Worth paying local dive shop prices?

[H2Andy]

there are several dive shops around High Springs and Luraville that I consider superior dive shops. i have paid more to them than i could have paid online.

i reward good shops with my money (little as it may be, i'm sure it adds up).

i sort of went from "only on the net" to "only on shops that are worthy" about a year
ago, after finding these good shops. there are none near me.

prior to that, my experience with local shops was that they were basically worthless

 

[illiad]

For a beginner like myself a LDS is the only answer. I was lucky twice: I picked a shop that has an owner (and staff) that really do seem to place diving comfort and safety well above making a buck, and I drew a Master Instructor who is renowned in the Canadian dive community for my OW certification course.

So I've bought warm-water personal gear for the trips down to the Caribbean from the shop and will be buying cold-water gear this week from them as well. They've never steered me wrong and always suggest that I get a second opinion from another shop if I'm not comfortable with their recommendations.

Oh, and hi, I'm new here.

 

[hvulin]

Hi, Illiad and welcome... If you have the money buy from those that feel right and don't worry... There will allways be good and bad service (on- or off- line) and that's it!

But, this has become another worthless online vs. LDS fight, instead of simply telling the truth that:
MASK, SNORKLE AND BOOTS ARE CHEAP, BUY THEM WHEREVER YOU WANT!!!! LDS's that expect you to buy that from them are not trying to rip you off....

 

[Frank J. Cone]

The LDS I did my OW course with was very helpful and they were some really nice guys to do a course with. That said they carry and recomend pricy gear compared ot what I am seeing on Scubatoys and Scuba.com

I am planning two more courses with them and a trip so I certainly plan to spend $$$ with them, but I think I will end up online for most purchases.

 

[EsseQuamVideri]

I'll give you my point of view... I'm brand-new to this, reading the manual and looking at my first class coming up in a couple weeks. I want to buy as much of my gear as I can, and my first choice beyond the mask, fins, and snorkel (all of which I bought at my LDS) was to buy a wetsuit so I don't have to swim in someone else's pee during training. I went to my LDS to try one on. I fitted a $250 wetsuit and found my size, but really just couldn't afford that much for a wetsuit. I asked the guy working the shop if if could get me into one any cheaper, and he responded, "Nope, that's pretty much how much they all cost." I walked over to the rack to put the $250 model back and found 2 other suits for $150 and $175. I was pretty mad. Still, I went ahead and bought a snorkel and fins, and ordered a mask from them.

I've since found a suit online that fills every requirement I was thinking (including being real purdy) and I'm getting it for $120. Say what you want about loyalty, but if any business wants me as a customer, they need to at least be willing to talk to be about it. I'm not cutting my LDS off entirely, but they lost my business on that item. They can't survive out of some noble sense of duty by their customers... they have to act like a business and provide good service. I'd gladly pay extra for good service... but I'm not shelling out an extra 20 - 75% just because I don't want to feel guilty about it.

 

[Surelyshirly]

I made my large purchases from my LDS like my mask (first one), fins (they had to fit and I told him I wasn't test driving all the fins at his prices so he came down to within reach of online price for the ones I wanted to try) BCD, regs and computer (as a package I got a great deal) wet suit (they should have given me that for free for the comic relief I provided trying it on) and since I was taking the OW with them they also tweaked any problems and taught me to properly use all the gear)

By taking my OW with them I got discounts on the fins, gloves hood booties mask requirements and because I supported them with my other purchases I still get discounts on my additonal playtoys and equipment and the options on upgrading stuff too.

It is a small LDS but they work with me and take the time to make sure I get what I want, I cant ask for more than that so I pay the extra for their expertise and service and to keep them around, not a bad deal for either of us.

Do I go online and buy stuff? yes but nothing that have to learn to use, has to be fitted and never the first one I buy. (ie mask, fins, computer)

 

[highlandfarmwv]

Even though I have spent over $800 at my LDS, the owner repeatedly insults me because I bought my computer/BC and reg on line. (Like, "No wonder you can't afford to buy from me when you go on dive trips.") Was I supposed to give him $1000 instead of travel??? That's what the difference from his prices and Leisure Pro's were. Since then he has charged me for items I didn't know were to be charged (ie, rent of tanks during AOW; charged for HIS gasoline to get to the site HE chose for the dives). So, if you buy online, be prepared for the punishment!!

 

[annasea]

<snip>

But, this has become another worthless online vs. LDS fight, instead of simply telling the truth that:
MASK, SNORKLE AND BOOTS ARE CHEAP, BUY THEM WHEREVER YOU WANT!!!! LDS's that expect you to buy that from them are not trying to rip you off....

Well, maybe in Zagreb they're cheap but certainly not in Vancouver!

I tried on a Tusa Splendive II mask here in town and liked it. The price? $109.95 Cdn. Drop in lenses? $130 Cdn.

I found the same mask on ScubaToys.com. The price? $44.65 US. Drop in lenses? $59.90 US. Plus I'm under the impression I'd get a 10% discount because I'm on SB.

The exchange rate is so favourable right now that there is no way the converted US price would even come close to what I'd originally pay in Canada. I'm willing to ask the LDS if they'd meet ScubaToys' price, but I highly doubt it. Nor would they even come close, I'd reckon.

 

[SoggyShoes]

Annasea,

If you live in Vancouver BC try Divetank (http://www.divetank.com ). I have found them to be the most helpful shop around. They are in another country from where I am yet I consider them to be my favorite lds. They are an example of how a lds can serve an entire continent effectively. They are a real dive shop with all the same overhead as any other dive shop and run by the same family for two generations and EVERYONE I have talked to via their TOLL FREE number is a diver. I actually usually end up talking to Rich who is an owner. Annasea, I bet Rich will match any price. There have been items that I have purchased from them that a dive shop 10 miles from me had for the same price but I feel that I get better customer service and attention from Divetank. I was talking to one of the guys at Divetank and was saying how I really liked a suit that they don’t carry. Their response was “They make a great suit. I would like to try that one myself”. Try getting a response like that from one of the shops in my area. They don’t worry about it because I have bought a lot of stuff from them and they know that I will be back. To me it is not just about price but service, standing up behind your product, and building a relationship. I will spend my money at the shop that I feel does this the best for me regardless of their location. Unfortunately, right now this is from a shop that requires me to have a passport to personally visit. I guess I am not sure what the difference is between me NOT buying from you because I went across town or bought over the phone. So should an lds feel it is not fair because another shop is located in a part of townwhere the rent is cheaper?

I do only buy from a real shop that is an authorized dealer for the products I am purchasing. To me this is important because I want to talk to someone that knows about diving, their products, and can service what I buy from them. I think that shops like Divetank and Scubatoys are the models of the future in dive shops. There is no reason that any shop in any tiny town couldn’t adopt this model: Great service, good prices, and a worldwide customer base.

 

[stever2002]

My LDS has a pool - like most, I suppose. They will let me compare any products in the pool. I find this very compelling although, at this point I only own my personal (fins/snorkle/mask/boots/gloves). I wouldn't take advantage of this service by, say, comparing two BCD's in the pool and then buying online; I want to have a good long term relationship with this shop [they are close to my house, offer all the training I want, very friendly, etc. etc.]

Also, they offer me a discount since I've taken my OW (and soon AOW) classes there. Now, even with these discounts, the prices are not even close to what you can find online.

I recently compaired lights that I'll need for my AOW class. Of course I can get a cheaper light package from the web. But when I went in (and told them that night diving doesn't really "attract" me, but I obviously need lights for the night dive in the class), they spent the time to explain that one particular primary light (priced around $40) is a "good" light, and if I decide to do heavy duty night dives and/or wreck penetration, I can THEN get a better light and use this one as my backup. Oh, and they will discount that $40 for me.

When I finally scape up the coin for a major investment (BCD, Reg set, Computer, etc...) - I'll probably do some online research, compare products in the pool, and politely ask if they can "do any better" price wise. I don't expect them to come down to web pricing, after all the customer service [read: personal time as well as the pool] is worth something. But even a little "rhythm" on their part will show some good faith from them that they value me and want me to come back.

I guess I've taken enough of your time - go on now and read a post from someone who knows what they are talking about.

...steve...