How about this---What line of equipment in the SCUBA Industry is overpriced?

[diverjed]

What line of SCUBA gear do you feel is drastically overpriced?

I expect some pretty hefty responses to this one.

Itemize if possible:

[HammerNoMore]

Hmm,

I think it would be easier to list the manufacturers who are not overpriced. But I'll give it a go:

ScubaPro
Mares
ScubaPro
Dacor
ScubaPro
Suunto
ScubaPro
Oceanic
ScubaPro
Halcon
ScubaPro
OMS
ScubaPro
Oxycheq
ScubaPro
Apeks
ScubaPro

Honestly, I can think of about 3 or 4 that are not ridiculously overpriced.

[diverjed]

True.

Specific Products? Too many to list:

One sticks out off the top of my head for some reason: a Wreck Reel- most if which are in excess of $120.00 (at my last pricing).

I know this is something you have to accept going into diving, I just want to have some fun with it and hear other opinions.

Not to mention Dry Suit, one of those will put you in debtor's prison for a lenghty sentence.

Diver's log book, I'm out- new one, $50.00. :rolleyes:

[norcaldiver]

Along with the wreck reel, how about Halcyon's Scout backup light? $75 for a $10 item.

[O-ring]

The Mares Hub and whatever the other ridiculous all-in-one piece of gear is called.

Most fins - those split, hinged, ducky looking pieces of crap that promise increases in "efficiency". Any fin over about $80 is horrendously overpriced.

[MikeFerrara]

Helium.
Boats
Plane tickets.

[MikeFerrara]

O-ring once bubbled...
Any fin over about $80 is horrendously overpriced.

Especially if it's already broken

[saltwater taffy]

Sometimes it's the very simple things that are overpriced.

Clips can very cheaply be purchased at a hardware store.

Gloves fromm K-mart

Sea shears from a medical supply

Save the worst for last......Stink in the Sink. Simply Green or Amways LOC does a great job at a fraction of the price. Get the stink out with Listerine or Febreeze.l:wacko:

[Walter]

Snorkels!!!!!!!!

A snorkel is a curved tube. Shouldn't be over $5. Too many folks are convinced they need bells and whistles on a snorkel. Incompetent instructors strike again.

I have to agree on fins - especially the broken ones and the tupperware ones.

[O-ring]

I saw a pair of fins at a shop that were almost $400. I definitely agree on the snorkels too..

[drbill]

Being a starving marine biologist, I buy much of my gear second hand and find prices on such equipment to be reasonable. Besides, some of the "older" equipment seems to be better made anyway.

Of course when I first started buying dive gear in the 60's I think the prices were even more outrageous adjusted for inflation. Smaller market back then.

With a big smile on my face I agree with James Goddard's list, especially every other name!

Dr. Bill

[diverjed]

Lift Bag- $70-$80 bucks!

Dry Suit Gloves- $100?? I believe someone hit this on the dot, buy it @ Kmart.

Dry Suit Underwear- $300-500 big ones??

[jrg]

$25 BC Hangers!

[saltwater taffy]

P.S. On the wetsuit hanger, duct tape two plastic hangers together or use a piece of pvc pipe.

[kingdiver]

diverjed once bubbled...
[B]True.

Specific Products? Too many to list:

]

got that right, too many to list, how about all of it!

[KrisB]

Walter once bubbled...
Snorkels!!!!!!!!

A snorkel is a curved tube. Shouldn't be over $5. Too many folks are convinced they need bells and whistles on a snorkel. Incompetent instructors strike again.

I'd amend this post to this:

Too many folks are convinced they need snorkels. Incompetent instructors, lawmakers, and certifying agencies strike again.

[ScubaVP]

Snorkels in general are an overpriced, crappy, not needed item. I was in my LDS yesterday and noticed a "new and improved" snorkel at the register. This stupid thing actually had a RADIO in it. WHY WHY WHY?!?!?!?!

[Walter]

Actually, I think we all need snorkels. I don't think we need them all the time, but they certainly make skin diving much easier. Unfortunately, those incompetent instructors don't teach skin diving. Too bad, it's a great sport and it makes you a better SCUBA diver.

[ScubaVP]

Walter once bubbled...
Actually, I think we all need snorkels. I don't think we need them all the time, but they certainly make skin diving much easier. Unfortunately, those incompetent instructors don't teach skin diving. Too bad, it's a great sport and it makes you a better SCUBA diver.


I think it is ok if you want to use a snorkel. I am not going to bash anybody for wanting to use one, but come on...do you really need a radio in it??? :mean:

[cstreu1026]

Tops on my list would be $1500 Titanium regulators. Personally the idea is silly. You spend almost 3 times as much to make the gear lighter then you have to turn around and add more weight to you rbelt, or atlelast thats the way I see it. I guess if I were a DM at a resort and spent all day in the water I would consider it for its lower maintenence (according to Atomic).

Next might be HID lights cost anywhere near $1000. They are nice but I would have to think twice about dropping that kind of money on one.

I think we all might have a better perspective though if we actually knew what went into making the gear. Or we might be more outraged.

[MCL]

Well, some people just have to have their toys, and apparently have more money than they know what to do with. I just want to know what person was sitting there and said," I've got it, everyone wants to talk with a snorkel in their mouths!":confused:

[KrisB]

cstreu1026 once bubbled...
I think we all might have a better perspective though if we actually knew what went into making the gear. Or we might be more outraged.

I'm more likely to fall on the side of outraged... There is *no* way that a BC has anywhere close to $600 of parts and labour, even considering the design time.:rolleyes:

[KrisB]

BigMike once bubbled...
I just want to know what person was sitting there and said," I've got it, everyone wants to talk with a snorkel in their mouths!":confused:

Are we sure it was that type of radio? Maybe it was an FM radio so that you could listen to the weather... or the news on the latest shark attack in the bay that you're in... as you are snorkeling.

[ScubaVP]

KrisB once bubbled...


Are we sure it was that type of radio? Maybe it was an FM radio so that you could listen to the weather... or the news on the latest shark attack in the bay that you're in... as you are snorkeling.


I should have been more clear! It is an FM radio. I didn't look at it too closely, but it appeared to have volume controls on the front, as well as a seek/scan button, and pre-set stations, just like a car stereo! What's next? An MP3 playing mask?

[KrisB]

ScubaVP once bubbled...
I should have been more clear! It is an FM radio. I didn't look at it too closely, but it appeared to have volume controls on the front, as well as a seek/scan button, and pre-set stations, just like a car stereo! What's next? An MP3 playing mask?

Uhm... already there. Well, almost.

http://www.desdiver.com/Products/

[HammerNoMore]

DeepTechScuba once bubbled...
Doctor Bill,

If you will do the math, the life-time warranty and free parts forever of you-know-who that appeared as every other name on Goddard's list would explain the prices.

Until you move.

[diverjed]

ScubaVP once bubbled...



I think it is ok if you want to use a snorkel. I am not going to bash anybody for wanting to use one, but come on...do you really need a radio in it??? :mean:

Maybe if you're stuck doing an extended surface swim and you want a litte entertainment to make the trip go faster.....only thing i can think of. :D

[HammerNoMore]

Dive computers have to be on the list.

I own a Nike SDM. It has a transmitter on my foot and a wrist unit. It will tell me how fast/far I'm running including a large variety of ways to display that information. It is waterproof, though rated to depths slightly less than a dive computer. The transmitter uses a gyroscope to figure out how far your foot is moving. Total cost 2 years ago: $300.

Timex makes a similar unit that uses GPS instead of a gyro, current stree price: $150

Heart rate monitors use electric transduction to find out your heart rate and transmit these to wrist units and can be had as low as $50.

Similar technologies, similar vertial markets, yet hosless dive computers range from $700-$2000. Can you say ripoff?

[KrisB]

James Goddard once bubbled...
Similar technologies, similar vertial markets, yet hosless dive computers range from $700-$2000. Can you say ripoff?

Well, almost. The only difference is that with a dive computer you're talking about a much higher liability suit should it fail. No one would ever argue that a pedometer is life support equipment... :)

Also consider reliability and testing. Personally, I agree, $1000 is too much for a dive computer. But $500-$800 isn't obscene if it works better than the recalled Uwatecs...

[CBulla]

James Goddard once bubbled...
Dive computers have to be on the list.
...
Similar technologies, similar vertial markets, yet hosless dive computers range from $700-$2000. Can you say ripoff?

This I have to totally agree upon and would have mentioned had it not done so already. Even regular console dive computers are priced high, then they charge you a fortune for a little peice to plug in to it and transmit the information to your PC.

[Walter]

Computers aren't overpriced. I paid $575 for my Edge in 1986. I didn't pay anything close to that for my most recent computer which is a nitrox. OTOH, I'd be willing to pay more for a computer with a display like the Edge.

[iscuba]

I agree. In '93 I paid 650.00 for my Orca Phoenix AI with compass. In '03 I paid 650.00 for my Oceanic VT Pro.

[CBulla]

I've also seen a few in the "entry" level range that to me are nothing more than glorified digital watches. Nitrox has been around long enough that the firmware programming that is the base for dive computers should be relatively ironed out and the same across the board. Also memory has gotten smaller, faster, and much cheaper. Being one who works in the tech industry, I have seen the PDA watches which can transmit like a cellular phone to synchronize calendars, etc., and maintain many more funtions than monitoring air and storing 20 dives.

Percieved value really.. I know that I get hardware for 25-50% less than what most people would gladly pay, and I tend to look at all things tech with the same scruitinizing eye.

[buttermanr]

I would have to go with the Extra Force Fin (http://www.forcefin.com/FF_PAGES/prices.htm )

$495 Per pair seems a little absurd.

RB

[kingdiver]

buttermanr once bubbled...
I would have to go with the Extra Force Fin (http://www.forcefin.com/FF_PAGES/prices.htm )

$495 Per pair seems a little absurd.

RB

Just a little??

Hope the $495 is worth it for whoever gets suckered into buying such an item. Damn worth it.

Time for a dive mission!

[Damselfish]

Combo flashlight/strobe. I've seen these from $15 - $40. Dive shops are usually on the high side, alot of outdoor places sell these $$$ too - but cheap in my local marine supply place, which I wouldn't have expected. (I've found other diving-useful stuff relatively cheap in general marine places.)

[drbill]

DeepTechScuba... Shame on me? Shame on ScubaPro. I have posted a number of times about my experiences (and those of the LDS'es and some other divers here) with that brand. I swear by the OLDER ScubaPro equipment I use regularly without problem (X-Tek BCD, MK10/G250 regs) but I've found current product to be less reliable than my older stuff. Three separate warranty services on the same part on a brand new BCD straight from ScubaPro within less than 6 months? Indicates something to me... possibly a lemon, possibly poor materials selections.

Dr. Bill

[Scubatooth]

kingdiver once bubbled...


Just a little??

Hope the $495 is worth it for whoever gets suckered into buying such an item. Damn worth it.

Time for a dive mission!

yeah but you choose the extra made fromthe tan delta material which are stiff as heck, if you have it made from the pro black material the price is aroound 225

if you get the deltas you had better have some strong legs to put behind them because you will need it

[Bloop]

saltwater taffy once bubbled...
P.S. On the wetsuit hanger, duct tape two plastic hangers together or use a piece of pvc pipe.

I use a fat clothes hanger and wrap it with bubble wrap and some sticky tape.. Works wonderful

;)

[Bloop]

But to stay on track with this thread, what I find overpriced is the WHEEL!!!

What does a piece of plastic got to do with $160??? (US$88.00)




:wacko:

[mleong]

Hey Bloop, I was in at Sealantis (KL Scubapro Dist) sells the Wheel for Rm 195.00. Cheaper than u there.

[nwdiver2]

Tec gear is very over priced and forces some divers to do without which is way overrated. I understand larger market higher demand lower price but $2.00 a metre for bungee cord, give me a break.:confused:

[duimstra]

KrisB once bubbled...


Uhm... already there. Well, almost.

http://www.desdiver.com/Products/

Disturbing.

[omar]

You need to remember the supply chain of gear. The manufacturer who makes a profit, the distributor who makes a profit and the dive shop who makes a profit (small). In some cases the distributor makes the most out of the whole deal.

[weekender]

bloop, your not paying for the plastic in the wheel. your paying for the r and d. how much does any prescription pill really cost. next to nothing. but your paying to recoup the expense of r and d. but that said, i hate the wheel and was upset i had to buy it for DM. why not make me buy a slide rule, manual typewriter or steam powered horseless carriage. but what do i know, i never actually plan a dive anyway. to much work.

[CBulla]

I could be mistaken, but the concept for a wheel has been around for a while, right? And these aren't made from some super material which is only found in certain mines in the deep back alleys of a small town in Togo or something right? How much of that wheel can be found in parts at the hardware store, or at least similar enough to build your own?

Its like the $65 for an innertube that holds a peice of a fiberglass rod that has red material with a diagnonal stripe on it.

I guess I'm just really cheap.

[docmartin]

the halcyon crotch strap at more than $30 is a riot. and then what about those c-cards? took the ssi drysuit class, paid $150 for the training plus $40 odd for course materials (which is ridiculously overpriced, too) and then have to pay another $40 to get the card. get real. good thing you don't need that card for anything.

[rab]

I don't know what else you got for the $160, but my Wheel was only $36 at the LDS. You can basically do everything with just side 1 of the RDP if you really understand it, but the Wheel does make it more direct.

-Rob

[kgdiver]

Snorkel, wreck reel, course materials