Why is this SPG so cheap?

[lowwall]

So that's a really simple mechanism and would be almost completely superficial at the face of the dial, in the unused portion. So it wouldn't require any change in the design of the SPG. Thank you, I haven't forgotten how helpful your expertise was in another thread a couple years ago.

You are welcome. Did everything work out with your MR22?

 

[Failed captcha]

You are welcome. Did everything work out with your MR22?

Yeah, I also got another one exactly like it but not the one I linked in that thread and I took both to a Mares shop a few hours away. The new one was fine and the old one needed work which they were able to do that same day.

I put my old SPG on the new reg and got an SXS octo for it. I got an adapter to use a miflex hose with a (I think 3/8) fitting for the Mares port. I'm sure I'll be reminded of the Dunning Kruger effect for that by someone around here but it seems to be working great.


The old one has no SPG. My wife has a metric Cressi SPG that looks fine to me so I ordered three more like it and I'm going to let her slap a transmitter on me but I'm going to keep using this Mares SPG as long as it works.

 

[Failed captcha]

Because it's as good as anyone else's.

Wasn't meant to be rude at all. I ended up ordering something else but not because of the thermometer. I actually like the idea of a thermometer in the face of the dial, especially after a comment pointed out that it's probably a simple and superficial bimetallic coil that doesn't require reinventing the SPG. Another comment pointed out that it looked plastic and I can't find out where it's made so I ordered three simple brass and glass metric Cressi SPGs.

 

[Failed captcha]

I really cannot tell from the pictures, it looks to be a plastic case. I am sure it works fine and the thermometer probably goes up and down as the ambient gets warmer or cooler. Accurate, probably close enough.

Do yourself a favor and purchase a made in Italy B&G (brass and glass) spg, either a standard 2.5 inch or consider one of the 1.5 or 2 inches spgs if weight is a concern. Dive Gear Express or any of a number of other retailers or online stores should have them under different brands (Hog, Deep Six, DGX etc) at cheap enough prices for something that could last you many years and is much more rugged than a plastic unit.

This seemed the most persuasive post for me. Thank you.

 

[lowwall]

I got an adapter to use a miflex hose with a (I think 3/8) fitting for the Mares port. I'm sure I'll be reminded of the Dunning Kruger effect for that by someone around here but it seems to be working great.

I also use a 1/2" to 3/8" adapter on the DFC port so I can use standard hoses. The shop I used before I started servicing my own said they've done this to hundreds of Mares 22 and 32 first stages with no problems. They didn't even stock hoses with the 1/2" end. Everyone got an adapter with a new hose unless they insisted on a special order.

 

[eelpout]

Retail for items that you have in stock and customers try on? 40% easily? And I’m more than happy to pay that and I do pay that for the benefit of getting good advice or being able to try kit.

100+% on standard crap with no added value like first stages that the shop drop ships from a distributor or just because it has scuba written on it? Not so much.

I understand that there are dive stores that have different pricing structures. They can price it however way they want, but to generalize that "That's not cheap - that's just good price and not getting scammed by your local diveshop with ridiculous markups." is unfair. I don't agree with that pricing and I can face my customers on a daily basis because I was a responsible retailer when I was "the local dive shop".

 

[RobPNW]

I understand that there are dive stores that have different pricing structures. They can price it however way they want, but to generalize that "That's not cheap - that's just good price and not getting scammed by your local diveshop with ridiculous markups." is unfair. I don't agree with that pricing and I can face my customers on a daily basis because I was a responsible retailer when I was "the local dive shop".

I don't necessarily think LDS is trying to rip anyone off. They have a business and have to add a markup like any business or they go under. They just can't compete with online sources that don't have the same overhead costs and can pass those savings on the to customer. IMO it's a sad situation. As a consumer, if I already know what I want it's less expensive to buy online. If the item is such that fit is critical, the LDS may be the best option. Or if the savings is not that big, people may buy from the LDS to keep the sale local.