My trip to the LDS...just a little story

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GeorgeC

Contributor
Scuba Instructor
Messages
268
Reaction score
6
Location
Lanoka Harbor, New Jersey and Ft. Lauderdale, FL
# of dives
500 - 999
Let me preface this by saying I own a Diverite Trans Pack BC

I am at my LDS getting ready to sign my life away for the weekend dive on one of their release forms and notice a Diverite Transpack BC hanging on the sales rack. I didn’t think they carried Diverite so I go over to get a closer look. While looking at the BC it appears to be slightly used. I ask the owner if it is used and he says “Yeah we took it in on a trade in. This BC was Diverites failed attempt to make a BC for a single tank. The BC is totally useless; it does not support a single tank never mind doubles. It is total piece of crap as a mater of fact I would not sell you the BC even if you wanted it.”

So I think, “Which customer of yours will you sell this piece of crap to?”

While discussing regulators the LDS owner says “What BC do you own?”
I looked over to what is hanging on his wall and say the Diverite Transpack.
I was waiting to see the reaction on his face and nothing, not a single flinch, nor a back step. It was as if he never said anything bad about the BC.

I am thinking to myself did he forget what he just said? Is he taking me for a fool? Will he say just about anything to sell his product line or is he just that good to let this go right over his head and not skip a beat.

I really don’t care what he thinks about Diverite but a little disappointed that he is bad mouthing something he does not carry. I am a small business owner and tell potential customers the positive things about what products I carry. If the customer brings up the competition I point out the differences, explain why I designed my solution the way I did and how it benefits them. I never say company xyz sells crap.

When I hear this type of sales tactic it makes me turn the other way and I really want to do business with this shop. I think is he so naive that he thinks he is the only game in town? The Internet does not exist? Or does he take me for a fool? Just a little story I wanted to share.
 
hahahaha. you cant blame him though...it is a piece of crap
 
That is purty crappy. I really havnt heard a dive shop tencho or manager out here bad mouth a BCD here. That sucks you have to deal with people like that. Id just say screw it and goto another place. And if you dont want to do that then i would just recognize the guy for what he is and press on with pride. Oh, and give him one of these :mooner:
 
it happens everywhere, on all sides of the world, doesnt matter if its dive gear, a car or plasma tv

people are going to ***** about products that are their competition
 
Yeah, I've done it - when I should explain why the competitors product does sell, and why mine is preferable. "blush:
This BC was Diverites failed attempt to make a BC for a single tank. The BC is totally useless; it does not support a single tank never mind doubles. It is total piece of crap as a mater of fact I would not sell you the BC even if you wanted it.”

So I think, “Which customer of yours will you sell this piece of crap to?”
That's when I would have laid a $20 bill on the table and said: "I wanta play with it, you take cash for it?"
 
I have never understood businesses that badmouth their competition. It turns people off big time. There is a LDS in Hampton that will immediately tell you how bad the competitive LDS across the street is and what is wrong with them. This LDS carries my prefered equipment, but I refuse to buy anything from him. I've been in his shop 3 times and everytime have heard how horrible the other LDS is and no one should ever go in there. The other LDS? I asked him what he thought about the badmouthing LDS. His comment? "They have good equipment." I bought my last skin and wet suit from this guy and he only charged a little more than the internet shops. About the same when you count shipping.

It's the same with equipment, a shop should explain the differences between the equipment, not badmouth it.
 
There are alot a ways to sell, but labeling the competitions gear as crap is not going to get it. IMO you will chase more people out the door with that line.
 
GeorgeC:
What top of the line BC do you use?

i use the dive rite back plate with a trek wing.
 
https://www.shearwater.com/products/swift/

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