Your thoughts on LDS experience thread.......

[scubashawn123]

During these hard economic times do you think local dive shops and certifying agencies will drop their prices to get more people diving and continued diving?


I am in a class right now and everytime I pay for continuing education in Scuba Diving I feel like I am in a legal pyramid scheme.

Just my feelings.


SO

 

[Mack Diver]

When Karen and I bought Oak Hill Scuba, i wanted it to be a place where people could come and hang out to talk about diving and other things. I purposely did not want it to be a place where people felt compelled to buy something everytime they came in. If you want to buy something great, but I'm still glad to see people come into the shop just to say hi.

I don't have the financial means to stock lots of inventory. Thankfully, most of our customers are the patient type and allow us to order things for them. I try, but am not allways able to meet internet pricing. Shame on those who will go to an LDS to touch and try on a product, only to go home and buy it online in order to save a few bucks. You are not doing anyone any favors. I think that having the ability to touch and try on a product deserves a slight premium in pricing.

My main goal in selling something is that the customer be happy with the product and feel like they paid a fair price. By fair, I mean fair to both parties in the transaction.

I'm working on a new loyalty program for our customers. hopefully, I can announce the details soon. I just need to make sure I've got all the bases covered.

 

[k-valve]

Diving is a social experience for me...whether it's at the shop, the dive site, or this message board. As far as the LDS goes I'm looking for someplace...

1. that has friendly atmosphere and people who I enjoy hanging out with.
2. that has staff with some expertise regarding my interests, can admit it if they don't know an answer and still be willing and able to find out and get back to me.
3. that is hands-on owner-operated and/or staffed by employees that can make decisions.
4. that has flexible policies.
5. where I don't have to worry about being BS'ed.

That's why I spend 70% of my time and money in one particular shop, 25% in another, and maybe 5% in a couple more.

As far as purchasing goes, I buy almost all of the small stuff locally and don't worry much about pricing. I usually purchase the higher priced items around here too as long as I can get a reasonable deal. The guys around here know I won't pay a lot more than I can get it for online, but they also know I'd prefer to spend my money here than hand it over to some faceless Internet supplier. I guess I'm at the point that I don't feel like I have to have my hands on it before I purchase an item, so I don't mind if it needs to be ordered. Most places don't stock the stuff I'm looking for these days anyway.

 

[Jim Ernst]

I could not ever ask for a better LDS, Dolphin Scuba Center is my LDS and I am treated very well there, Prices are great, when you walk in they let you know and feel that they are pleased to see you and you don't have to be there to Buy.

They have great people there that are very helpful with gear, Advice and Experience.

I also know for a fact the the owner Mike Johnson will not let a customer leave unhappy and he will beat any on line sale prices!


TOP of the line LDS!!

 

[Hemlon]

I used to be a regular customer at one of Austin's main LDS. I took most of my classes from them. Any classes I take in the future will probably be from them too. I only had one bad experience there. This LDS advertised a price match guarantee...even price matching at internet sites. So I took my list in of what I wanted to buy. The owner of the store berated me to such a degree that I was enbarrassed in front of other customers. Now mind you, THEY advertised the price match guarantee...I didn't ask for it out of the blue. The owner was so mad that I thought his head might explode. They still have my business as far as classes go, but they get very little of my retail dollar.

At a different LDS, the owner asked me where I purchased a particular piece of gear. I stated that I bought it at Scubatoys. I explained that I frequently travel to the DFW area. He stated, "I thought you were JUST a nurse." Maybe in his world, nurses don't travel. In the real world, nurses (particularly those in leadership or management positions) travel quite often on business. Just a nurse....wow.

So for me, the chief purpose of a LDS is for air fills and continuing education. I do not go try on items for fit and play with all of the scuba doo-hickies that our sport offers.

 

[cruiser]

Brett,

It seems to me that you reduce prices you would sell volume (just a little business thought)

Shawn O.

Shawn--

Yes, this makes a lot of sense. However, I think Debraw did this when she had her shop in Arlington. Reducing prices and selling more dive gear means more divers and more potential sales. Seems like she caught heck for it. Not firsthand info, just what I've read on the board.

 

[lowviz]

-Don't dive their boat, but go to them first if it is a brand they carry. They still do favors for me and heap on the good advice. Priceless...

 

[fireflock]

Maybe I'm weird (not news to people who know me), but I'm not looking for a place to hang out, or some new friends to dive with. I'm looking for a place that will have the consumables (fills) and gear I need to dive. I also appreciate a competent service tech who takes the time to return old parts or scribble a few words about what he/she saw inside my tank.

I understand that I'm not the diver shops make a living off of. I already own most of my gear, and I'm not a big traveler. I tend to go off and browse, letting the staff handle the people who need help, when a new customer comes in the door.

I appreciate having a selection of gear that isn't all Jacket BC's, Split Fins, and Air 2's. I'm not expecting the whole store to be backplates and jet fins, but a little section on the back wall with the parts and pieces I need is great.

I like things that are in stock. If you have to order it, chances are that I can order it myself and get it faster than you can. Plus, it comes right to my door. I usually know what I'm looking for when I walk in.

My preference is to buy from a place I know and like _if_ they carry whatever it is I'm looking for. I'm not likely to buy a brand that was my second choice or a model I would rather not have just because it happens to be on the shelf. There's a whole wide world of gear out there, and I don't expect a local shop to carry it all. Likewise, I don't think it's fair to expect that everything I decide to buy should come out of the lines you do carry.

 

[scubashawn123]

He stated, "I thought you were JUST a nurse." Maybe in his world, nurses don't travel. In the real world, nurses (particularly those in leadership or management positions) travel quite often on business. Just a nurse....wow.

Thanks for being a NURSE, much needed in our society.




Shawn O'Shea

 

[richerso]

I realize my comments won't be too helpful; but I tend to agree with all of the comments posted here. With one exception. I am willing to wait if some part has to be ordered ( I believe someone said this and someone opposed this).