I've FINALLY HAD IT with my LDS

[elan]

Right On Brother!

The only thing that is a little disconcerting is when a Dive shop in Oklahoma boasts that it is cheaper than a dive shop in downtown NYC.

The only thing is that downtown NYC is not as big to include Rochester

Rochester is nowhere near NYC location and expenses wise

 

[DandyDon]

Back to topic if that's not too much: This has been your LDS? You have been buying and/or training there? Really makes you want to shop the web more huh? Then train on trips if needed.

Right On Brother!

The only thing that is a little disconcerting is when a Dive shop in Oklahoma boasts that it is cheaper than a dive shop in downtown NYC.

Reality checks... costs of doing business are all over the place across the country. From rents paid to pool costs, insurance etc. It is really only fair to offer comparisons within a targeted market area.

I think the more important thing also is to understand what you're getting for the money paid. As an example, shops near us list OW at $295. What they don't tell you up front is that books are extra, equipment rental is extra, quarry entrance fees are extra etc... so that by the time you've been nickled and dimed to death, you paid more than the place that just gave you an upfront all inclusive price that looked higher.

Make sure you're comparing apples to apples - not apples to oranges.

We make it simple and believe our customers like it that way.

Online or Take Home Course ($120.00)
Academic Review & Pool Sessions ($199.00)
Checkout Dives ($150.00)
Do it all with us ($469.00)

You can choose to do any phase with us you wish
We require students to have their own "personal items." Mask, Fin & Snorkel packages start as low as $85.00. Our best selling Package is these three items plus boots and gloves for $199.00 total.

We also offer a $2495.00 Be a Diver package. You get the course and all your own gear so you can learn in it and be familiar with it.

And no - at these prices you don't get low-end stuff. You get to pick what you want from amazingly - almost anything we sell. Fifteen items in all -

I was told not to long ago that a shop in California offers this same deal for $6000.00... more than double our price... so if you live in Cali... and want to save a few bucks - the airplane ticket and hotel is well worth the savings...

In any event... you can find deals like ours close to home if you look hard enough. For every shop out there overcharging - there is one within reasonable distance that is not.

I say shop around... while in some cases cheap means cheap - in others it means you got a great deal. Most of the overpriced shops out there are just that - overpriced for what you're getting.

It always pays to advertise, huh? Since you posted it, how is $469 that much better than $550? $81 is $81, but really - you seem to be similarly priced...?

 

[Web Monkey]

The Aquatic Center of Rochester, NY

WHAT A RIDICULOUS MONEY HUNGRY JOKE OF A BUSINESS. My girlfriend wants to get PADI certified. As a gift, she received a PADI eLearning course. She wanted to complete her 4 pool sessions w/ the Aquatic Center and checkout dives elsewhere... I called today for a price on the 4 pool sessions only.....drumroll please.... $550 - WHAT!!!??!? THEN, the employee informed me that she'd receive a $50 store credit (at their ridiculously overpriced store) for not doing classwork or checkout dives with them..... WHAT A RELIEF!!! So, I asked how much for the whole cert from start to finish was... Ready for this? $550, but without the credit... what a bargain!

Thank you Aquatic Center of Rochester, NY. It's amazing you're still in business and no wonder I rarely see a car in your parking lot....

I'll bet they charge exactly as much as they think they can get.

A quick Google turns up 4 SCUBA shops in the area, however two don't seem to have websites, and I'm not sure they they're actually open. The other shop charges exactly as much as AC.

You could drive to Auburn. They charge about half of what Rochester does, although it's about an hour drive each way.

Terry

 

[DandyDon]

You could drive to Auburn. They charge about half of what Rochester does, although it's about an hour drive each way.

That's how I do it all here, including fills if I had someplace to dive here.

How far from Thousand Islands are y'all? Fun diving and I know you're a lot closer than I.

 

[letterboy]

Back to topic if that's not too much: This has been your LDS? You have been buying and/or training there? Really makes you want to shop the web more huh? Then train on trips if needed.

It always pays to advertise, huh? Since you posted it, how is $469 that much better than $550? $81 is $81, but really - you seem to be similarly priced...?

dear god, DD just said something I agree with!! STOP THE PRESSES!!!

Good point don.

 

[ScubaSteve]

I think there are a number of shops around that actually want your business. You may have to drive to get there, but then I guess

The distance that you will Drive to Dive is a good measure of your passion for the sport .

Do not let this one business spoil it for you. Pull the trigger....call around, ask lots of questions but be Upbeat and positive when you do it. If you find a connection that sounds like they will invest the time in you, to make you a better diver, then go with them.

 

[diver 85]

Did you hold up your hands & smile when they tried to rob you??.......

 

[ScubaSteve]

I guess he's off hitting that

button again.

I think I might actually have a couple ON TOPIC posts this time ....a new record.

 

[letterboy]

I think there are a number of shops around that actually want your business. You may have to drive to get there, but then I guess

Do not let this one business spoil it for you. Pull the trigger....call around, ask lots of questions but be Upbeat and positive when you do it. If you find a connection that sounds like they will invest the time in you, to make you a better diver, then go with them.

how you sound on the phone is how the person on the other end will perceive you. If you sound like a little mouse they will walk all over you. If you lay everything out and "whine" about other shops they will/may see you as high maintenance. If you try and run the conversation they will get on the defensive. Call around, be cordial, POSITIVE. Only give the other shops what they ask for.

Drop hints like, I have been looking around at other shops or I really liked the personal service my friend got when he got certified.

a good sales person will pick up on subtle hints that you drop and hone in on what fits you best.

As everyone has said above, if you get a bad feeling from a shop, walk away. I generally give shops 2 tries before I run away. The first incident might have been because the guys dog got run over that morning and he was in a ****ty mood, not that he is a richard.

 

[jsado]

That's how I do it all here, including fills if I had someplace to dive here.

How far from Thousand Islands are y'all? Fun diving and I know you're a lot closer than I.

About 2 1/2 hours from the islands. I dive there often.... It looks like that's where she's going to do her training....with Donald "Moe" Hunt of Hunts Underwater Specialties. That place is FANTASTIC.....not so much craptastic