I'm mostly inclined to agree. It is mind boggling to me though when I go to or hear about a local shop that screws their customers with bad service or over MSRP I will take me 30 seconds in this day and age to find MSRP.
Handling LDS fee?
- Thread starter elitegoodguy
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Glenn Williams
Contributor
I was in the market for a new dive computer and had settled on the Shearwater Perdix. This was about the same time the Teric came out and although I didn’t want the teric I was curious about price. I went to a local dive shop that I don’t use but they had one in stock. I asked about price and he brought it up on the computer.
He didn’t know it but I happened to see their price vs my price. I was amazed at the difference about half of retail.
That’s why I buy used still under warranty.
Glenn
He didn’t know it but I happened to see their price vs my price. I was amazed at the difference about half of retail.
That’s why I buy used still under warranty.
Glenn
CT-Rich
Contributor
Some people just suck at business and they fail. Someone took over an existing shop, after the previous owner went to jail. He bought everything, he kept the name and phone number. He promptly pissed off all the old clients because he declined to honor the old fill cards and charged money to try on gear (which would be credited the purchase of gear). He failed to read the market he was serving, alienated the customer base so that despite being the only dive shop on a destination resort town. He went out of business in a couple of years.
I talked with him a couple of times and he seemed like a decent fellow, but he created a negative energy online because of the fill cards. He could have changed the shop name to make it clear he was a new owner and offered a discount to those trading in cards from the previous owner and incentivized old customers to stick around. He was so focused on making money, he failed to realized he needed customers first.
The one I got my OW from is gone. Different way of doing it but he alienated me as a costumer.
Only the equipment I sale is safe if you buy anything else it will fail and you will die.
If you get a different computer you will get bent.
These are the only good BC's (only carried jackets) I found jackets uncomfortable from pool session one.
The only wetsuit brand he carried would fit perfectly (not me it doesn't)
You get the idea.
He is no longer there and I'm not surprised.
100days-a-year
Contributor
The three stores I used all had strong online sales. The store price was often higher but the difference paid for knowledge staff helping me, totally understandable. I just stopped using gear that had MAPs etc....to many viable options that didn't.
I learned long ago the easiest way to make a million dollars on a hobby is start with two million.
I learned long ago the easiest way to make a million dollars on a hobby is start with two million.
Nothing compares to the superiority syndrome shops seem to have here. Only their agency, only their staff, only their gear.....
Been interesting to see a loss of probably 75% of the shops over the almost 30 years I've been here.
Been interesting to see a loss of probably 75% of the shops over the almost 30 years I've been here.
I am in the market for a specific dive computer, when I saw it on sale for a little over $1,000 both on the manufacturers website and Leisure Pro. I went to one of my LDS's to check it out and they quoted me over $1,500 for it even though they would get a credit for the manufacturers sale. Plus the manufacturer was including a free mask with the computer but the LDS denied that there were any deals being offered. Unfortunately I ended up spending a couple thousand at the vet so the new computer will have to wait but when I do buy it I will get it online. Other dive shops are willing to bring the price on most products down to where I am willing to pay for the customer service so they get my business but I don't see myself spending money at that particular shop when they won't even honor a manufacturer sponsored sale.
It's like they assume we can't use a computer or smartphone to research prior to purchasing.
We are a Shearwater dealer and that is incorrect. If you buy a used Shearwater for 50% off MAP with a warranty, you paid less than the dealer did originally.
It's always eye-opening for me to read about people's experiences with bad dive shops here. My LDS has
1) given me unasked-for discounts on just about everything I've bought from them, when I was already handing over my credit card,
2) given me small things like regulator port plugs, an occasional fill, and a T-shirt for free,
3) educated me on products they don't carry but that might better suit my needs,
4) talked me out of buying things from them that wouldn't suit my needs,
5) offered to let me return stuff I bought from them even after I'd used it if it wasn't meeting my needs,
6) let me try stuff out for free to see if it would work for me,
7) remembered my name, introduced me to other customers as potential dive buddies, asked follow-up questions about the dive I had told them I was going on the last time I was there, and generally made the shop feel like my own version of Cheers.
Granted, I've spent several thousand dollars there, but they've earned every cent.
1) given me unasked-for discounts on just about everything I've bought from them, when I was already handing over my credit card,
2) given me small things like regulator port plugs, an occasional fill, and a T-shirt for free,
3) educated me on products they don't carry but that might better suit my needs,
4) talked me out of buying things from them that wouldn't suit my needs,
5) offered to let me return stuff I bought from them even after I'd used it if it wasn't meeting my needs,
6) let me try stuff out for free to see if it would work for me,
7) remembered my name, introduced me to other customers as potential dive buddies, asked follow-up questions about the dive I had told them I was going on the last time I was there, and generally made the shop feel like my own version of Cheers.
Granted, I've spent several thousand dollars there, but they've earned every cent.
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