barralax once bubbled...
I wouldn't ever use the LDS for fittings if I weren't going to buy from them. I should have made that clear. I was simply turned off by the three I've visited due to their sales tactics, I've only asked them about their prices and what they offer as far as the Certification classes go. I asked for, and got, no advice on products. I'd love to buy locally, and I understand the minimum advertised price clause, and I've heard I could possibly talk-down a LDS, but I don't have the time to hop from LDS to LDS seeing who is willing to hagel without being insulted, it's amazing how many LDS's there are in OKC; the closest relatively clear lakes (I've Heard 8 feet visability max) are about a couple of hours away, I frequent the two most popular of these lakes fairly regularly (boating) and have never seen enough scuba activity to seeming justify the amount of shops in the city. I'm sure I'm talking out of my @*$ here, but the market seems over-saturated. I guess they're all selling trips.
If the guys at the diveshop are *******s then I would avoid them as well.
See if they offer any gear packages. The shop I work for does not offer discounts on the equipment however for those who buy their equipment from us we throw in defog, a bag to carry everything in ($30-$50 price range customers choice,) and a $50 discount on the price of class. Just call around and see if they offer anything like this.
If I were you I would call around and ask them about their teaching philosophy, training track record (any accidents) and see if you can find others who have been to that particular shop. The quality of teaching is more important than the cost of the course.