Divemasters: Beware the West LA Sport Chalet!!

[shoupart]

So I went in to get a fill the other night at the West LA Sport Chalet. The employee asked for my card. I gave him my divemaster card. He looked at it and said, "Sorry, but this has expired."

I did a double take and explained to him that while the membership in PADI has expired, the certification is lifetime.

Never mind the fact that you have to pass three levels of certifications of diving that are lifetime, and never mind the fact that I did my DM at that very store, and never mind the fact that the employee was a PADI diver- he STILL insisted my card was expired and my tanks couldn't be filled, "as my certification wasn't current."

Of course, then the manager came by. I thought he would enlighten this employee, but no such luck. He agreed with the employee, while I kept insisting that PADI certifications are lifetime, and nobody had ever raised an issue of the date when checking my C-Card.

I couldn't believe it! I don't think I'm going to back to that store again, but does anybody have any suggestions on a better explanation if (god forbid) this sort of confusion should happen again?

Until then, I guess I'm packing my Rescue Diver card.

 

[Doubler]

I earned my PADI Divemaster in 1987. I have NEVER heard of or been informed by PADI that my certification expires. I have heard of professional association being discontinued as I quit divemastering long ago and no longer pay the insurance. I would love to show them my 1971 YMCA basic open water card.

 

[diversteve]

Why couldn't they could look you up on the PADI website?

 

[oly5050user]

Manager and employee ignorant minimum wage people who know nothing and probably do nothing for the store.Both should be fired.

 

[shoupart]

I told them to either call PADI or check the site, but they said they had no internet access and it was after hours to call.

@ Doubler- yes, I think they need a refresher on how C-Cards work.

That was exactly my problem- my professional association expired in 2009 because I haven't wanted to teach/pay dues, etc, but they didn't understand that the certification was good for life.

 

[Michael Kazma]

I cant believe that they would be so stupid as to not even fill your tanks. Especially as you did the course with them!

I would just like to add thought, that I would always advise a non active DM or instructor that is not current i.e. has not renewed their certification and has current professional liability insurance, not to show their professional card anywhere. Although your certification is for life, if your card and/or insurance is not current then you are not an active DM or instructor and by stating you are (even by just showing your card) can put you and your certification organization in a liable position should any accident occur.

Sorry to be boring.

 

[Jax]

So I went in to get a fill the other night at the West LA Sport Chalet. The employee asked for my card. I gave him my divemaster card. He looked at it and said, "Sorry, but this has expired."

I did a double take and explained to him that while the membership in PADI has expired, the certification is lifetime.

Never mind the fact that you have to pass three levels of certifications of diving that are lifetime, and never mind the fact that I did my DM at that very store, and never mind the fact that the employee was a PADI diver- he STILL insisted my card was expired and my tanks couldn't be filled, "as my certification wasn't current."

Of course, then the manager came by. I thought he would enlighten this employee, but no such luck. He agreed with the employee, while I kept insisting that PADI certifications are lifetime, and nobody had ever raised an issue of the date when checking my C-Card.

I couldn't believe it! I don't think I'm going to back to that store again, but does anybody have any suggestions on a better explanation if (god forbid) this sort of confusion should happen again?

Until then, I guess I'm packing my Rescue Diver card.

Perhaps you could report this to corporate HQs? You might feel better for having done something, and Sports Chalet could educate their employees.

 

[enigmata]

What the heck. I used to get fills at this shop all the time. Definitely report it to corporate HQ. Their dive staff has been lacking lately, but this is a new level of ineptitude.

 

[Peter Guy]

It's easy to jump on people and perhaps satisfying, but c'mon -- this ain't the end of the world. All you need to do is:

a. Show them your OW card (AOW or rescue or whatever); or

b. Calmly (note calmly) talk with HQ and let them know someone got the message wrong.

Old story -- Some years ago my bank (a large regional bank) made a policy NOT to cash third party checks (that is, a check written by A to B and endorsed to C (me)). So I had a check that had been endorsed over to me and I took it to the bank to be deposited to my account (an old and, at that time -- i.e., pre-scuba -- very healthy account). The teller who knew she wasn't supposed to cash third party checks informed me I couldn't deposit the check! I called the manager over -- he was new and had just been informed the bank would no longer cash third party checks and he earnestly told me that no, the check could NOT be deposited to my account. I would have to go back and have the person issue me a check!

As it so happened, I was a friend of the CEO and called him -- his response, "Well, sometimes people just don't get the message (big sigh)."

Education is the key here, NOT going off in a huff. (But if the Sport Chalet shop isn't convenient for fills.....)

 

[Gdaaym8z]

I had a friend who dropped into a Sports Chalet for a fill and the girl who helped him shoved a new o-ring into his DIN valve and then tried using the yoke whip to do the fill. He just stood there in awe of her knowledge.

I'm just waiting for the Costco Scuba department to open!

Sorry for the jack.....but these things will happen when someone from the tennis department is covering lunches in the scuba dept.