Authorized Online Scubapro Retailer

[Scuba.com]

We are proud to announce our new partnership with ScubaPro. Among the most recognizable names in scuba and a leader in innovative design and quality equipment, ScubaPro is delving for the first time into offering their equipment to divers around the world via an online Authorized Dealer. In doing so, ScubaPro is taking their already world renowned name and offering their highly sought after equipment to divers who would not otherwise have access to some of the highest quality scuba equipment made due to not being conveniently located near an authorized dealer.

[*dave*]

Thought that was supposed to be under wraps till after DEMA.

What advantages are there in buying from you, as opposed to a brick and mortar shop?

Thanks for the heads up. :)

[theduckguru]

The writting is on the wall for the LDS that depends on the price protected / no internet sales product. Just a matter of time now.

[Scuba.com]

I don't know about the wraps till Dema. I just got told I could announce it today! Which is pretty exciting not only for us but for Authorized Dealers and divers alike!

Advantages won't be in pricing for the time being as just like with Atomic and other manufacturers they are going to hold pretty tight on the pricing. Which is fine by us! In the long run , I think it'll come down to service and advice along the ability to mix/match with any other potential item the diver might desire that maybe a smaller store won't have available.

For the most part, it's a step into the technology age for divers all over the world!

[Scuba.com]

As for being the death knell for a LDS, don't forget, we are an LDS as well. We've been in the Southern California area with a retail facility since the early 90's as have many of our online competitors around the country. And people have been stating how it's just a matter of time before the LDS is gone ever since we first went online many years ago.

Honestly, it's not going to happen. The LDS is going to be with us forever, and we're glad to see it and say it. The business model may evolve and change, but then again, how many other industries are still doing business EXACTLY the same way they did in 1975 successfully?

[Splitlip]

What advantages are there in buying from you, as opposed to a brick and mortar shop?



I asked the same question of my LDS guy as he was setting up his online store. There are people who may live in bum ****, with no easy access to SP products but know it's a great product. This gives them access to the product with warranty. (have you checked out LP's prices on ScubaPro products? I can buy them for the same or less at my LDS.) I suspect LP will become an authorized dealer shortly. We will still all be paying MAP and maybe less 10%. Good move by SP. Its kind of like what went down with Atomic and Apollo. Good thing for SP I believe (a fan since '73) and end users.
Folks will at least buy "authorized" sp stuff. They don't need to buy "gray market" on line any more. Since the on line price is the same as yours, they may indeed come to your shop to buy. If not, they may still come to you for service.

[awap]

In the last couple days I have added two new online Scubapro retailers to my list of excluded sellers on ebay. I am sure there will be more to come. I just don't need their "full retail price" ads cluttering my search results. Until these guys can compete at the price level, it is just a small chip in a big tree.

[captain]

When they allow parts sales online then maybe I will consider them.

[awap]

When they allow parts sales online then maybe I will consider them.

I would have been happy if they just had not coerced their European dealers to stop parts sales to USA online customers. Now I am quite happy to see the growth of aftermarket kits being made available in the USA at very reasonable prices.

[Scuba.com]

When they allow parts sales online then maybe I will consider them.

I come from the manufacturer's world and have been the guy in charge of that decision for a couple manufacturers. The reason you'll probably never see parts being sold commonly online from most any manufacturer is liability. There is just no way for us to know that the guy receiving the parts actually has any idea what to do with them. That potentially puts the diver at risk, and the retailer and manufacturer in the sights of a LONG line of lawyers looking to make a name for themselves when something goes wrong.

And unfortunately there is no real way to seperate parts that are easy and parts that are technical, as there is no easy way to seperate who is mechanical and can figure it out and who cannot, so unfortunately 99% of all your parts at most all dive shops and companies will only be available through a repair in an authorized dealer.

[awap]

I come from the manufacturer's world and have been the guy in charge of that decision for a couple manufacturers. The reason you'll probably never see parts being sold commonly online from most any manufacturer is liability. There is just no way for us to know that the guy receiving the parts actually has any idea what to do with them. That potentially puts the diver at risk, and the retailer and manufacturer in the sights of a LONG line of lawyers looking to make a name for themselves when something goes wrong.

And unfortunately there is no real way to seperate parts that are easy and parts that are technical, as there is no easy way to seperate who is mechanical and can figure it out and who cannot, so unfortunately 99% of all your parts at most all dive shops and companies will only be available through a repair in an authorized dealer.

You, sir, are simply not credible. but I do have to wonder if your really believe that BS. Perhaps you have some evidence to offer?

[Scuba.com]

LOL Not credible. I like that. Yes. Let's see. Besides having worked in scuba for over 30 years, I spent some years as Sherwood and Genesis's Technical Support Director. In charge of things like warranties, repair seminars world wide, and development of products.

And whether you like the answer or not, or whether you choose to believe me or not (I don't really care) that's 100% the reason why it's a very slim chance you'll ever see equipment parts made available to the general public. No manufacturer in scuba today is willing to take on the risk of getting sued when some knucklehead thinks because he can change the brakes on his truck he can service his reg and change parts nor are they willing to make the decision on what parts are okay and safe and what are not.

I'm sure we can all find a LDS to make friends with and convince them we are safe to do that sort of thing and convince them to get us parts, but you'll never find a manufacturer who will.

[mweaver40]

The reason you'll probably never see parts being sold commonly online from most any manufacturer is liability. There is just no way for us to know that the guy receiving the parts actually has any idea what to do with them. That potentially puts the diver at risk, and the retailer and manufacturer in the sights of a LONG line of lawyers looking to make a name for themselves when something goes wrong.


What your saying is totally understandable and with your experience is probably very accurate but what I wonder is why some manufacturers; Zeagle for one will offer rebuild kits to anyone and others can't overcome the liability issues. It seems that the dive industry as a whole has a vested interest in not offering easily available training/certification which would help solve the problem of "we can't trust you". My understanding is I would have to go to a trade show and get a dive shop to sponsor me in order to do a training seminar for a less than a day which would certify me. I know Dive Right in Scuba does offer classes for HOG regulators to technically trained divers. I am not totally against a closed system it probably does as you point out reduce the deaths and accidents but honestly I think a lot of it is driven by the need to keep shops making money which is also important. Let us certify for repair and even if we end up getting hurt the manufacturer would be covered as long as the training offered met standards. This has been the dive training industry practice for years and it works, not great but it works.

[awap]

What your saying is totally understandable and with your experience is probably very accurate but what I wonder is why some manufacturers; Zeagle for one will offer rebuild kits to anyone and others can't overcome the liability issues. It seems that the dive industry as a whole has a vested interest in not offering easily available training/certification which would help solve the problem of "we can't trust you". My understanding is I would have to go to a trade show and get a dive shop to sponsor me in order to do a training seminar for a less than a day which would certify me. I know Dive Right in Scuba does offer classes for HOG regulators to technically trained divers. I am not totally against a closed system it probably does as you point out reduce the deaths and accidents but honestly I think a lot of it is driven by the need to keep shops making money which is also important. Let us certify for repair and even if we end up getting hurt the manufacturer would be covered as long as the training offered met standards. This has been the dive training industry practice for years and it works, not great but it works.

I doubt if you can find any deaths attributed to service errors by either DIYers or authorized technicians. And, if you can find any accidents due to service errors, it will likely be service provided by authorized techs. The reason most manufacturers restrict the access to spare parts in the USA (such restrictions are not permitted in some foreign markets) is to reduce the competition their retailers would otherwise face. But the liability excuse is an effective deception (nicer word for lie).

BTW, don't forget Dive Rite who also seems to be supporting kit sales to divers.

[Moonglow]

In addition to carrying more products in a certain line than a LDS might, an online retailer that sells at MAP can compete on price do to the lack of sales tax. If I were to purchase $1000 of Scubapro products in a local LDS here in Texas I would pay an additional 8.25% in sales tax ($80.25); and my LDS will still be able do annual service and honor warranty on online purchases.

[JoeCaveDiver]

Don't forget the "fine Print". SP will only offer the parts for life warranty thru 12/31/2011 on new regulators. After that you will be required to purchase a complete dive system ie reg, octo, guage and bc from SP or Sub Gear for there to be the parts for life warranty. SP has also stopped allowing you to reinstate an existing warranty if you miss the service date for any reason.

Joe

[Mr Carcharodon]

Don't forget the "fine Print". SP will only offer the parts for life warranty thru 12/31/2011 on new regulators. After that you will be required to purchase a complete dive system ie reg, octo, guage and bc from SP or Sub Gear for there to be the parts for life warranty. SP has also stopped allowing you to reinstate an existing warranty if you miss the service date for any reason.

Joe

In other words if there was ever any reason to buy product from Scubapro it has ceased to exist. Really they seem to be one of the more hostile companies to consumers. It is really too bad nice products with hostile support.

[Aqua-Andy]

I come from the manufacturer's world and have been the guy in charge of that decision for a couple manufacturers. The reason you'll probably never see parts being sold commonly online from most any manufacturer is liability. There is just no way for us to know that the guy receiving the parts actually has any idea what to do with them. That potentially puts the diver at risk, and the retailer and manufacturer in the sights of a LONG line of lawyers looking to make a name for themselves when something goes wrong.

And unfortunately there is no real way to seperate parts that are easy and parts that are technical, as there is no easy way to seperate who is mechanical and can figure it out and who cannot, so unfortunately 99% of all your parts at most all dive shops and companies will only be available through a repair in an authorized dealer.

This is total bull feces!!! Can you provide info on one case where a manufacturer and or dive shop has been brought to court for supplying a customer with parts? I think that it's funny you bring the automotive brake analogy into this, I can go down to any parts store and purchase brake parts for my automobile and totally screw up the installation, drive down the road and find out my brakes don't work. I just pushed down on the brake pedal and found that the pedal went to the floor, in turn I just blew through a stop sign and t-boned a caravan with a family of five in my car I had my wife and three children. In this scenario I could have killed or injured (or a combination of both) ten people. Now I go down to my local dive shop and purchase an overhaul kit or any other reg repair part and go home sit down at my work bench with a captain and Coke and start working on my reg, well thing are not going as planned and half a dozen drinks later I finely got this stinking thing back together, lets assume I screwed something up (it's a good assumption seeing I could not make it up the stairs when I was done and passed out on the basement floor). I now am on my way to a beautiful morning dive a few days later (could not go the next day I was still to hung over), My buddy and I are having a great dive when my reg starts to free flow or stop giving air. OK what are my options I could do a CESA as learned in scuba class, or breath off my buddies octo, primary long hose, spare air, (whatever your flavor is) and start a slow ascent and surface then do the swim of shame. In this latest scenario there were one maybe two divers that could have been hurt, but we have had extensive training for this exact scenario so it should have been a small incontinence. Yes someone could have died or whatever but my point is in the automotive brake scenario there were manny more people that could have been hurt than in the SCUBA scenario. As I have said before a dive shop has to worry more about someone tripping over the threshold or slipping in the driveway and injuring themselves than selling parts over the counter.

[mdb]

We have always sold parts to divers: Apollo Sports: Service: Manuals & Schematics (http://www.apollosportsusa.com/Service/Manuals.htm)

Some divers like to have a save a dive kit when they are in a remote/offshore location.

It does not mean that every diver should be working on their own equipment. It also does not mean
that there is anything really difficult about most maintenance or repairs. A one day seminar at DEMA does
not make a person really qualified. Those stores/repair facilities who have the proper equipment, who service
hundreds of regulators a year, they have the expertise and a good solution. There is however, no real reason
not to sell the simple parts to divers who DIY.

[adelman]

Don't forget the "fine Print". SP will only offer the parts for life warranty thru 12/31/2011 on new regulators. After that you will be required to purchase a complete dive system ie reg, octo, guage and bc from SP or Sub Gear for there to be the parts for life warranty. SP has also stopped allowing you to reinstate an existing warranty if you miss the service date for any reason.

Joe

I long ago stopped buying SP gear from my LDS and started buying from LeisurePro. What happened? A few things. It started with having two of my MK25s services with the new O2-kit. At the time, SP told my LDS the parts warranty for the future service would then cover the extra cost of the future O2-compatible parts, but a year later they failed to honor that. Second reason, very ironic. Under pressure from an LDS, SP stopped allowing a local tech who operated an equipment repair service to perform warranty service on SP regs because he didn't have a retail sales operation. Result? Not more business from the LDS. Since there wasn't an LDS tech that I trusted to perform the service, I paid for kits for his tech to do my service. As long as I was not using the warranty, it just make more sense to buy gray-market regs...