Problem returning product to reseller scubastore.com also known as tradeinn.com

[minimalistdiver]

I just wanted to relate a problem I had with scubastore.com. Also known as diveinn.com and tradeinn.com.

The purpose of this post is to inform others, especially new divers like myself that are slowly buying gear and trying to find the best deals out there. No reason for this to happen to someone else, just because I kept my mouth shut.

The Story:I purchased a Scubapro A700 / MK17 regulator set from scubastore.com on 6-13-11. When I received it I immediately tried to register it with Scubapro. I was informed by Scubapro USA that I was sold a grey market regulator intended for Europe and that I would not be able to have the US warranty which includes free parts for life. I figured tht would be the case when I bought it, but realized how good a deal the US warranty was. I immediately sent the unused set back to scubastore.com and received an email on 7-7-11 stating they had received it.

The Problem:Scubastore.com did not immediately issue me a refund. They waited over a week or more and they said they were no longer able to refund me to my credit card after a month had past. That they would either need to have my bank account information or my paypal account.

So I gave them my paypal info.

Paypal took 21.09 out of the payment, and when I paid using my credit card, I had 16.76 added onto the bill for a "Foreign Transaction Fee". This fee would have been reimbursed to me by my credit card company if they had just put the money back on my credit card.

So now I am out $37.85 because of their mix-up. On top of the shipping charge of $21.86 which I was happy to eat.

I ended up buying the same system from a local dive shop, and have the warranty and peace of mind.

I emailed scubastore.com, and asked them to give me an additional refund to make up for the mistake caused by their delay, and I have not recieved a resolution.

So my advice to anyone out there is:1. Do not buy Scubapro products from scubastore.com. The US warranty will pay for itself in three or four years because of the parts.

2. Do not buy from scubastore.com, because they will mess up the refund and you will be missing money in the end.

3. Warn others about this reseller.

I am sure others have bought from them and had no problems. They are fine at selling things. But they stink at handling returns.

 

[tridacna]

My advice to you is to do your research BEFORE buying from them. Not only have they been discussed ad nauseum on the board, but their website makes no secret of where they are (in Spain). Their prices are so cheap that you should have realized that it must be too good to be true. Caveat emptor in this case. This sounds like it's more your fault than theirs.

 

[minimalistdiver]

Yea, but when I called them before the purchase, the rep said that the gear would have a warranty. They kind of tricked me. Yes it had a warranty. But in Europe. They like to beat around the bush to encourage a sale. Everything was working out until they let the returned item gather dust on their desk. Not sure why they can't refund me after a month either. Something is not right here.

 

[tridacna]

I understand that you're upset with them. But...if you had come here BEFORE purchasing from them, you would have discovered most of that which you have learned the hard way. Your warnings are not new and have been mentioned/discussed many times here previously.

 

[minimalistdiver]

I did search the site, and it is mostly info about them not being an authorized reseller. I don't have a problem with that. I half expected that situation before I bought it.

My problem with Scubastore.com is that they are incompetent at processing chargebacks on their returns. The returned product sat there and gathered dust for two weeks and they still had not given me my money back. I had to call them and jump through hoops to get refunded. I don't think a similar experience is in this forum. Mostly just grey market lack of warranty issues.

 

[tridacna]

OK. I'm confused. You returned the product because of the warranty. (Or lack thereof). This was obviously a BIG issue for you.

By your own admission, you searched the boards and saw that this is an issue that has been discussed before.

Why then did you still buy the regulator from them? It should have been obvious to you that warranty coverage is not their strong point.

(I know the answer. You really didn't check the board before).

 

[minimalistdiver]

Yea, I checked it. I was aware of the warranty issue before buying it. But after the purchase, after speaking to Scubapro support and another diver, I realized how good of a deal the US warranty really is. So I decided to return it.

 

[redacted]

As I understand the situation, Scubastore is an authorized Scubapro dealer in Europe and their Scubapro products do carry the world wide Scubapro warranty. The problem is that the parts-for-life program is a USA only program that is linked to the warranty but not part of it. The fact that no Scubapro retailers are willing or able to be up-front, clear, and truthful about this is the real problem. And, in the case of USA dive shops, I suspect few of them either actually understand it or are unwilling to acknowledge the situation.

 

[minimalistdiver]

So in nutshell: We are all aware of Scubastore selling grey market products. My case is that they also suck at returns, which may be new information.

 

[tridacna]

This is getting more interesting. You say that you knew about the warranty issues but the first thing that you did was try and register it? Did you think that people are not telling the truth on the board?

What tangled webs we weave...etc etc.

BTW. The difference in price between your friendly LDS and Scubastore would probably cover another reg as a backup.