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Being Banned from a Dive Shop..
- Thread starter Fishkiller
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Lost Yooper
Guest
"Bad news will travel the world ten times before good news gets its shoes on."
It doesn't matter to me if it's a shop, gear manufacturer, or training agency. If I'm treated well, I'll spread the word every chance I get. If I'm treated poorly, I'll go out of my way to damage whatever reputation they may have -- and I'll reach hundreds, or even thousands, by the time I'm done :laugh:.
Good luck,
Mike
It doesn't matter to me if it's a shop, gear manufacturer, or training agency. If I'm treated well, I'll spread the word every chance I get. If I'm treated poorly, I'll go out of my way to damage whatever reputation they may have -- and I'll reach hundreds, or even thousands, by the time I'm done :laugh:.
Good luck,
Mike
diverdown50401
Registered
As divers we are supposed to have certain loyalty to our dive centers and agencies but what you did was not out of line. I have been in and out of the retail business for years and what I found most is people appreciate getting their moneys worth even if it is not at one particular store. Can you say friendly competition? Perhaps if the dive center/shop/store carried more brands of equipment the customer would not have been forced to go to the other store. Or if the "Manager" would have special ordered the equipment the customer would have felt like "Wow these people will go out of their way to provide remarkable customer service here" then more people would be more likely to go to that store for their equipment.
Yes you were treated unfairly and it is not because of anything you did it is because the fool who runs the place is a jerk.
Incidently, by not mentioning the name of the store you are also doing the right thing keeping things annonymous makes YOU the better person. I would not be surprised if the creep banning you from his place is telling all his friends about you by name.
Yes you were treated unfairly and it is not because of anything you did it is because the fool who runs the place is a jerk.
Incidently, by not mentioning the name of the store you are also doing the right thing keeping things annonymous makes YOU the better person. I would not be surprised if the creep banning you from his place is telling all his friends about you by name.
Spectre
Contributor
My OW instructor often pointed people to another shop than the shop he worked at, if his shop didn't carry what the customer was looking for... expecially when it came to clips and stuff...
In fact, Once someone was looking at a lanyard and thought it was cool [we all thought it was a cool concept] until we all were "reminded" what happens when you have a compass on a lanyard that uses a magnet
Because of that _he_ earned my loyalty, since I know I can trust him. Since then he's moved on and opened his own shop, and I always try to check there first when I'm looking for something [even though there is well over a 1/2 dozen shops closer to my commuting area than his]
Well, I work in a dive shop part time and I can see how this would cause a problem. It's important for a shop to provide enough variety of gear that they can give an honest opinion of whats going to suit the customers needs. If this is taken care of then there is rarely a reason for someone to go elsewhere. However, saying this, there is often a problem of divers hanging around dive shops. I cant say whether you had an appropriate reason to be there but they are a place of business. If you went to WalMart because your friend worked there and you hung around your friend most likely be fired. Any of my buddies know there are certain times they can drop by. It's most often while Im doing service work or cleaning up. If I'm busy with customers they know that they shouldn't be there, and if someone asked a question I know they would defer them to me, which you should have done. If your friend didn't have what they were looking for, he most likely would have told them so,and an informed consumer would know this. I wouldn't have banned you from the shop, but I would have told you to do me a favour and let me answer the questions. I run a big dive club, separate from the shop, and thats where we socialise.
AllenG
Contributor
Eanxdyver - I might ask that you consider the following:
You suggest that "there is often a problem of divers hanging around dive shops." This is certainly true, but this is also part of the cachet of a LDS. A LDS is not a Walmart where you anonymously shop and try to check out as quickly as possible. For good or for bad, a dive shop is a place where some customers come to chat and learn about their hobby. My observation doesn't dispute your original premise, but there's a big difference between telling a newbie that he/she has options and the chronic know-it-all who incessantly jawbones, confuses customers, and annoys staff with his/her incessant and pointless repetitions of stories that are greatly exaggerated to begin with.
You remind Fishkiller that "(i)f you went to WalMart because your friend worked there and you hung around your friend most likely be fired." From Fishkiller's posting, it is plausible that the excessive "hang around" factor may have been in evidence. But there is a difference between the diver who "visits" with shop staff, occasionally purchasing gear or accessories vs. the gaggle of teenagers who descend on the Walmart solely for the purpose of goofing on, socializing with, or otherwise distracting the friend who works at Walmart.
You suggest that "(i)f I'm busy with customers they know that they shouldn't be there, and if someone asked a question I know they would defer them to me, which you should have done." Fishkiller wrote that the staff were busy and the newbie customer asked him a question while "he was standing around." So, in effect, you want to blame Fishkiller because the shop owner didn't have enough staff at that time or because new divers sometimes appreciate hearing the opinion of divers who don't have a financial interest in what is purchased?
You are most charitable in suggesting that "(i)f your friend didn't have what they were looking for, he most likely would have told them so, and an informed consumer would know this." However, there is a difference between telling a customer that you don't have what he/she is looking for vs. referring the customer elsewhere for a product which best suits that customer's needs. It has been my experience that LDS managers will sell the customer whatever it is that they do have, rather than direct that customer to another LDS (e.g., "I understand that you only want a short-arc discharge cannon light, but would you be interested in this UK SL4 that I haven't been able to sell for the past 2 years?")
You suggest that the customer is an informed customer. Fishkiller's postings would lead one to believe the customer was, in fact, a newbie who was not, in fact, informed.
Finally, you offer that "I run a big dive club, separate from the shop, and thats where we socialise." Some communities don't have dive clubs where you can socialize; some dive clubs are unduly formal or snobbish and therefore don't do it for some divers; some divers aren't interested in the social aspect of clubs. Dive shops serve a function greater than the simple purchase of equipment. They are places in which divers can casually interact, learn about gear, get ideas from others, and savour their sport. Take this away and you might as well just shop by telephone or Internet. I'm not defending the wannabes who annoyingly buzz around a shop proffering their alleged expertise, but it sounds like Fishkiller's situation was something very different.
You suggest that "there is often a problem of divers hanging around dive shops." This is certainly true, but this is also part of the cachet of a LDS. A LDS is not a Walmart where you anonymously shop and try to check out as quickly as possible. For good or for bad, a dive shop is a place where some customers come to chat and learn about their hobby. My observation doesn't dispute your original premise, but there's a big difference between telling a newbie that he/she has options and the chronic know-it-all who incessantly jawbones, confuses customers, and annoys staff with his/her incessant and pointless repetitions of stories that are greatly exaggerated to begin with.
You remind Fishkiller that "(i)f you went to WalMart because your friend worked there and you hung around your friend most likely be fired." From Fishkiller's posting, it is plausible that the excessive "hang around" factor may have been in evidence. But there is a difference between the diver who "visits" with shop staff, occasionally purchasing gear or accessories vs. the gaggle of teenagers who descend on the Walmart solely for the purpose of goofing on, socializing with, or otherwise distracting the friend who works at Walmart.
You suggest that "(i)f I'm busy with customers they know that they shouldn't be there, and if someone asked a question I know they would defer them to me, which you should have done." Fishkiller wrote that the staff were busy and the newbie customer asked him a question while "he was standing around." So, in effect, you want to blame Fishkiller because the shop owner didn't have enough staff at that time or because new divers sometimes appreciate hearing the opinion of divers who don't have a financial interest in what is purchased?
You are most charitable in suggesting that "(i)f your friend didn't have what they were looking for, he most likely would have told them so, and an informed consumer would know this." However, there is a difference between telling a customer that you don't have what he/she is looking for vs. referring the customer elsewhere for a product which best suits that customer's needs. It has been my experience that LDS managers will sell the customer whatever it is that they do have, rather than direct that customer to another LDS (e.g., "I understand that you only want a short-arc discharge cannon light, but would you be interested in this UK SL4 that I haven't been able to sell for the past 2 years?")
You suggest that the customer is an informed customer. Fishkiller's postings would lead one to believe the customer was, in fact, a newbie who was not, in fact, informed.
Finally, you offer that "I run a big dive club, separate from the shop, and thats where we socialise." Some communities don't have dive clubs where you can socialize; some dive clubs are unduly formal or snobbish and therefore don't do it for some divers; some divers aren't interested in the social aspect of clubs. Dive shops serve a function greater than the simple purchase of equipment. They are places in which divers can casually interact, learn about gear, get ideas from others, and savour their sport. Take this away and you might as well just shop by telephone or Internet. I'm not defending the wannabes who annoyingly buzz around a shop proffering their alleged expertise, but it sounds like Fishkiller's situation was something very different.
The main point is that if you want to be able to hang around a dive shop at all you should be able to do the owner of the shop the courtesy of not engaging customers in specifics when it comes to purchases. If you want to be able to hang around then let them handle the business , if they are too busy to help the customer thats not your responsibility, Also , I know many shops that do over sell or sway customers, too bad for you that seem to see a lot of them, but I don't and neither does the owner of my shop. Try to see beyond someone wanting to have a place to hang around and look at it from the shops point of view.
I would also suggest that the shop is failing the customers in not encouraging some sort of dive club so that business and socializing can be kept separate. I've been on both sides of the fence, and I just want to give a point from the "shop" side.
PS...I still say after reading more on this shop that the owners obviously a jerk, but what goes around comes around, and he'll learn or close up.;-0
I would also suggest that the shop is failing the customers in not encouraging some sort of dive club so that business and socializing can be kept separate. I've been on both sides of the fence, and I just want to give a point from the "shop" side.
PS...I still say after reading more on this shop that the owners obviously a jerk, but what goes around comes around, and he'll learn or close up.;-0
Lousy Stinking Capitalist Free Market Ideologue is shamefully hurting comrade LDS...
Were is Loyalty to Mother Shop?!?!
Subversive must be taught harsh lesson...
Exile to gulag!!!
Were is Loyalty to Mother Shop?!?!
Subversive must be taught harsh lesson...
Exile to gulag!!!
DEEP SEA
Contributor
You might want to consider what a dive shop owner has to gain or lose - his livelihood! If I spent my life savings, which most dive shop owners do and had some guy in my store telling people to shop somewhere else, I would have a talk with him and possibly ask him to shop somewhere else.
What good is it to a business to have someone comes around telling customers to shop some place else. I do a lot of trade shows each year and would not put up with someone standing in my booth telling people how good the product is in my competitors booth.
Come on guys, use some common sense or common courtesy for the shop owner. Most likely he/she has everything on the line trying to supply you!
What good is it to a business to have someone comes around telling customers to shop some place else. I do a lot of trade shows each year and would not put up with someone standing in my booth telling people how good the product is in my competitors booth.
Come on guys, use some common sense or common courtesy for the shop owner. Most likely he/she has everything on the line trying to supply you!
jimholcomb
Guest
That would probably irritate most dive shop folks I know. The lady might have even thought you worked there. You said that there are still nice people who work there - those "nice people" might not get paid with conversations like that going on IN THEIR SHOP. I would have avoided the question while standing IN THEIR SHOP if I couldn't recommend something they had. I know the Transpac program you referred to - and it's a damn good one - and you were correct in your recommendation - BUT, you just don't say things like that in another dive shop - ESPECIALLY where your friends work. Being honest is one thing - but damn! Have you ever told a woman that it was the FAT around her stomach they makes her look fat and NOT the dress?!?!
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