erichK
Contributor
I've bought from all three. We did buy masks and fins and snorkels and many other items from the LDS, but soon succumbed to sticker shock on larger items. Also, wanted brands LDS never displayed. On getting back into diving for a third time, I did a lot of research and asking around.
Because I'm buying for three people (wife and daughter and self) I simply found that we had to either get significantly less generally recommended equipment, or *carefully* shop Ebay and places like Leisurepro. Got two mint Apeks ATX200 regs, a compressed neoprene and a neaoprene drysuit, Cobra computers and Ladyhawk BC's and numerous smaller items through Ebay, sometimes indirectly, when seller (mostly closing shops and other resellers, some private individuals) had another of the same, or other items for sale. With the suits, the Ebay sellers were, in most cases, willing to give a money-back guarantee of fit, as long as I paid the shipping both ways. Luckily, two of three tried fit, and the other party courteously and promptly honoured our agreement.
Yes, the LDS owner was and is somewhat miffed, but does concede that it was better to get the three of us out and diving, even with outfits bought elsewhere and/or used, than giving up on the sport as too expensive.
Tip to LDS owners: if you really are able to bring in other products, borrow at least one example from the distributor, or prominently display piictures and prices of same.
If you are willing to negotiate attractive prices, then don't feature ugly ones all over your store.
For example, the LDS lists Suunto Cobras complete with compasses at around $1200 CAD and the Bare XD2 Tech hypercompressed drysuit at over $1800CAD.
When I managed to get a new cobra with compass and quick release for under $500US from a store closeout, I was told that they could have matched that. What am I to think of the $500+CAD difference between the LDS's advertised price and what they claim they could have sold the item for? (Both prices are before sales taxes.)
I got the like new Bare drysuit for about $930CAD *taxes and shipping expenses in*, and was later told that they could have sold me the same suit for around $1300CAD. Aside from the fact that there would have been anothe $169 in taxes, the $500 question arises again.
I doubt that the LDS could have made any *net* profit selling me the complete list of the items I bought elsewhere at prices even ten or fifteen precent higher than what I bought them for.
And frankly, when dealing with aggregate costs in the thousands of dollars, for what are supposed to be high quality, reliable items, that is the most that I would be willing to assess as the true value of a warranty.
In the main, on new or nearly new items bought through Ebay after carefully checking the "feedback" rating, and usually calling by phone or having a significant Email exchange with the seller, the experience has been positive. In a couple of cases, items bought significantly "used" proved the "you get what you..." adage. None were outright rip-offs.
Generally, I am less impressed with Leisurepro. Although occasional sale items, like Apeks T20 auxillary produced a significant saving, they will also, just like their Adorama Camera alter-ego, cheerfully sell you absolute junk (flimsy plastic safety sausages, no-name tools, etc), if you are not careful.
I prefer to buy from people who know something about diving. Dive Inn (Scubastor) in Spain may well be a better source, though Murphy has intervened every time I've tried to buy from them (but friends have had good experiences).
Of course, for anything within 10-25% (depending on the item) of the prices such outlets advertise, I'll gladly buy from the LDS.
Right now, a week before my daughter and I fly off to an LDS charter on the Nautilus Explorer, and four months before a possible Bonaire trip with him in February, I do hope that a reasonable compromise has been reached.
Erich Keser
saskatoon, sk
Because I'm buying for three people (wife and daughter and self) I simply found that we had to either get significantly less generally recommended equipment, or *carefully* shop Ebay and places like Leisurepro. Got two mint Apeks ATX200 regs, a compressed neoprene and a neaoprene drysuit, Cobra computers and Ladyhawk BC's and numerous smaller items through Ebay, sometimes indirectly, when seller (mostly closing shops and other resellers, some private individuals) had another of the same, or other items for sale. With the suits, the Ebay sellers were, in most cases, willing to give a money-back guarantee of fit, as long as I paid the shipping both ways. Luckily, two of three tried fit, and the other party courteously and promptly honoured our agreement.
Yes, the LDS owner was and is somewhat miffed, but does concede that it was better to get the three of us out and diving, even with outfits bought elsewhere and/or used, than giving up on the sport as too expensive.
Tip to LDS owners: if you really are able to bring in other products, borrow at least one example from the distributor, or prominently display piictures and prices of same.
If you are willing to negotiate attractive prices, then don't feature ugly ones all over your store.
For example, the LDS lists Suunto Cobras complete with compasses at around $1200 CAD and the Bare XD2 Tech hypercompressed drysuit at over $1800CAD.
When I managed to get a new cobra with compass and quick release for under $500US from a store closeout, I was told that they could have matched that. What am I to think of the $500+CAD difference between the LDS's advertised price and what they claim they could have sold the item for? (Both prices are before sales taxes.)
I got the like new Bare drysuit for about $930CAD *taxes and shipping expenses in*, and was later told that they could have sold me the same suit for around $1300CAD. Aside from the fact that there would have been anothe $169 in taxes, the $500 question arises again.
I doubt that the LDS could have made any *net* profit selling me the complete list of the items I bought elsewhere at prices even ten or fifteen precent higher than what I bought them for.
And frankly, when dealing with aggregate costs in the thousands of dollars, for what are supposed to be high quality, reliable items, that is the most that I would be willing to assess as the true value of a warranty.
In the main, on new or nearly new items bought through Ebay after carefully checking the "feedback" rating, and usually calling by phone or having a significant Email exchange with the seller, the experience has been positive. In a couple of cases, items bought significantly "used" proved the "you get what you..." adage. None were outright rip-offs.
Generally, I am less impressed with Leisurepro. Although occasional sale items, like Apeks T20 auxillary produced a significant saving, they will also, just like their Adorama Camera alter-ego, cheerfully sell you absolute junk (flimsy plastic safety sausages, no-name tools, etc), if you are not careful.
I prefer to buy from people who know something about diving. Dive Inn (Scubastor) in Spain may well be a better source, though Murphy has intervened every time I've tried to buy from them (but friends have had good experiences).
Of course, for anything within 10-25% (depending on the item) of the prices such outlets advertise, I'll gladly buy from the LDS.
Right now, a week before my daughter and I fly off to an LDS charter on the Nautilus Explorer, and four months before a possible Bonaire trip with him in February, I do hope that a reasonable compromise has been reached.
Erich Keser
saskatoon, sk
