Internet purchase of Tank

[Manatee Diver]

I don't know. It was before I got wise about the transfilling trick.

Yeah if you do your own work, having a transfill whip is a great investment.

 

[OceanEyes]

As the OP, @certainmisuse posted this in the advanced diving forums, I presume that he is not solely a vacation diver, but rather one who makes local diving excursions. If I may offer a suggestion David: It may well behove you to make such purchases from your local dive shops, like the ones that you use for fills. I am not well acquainted with Atlanta, but a cursory web search led to several shops in that city. Though it may cost you a little more to purchase a single bottle from a local shop, your patronage may be well rewarded many times over as you become a respected, reliable, and valued customer of said establishment.

You made your original enquiry as regards purchasing an ALU 50, hardly your “standard” recreational diver with a single tank item. This suggests to me that you might be considering pursuing a more tech oriented path in your diving future, and having a solid base of local compatriots, mentors, instruction, goods, and services, regardless of the route you follow, will serve you well.

 

[rhwestfall]

oh this will get good...
technically, it doesn't need a sticker in the first year of life....

That being said, their compressor, their rules....

YMMV

 

[Manatee Diver]

As the OP, @certainmisuse posted this in the advanced diving forums, I presume that he is not solely a vacation diver, but rather one who makes local diving excursions. If I may offer a suggestion David: It may well behove you to make such purchases from your local dive shops, like as the ones that you use for fills. I am not well acquainted with Atlanta, but a cursory web search led to several shops in that city. Though it may cost you a little more to purchase a single bottle from a local shop, your patronage may be well rewarded many times over as you become a respected, reliable, and valued customer of said establishment.

A little more try 20-30% more for steel tanks. The same Faber that I an buy at DGX for $330 is $400 at my local shops.

 

[rhwestfall]

A little more try 20-30% more for steel tanks. The same Faber that I an buy at DGX for $330 is $400 at my local shops.

or more.... I actually once told my LDS what I could get a specific tank for, and said to them to make me an offer as to what they could do, and I didn't necessarily expect them to match it. Their response: You should buy them there....

I have a clear conscience with internet purchases...

YMMV

 

[txgoose]

If shops are watching this thread, I’ll offer what mine does to make it much more attractive:
$5 fills with their VIP (you get their VIP with in-house purchase)
$8 fills with any other VIP.
As much as my family of four is diving, I racked up a decent “discount” last year. New tanks or new VIP, they are winning my business. I did a bulk purchase of used tanks with some buddies this past year. They got a better deal on the VIPs but I lost money on the fills. This year’s VIPs, MINE will be going to the shop.

The shop compressor was already running, this is a fairly cost effective way for them to keep me cracking their doorway. Now if I can stop buying miscellaneous crap every time I go in there, I might actually realize my “discount.”

 

[certainmisuse]

As the OP, @certainmisuse posted this in the advanced diving forums, I presume that he is not solely a vacation diver, but rather one who makes local diving excursions. If I may offer a suggestion David: It may well behove you to make such purchases from your local dive shops, like as the ones that you use for fills. I am not well acquainted with Atlanta, but a cursory web search led to several shops in that city. Though it may cost you a little more to purchase a single bottle from a local shop, your patronage may be well rewarded many times over as you become a respected, reliable, and valued customer of said establishment.

You made your original enquiry as regards purchasing an ALU 50, hardly your “standard” recreational diver with a single tank item. This suggests to me that you might be considering pursuing a more tech oriented path in your diving future, and having a solid base of local compatriots, mentors, instruction, goods, and services, regardless of the route you follow, will serve you well.

Thanks for the response. Incidentally, I was leaning towards the LDS route from the beginning, but wanted some insight for my own edification. The ALU 50 is just to have a lighter tank to lug for pool training while I'm currently having some back problems.

 

[gcarter]

Yeah if you do your own work, having a transfill whip is a great investment.

It is a great investment for anyone who uses a pony. I top off my AL40 from a HP steel tank all the time.

 

[kelemvor]

I guess YMMV holds true yet again. It's been a while since I bought a brand new shiny tank. In 2013 I bought 4 worthington LP108 tanks, the LDS charged less than they were being sold for online (once you factor in stuff like tax and shipping). Plus it came with a free nitrox fill, that the online shop wouldn't have garnered me.

I'm all for shopping online when it makes sense. In the case of tanks, for me, LDS worked out better.

 

[kelemvor]

I just looked at leisurepro. I paid just under $1,000 for four Worthington lp108's with pro valves full of nitrox at my LDS. Leisurepro wants 329 for faber (inferior imo but you can't get Worthington anymore). They also want $136 for ground shipping with no tax. Local tax on $1,000 is $70. $1436 local vs $1070.

Now, it could be that the price has gone up but as I remember it there was a similar price difference back in 2013 as well.