately sometimes scuba stuff.
I expect any retailer to be price competitive and in the end, I suspect they will have to be in order to keep the doors open. The INTERNET is here to stay.
dherbman:So, where do you get your tanks filled?