Hey guys, OP here. I think this thread has run it's course of being useful. I would respectfully request that we bring it in for a landing. It was never my intention to do any harm to the owner or business of DSS, only to report:
1.) a failure of an essential (to life) piece of scuba equipment (we're not talking tennis racquets or golf clubs here).
2.) apparent unwillingness or inability to back the product (especially when my life is involved), warranty or not, or to let me buy a new one. (Which I never got to request, because the apparent owner was too busy blaming me for his lack of time and disorganization). "I can't help you!!! ..."
3.) how I was treated as a prior customer.
In fact, I would feel culpable if someone's lost their life or at the least, experienced an emergency due to some equipment failure that I had personal knowledge of and that I could have reported in a public forum, but chose not to, to protect someone from personal responsibility. Now that IS criminal.
If that is "thin-skinned," "criminal," or "torpedoing" then we have different values. You live by yours and I'll live by mine.
There are some really great people (most) in this sport who sell great equipment, and who stand by their product (warranty or not--due to potential legal implications, I suppose).
If you are ok buying from, trusting the operation of and loyally supporting DSS, then that is your choice. I just wanted to give a warning, especially to the new or newer divers who may not know THE TRUTH, AS I'VE EXPERIENCED IT about this operation.
To be fair, when I first bought my gear from DSS, the same guy spent a good deal of time with me on the phone. When I asked my newbe questions, though informative, he quickly made me feel stupid (I was a beginner), but that's just how some people (very few, mind you) navigate their world around them. If you knew me and what I did for a living in the Navy, and afterward, I don't think you'd accuse me of having "thin skin," as one or two suggested, or of not caring about people and their success.
If you've done business with DSS and are happy with the quality and design and follow-up service and sales, then I recommend you do what you think you should do. All equipment can fail; and true, a warranty is a warranty. However, good business and customer care is important to if you want to maintain and GROW your business. Perhaps the owner is fine with just selling a dozen bp/wings and some nuts and bolts per week and call it good, but then that's more a hobby than a business.
Many of your posts were helpful; some were not. Some were just ignorant. As for me, I'm done with DSS. I have much to learn about this sport and am humbled by the vast cumulative knowledge represented here. There are just so many really great people who dive, sell equipment and organize trips and instruct than to spend time with those who are abusive or jerks.
As a senior, I don't have as many diving years remaining as some of you, but of all the sports I've engaged in over my lifetime, it is the one I wish I'd learned so much earlier. I've spent a ton of time in Florida, California, Guam, Egypt, Iran, Pakistan, the Philippines, Diego Garcia, Greece, Italy and much of West Pac! Actually, many places I dove had no Scuba centers within hundreds of miles! What an amazing world we get to witness under water! Amazing friendships, experiences and well-being.
To dive buddies past and present and future, safe and amazing diving...
Skyflyer