Using LDS for a fitting room

Do you use your LDS as a fitting room and then purchase online

  • Never

    Votes: 136 78.6%
  • Anytime I can save a buck

    Votes: 9 5.2%
  • Only if LDS is 10% more expensive

    Votes: 3 1.7%
  • Only if LDS is 20% more expensive

    Votes: 17 9.8%
  • Only if LDS is 30% more expnenive

    Votes: 8 4.6%

  • Total voters
    173
  • Poll closed .

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GrumpyOldGuy

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Messages
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Location
West Texas/NH/CA
# of dives
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Recent post on an LDS charging $25 for trying on a wetsuit brought up an interesting point - how often do divers use the LDS for a fitting room and then purchase on-line any why?
 
If I need something like a mask that I want to try on first, I'll buy where I try (assuming it fits). I paid $150 for my first Atomic frameless. The next two I ordered online for $75 so I'm still a winner

If you do otherwise you're a deadbeat & I don't know how you sleep at night

I guess I just skewed the results of this thread even further (I doubt many people would have posted Yes anyway)
 
If I go to an LDS and ask to try on something, they get the first shot at the sale.
I never buy anything of significance without an idea of the going price, so if they are in the ball park and the gear fits, they make a sale.
At some point, about 20% for me, I will feel taken advantage of and I will walk away and order on-line if they cannot adjust the price.
 
If I need something like a mask that I want to try on first, I'll buy where I try (assuming it fits). I paid $150 for my first Atomic frameless. The next two I ordered online for $75 so I'm still a winner

If you do otherwise you're a deadbeat & I don't know how you sleep at night

I guess I just skewed the results of this thread even further (I doubt many people would have posted Yes anyway)

Did you know you could order the same mask for $75 at the time you paid $150?
 
Depends on the LDS, I have tried 5 in the area, bought something at 4 of them.

3x 50-100% overpriced. (Apeks Reg set at 1800$ (800$ in the USA) - or (Beuchat reg setup at 850$-350 elsewhere)
2x 10% overpriced.

Dive shop have 2 tactics that I saw.
1) Attract "tourist" type divers and fleece them.
2) Attract local divers and give a fair price.

Being "stuck" in Canada sometimes shipping fees kill the advantage of the cheaper item.

I would use it as a "fitting place" only if the prices is 30% over, it is generally 10% over anyways (shipping fees are that much usually)
Secondly, if I buy a mask or a wetsuit, I know that if something happens I can just go back and show him and with the service I get probably something free.

Exemple: I bought Springs for my fins, they were too large, brought them back after 1 year of use, told him "it really doesn't work for me", got a new pair free.
Do you think an internet shop would replace them? Once you use something, it's usually not returnable.

2nd exemple: Weight pockets DR . Divegearexpress= 80$ on sale -- LDS no sale = 130$ there I'd be going towards the interweb for them.

Drysuit is the only thing I can think about that would make the $ worth the fitting and buying on the net. 2k in store vs 1.5k on the net.....mmhhh 500$
 
Well this is really a tricky question. Have I done this, Yes. Will i buy from that shop if they are within 10-15%, Yes. Will i pay $1000 for a $400 Semi-Dry suit, Hell no....but i will find one to try on to make sure it fits!

These shops get bent because people are buying online, but they wont make themselves more competitive by making a 30% profit instead of a 120% profit. They are taking themselves out of the competition and blaming it on the guys that give customers a fair shake.
 
Fortunately my favorite LDS does not carry the wetsuit, fin or mask brands that I prefer so I'm not even tempted to do this. I love them for other stuff though.
 
I have never tried on a wetsuit in a dive shop. I did try some split fins on at the shop when I did my OW but they didn't have my size so I got them online and saved about 40% over the shop's "sale" price. I generally know what size I need for stuff and have most of the crap I actually need to "fit" so I rarely go into a shop looking for sizing. When I do, I try to buy then or make them completely aware I will be back when I'm ready to buy. Otherwise, I think it's generally rude to the shop to waste their time.
 
I voted never. I go into LDS to look around, if there is something there that I want I will buy it. If I see something that I know for a fact that I will order on-line, I do NOT try it on at the store. I am a small business owner and there is nothing that boils my blood more than being used. I give the LDS the first shot and if they are a little over, I buy it from them. I do not have a set percentage or figure in my head as to when I will walk due to mark up. More than price, I want them to be able to help me. Example, looking at bp/w's many don't carry them. The one that did carry one that I have been looking at (have not tried it on) when asking questions they could not answer very well. One question was something like this...I dive mostly fresh water, I wear 5m wetsuit, I use x tank, blah, blah, what lift on the wing would I need? They could not answer. Which leads me to believe that if I buy said wing, I would be on my own to figure it out. However, called store in FL and told the same thing to them, they had an answer and reasons why. Same wing, 2 different places, but I would go with the one that was able to offer me some help. Have also, talked to one here on SB, and he was very good about helping me, I lean more towards him. Price is one factor, but more important is the help I will get. I can ask questions.
 
https://www.shearwater.com/products/peregrine/

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