Quick poll - Yes or No

[Drew Sailbum]

I've seen many people have various equipment failures. Frequently I hear the lament that "I just had this serviced." Usually I take that statement with a bit of skepicism.

But occasionally I see a regulator that has been reassembled by a fool. Missing parts from the first stage; silicone grease smeared everywhere it doesn't belong; and a second stage put together without and exhaust diaphragm (Yup, breathes fine in the shop. Breathes a bit wet :drown: in the water.)

Have you ever actually asked to see the credentials of your dive shop technician?

[leadweight]

My LDS subs out regulator rebuilds. The tech has a great reputation around here.

[ElectricZombie]

I always service my own gear, I don't trust anyone else to do it.

[Groundhog246]

I've always taken my regs to my LDS for service. I voted no as I never asked to see his credentials. However, the owner has certificates from various mfg's he handles, for himself and his technician, posted on the wall for anyone to see.

I'm doing an equipment course in January, not a technician level course, but enough to deal with a lot of minor at the dive site issues. Really looking forward to it.

[Aquamaniac]

Im sure a Very Large percentage of dive stores are just a little concerned about liability, hence uncertified techs would be rarity.

[lanun]

the LDS owner services my gear - old LDS is the authorised dealer of all the goods i bought (or at least that's what the sticker says (confirmed by manufacturer website check). never saw the actual technician (or warranty center technician) cert, though. but that was in California.

my current LDS out here is another story. out here, the LDS owner confessed that he does not have a technician cert from the manufacturer but since he uses regs from the same manufacturer (and is able to get the schematics for my model), so i figured what the hey.

gear he is unfamilair with he helped send it to the local authorised dealer/service/warranty center either here or in Singapore (and yes, the shipping, etc stings !).

[Northeastwrecks]

I've never actually asked, but the tech at my LDS and I dive together regularly. He has told me about the courses he has taken.

I'm actually scheduled to sit through the technician course the next time the Apeks rep comes through.

[chepar]

My LDS subs out servicing on some brands and does others themselves. My reg was sent out for servicing and I didn't ask to see credentials.

I'm taking an equipment class tonight - and really looking forward to it - while it's just a basic course and won't even come close to showing me DIY regulator servicing, hopefully it will give me a good overview on basic maintenance and simple tweaking.

[GUEdiver]

My LDS has a superior technician who I trust with anything. I've seen him work, and often times I get to watch as he works on my gear.

But be sure to look on the wall too...often times an organized, caring technician will have his/her certificates of training from various manufacturers on the wall. It's like the air fill station; if you don't see a current air quality certificate, you better ask a question or two.

[chuckrt]

the LDS I use has other shops send them their repairs and the techs have their credentials framed and on the wall.

chuckrt

[Aardal]

I voted No also but after seeing a recent experience with another diver I know, I will be checking credentials.

A dive shop out of spokane, wa serviced this guys regulator and spare air for him. When the guy went to pick the regulator rig and spare air up, the guy in passing says, "you won't know if it works until you get in the water." Not thinking he was serious, He didn't think twice about his comment. We were up at whidbey island getting ready to do a night dive. As he was setting up his gear, he hooked up the first stage and put his finger on the purge button and open the bottle up and then it started popping. Make a long story short, the high pressure seat never seated and this is probably what the guy meant when he says, "you never know if it works until you get in the water."

:drown:

Man was this guy a messed up after that! He was so mentally scared that he bought a new rig set-up ($700) and didn't dive after that for 8 months.

[Groundhog246]

Aardal once bubbled...
A dive shop out of spokane, wa serviced this guys regulator and spare air for him. When the guy went to pick the regulator rig and spare air up, the guy in passing says, "you won't know if it works until you get in the water."

Has he stopped screaming yet???? If a dive shop did that to me, I'd be making my displeasure very well known. I'd complain to the shop first and expect a full refund, I'd be writing to the company who mfg the reg's, as well as the mfg of any other lines he carried. Then I'd write whichever certifying agency he trains with.

[Ari]

It is a well established dive shop, providing a wide range of technical services.

As a matter of fact, I never asked to see credentials.

Ari :)

[NetDoc]

pm me if you need to modify your vote! :tease:

[JDostal]

I've never asked to see them...but then again, I'm good friends with everyone at my LDS and I know that they are certified. There are more certificates and plaques hanging on the walls at my LDS than I can count. The guys are good...I would trust them to repair stuff even if they didn't have a certification on a particular piece of gear.

Occasionally, you are lucky enough to meet people to whom certifications no longer mean anything...they are just dang good at what they do...my LDS is like that.

[Dectek]

The last regulator I had service by a LDS pegged my pressure tester at 300psi when I checked it out after getting home. When I called the shop to inform them of the problem they told me to bring it right back and they would fix it. I asked if the same tech would be handling the problem and they told me YES. When I voiced my objection I was told that he was certified and a very capable tech.
Just because you sit in a two hour manutacture's seminar or workshop....that does not mean I have to put my life in your hands.
After 15 minutes of the words "NO refund" and "WHY should I let this joker touch my reg again".....I was given a parts kit to service the reg myself.

[Curly]

...I took a fairly detailed Equipment Specialist course at our LDS, during which time we got to know who knew what in the shop. I am completely confident in their abilities.

Plus, after the course, I learned that 99% of the maintenance (reg overhaul, valves, etc.), is not quite rocket science. Pretty straightforward.

That being said, I am comfortable overhauling my BC, and performing basic reg maintenance, but leave the real work to the professionals.

[Pez de Diablo]

I voted no. But it sure brings up a good point.

The service tech once forgot to reinstall the enviromental seal on my 1st stage. After they fixed it, I found a new shop to deal with.

[detroit diver]

I voted NO because my dive buddy IS a technician. I've learned a lot about my regs thru him.

[omar]

Aardal

Which shop in Spokane?

I checked them out over Christmas while at my in-laws. Only 1 made the grade.

omar

[Tanstaafl]

The shop has all that stuff framed and hanging on the wall. My LDS is a family run business and the son does all the service work. Their service area is open to view from the retail area. You can watch him work on your gear and he has no problem with questions during serivce. I was signed up for a maintenance class last fall but we had to cancel. Work got in the way;-0 . Man I hate it when that happens.

[MikeFerrara]

I guess it doesn't hurt to ask. The problem is the qualification process is a joke. Getting in the classes is the hard part if you don't own or work in a shop. Most shops have the certs hanging on the wall. We are a small shop and ran out of wall space. We have boxes full of the junk if someone wants to see more than what's on the wall (that is if I could find it).