$1000 OW course of the future

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Diversauras

Contributor
Scuba Instructor
Messages
1,045
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Location
Myrtle Beach SC
# of dives
Maybe the LDS of the future will be a store front with a few, say 5 computer terminals. All the bookmarks or favorites selections will link users directly with the online dive equipment providers (because they are NOT online LDSs!). The store will be staffed with typical store clerks, computer literacy is the specialty needed here to help with the links. Knowledge of diving will disqualify the sales person and be grounds for immediate dismissal.

The store will be set up to take delivery of the gear ordered online, and hold it for the clients, like for those who work and keep missing the UPS guy, and the charge for this service will be reasonable, like $2.00 per package under 5 pounds and $5.00 per for packages over 5#.

At the back of the shop will be a doorway into the classroom and the indoor swimming pool. There will be a sign, "Open Water Scuba Lessons $1000.00, see clerk for details. All sales final, no refunds."

The sales people will take your money and open the door at which point you will get to talk to someone knowledgeable on scuba diving. Everything you need will be provided, fins, masks, snorkels, suits, scuba, everything! If you want to use your own gear, that will be OK too, but it will have to be checked out and assembled and the fee for that will be something reasonable like $10.00 per 15 min required to provide the service. If after taking the course you see that some or all of your online purchases were not the most informed choices possible you will be free to buy other gear. Since the guys in the back room had nothing to do with your choice they will have clean consciences and under no obligation to be nice or courteous when the client starts complaining.

Since the only service being offered at the back is instruction, that is all the conversations will be limited to. The only qustions about equipment that can be asked are those directly related to the text used. Every other equipment question will be ignored or dismissed.

Since gas will be a profit center within the store, a fill will cost $17.50 per 100 cu ft with a 100 cu ft minimum, and all certification cards will be accepted.

What have I missed here? Please add your suggestions to this thread...
 
I think instead of having air fills be that much, you would want to have membership cards sold, with monthly fees attached.

IE, $20 per month for membership, automatically deducted from your c-card. $99 for initial signup.

With your membership you get the following:

$5 for 15 minutes of supervised access to the pool for testing out your new gear.

$5 per 100 cuft airfills, min 100 cuft.

10% discounts on all instruction (to encourage your store to be used once they have membership, plus will encourage them to purchase advanced classes, nitrox, rebreathers, etc).

Free yearly service on one regulator & 1 BCD (ie, one set of gear should be serviced for free).

With enough members, the LDS would have a stable income, and with the discounts given for membership, they should have those members continue to return to the shop.

It's perfect.
 
How much to use the toilet?:wacko:
 
detroit diver once bubbled...
How much to use the toilet?:wacko:

Sales people and front store clients, $1.00, back store folks free. TP extra...
 
Diversauras once bubbled...


Sales people and front store clients, $1.00, back store folks free. TP extra...

It's the TP that gets you every time!!
 
detroit diver once bubbled...


It's the TP that gets you every time!!
 
And divers are forced to form not-for-profit clubs. All necessary training (may not require c-cards), gas, and equipment service is provided by the club. Equipment can be purchased directly from the manufacturer (a tank valve will be item K in their catelogue).
 
awap once bubbled...
And divers are forced to form not-for-profit clubs. All necessary training (may not require c-cards), gas, and equipment service is provided by the club. Equipment can be purchased directly from the manufacturer (a tank valve will be item K in their catelogue).

In the UK, BS-AC and the like were where everyone learned and there were precious few shops. No middle men and no paid instructors, interesting...
 
Will the OW dives be actual dives, or virtual using the internet? As there is no overhead associated with OW dives, I assume they are free unless you would want to tip the captain...err, network specialist?
 
For a grand you get really good training, you just don't get any freebees like knowledgable conversations about gear before you buy it online...
 

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