[PhilEllis]

I don't really understand the deal with OMS. As a dealer, I had a unique encounter with them.

During an earler DEMA visit with OMS, they expressed an interest in having a dealer in Alabama. In early 2004, I phoned them to enquire about a possible visit from one of their representatives. The conversation with the receptionist (or maybe the president, if SHE answers the phone). The follow is a paraphrase of the conversation (I am too old to remember the EXACT words, but the message is perfectly accurate) This entire conversation had the air of "we don't really care", with a corresponding tone of voice:

OMS - "Did you say you were in Alabama?"
ME - "Yes, Decatur Alabama."
OMS - "Are there any divers there in.....where did you say?...Alabama?"
ME - "Yes, there are divers here"
OMS - "Well, that is shocking!"
ME - "Don't be shocked, we all kinds of things here in Alabama, including diving."
OMS - "Well, I don't know if there are enough divers in Alabama to interest OMS."
ME - "Actually, that doesn't matter. There IS a $1,000,000 + dive store in Alabama. I know because I operate it and work here for about 80 hours per week."
OMS - "Why?"
ME - What did you say?"
OMS - " I just wanted to know why you would want a dive store in Alabama."
ME - "Are you interested in selling OMS gear to me or not?"
OMS - "I don't know. Send us all of your details."
OMS - CLICK!

I must say....in ALL of my invovement with scuba industry suppliers (and many of them are bizzare in nature...that's just our industry), I have never experienced anything like this. The shame is, I would still like to be an OMS dealer. I think I could sell some of the stuff. Unfortunately, the next move is theirs.

Phil Ellis