OK, I know there are a bunch of threads on LDS vs on-line, and I don't want to start another one, but I would like to get a feel for what the folks here would consider reasonable pricing at and average LDS. I just got my SSI OW cert (w/Nitrox) from my LDS, and had a very positive experience, so I'd love to give them my business, and I don't mind paying a bit more for the personal service and warranty etc, but I want to make sure they are not trying to stroke me. As an example, I was looking at the Suunto Cobra w/ compass and QD. He quoted me $865. It didn't take me long searching on the web to realize that $865 is basically MSRP! Is that normal?? Selling for full retail??
LDS pricing
- Thread starter szurlo
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It is sometime not hard to find a shop with sticker prices that are more than MSRP. MSRP is fairly common. But you should be able to do your online pricing research and expect your LDS to do better than MSRP on larger $$ purchases.
shoturtle
Contributor
Well LP has that unit for about 580 dollars. If the shop is willing to come close and you like them then do business with them.
Yeah, that's basically what awap was telling me above. The folks at my LDS seem like a great bunch of people, so I'd prefer to keep doing business with them. If they'll meet me somewhere in the middle on the price, they'll get my money.
psychocabbage
Contributor
you are a braver soul than I with your $$.
I prefer to keep more for me and less for "friendly" strangers.
I prefer to keep more for me and less for "friendly" strangers.
I usually shop best online total price (including any shipping), and if LDS will come within 5-10% more I will usually deal with LDS. Last two major purchases (at two different shops) the shops offer (without knowing what I found it online for) met or beat the online quotes. At one shop the initial price quoted was MSRP, but when I told them that I would rather do business locally but would shop online if I had to they came back with as good a price as LP would give me, and were able to give me manufacturer warranty, not LP's .
While I am not willing to shell out huge amounts extra to support LDS, If possible I prefer to spend my money where I can go talk face to face about any issues that might occur with equipment, and feel that is worth a little extra $'s. YMMV
Well, at the risk of turning this into exactly the kind of thread I didn't want to, I'd prefer to buy from a place where I can walk into the back of the store, grab a cup of coffee and have an experienced diver I know and trust explain my new computer to me, hook it to my first stage, tell me what to do if I have a problem, etc. I guess I'm kind of "old school" in that regard. Of course money talks, and there is a fine line between paying a little more for personal service and getting screwed.
Like everyone said on here is true. AquaLung, Suunto, Apeks are the same company and they make the LDS sell at MSRP prices only less some 10% discounts now and then. I really love there products, but I cannot afford them so I went Oceanic for my equipment needs. They can still be a little pricey, but nowhere near AquaLung prices. There is this LDS that I really like, but all he sells is AquaLung. I tried taking a specialty class from them and some of the people kinda made me feel like a traitor for not buying thier gear. By the way, I took my OW class thru them and I know they are running a business in all and thats fine but it makes me stay away and thats whats sad about the whole thing. Good Luck with your decision.
Plumb bob
Contributor
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