LDS pool and new equipment

[WantSomeScuba?]

I recently was asked to pay for pool time from an LDS that I bought my Perdix from. I may shop elsewhere in the future.

Cheers - M²

Just a quick note, and I may be talking out of my ass here, having money--even a small amount--exchange hands changes how liability issues arise in the case of an accident. Not defending or supporting, just mentioning it. It's the biggest reason we charge third party customer for pool time.

 

[Neilwood]

I recently was asked to pay for pool time from an LDS that I bought my Perdix from. I may shop elsewhere in the future.

Cheers - M²

You do realise that the % profit on tech gear such as the Perdix is probably not that great for the shop? They make a hell of a lot more % wise in cheap gear such as masks, fins, snorkels, reels etc.

I think it is up to the shop - their pool their rules. Having a pool is a major investment for a shop and a major running cost (heating, chemicals, cleaning etc) so for them to try to cover the cost of people using it outside classes is perfectly reasonable. There is the issue of liability - do they have to have someone nominally supervise the pool during your use in case of emergency? Also the issue of potential damage to the pool (scuba gear is heavy and if it falls it will damage tiles etc.)

I am guessing but you pay to use a municipal/public pool in your vicinity? Why should a shop be any different?

 

[Saboteur]

As a business man myself I totally get and agree that all businesses must charge for services rendered....this is not an option if you want to stay in that business, period, end of story. However, it sure would seem like the "better" business practice would be to simply charge a fee to get in the pool and not worry too much about where somebody bought their gear. Instead of penalizing a potential customer for buying elsewhere, why not charge for the actual service rendered and have no room for misconceptions or arguments??? You don't get/keep customers by right off the bat upsetting them. Customers are like money in a sense...easy to get, hard to keep.
If using the pool is an issue then charge to use the pool, don't jack somebody for testing a brand new reg just because you didn't sell it. It would seem like the prudent thing to do is figure out why the guy didn't buy it from you in the first place, correct the issue if possible and maybe then the next one will.
Our LDS is fantastic and I really wish I could have bought all my gear from him. He may not be the nicest guy in the world, but I am pretty sure he is at least in the top five. I feel bad that I didn't get everything from him, but two of the brands I wanted he is not a dealer for. He has never mentioned or implied any issue about it at all. The result??? I send everyone I possibly can to him and I buy every thing I possibly can from him. Now, if he required me to have the fins I bought elsewhere "inspected" before I came into the store....the last item I bought from him would indeed be the last item I bought {from him}.

I agree fully. You pay to go to the community pool or pool at the local fitness centre, why not pay for the pool at the LDS. One of our LDS has open pool time once a month, $20. You can bring your own gear or use all of their gear, air and weights included. DM on site to watch over everyone. Presumably some of the fee covers his time. I don't know if they have drop in times to go in on your own but I'd have no problem problem paying for it.

 

[Dogbowl]

There are 2 types of LDS pool times: 1) the LDS actually owns the pool, runs it, maintains it, etc. 2) the LDS rents public pool time. Either way, I’d expect to pay to access it. Either way, it’s not free for the LDS to have pool time, so they SHOULD charge for it. Otherwise their business model would put them out of business!

However, free pool time for a year (for example) may be added on to an open water course as an enticement to train there. Or you can pay a “membership” for annual access, but this is usually not very much, just to recover costs. Or the LDS can charge $10/tank you use, or any rental gear but pool access is free. That’s what seems to happen here locally at different shops and I’m happy to pay for my tank! I just don’t want anyone giving me attitude about buying gear elsewhere.

My local pool charges me $5 for a swim. So why would I expect my LDS to offer pool time for free?

 

[boulderjohn]

I worked for 2 different shops in the past, one that had its own pool and one that rented time at the local recreational center. Both had standard fees for pool time for certified divers, and it was a pretty reasonable fee. You had to sign a waiver, as anyone would expect. You could rent gear from them for the occasion, you could bring your own gear, or you could do a combination of the two. If you brought your own gear, the gear you brought was your business. They wouldn't ask about it, so they would not even know if it was a brand new and untested regulator. Any problems with it was covered in the waiver you signed.

 

[jlcnuke]

Hi all, I just purchased a new reg online (Black Friday sale, WOOOO) and want to get it underwater on a tank before a trip. It's brand new, never used. So they require a service tag before I can get in their pool, even for a brand new item, because I didn't purchase it from them? Is this common? My BS detector went off big time.

Thanks,

Haole Mike

Hmm, I haven't heard of that, but I haven't tried to use the pool of any of the shops around here. Mind PMing me the shop info?

If you aren't going on your trip really soon, you could just wait until the quarry is open on the 16-17th next month. If you are going soon, you could always just take your gear over to the Lake Acworth or Allatoona with someone and try it out there maybe?

 

[Scuba Scott]

Perhaps you should go to the shop where you bought your gear and use their pool.

 

[CT-Rich]

I think you should buy your pool time online.... I am sure they will beat the local shop on price..... A Perdix PDC costs nothing to maintain on the shelf of the stock room. A pool needs maintenance regardless of its use, plus insurance and supervision. If the pool was of no value, you would not be charged, just go hop in anyone you find along the road. Since you don't have the option, you can pay a fair market value for a service they are providing. If there is another dive shop that gives a better deal, shop there. If not, there may be a reason.

I admit charging a inspection fee to seems a little BS. I haven't bought a regulator in a shop in a really long time, do they usually do a test before they hand it to the customer?

 

[msinc]

.......I haven't bought a regulator in a shop in a really long time, do they usually do a test before they hand it to the customer?

Well, they probably should, but it doesn't seem like they always do. I bought two regs from one shop and he said he "adjusted" or "set up" both of them. They both have worked flawless {well we're still alive anyways} and my son and I have had zero problems with them.
Later I bought a "safe second" reg from another shop and it ran away when I plugged it into my tank. I called him and he claimed that it was "bench tested" before I got it. I guess it might be possible to get a little out of whack. Many of today's regulators are very touchy about the adjustments, to the point that it would only make sense for a shop to at least check every one of them before delivery. Then again, I don't know just how "involved" it is to check one...seems like it shouldn't be too time consuming......I realize I am not supposed to suggest this and even talk this way on this forum...not having 2500 dives listed on my avatar thing.

 

[Neilwood]

Well, they probably should, but it doesn't seem like they always do. I bought two regs from one shop and he said he "adjusted" or "set up" both of them. They both have worked flawless {well we're still alive anyways} and my son and I have had zero problems with them.
Later I bought a "safe second" reg from another shop and it ran away when I plugged it into my tank. I called him and he claimed that it was "bench tested" before I got it. I guess it might be possible to get a little out of whack. Many of today's regulators are very touchy about the adjustments, to the point that it would only make sense for a shop to at least check every one of them before delivery. Then again, I don't know just how "involved" it is to check one...seems like it shouldn't be too time consuming......I realize I am not supposed to suggest this and even talk this way on this forum...not having 2500 dives listed on my avatar thing.

One of the issues is that techs think that people like the reg breathing as freely as possible so that generally means within a hairs breadth of free flow. Tuning it back a notch makes very little difference to the breathability (to the point that most people wouldn't even notice it) but makes it far less susceptible to free flowing.