Worth paying local dive shop prices?

[Doubles]

Like a few other topics, this has been around the block more than once.

I believe in getting a good deal when I can. I also believe in supporting my LDS. I don't see many LDS shop owners making a ton of money. It's difficult to make a living even with a high markup. If they aren't around, no maintenance, no air, no training.

There is another point, often over looked. When your LDS sells you something, they have at least looked the item over with a set of experienced eyes. Your on-line retailer, just shipped it to you once they charged your plastic.

I have a difficult time getting into an elevator of a 40 story building, knowing the low bidder installed it. I would have an equally difficult time diving gear that my life depended upon from some on-line retailer.

I personally use 2 LDS. I always get what I consider a fair deal, not to be confused with the lowest price. Unfortunately, one of my 2 LDS just went out of business. I will miss that shop.

Cheers

 

[scubapolly]

If I'm ever down there I'll stop by. Do you know of any good shops near Cleveland?

I haven't been to any up there, I just asked a friend from the area, he said avoid buckeye. Check out the one in Euclid, but he doesn't remember the name of the shop.
You might post on GLWC forum on here. THere are a couple from Cleveland that might be able to steer you in the right direction.

 

[Strahd]

The theoretical benefits of a LDS over an online store are soposed to be: 1) person to person treat. 2) Advice. 3) Try before you buy. 4) Post sale service. While the "only" benefit an online store provides should be better pricing policies.

So, must we trust on our LDS blindly? Depends on the above parameters, unfortunately there are lots of LDS with untrained, arrogant personal, bad post-sales service or tags on their products that will make your mortgage seem a joke (Or even all this at the same time!).
You can also find online stores with nice, prepared personal, excelent treat and post-sale service with the added value of great prices.

In my case, if the suposed benefits of a LDS compensate the extra money, no doubt I'll go LDS, other way... online is simple, fast and cheaper.

Bought my mask & snorkel from a LDS, suit from a different one, boots & fins online...


Reading scubaBoard for the last month I feel a pretty lucky guy as I have a LDS wich matches online pricing including some nice staff and good advice.

I also have an internet store (ScubaStore.com) located in my own country wich seems to be the better online business I've ever seen: fast response to questions, great prices, lots of stuff and lightning fast delivery (ordered my fins wednesdey 5:00 pm and arrived to my door thursday 12:00 am).

But I also have my diving center option wich offers me unmatched prices on the few brands they sell plus being the nicest guys/gals you'll posibly met in diving business over here

A tough decision everytime I have to buy a new piece of gear!

 

[Trainwreck]

Just to throw in my 2 cents. If online trends continue, there will be no local dive shops. No one can possibly compete with on line pricing. I'm not sure about all manufacturers, but the two my dive shop services won't honor the warranty and won't even work on gear bought online.In case someone wants to know how they know where it was bought.....the serial number.

 

[redacted]

the two my dive shop services won't honor the warranty and won't even work on gear bought online.In case someone wants to know how they know where it was bought.....the serial number.

Not honoring the warrenty is understandable if it came from an unauthorized dealer. But not honoring warrenties for gear from authorized online dealers and refusing service for gear bought online is just stupid. The internet is not killing them - they are just too STUPID to survive. Good riddance to those shops and others like them.

 

[likelite]

All right, I admit I'm a DM affiliated with a LDS, but let me give you some things to think about:

* Rent costs money
* Hiring staff costs money
* Building a pool costs...you guessed it
* Experience definitely is something you want from someone teaching you how to do a challenging sport like scuba

I'm not defending 50% and 75% markups - quite possibly many of you are dealing with LDS that are a lot less competitive and a lot more incompetent than mine here in TN. Ours is more expensive than the 'Net, but maybe 15%, not twice the cost. Also, you also get 10% off buying gear if you're going on a trip with the shop and you get a much higher discount - like 20% or so, if you buy a full kit for OW training. This kit includes BCD, reg, even mesh bags.

Seriously, if you've got a particular model of mask or what have you in mind, call the LDS and say in plain words, "I see this Octopus1241 [insert model here] for $46 online; can you match that?" At least give 'em a chance to be competitive, say I.

However, it just seems impractical to me to continue to expect LDS to exist if everyone plans to buy everything online. I doubt outfits like LeisurePro are going to start doing regional OW trainings and whatnot. As far as not working on gear bought online, it's a simple business decision - just like yours was to save money by not supporting the folks who are training you to safely pursue diving.

I admit I'm also a person that tries to support independent businesses like bookstores and restaurants, since I think the Wal-Martization of the world has led to a whole bunch of negative side effects.

Just something to think about, I suppose.

 

[ratsandtats]

Like many others on here i have to say yes and no. My local shop sells the Princeton Tec Shockwave II primary light for $80, would give me a discount to $70 even after i told them i could get the shockwave II (primary), surge (secondary) and seastar (personal 'marker' light) for $85 shipped to my door. They did offer to give me the three for $120. On the other had the knife i got was the same price on and offline............so i bought it at my LDS.

If i'm not getting really ripped off like with lights i gladly buy from my lds.......but $35 is a too much of a difference for me. And also keep in mind that your LDS may not be able to get some items you want so online may be your online options.

In short, use the net to thoroughly research your item, check with your lds for prices and availability, if its only a $5-$10 difference then why not support them???? if the difference is extreme pick the cheapest place. The more you save on equipment, the more you have to buy new toys or plan new trips!

 

[wet-one]

Buy your most expensive gear online. i used to work at a dive shopand the mark up is rediculous. Of course buy some stuff from ur shop to keep them happy... but 150% mark up is rediculous. I buy all scubapro online and i save at least 20 %

go to the shop and try on thr gear, make sure u like it, then order it online. good luck

 

[wet-one]

religion and diving should never be mixed dude. i dont think joseph smith would approve. I mean, what if you found a megaladon tooth that was 5 million years old. how does that jive with the belief that the world is only 5,000 some odd years old. wierd man. jk man.

 

[drbill]

Not going to wade through this entire thread. However, here is something to consider. If all the LDS'es were to go out of business due to on-line sales, who would be filling your tank? I sure won't be shipping mine to Liesure Pro (not even sure they do HP fills, and the freight charges RT on a steel tank would be a real problem). Something to consider.