LDS - They have a bad attitude.

[ajtoady]

I have had the same results with a few LDS's. What I like the best is the blank stare as you ask for an item they don't sell. When I have a negative experience I find myself becoming overly exuberant and extra friendly. That seems to really stick in their craw. At that point they could be giving away Playboy Bunnies and I wouldn't buy anything. ( I think, but I'd like to find out) . On the other side of the coin I have been to far more that treat you like a King and will try to help any way they can.


It's not worth sweating the small sh1t, and when you get down to it, most is.

 

[rhwestfall]

On the other side of the coin I have been to far more that treat you like a King and will try to help any way they can.

Dang, you are in Rochester and I am just over in Buffalo, WHERE ARE THESE GOOD SHOPS??????

 

[rhwestfall]

You want a real "cold shoulder"? Walk in with 70's era equipment that you only desire annual service on (which are still servicable, and parts available). Believe me, that is when they get down right unsociable.....

 

[ajtoady]

Dang, you are in Rochester and I am just over in Buffalo, WHERE ARE THESE GOOD SHOPS??????

I am 3 hrs from Rochester up in the 1000 Islands area. I stop at dive shops all across the US due to my business and rec. traveling. Never hurts to look for new gadgets and check out different items from other suppliers.

 

[movieflick]

You want a real "cold shoulder"? Walk in with 70's era equipment that you only desire annual service on (which are still servicable, and parts available). Believe me, that is when they get down right unsociable.....

That explains it.Perhaps this guy remembered me having him do a reg service a few years ago

I am 3 hrs from Rochester up in the 1000 Islands area. I stop at dive shops all across the US due to my business and rec. traveling. Never hurts to look for new gadgets and check out different items from other suppliers.

Sounds like the same as me.

 

[waynne fowler]

Wow. What a shame. Seems the guy missed an opportunity to make a new friend and occasional customer. I do understand the frustration one feels about spending hours with someone explaining all the features and function of a piece of equipment only to have them take that information and spend thier money on the internet. But at the same time, these days it's one of the cost's of doing business. I've had people come in and spend hours trying on drysuits and bc's and talk about equipment only to see them the following week at a divesite in all the stuff I sized them for that they bought on the internet or from some other dealer cuz they could save some $.
I sure can't blame someone for savin a buck, but it's really frustrating that they feel my time isn't worth anything.
The flip side of that is... who else are they gonna ask? It's a 2 edged sword for both sides.... The sad thing is when neither side takes the time to try and see things from the other persons perspective.

I look at things a bit different. While it's frustrating to see that happen, I have to keep in mind that if they took their business elsewhere then I somehow did not do my job correctly. Most people don't understand that for the average recreational diver 'where' you get your stuff can be equally or in some case's even more important than 'what' you get.

The experienced and/or gear minded diver can do most anything and make things work out fine, though they may spend more money than they need to . The average Rec. diver really doesn't understand equipment all that well, and really can get lost in the setup, configuration, cleaning and maint of new product. For those individules having a trustworthy, attitude free shop is a wonderful asset.

Perhaps this dive shop person has had too many people spend hours of his time explaining things only to take their money down the road and doesn't really know what to do about it so he just shuts down when he percieves that it is happening again.

Sad in either case and the real sad part is on many levels everyone loses.

 

[rhwestfall]

Perhps true, but I gotta say, I am quite loyal to folks if they want to be the one I build a relationship with. No, nobody gets a "blind following", but you can earn my business, and it isn't always about price (if fact, for me it rarely is). Equipment is the same everywhere, its what is behind it that can make the difference... and you should pay for that.

 

[movieflick]

@Waynne - I do understand the frustration and try not to waste anyone's time but at the same time this is how it works for all retailers these days. People will tire kick in your shop then purchase online if they can save money.

I will accept paying 10% maybe 15% more for something if the shop goes out of their way to take care of me. If I get the same lame service at the LDS as I would from some guy online then there is no incentive to pay more.

The biggest problem IMHO is that the spread in price between online and LDS is massive. In some cases you can save almost as much as you spend and the only thing the LDS can say is you won't get warranty. I have been screwed so many times by so called "warranties" that it really is not something I take into consideration.

Perhaps LDSs should take the frustration out on the manufacturers for price locking them rather than the customer? Not that you do this. I am making a general statement.

 

[Steve50]

maybe he sensed that you were forced to be there

 

[surfinusa555]

You want a real "cold shoulder"? Walk in with 70's era equipment that you only desire annual service on (which are still servicable, and parts available). Believe me, that is when they get down right unsociable.....

Wow, that's terrible service. I went in with a 70s era reg to a LDS to have it serviced and the guy was totally cool about it. Since I didn't know much about it, he even gave me a neat history lesson on that particular reg and how its design has evolved through the years.