Steve_Dives
Contributor
I bought my gear at the LDS. I wanted to buy the life support equipment from someone I know, and who can service the gear. A wetsuit, that I'd order online if the cost & timing met my needs.
And just in case you're thinking ordering online will save money, my LDS sold me a BC, regs, and computer for less than I could get online (for new gear) and threw in a retractor.
I also bought lights from them. While not life support, the shipping cost (batteries are heavy) equalized sales price.
On the servicing side, the LDS will probably be able to service anything. But what they might do for a make they don't carry, is put it in a box, ship it away, wait, and charge a mint for the service. The annual inspection on a set of regs, for example, would run $60 if it isn't a make they carry, and you're waiting at least 2 weeks to get them back.
And just in case you're thinking ordering online will save money, my LDS sold me a BC, regs, and computer for less than I could get online (for new gear) and threw in a retractor.
I also bought lights from them. While not life support, the shipping cost (batteries are heavy) equalized sales price.
On the servicing side, the LDS will probably be able to service anything. But what they might do for a make they don't carry, is put it in a box, ship it away, wait, and charge a mint for the service. The annual inspection on a set of regs, for example, would run $60 if it isn't a make they carry, and you're waiting at least 2 weeks to get them back.