Shearwater vs Aqualung

[Paradox]

Thanks for all the replies! Yeah I read about Aqualung's issues and one five shop I spoke with said as much with backorder stretching close to a year on some things.

I'm definitely leaning to the Perdix, especially now after the comments here. Every company can have good and bad points...but in this case, SW good points outweigh the bad. Especially as I'm in Canada and resolving issues would be far easier!

 

[berndo]

Still better than Suunto tho

My first suunto lasted for 600 or 700 dives before the depth sensor hadan issue, the Scubapro/Uwatec computer I had also had issues but they fixed it quickly and for little money. I have 2 out of 3 SW computers with few dives but with button issues... if I get both fixed that's 700 Dollars... I don't think that's better than suunto.

 

[tursiops]

My first suunto lasted for 600 or 700 dives before the depth sensor hadan issue, the Scubapro/Uwatec computer I had also had issues but they fixed it quickly and for little money. I have 2 out of 3 SW computers with few dives but with button issues... if I get both fixed that's 700 Dollars... I don't think that's better than suunto.

You are clearly happy with the Suunto.
Nice to have finally met someone who is happy with their Suunto.

 

[iliketopetsharks]

My first suunto lasted for 600 or 700 dives before the depth sensor hadan issue, the Scubapro/Uwatec computer I had also had issues but they fixed it quickly and for little money. I have 2 out of 3 SW computers with few dives but with button issues... if I get both fixed that's 700 Dollars... I don't think that's better than suunto.

I guess that's bad luck, my experience is the opposite. My Suunto Vyper had problems with the sensor (of course), which took TWO MONTHS to replace. After that, battery and display failed simultaneously, 3 months after the warranty ended.

That's when i changed to the Peregrine, which has a nice RGB display, Bluetooth, wireless charging, a logical menu structure and Bühlmann algorithm.

But each to their own i guess.

 

[Tracy]

I had a button break after about 100 dives and the repair is 340 USD.
Frankly, I think it's a rip-off. IMHO, a quality product should last longer than that or at least get fixed for a reasonable price.

Must have been a petrel. Perdix button replacement is cheap.
The petrel buttons are made into the case and must be machined out and epoxied back in. The buttons themselves are only about $40-50. There is about two hours of labor involved in replacing the buttons on the Petrel.
Perdix buttons snap in with an O-ring seal. It was one of the many upgrades from the Petrel.

I have had a few Petrels fail or flood over the years. As long as it didn't mess up the buttons it was a cheap repairs, boards and screens are easy to swap.
If it floods in salt, you will need buttons and the repair will normally be nearly what you can buy another unit for.

 

[berndo]

My Suunto Vyper had problems with the sensor (of course), which took TWO MONTHS to replace.

SW isn't much faster but much more expensive to fix. The people here who say they are great are die hard fans located in America and dealers who sell SW. They have good service there but not in the EU. Service is very slow and only for some models and people also have to wait for 1-2 month to get something fixed.

 

[berndo]

As long as it didn't mess up the buttons it was a cheap repairs, boards and screens are easy to swap.

What do you mean by 'didn't mess up' the buttons?
The one with the broken button is a Petrel and one with the wonky button is a Perdix. They initially said a button replacement it 150 or 170 or so for the Petrel, than it was double that after I sent it in. I get that anything can break but after just this little use and with more than one unit it seems like a quality issue on the manufacturer's side (I mean a 100 dives is nothing) and button issues seem to be common.
Than no EU service and doubling the price is BS IMHO. I doubt anyone of the fans would call that great service or great quality if it had happened to them... and I really used to be a SW fan.

Thanks for a reply that actually constructive and informative.

 

[iliketopetsharks]

SW isn't much faster but much more expensive to fix. The people here who say they are great are die hard fans located in America and dealers who sell SW. They have good service there but not in the EU. Service is very slow and only for some models and people also have to wait for 1-2 month to get something fixed.

Ok, i can't comment on that since i didn't have any problems (yet?).
Did you contact SW directly or the shop you bought it from? Once my car spent an entire month in the shop, but only because the mechanic forgot to order some parts and still overcharged me, and i foolishly believed it was Volkswagen's fault...

 

[berndo]

Did you contact SW directly or the shop you bought it from?

I talked to French and the UK service center as well as to the German distributor and directly to SW because it was unclear where to sent it to. The French center doesn't do all repairs and if you wanna ship it outside the EU you have fill out a lot of customs paperwork when you ship goods over 1000 Euros (or hope customs doesn't open the box on the way back).
They were all very nice and replied to email quickly, but the whole process is a major PITA and IMHO way too expensive.
It would be MUCH easier, if they just had EU service.

 

[Tracy]

What do you mean by 'didn't mess up' the buttons?
The one with the broken button is a Petrel and one with the wonky button is a Perdix. They initially said a button replacement it 150 or 170 or so for the Petrel, than it was double that after I sent it in. I get that anything can break but after just this little use and with more than one unit it seems like a quality issue on the manufacturer's side (I mean a 100 dives is nothing) and button issues seem to be common.
Than no EU service and doubling the price is BS IMHO. I doubt anyone of the fans would call that great service or great quality if it had happened to them... and I really used to be a SW fan.

Thanks for a reply that actually constructive and informative.

The buttons have mechanical contacts inside of them. They are sealed from the outside. When you flood the computer you get water inside where it shouldn't be. Flooding it with fresh water doesn't normally damage them, they dry and work normally. The new board and screen is cheap. If the buttons are ruined, it becomes a very expensive repair on a petrel.
Your wonky perdix button is a cheap easy repair. Pop the screen and board, pop out the button, slide a new one in and assemble it with new gaskets.