Two major scuba companies do not repair their out of warranty dive computers?

[Krazytomdiver]

Recently I returned to the US for my yearly list of items that almost have to be done stateside. The number one item was to have both my dive computers repaired,a Suunto Mosquito,replaced 3 years ago,400+ dives & a Uwatec Adalin Tec (Scubapro) 800+ dives. So I happily sent them off to the authorized Suunto/Subapro dealers. To my surprise the following emails were sent to me.

"I have received your two dive computers. Replacement button parts are no longer available for the Mosquito. The only parts not yet discontinued are the battery kits.Also, I called Scubapro to ask about the Aladin Tec and they will not service that button problem either. They said you could only replace it.
Sorry for the bad news. Do you want me to ship these back to you for the cost of freight or can I throw them out?"

After my response:

"Yes, I am just the messenger. The Mosquito is a 2007 serial number and was discontinued several years ago with the D4. And yes, the Mosquito had button problems. Although we are a Scubapro dealer, I was not familiar with the Aladin Tec and had to call Scubapro customer service for info on that. It is also discontinued and according to them, not fixable. Almost all the SCUBA companies only have a two year warranty on the computers and don’t seem to support the old technology when new ones comes out unfortunately.
I will ship them back tomorrow for the price that my UPS program says it cost to ship to your address"

What? The Suunto needed 2 small plastic function buttons replaced and the Scubapro needed a small retainer e-ring installed on the end of the function button shaft otherwise they worked just fine. These computers can not be repaired? I did not received any notices or was there any information on my sales receipt that these products would be unserviceable after the 2 year warranty expired. Is this just the sign of the times to be deceived into buying a more expensive replacement? As a finanically challenged dive master and/or dive guide,these are very important & expensive tools that should be serviceable just like the rest of my equipment. Just passing on basic scuba equipment information...

"living life without a hard bottom"
KT

 

[GrimSleeper]

I had a similar problem with Suunto when my trusty Stinger (2000+ hours on it) died. They told the dealer I took it to that a new motherboard would cost almost as much as a D6, so I should buy a new D6 instead. Eventually, after they flatly refused to repair the Stinger, I forked over the cash for a D6. Then I bought another one, as my wife's Stinger also died. I now have two D6-shaped paperweights, as they've both died and are both (just) out of warranty. Suunto's policy seems to be to just keep churning out new models whenever all the bugs in the previous model catch up with them, hoping we'll all go along for the ride and keep spending hundreds of $$ on computers.

On a side note, I'm surprised you have to take your computers back to the US for servicing - when I was working in the Philippines there were Suunto and Scubapro dealers in Cebu and Manila, at least...

 

[Mr Carcharodon]

For electronic parts especially electromechanical parts like switches the scuba manufacturers are buying from a third party. If that third party does not have enough sales for a given type of switch they will stop making them. Of course you can get whatever you want if you are willing to buy a lot costing say $30K. You might not personally consider that a good option and Scubapro probably does not either if it means selling just a few. For regulator parts and fins they are much closer to being an OEM so they can maintain parts more effectively. Or at least that is my speculation.

 

[Dr. Lecter]

Sounds like a good reason to look at a Petrel or a nice used Predator. They even still support the old Pursuit model, I think.

 

[Krazytomdiver]

Thanks for the imformation & company. (Grimsleeper) I was just looking at the Suunto D6i on Ebay...$1,000usd. Goodness!
Where,who, & what is the best solution?

 

[fjpatrum]

Recently I returned to the US for my yearly list of items that almost have to be done stateside. The number one item was to have both my dive computers repaired,a Suunto Mosquito,replaced 3 years ago,400+ dives & a Uwatec Adalin Tec (Scubapro) 800+ dives. So I happily sent them off to the authorized Suunto/Subapro dealers. To my surprise the following emails were sent to me.

"I have received your two dive computers. Replacement button parts are no longer available for the Mosquito. The only parts not yet discontinued are the battery kits.Also, I called Scubapro to ask about the Aladin Tec and they will not service that button problem either. They said you could only replace it.
Sorry for the bad news. Do you want me to ship these back to you for the cost of freight or can I throw them out?"

After my response:

"Yes, I am just the messenger. The Mosquito is a 2007 serial number and was discontinued several years ago with the D4. And yes, the Mosquito had button problems. Although we are a Scubapro dealer, I was not familiar with the Aladin Tec and had to call Scubapro customer service for info on that. It is also discontinued and according to them, not fixable. Almost all the SCUBA companies only have a two year warranty on the computers and don’t seem to support the old technology when new ones comes out unfortunately.
I will ship them back tomorrow for the price that my UPS program says it cost to ship to your address"

What? The Suunto needed 2 small plastic function buttons replaced and the Scubapro needed a small retainer e-ring installed on the end of the function button shaft otherwise they worked just fine. These computers can not be repaired? I did not received any notices or was there any information on my sales receipt that these products would be unserviceable after the 2 year warranty expired. Is this just the sign of the times to be deceived into buying a more expensive replacement? As a finanically challenged dive master and/or dive guide,these are very important & expensive tools that should be serviceable just like the rest of my equipment. Just passing on basic scuba equipment information...

"living life without a hard bottom"
KT

Call the manufacturer yourself and see what they say to you. If they still say there's a problem getting them repaired ask for a parts list and source the parts yourself for DIY repairs. Certainly not convenient but also far from difficult or impossible. Then don't purchase from them in the future and make sure they understand that you won't and why.

 

[driftwood]

I can pretty much tell you what Suunto will say, go pound sand. I can't complain since I got over 500 hours out of a used Cobra before the pressure sensor got squirrelly on me (starts going south at around 900psi, just about when you really need it to work).

Epoxied the HP hole closed and now it is a backup for my Vyper.

 

[Damselfish]

Much as this sucks and they should do better, ALL electronics are too often disposable and not possible or practical to repair anymore, it's not just dive computers. I see this as another argument for spending $300 on a computer with features I "need" rather than $1000 on "nice to have".

Of course some would say you don't need a computer at all and everyone has to define need for themselves. And for some people an expensive computer is the way to go. But especially for a newbie looking for their first computer, who are thinking they should get a $1000 computer for features that don't really matter or to "grow into" this is something they should keep in mind. Could be toast by the time they grow into it.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

Unless you buy a Shearwater. Will not even consider another brand at this point.

Sent from my DROID X2 using Tapatalk 2

 

[Bob DBF]

On the other side of the issue, I have a Oceanic Veo200 I purchased in 2005 which, a couple of years back, decided that it was constantly in the water. Not the worse problem but it eats batteries and then forgets saved data. I had "it" back in a bit over a week for $100. From what I was told, and the fact my computer has a different serial#, Oceanic runs a remanufacture line on products and swaps out computers when bad ones come in, depending on timing you may have to wait for them to have enough cores to start the line. I love recycling.

I was completely ready to be told the bad news when I brought the computer in after 5 or so years of service, knowing how disposable inexpensive electronics are today.

I don't know if that is still their business plan, but I will check into it when purchasing my next dive computer from anyone.



Bob
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There is no problem that can't be solved with a liberal application of sex, tequila, money, duct tape, or high explosives, not necessarily in that order.