Anyone have trouble with online SCUBA store??

[z085688]

I was at my local dive shop last just chatting and I made mention that I bought myself a new reg (Cressi Ellipse Titanium) and that I got a fairly good deal on it from LeisurePro, $100 off since it was marked as used but in like new condition. After I said that he had a funny look on his face so I asked if he had heard bad things about it? He said that one of his friends had bought a reg (Atomic something or nother) from one of the online stores (Scubatoys i think... not trying to name bash or anything, just relaying the story) and had gotten a good deal on it but when he went to use it, it was breathing hard. So with this he took it to his dealer to have it repaired and the guy said the internals were gutted and replace with some junk components. Because of this, the guy from my dive shop didn't trust the online stores for important things like regs and such.

My long winded question is this... has this happened to anyone else? Is this fairly common? I'm a little nervous now about my purchase and wondering if its misplaced.

 

[Kryssa]

We bought most of our big gear relatively locally but all of the smaller things I've got from leisurepro (wetsuits, fins, accessories) have been great.

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[rhwestfall]

my geuss - its another "urban legend"..... Now if we were talking the famous auction site, c-list, or the classifieds, then I'd go as far a "plausable".

 

[Jim Lapenta]

One of the worst things you can do in some shops is say you bought something on line. Especially from Leisure Pro. Which happens to be a great place to deal with in my experience. Second only to me! Mentioning you bought gear on line will get all kinds of reactions from shop owners. Ranging from "cool hope it works out" (rare) to strange looks (common) to anger (very common as they see your dollars not going to them) to outright hostility usually accompanied by some made up horror story about how the gear will kill you like it killed a guy I know whose best friends brother's cousin's girlfriends uncle had happen to him when the snorkel he got on line exploded cause they mixed a rubber mouthpiece with a silicone snorkel tube.

No large on line retailer or small one for that matter would be that stupid to sell junk or gutted reg. Ask him for names. If you listen close you'll likely hear his bowels let loose as he tries to justify his line of crap. I would not worry at all about your purchase.

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[rhwestfall]

FWIW - I can count on one hand the new "big ticket" equipment I have purchased at a "Brick & Mortar" LDS over 23 years of being certified, the balance being used from numerous sources or new, but ordered (mail in the old days, or internet now). I have only had one "lemon", and it was truly used, and it was my fault. Even with that, for the price I got it, the parts I got off it for other equipment was worth it.

The response you got is the typical one from a "brick and mortar" who is losing ground to the internet.

Here is a funny thing - my local LDS is now also an Online Vendor - so, am I supposed to think that internet sales are bad?????

 

[g1138]

Don't worry about it, it's not something that happens often with the large online retailers.

For future conversations though, unless you're buying something online that you can't buy locally, don't bring it up.

 

[rhwestfall]

For future conversations though, unless you're buying something online that you can't buy locally, don't bring it up.

I tell them I got it while out of the area......

 

[Spg01]

Welcome to your first scuba taboo, the longer you dive the more you will find. Like others have said, most LDS do not like online purchases because it is one less item they have sold. Before buying online you should check to see if it can be serviced locally though if it needs it. It is easier to take a short drive than having to box up and ship stuff out to get serviced for most people.

Worst case you can see if your local shop can match or come close enough in price to make you happy. If they can't buy online.

 

[socaljohn]

While I can understand how the brick and mortar stores feel about having someone come in and take up their time and finger their stock just to wander off and buy on-line, this is the reason Guitar Center had to rethink their pricing policy as they could not compete with the on-lines for prices. For small independent LDSs that cannot match the on-lines for product selection and pricing it can be bad. I have been known to buy something from the LDS where I get my fills just to toss them some business. But like g1138 said..."don't bring it up".

 

[diverrex]

I have never bought a reg online but have bought other items from LP, ScubaToys and Scuba.com, all with success. I wouldn't worry about buying a reg from any of them. I've returned items to those online shops with mo problems, full refunds no questions asked.

It's like dating two woman at the same time, it may be okay but don't expect it to go over well if you start to talk to one of them about your dates with the other.