How much that the LDS tells me can I believe?

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I agree, customers should expect to pay reasonable prices for billable services. And the discounting of such services for gear bought in the store (vise anywhere else) is a great way for the LDS to add value to a deal without breaking dealer agrements. I must have misinterpreted the comments: "Its up to the individual shop if it wants to honor a manufacturers warrenty.If they choose not to the consumer can send it to the manufacturer themselves and let the manufacturer eat the cost of the rebuild kits..You cannot expect the same service from anyone that you get by purchasing from them vs. somewhere else. Its human nature.You want online service you get online service"
 
College is Business.

Terry

Hey, Terry. Some, sure are businesses. Around here, there are ITT Tech, DeVry, and several culinary-arts colleges that are for-profit businesses.

Our local Seminole Community College is part of the state education system and is therefore part of the government. A good student in Florida attends free, including books and fees.

Besides various degree programs, Seminole Community College offers "Leisure and personal development programs which contribute to the enrichment of the community." They run a pretty tight ship, and probably would not be pleased if some part-time instructors were using the college to drum up sales.

Ohio may be similar.

Thanks for reading.

Stu
 
WHAT!!!! Free educations for anyone qualified???? What kind of communists are we dealing with here?
 
WHAT!!!! Free educations for anyone qualified???? What kind of communists are we dealing with here?

Hey, AWAP. The Florida Bright Futures Scholarship program gives free college tuition, books, and fees to students that get good grades, have good test scores, and perform 75 hours of community service.

Free college for my kids. Spring diving, whole family, $80 per year. No state income tax. If it seems too good to be true, maybe... it's communists? Santa?
 
Here's my situation:

What are your opinions? Should I trust the dive shop owner, who has been in the business for 20 years, been diving for 40, and has over 5000 dives to his credit? Or is it truly safe and more financially feasible to buy less "name brand" products, buy used, and buy things online?

I understand that dive businesses need to sell kit to stay in business and I also think it's reasonable that they charge more than the online suppliers if they are also providing you with good advice, the opportunity to try before you buy, etc.

However, this guy sounds like he's taking it way too far. $700 for two sets of masks, fins, snorkels and boots!?! And double the online price for a wetsuit - and his advice sounds like (politely speaking) BS. You are certainly safe buying from the reputable online dealers, though this may not be the best option for items which must fit well like masks and wetsuits.

The reality is that most instructors know that the only chance they have to make any money out of their students is to sell kit on the back of open water courses and some work on the business model of "get the cash while you can and don't worry about cultivating a long term relationship." If this guy isn't worried about a long term relationship then I suggest you don't worry about it either - find another dealer you is happy to take money off you over 10 or 20 years rather than right now.
 
First of all remember this is your money, you worked for it, and it's for you & only you to decide how to spend it. Don't let anyone pressure or guilt you into spending it in any way other than how you wish.

Long answer coming---

That said, there are a number of good reasons to shop with the LDS. One is that you want him to remain in business so he'll be there when you need him, if only for convenience. Also you should recognize that the LDS offers many intangibles, such as advice, the ability to compare gear in the flesh, the opportunity to try items on for fit, and often is the focus of local dive activity. Unlike other professionals such as Doctors & Lawyers, the LDS cannot bill his time or charge for the education he offers. You pay the LDS for these only when you actually buy something there, so it's only fair that you make an effort to purchase locally. (I work in another industry with similar local shop vs. mail order issues & have to deal with this daily)

However, the concept of support a LDS in general doesn't automatically translate to supporting a particular shop. Any LDS must earn your loyalty, & be respectful of your needs, preferences, & budget limitations. As a new diver you don't need to buy only top of the line equipment, or every bell & whistle offered. There are many choices of perfectly functional equipment at a full range price points. Take some time to review what is out there at what price ranges, then get some help setting priorities as to which features are most important to you, what they cost, & what is your overall budget. Do not overspend at the front end, since you'll encounter many other forgotten expences, & still will need cash leftover for actual diving.

Looking it your list, I see many opportunities to cut back, such as you don't need a $1,000 computer, & could easily buy a great non-airintegrated model for under $500.
Likewise wetsuits, I consider these consumable, as they wear, & compress over time, so they're not necessarly where I'd spend extra bucks.

I could go on, but I'm sure you get the point. Establish a reasonable budget, pick only the features you need most, and offer this shop the opportunity to make a sale within those constraints, or otherwise shop elsewhere.

Lastly do not buy into the argument of buying top end first rather than upgrading later. If you buy reasonably good quality equipment & later become an avid diver, you won't mind upgrading over time. However if you purchase all top of the line equipment up front & later don't become an avid diver, (yes, many folks give up this great sport
after only a few dives) you'll be sitting on some expensive paperweights.
Sorry for the long answer, but I wanted to offer some perspective, don f.
 
........
Here is how you do it,......put a BIG sign over the cash register saying---WE WILL MATCH ONLINE PRICES PLUS 15%. When they ask about the 15% explain about your services, your fitting room, your tank filling station, your ability to put them in the water with the gear NOW in a pool. Instant gratification is a powerfull tool. Then, when they purchase the gear, give them free service the first year, free air in tanks for a year, free first VIP, give out a BONUS discount card with an instant 30% off next purchase and little holes that can be punched to earn credit with each additional purchase. Put an old laptop on the counter and invite them to price check---help them do it all the while positively explaining how your EXTRA service is worth their additional dollars. ..........

Those are all good ideas. Fortunately for me, many of them (or variations) are done by my LDS. HOWEVER, the one thing it doesn't do is advertise that fact. I am only learning 3-4 yrs after buying my major pieces of gear from it, that this has given me an automatic discount on further purchases. Getting to this point has been a gradual process during which the LDS gave free tanks to my wife and me when we, as new divers, wanted to dive in a local pool with our brand new equipment before going on our first trip. We were able to buy a heavily discounted weight pouch as a replacement of one that now sits off the coast of Bonaire somewhere (although it may have worked its way to Cozumel, by now). I purchased several items via internet because I thought it was cheaper. Had I known the LDS would give a discount, I'd probably have done differently.

I was in the LDS a few days ago and a teenager came in to enroll in some class, then remarked that he was going to buy the most upscale BCD in the store. The owner didn't bat an eye. Who was he to deny the kid the opportunity to pay full cost?

My advice to everyone is to go in to the LDS with prices from another shop (particularly prices for a package deal, not necessarily with the pieces of all the same manufacture); negotiate a bit, then top it off by paying cash. Small businesses like cash, in my experience.
 
Cant wait to see how you get an air fill from scuba.com when you LDS goes out of business. If you feel that, that particular shop is too expensive support another LDS. At the end of the day there has to be a value for what you buy but you have to look at the big picture, I doubt that they are making any money on an OW cert and if lucky very little on an Advanced so they have to make some money someplace. Gear is the only place, we all want it cheaper but we also need fills, repairs and someplace to go for knowledge and that is where the additional value lies over a scuba.com or other online retailer.
 
i bought a wet suit from scubatoys it was to small i called in and let them know .it was to small they said no prob send it back we will give you the next size larger
there was no up charge and the people were great
there placement suit came 2 days later
while the one i was sending back was still on the way
i told them i tryed it on but didnt dive in it
heres the great part
they said even if i did dive with it they would still replace it
now thats customer service :14:
 
You can believe EVERYTHING a REPUTABLE dive shop tells you.
We live in the Florida Keys and I do all my businesess with Hall's Dive Shop. The crew shoots straight with any info about any equiptment whether they sell it or not.

That's why i'm a loyal customer. And their service is impeccable.
 

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