“Assembly fee” after vis

[grf88]

$25 for a viz, per tank? Shown on receipt as "assembly", but he asked for, and presumably got, a VIP (i.e. including a new, current VIP sticker). That doesn't sound unreasonable to me, at all.

It seems like the only thing they might have done differently, MAYBE, is tell him "these are brand new and don't need a VIP" and saved him that money. But, since he brought them in with the valves off and they had to put them together (as trivial as that is), I can't see faulting them TOO much. Especially if he got a new, current shop's VIP sticker on each tank. And especially since maybe the only way they could be sure of saying "these don't need a VIP" is by ... visually inspecting them....

Personally, I would have put the valves on and then just taken them in and asked for a fill. Given what the OP says he did and asked for, $38 per tank for a VIP and a fill sounds pretty normal, to me. Not knocking the OP at all, by the way! He AND the shop both sound pretty reasonable in their actions, I think.

The give away is that they stated it would not be as much next year as there would not need to be the set-up charge which confirms they charged him extra than a normal vis and fill.

 

[stuartv]

The give away is that they stated it would not be as much next year as there would not need to be the set-up charge which confirms they charged him extra than a normal vis and fill.

That does sound like an odd statement. So, what would they normally charge for a VIP and fill?

The shop I teach for charges $25 for a VIP and I'm actually not sure if you get a full air fill with that, or if they just give it back with a "storage" fill in it. The other LDS I have patronized in the past returned my tanks after VIP with just a storage fill. I would generally expect to pay for a fill after a VIP.

 

[ScubaBros]

If someone brought me new cylinders that were disassembled the VIP and assembly fee would be $15 and the fill would be $10 for a total of $25. This is our same fee if a tank is brought in put together with air in it. We do not really make a distinction between tanks that are brought in new or old assembled or not. Basically a VIP is a VIP. Any service involving checking the cylinder, threads, valve threads, adding new valve o rings, and torquing the valve on... is a flat $15. Draining the cylinder and removing the valve are just assumed to be part of the process.

Hope that made sense.

 

[Addicted2H2O]

This thread is really making me glad I get all my gear and service at my LDS. VIP AND fill is $15. Hydro (and fill) is $40. Basically they won't service your tank without refilling it for you at no additional cost. Just a fill on its own is $8.

 

[ScubaBros]

This thread is really making me glad I get all my gear and service at my LDS. VIP AND fill is $15. Hydro (and fill) is $40. Basically they won't service your tank without refilling it for you at no additional cost. Just a fill on its own is $8.

And our VIP - Fill - Hydro is $50

So it's only a $10 dollar difference. I don't see a big gap here.

 

[JackD342]

I went back to read the original post and did the math, now realize that I thought you paid $76 each, not $76 total.

Still feels a bit high, but not CRAZY high. Talk to the shop owner, express your concern and viewpoint in a non-confrontational manner. Maybe there is something else to understand, maybe there was an error, or maybe you'll wind up getting a couple of free fills to keep your good will.

 

[hroark2112]

Send them an invoice for $50 and call it “disassembly fee”. After all, you brought them in disassembled, they didn’t have to bleed the tanks and take off the valves.

Problem solved!!!

 

[Addicted2H2O]

And our VIP - Fill - Hydro is $50

So it's only a $10 dollar difference. I don't see a big gap here.

Oh I wasn't knocking you or any other dive shop for that matter. Just stating what it costs me to have this done is all. No, a $10 difference isn't bad considering where you're located. And I suppose it all has to do with convenience. But an assembly fee? That's a bit ridiculous, especially if it wasn't discussed prior to service. By bringing in the tanks with the valves removed, the OP saved the store personnel at least a few minutes of work and trouble. And besides, in my opinion it's not so much the money that's the issue, but the principle.

 

[scubafanatic]

For reference here are Scubatoys service pricing:

Scuba Regulator Repair and service prices

Annual Regulator Service (Plus Parts) $59.95
Annual BCD Service (Plus Parts) $19.95
Annual BCD with Octo Service (Plus Parts) $29.95
Bladder Repair (Up to 3 Small Holes) $50.00
Computer Battery Replacement (Most Models) $19.95
Tank Visual Inspection $12.00
Tank Hydro Inspection Includes VIP $44.95
Wet Suit Repair (Up to 3 Small Patches) $65.00

All prices is based on normal service conditions

 

[Rred]

" Talk to the shop owner, express your concern and viewpoint in a non-confrontational manner."
Absolutely. The assembly fee is bullsh|t. $25 for a VIP and another $10 for a hp fill is not uncommon or totally out of line, but as everyone else said, there's nothing to ASSEMBLE aside from replacing the valve, which is part of every VIP anyway.
And to be really technical about it, VIPs on new tanks are an industry rip-off. The DOT certified hydro stamp on the tank neck *requires* a VIP to be done as the first part of the hydro certification, so if you are within one year of the hydro stamp date? You are also within one year of a qualified VIP. But, that's the industry being greedy carnies.

If the owner doesn't apologize for the error and make nice, sell him some glass breakage insurance. You know: "Twenty bucks gets you protection against Vinnie here breaking all your window glass for thirty days." Karma, no?