DM said "Don't worry about it".

[Coztick]

I agree.
I stepped off without inflating my wing on a dive a couple years ago and found it to be easy enough to surface and stay shoulders above the water before inflating.
I'm a big fan of correct weighting...

 

[Bubblesong]

Even after reading and commenting on this thread, I went diving Monday and got a broken bcd, plastic tank plate was broken when they handed it to me, in their shop, and said, "that shouldn't matter" well it did, as the plastic bits got twisted and made it hard to secure tanks tightly. But did I argue and insist on a better one with all the good advice that I received here to strengthen me? No. Those dive professionals just roll over me like tonka trucks. Also, my daughter got handed a dive computer that was locked into error from previous diver going into deco.
And this isn't the worst part.
Of course I warned dive shop when we got done. Then I had to go back and locate this equipment since I left a flashlight clipped to BCD. The two dive setups had been loaded up for the next student lesson, broken plastic, locked out computer and all, there loaded and ready to go out. So at that point I had a quiet word about how badly maintained equipment is going to make the dive operation look bad, I was not mean, but very serious. But I really wish I could develop a back bone BEFORE I dive with this crap.

 

[Ready4Launch]

 

[Neilwood]

Even after reading and commenting on this thread, I went diving Monday and got a broken bcd, plastic tank plate was broken when they handed it to me, in their shop, and said, "that shouldn't matter" well it did, as the plastic bits got twisted and made it hard to secure tanks tightly. But did I argue and insist on a better one with all the good advice that I received here to strengthen me? No. Those dive professionals just roll over me like tonka trucks. Also, my daughter got handed a dive computer that was locked into error from previous diver going into deco.
And this isn't the worst part.
Of course I warned dive shop when we got done. Then I had to go back and locate this equipment since I left a flashlight clipped to BCD. The two dive setups had been loaded up for the next student lesson, broken plastic, locked out computer and all, there loaded and ready to go out. So at that point I had a quiet word about how badly maintained equipment is going to make the dive operation look bad, I was not mean, but very serious. But I really wish I could develop a back bone BEFORE I dive with this crap.

A good idea from this is to A) use my own gear as much as possible B) try to settle any issues before going near the water (I would have asked for replacements for all the broken gear especially the dive computer) and C)create as much noise about it in the dive shop in front of as many customers as possible if you didn't have any success with B - scaring off potential customers with your horror stories might just get them to take action.

 

[boulderjohn]

The two dive setups had been loaded up for the next student lesson, broken plastic, locked out computer and all, there loaded and ready to go out. So at that point I had a quiet word about how badly maintained equipment is going to make the dive operation look bad, I was not mean, but very serious.

It doesn't make them look bad if you don't tell people about it. If you just say something to management and then walk away, they will apologize, smile politely until you are out of sight, and then carry on as before.

 

[FinnMom]

Even after reading and commenting on this thread, I went diving Monday and got a broken bcd, plastic tank plate was broken when they handed it to me, in their shop, and said, "that shouldn't matter" well it did, as the plastic bits got twisted and made it hard to secure tanks tightly. But did I argue and insist on a better one with all the good advice that I received here to strengthen me? No. Those dive professionals just roll over me like tonka trucks. Also, my daughter got handed a dive computer that was locked into error from previous diver going into deco.
And this isn't the worst part.
Of course I warned dive shop when we got done. Then I had to go back and locate this equipment since I left a flashlight clipped to BCD. The two dive setups had been loaded up for the next student lesson, broken plastic, locked out computer and all, there loaded and ready to go out. So at that point I had a quiet word about how badly maintained equipment is going to make the dive operation look bad, I was not mean, but very serious. But I really wish I could develop a back bone BEFORE I dive with this crap.

Maybe you should give them about 30% less than the agreed price and tell them "that shouldn't matter". Honestly, it would be worth discussing that if the agreed price was for proper equiment in proper repair, what you received must warrant a discount.
I would also feel an obligation to write to Trip Advisor review. so at least someone doing their homework has a chance to look for better options.

 

[MelasLithos]

Maybe you should give them about 30% less than the agreed price and tell them "that shouldn't matter". Honestly, it would be worth discussing that if the agreed price was for proper equiment in proper repair, what you received must warrant a discount.

I once went on a dive WE where we had a few gear issues. They didn't really bothered me, and absolutely didn't have any influence on my enjoyement of my dives, but our guide apparently took it to heart. When it was time to settle the bill, he automatically gave us a discount for the faulty gear, when I wouldn't even have thought about it.

So yes, I agree and believe that faulty gear should warrant a discount. And there are some dive ops. that would offer it by themselves.

 

[Blasto]

I went diving Monday and got a broken bcd, plastic tank plate was broken when they handed it to me,
Also, my daughter got handed a dive computer that was locked into error from previous diver going into deco.

Why, just why did you do this?

You're a paying customer. A recreational diver who paid the shop for the dive and the equipment.
As a paying diver, you should accept nothing less than the best out of the shop's rental gear, and if that's not adequate.

When I was diving rental gear...
I've had instructors lend me their personal gear when the shop's wasn't adequate.
I've had shops re-rent gear from a neighboring shop.
I've had shops pull a new item from their sales stock.

BTW, none of these were some high-priced boutiques. I always take a thorough price comparison for my fun diving (sorry... budget), so all of these were firmly in the bottom 25% by the price. That is real end price; often a mid-priced shop with free nitrox comes out cheaper than a nickel-and-diming "cheap" op. Good shops, even if they're catering to backpacker budgets (and thus won't have much inventory), take care of their customers, including their gear.

You could accept subpar gear if you were a DM or instructor working for the shop, and had a problem with your own. As a paying customer, the only situation I can think of is when you're taking DMC (or IDC) and your course wasn't advertised as "gear included". Pros get the bottom of the barrel, fun divers and students get the best, and it's the shop's duty to ensure their best is good enough.

Write about this on their page on Tripadvisor.

 

[Lorenzoid]

Dive ops whose gear is in disrepair make have already baked the "discount" into their prices. The adage "You get what you pay for" often rings true. The place in Belize that I mentioned I used years ago when I was traveling as a backpacker on a shoestring budget catered to just such customers, with threadbare wetsuits and BCs, etc. I don't recommend using such operators--I know better now--but they do seem to fill a niche.

 

[Bubblesong]

The Dive Shop that rented me broken, faulty gear was South Florida Diving Headquarters, Pompano Beach and no, even after I showed them the faults, they did not apologize or offer discount on the $97 I paid to rent two bcds, regs for one day. I did not ask for a discount, but was shocked that no one acted on my report, and that the dive instructors did not even glance at mangled bcd, before loading it up for a student to use.
I cannot use that dive op again.