Worth paying local dive shop prices?

[jpsexton]

So please! You can't expect internet prices from a retail store! They have many more expenses and many more advantages than the internet. All the owner of the website needs to know is how to put a picture and a low price online, while he pays an incredibly minimal fee for his domain name and bandwidth. The webmaster will not know even close to a tenth of the amount that a good retail employee can give you. The webmaster won't be inclined to give you any personal attention, you're one of thousands, whereas a retail store does and should.

This simply is not true of any of the authorized online dealers. They are LDS's that have chosen to sell online also. They have the same overhead and then some.

 

[scubatoys]

Yea, I'd like to compare overhead with any other shop... about 1/2 mil in payroll, a 10,000 square foot building with indoor pool, 5 mil in inventory... Oh yea... on line means no overhead... sure!

 

[JGraves]

WOW Larry, I thought you were able to give the best prices, best service and best selection by operating out of your garage!! hahahaha

:lol:

I bought my fins and snorkel at my LDS.

I bought my mask and all the rest of my gear from my online LDS (Scubatoys).

-Josh

 

[Pez7378]

I purchased all of my gear from the LDS when I first certified. I took my OW from them too. I had very little money but they were very helpful. I recently bought a dry suit online and am very happy with the product and service that I recieved. I saved several hundred dollars. The day after a huge sale I went back to my LDS to purchase some minor items. I got into a conversation with the shop owner and mentioned that I bought a dry suit from an online dealer. He began to lecture me on the effect my purchase had on the LDS's. He tells me that nobody is getting rich by selling dive gear. I understand that, but hey, I'm sure staying broke by buying it. I need to save money where I can. He says that I only paid about $100 less than he would have charged me. WHAT??? you mean I could have bought from him and paid more?? I didn't mention all of the "Freebies" I got with my suit. I paid for my items and left. That night I was online and when looking at his website I realized that his sale prices were still in effect for the next week. He charged me full price for the items that I purchased. I will be getting the difference back and I will never shop there again. There are many More LDS's in the area and I will give them my business. The Online dealer that I used did everything he could to make me happy. I have a better relationship with the Online dealer through E-mails and phone calls than with any dive shop I've visited. I am very selective about the items I will purchase online but I think the LDS's need to take notice of what the Online dealers are doing and follow suit.

 

[aic007]

Alot of great points, personally if the LDS goes out of his way to explain the product or help out with it and offers more than one option or brand I will usually purchase from them. If they push one product they prob either have a higher markup on those brands or are given better deals from mfr if they sell more of their product. I know my old snowboard shop was family owned and I would spend more there cause I could walk in and say I need my board tuned cause I am going away tonight and he would have it done in a hour or so, excellent service and very friendly with reasonable prices. Their aren't too many LDS's by me but the one I am going to for my cert doesn't have the greatest selection and when I asked about a mask he immediately pulled the most expensive one off the shelf. This doesn't encourage me too much in his motives.

 

[BigBill]

Here in KC there aren't that many dive shops, but there are a few, probably 5-6. I go to my LDS where I was certified for several reasons. First, I know the people. Second, the LDS has quality equipment and going back to the first reason, the people I know are good divers, and take care of their equipment, hence possibly, taking care of me! Now, my LDS doesn't have a wide assortment of accessories so I tend to shop elsewhere for these items, and if my shopping leads me online, I tend to stay away from stores located in NY (hint, hint). I have been very impressed with Scuba Toys as they are primarily a LDS but with an online store.

With my LDS, on large purchases, I usually get a pretty good deal, and in turn, that and the reasons I listed, will always bring me back to the shop. Yes, online is cheaper, say a few bucks, but if you count in shipping and possibly taxes, the savings that you might get may not be worth it.

Bill

 

[dl348]

The vast majority of scuba classes require students to have their own mask, snorkle, and fins, these items are often referred to as "personal gear" because in many places they simply are not available for rent.

The online vs LDS debate has gone on ad-nauseum, but in a nutshell:

on line---------------------------------------LDS
***************************************************************
lower prices----------------------------------higher prices
order from a picture and description-----------try it on
operator is just an "order taker"---------------staff will usually help fit you
days to weeks delivery time-------------------walk out with it today
problem have to be solved through shipping----problems solved face to face



yes I own a dive shop and therefore I am personally biased, but I don't think anyone can dispute the above facts.

This guy thinks delivery time is "days to weeks", HELLO, ever hear of Fed Ex Overnight Delivery Services. Yes, it is more expensive than standard ground delivery but with the amount of money you'll save from buying online, you'll still make out and have your gear next day. I've done it several times and when you specify next day or 2nd day delivery, they will process your order that day. Some online retailers even throw in free ground delivery if your purchase is over $50.00
Just my 2 psi.

 

[TheFoggyMask]

I guess I should have added to the end of my rant that I was not lumping together online extensions of actual dive shops. I have heard enough horror stories about gear bought online that I never will, and in fact never do buy anything online for any purpose.

And if you are going to buy online, don't go into a store, poke around, try to wretch out as much information from them as you can when you have no intention of buying anything from them, and then have the audacity to tell them "I'll just buy it online, now that I know everything you told me!"

 

[jpsexton]

The way I see it is that there are good and bad dive shops period. The fact that they are local or thousands of miles away does'nt change whether they are good or bad.

Expecting list price, having limited selection, providing rude or poor service, and using tired cliche sales tactics are bad.

Competative prices, in stock and varied selection, quick and attentative service, and knowledgable sales staff are good.

Some will find these at the LDS, some will find it online. You should support whichever one makes most sense to you.

 

[max4444]

Personally, I trust my LDS with life-critical gear more than some faceless online store half way across the country with little accountability and in a place where I can't visually assure proper storage and quality control. I buy a lot of things online; shirts, cd's, blenders, etc. But gear that is actually responsible for keeping me alive? No thanks. Perhaps others may feel differently, but my life is worth a little more to me than the couple of dollars I'd save by buying online.