Online Dive Vendors/Dealers

[yukoneer]

Hey all! I am researching extensively for prices, stuff, etc.. I just got my certification and searching all options out there to buy equipment.

So far I have found:

www.scubatoys.com
www.scuba.com
www.leisurepro.com
www.diversdirect.com
www.diveus.com
www.divers-supply.com
www.piratescuba.com
www.123scuba.com
www.scubastore.com

any other suggestions? any other places?

3 of my LDS are ripoffs with prices, i'd save hundreds and hundreds of dollars by ordering online even with shipping.

 

[DMDC01]

:1poke: Go ahead and poke another stick in my eye, :007: and then suck the blood right out of all of us!! What did your LDS do to you? Just wondering......

 

[yukoneer]

says one wetsuit costs $250, while i find it 150 online, computer for 700, while online for 500ish, BCD for $350, while online for $256. it goes on...

 

[wrongkey]

www.diveinn.com

 

[DandyDon]

There's pros & cons...

Online stores don't have near the overhead and operating expenses that the LDS have some the same volume of business, so they often charge less - just not always. On the other hand, your forfeit a lot of services, can actually try it on or see it, and you may well forfeit manufacturere warranties.

The biggest difference for me is that a LDS helps develop the sport in my area, so I'll have neighbors who want to go on trips that the LDS sponsors, so I can go with people I know. If you're in Florida, you may not care about that.

 

[MacRS4]

This is tough one. I like the service of my LDS (Same for my biking) and for the smaller stuff tend to go there.

The problem is though when I know I can save 2 or 300 Pounds STERLING by going on line then it comes down to pure economics.

What I would be very uncomfortable doing is using my LDS for all the advice on what to buy and then buying on line....that's just wrong!!

 

[oleras]

Hey all! I am researching extensively for prices, stuff, etc.. I just got my certification and searching all options out there to buy equipment.

So far I have found:

www.scubatoys.com
www.scuba.com
www.leisurepro.com
www.diversdirect.com
www.diveus.com
www.divers-supply.com
www.piratescuba.com
www.123scuba.com
www.scubastore.com

any other suggestions? any other places?

3 of my LDS are ripoffs with prices, i'd save hundreds and hundreds of dollars by ordering online even with shipping.

www.tgidiving.com , Italian company, i have bought some stuff from them, nice to deal with. Really glad you brought this up.....where i live, a trip to a dive store aint a 10 min drive in the car...180 mile round trip ( on Irish roads !) to the one i use and do 90% of my diving with,so i only get a chance to check stuff out , hands on, before or after a dive, i will use the internet to research prices and stuff, and if they cant do a deal...i will go elsewhere....period !no hard feelings, nothing personal....My money after all, no fear of them going out of business because of loosing my sale....and if they were concerned.....would give me a reasonable price, which they have done in the past !....One example....a few weeks ago i was getting prices on 12L tanks, wanted 9 of them, for me and some friends, one dive shop i rang(after not replying to email....), 4 times in total.....could not find a price for a 12L??asked me to ring back tomorrow, ring back tomorrow....when i finally got a price he offered me a 15euro discount, not bad i said....15 off each tank aint too bad....wrong ! 15 euro off a sale of over 2100euro..."not much mark up on tanks" was his reply, went to my usual dive shop and got them for 1750euro, with them making a mark up.....why lie ?
anyway.....my advice, compare prices.....online and dive shops, hey, if u want to try something on and he wont give you a good price...go somewhere else, you will hear the "its nearly a deadly sin to try something on in a shop and buy online"...does that same sin apply to trying in one shop and buying in another ? or is it just online? i dont know....but i doubt it.....and does it apply to test driving a car in one garage and buying from another ? and the "cant buy air online" LOL....if you are serious about diving and your local shop wants to overprice....let him go under, you will always find someone with a compressor, be it friend or otherwise, if your local dive shop does not appreciate your custom by overpricing....his loss in the end !

Post Script.....this is from an irish perspective...i am sure there are a lot of compeditive shops all over the world....just sick of getting it both ways over here...

oleras

 

[cyklon_300]

http://www.northeastscubasupply.com/

Extreme Exposure

Fifth D

I've had good experiences with EZ Scuba in Tampa FL too...altho they were over-the-phone sales, not online.

Google search for 'scuba mail order' will get a few hits...

 

[pasley]

Your local LDS will give you:
a: MFG Warranty, most online stores can't becaurse they are not authorized dealers.
b: Will service what they sell, many will make minor repairs while you wait. Online will service the gear too.
c: Physical stores do have expenses online stores don't. Did you use the local LDS by using there store and expertise to see and touch the equpment? That cost money.
d: The MFG play a major roll in that they mandate authorzed dealers must buy 'X' amount of inventory for their store to carry their line etc.

 

[oleras]

Your local LDS will give you:
a: MFG Warranty, most online stores can't becaurse they are not authorized dealers.
b: Will service what they sell, many will make minor repairs while you wait. Online will service the gear too.
c: Physical stores do have expenses online stores don't. Did you use the local LDS by using there store and expertise to see and touch the equpment? That cost money.
d: The MFG play a major roll in that they mandate authorzed dealers must buy 'X' amount of inventory for their store to carry their line etc.

a:most online stores WILL give a warranty
b:local store should be glad of my custom and service my gear if i am willing to pay
c:see prev post, if i try in one "real store", too expensive, and buy in another, be it real or online, whats wrong with that ?
d:thats between the store and MFG, not me...simple economics....would you rather sell 1 piece of EG at 300 and make 100 or 10 pieces at 250 and make 500 ?

it really doesnt sound that hard.....if a good store sells at good prices, word will travel fast....why should we, as divers pay over the top ?....just my openion, we all have them....lol....and as i said, over here.they like to charge ! i have read posts here where some dive shops give credit against gear for classes....WOW...., say it again, WOW....go buy from them ! they know how to do business.