OceanicRocks
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I would like to share with you my experience in dealing with a few LDS in my area and I wonder if anyone else have this happen to them. I have been certified now for 4+ years and figured that its time to step up and buy my first gear setup. So, naturally I started by posting here and had lots of questions that so many good folks answered for me. Thank you for all of your help.
Anyway, once I narrowed my search and knew exactly what I wanted to purchase I started going to local dive shops and shopping around on the net at the same time. Of course adjustments were made on the order as you start to hold the products in your hand you start to notice things that you like and don't. I went to quite a few local dealers and quite a few on line stores as well. I quickly learned not to deal with any non authorized dealers due to warranty issues. Soon, I went to some of the same local dealers in my area and see if I could give them the buiz. instead. To my horror I was treated pretty badly. one guy that I really wanted to give the buiz to because he spent some time with me actually turned and bad mouthed other dealers. Quicklyleft that dealer and went to anopter LDS. The first visit I was completely blown off. After waiting about an hour I decided to leave but come back when they were less busy. the second time the owner hardly spent any time with me and when I asked specific questions he was not very helpful and again he was busy so I decided to come in one last time. this time the store was dead and I finally thought that I was going to get some real answers from the guy. well, after only a minute he apologized that he had to close the store to leave. Now this is the same owner and he remembered that I had come in two other times trying to get some help but still apologized and left. So I decided that perhaps he would like to price out the package on line too so I sent him an e-mail and than waited a week.... nothing... sent another one again... nope no response. Luckily I found an online dealer that gave me alt of time and advice when I myself did not know what I wanted. so, I went and ordered on line with a guy that actually spent more time with me answering questions back and forth. He deserved my business anyway as I saw it. He assembled the entire setup and warranties everything he sells through the manufacturer. I got all of the warranty cards ect. So, I get the stuff and everything looks great but I forgot to order some odds and end stuff like a knife strap mirror, whistle ect. so I drove out to my LDS again (what was I thinking?). and the guy finally had some time to talk to me now. when he realized that I was in to buy a $5 whistle and a $2 strap he figured that I purchased my gear elsewhere and he said good luck and that I wont be covered under the same warrantee that his store gives me. When I told him that I ordered from an authorized dealer the guy tells me that the warranty that I got will not be the same because I did not buy from a local dealer and the manufacturers will say the same thing. when I asked him what he meant by that he just shrugged his shoulders and said "when something goes wrong, you'll see. Maybe next time you should buy from a local dealer". Not wanting to start an argument with the guy, I said politely that I would have liked to buy from him but was not given an opportunity and told him that I sent him several e-mails that he claims he never got. I think he simply just wants to keep his prices so outragously out of wack and did not even bother to respond. does he think that his **** don't stink? I should have walked out right there but still decided to buy the small stuff. while paying I asked the guy if I can use the pool and he said no because that is an insurance issue with on line bought merchandise. can you believe this guy? Full of you know what... OK, I will stop ranting now... I just had to get it off my shoulders and I was just wondering if anyone else every dealt with this kind of treatment. Horrible! nough said
Anyway, once I narrowed my search and knew exactly what I wanted to purchase I started going to local dive shops and shopping around on the net at the same time. Of course adjustments were made on the order as you start to hold the products in your hand you start to notice things that you like and don't. I went to quite a few local dealers and quite a few on line stores as well. I quickly learned not to deal with any non authorized dealers due to warranty issues. Soon, I went to some of the same local dealers in my area and see if I could give them the buiz. instead. To my horror I was treated pretty badly. one guy that I really wanted to give the buiz to because he spent some time with me actually turned and bad mouthed other dealers. Quicklyleft that dealer and went to anopter LDS. The first visit I was completely blown off. After waiting about an hour I decided to leave but come back when they were less busy. the second time the owner hardly spent any time with me and when I asked specific questions he was not very helpful and again he was busy so I decided to come in one last time. this time the store was dead and I finally thought that I was going to get some real answers from the guy. well, after only a minute he apologized that he had to close the store to leave. Now this is the same owner and he remembered that I had come in two other times trying to get some help but still apologized and left. So I decided that perhaps he would like to price out the package on line too so I sent him an e-mail and than waited a week.... nothing... sent another one again... nope no response. Luckily I found an online dealer that gave me alt of time and advice when I myself did not know what I wanted. so, I went and ordered on line with a guy that actually spent more time with me answering questions back and forth. He deserved my business anyway as I saw it. He assembled the entire setup and warranties everything he sells through the manufacturer. I got all of the warranty cards ect. So, I get the stuff and everything looks great but I forgot to order some odds and end stuff like a knife strap mirror, whistle ect. so I drove out to my LDS again (what was I thinking?). and the guy finally had some time to talk to me now. when he realized that I was in to buy a $5 whistle and a $2 strap he figured that I purchased my gear elsewhere and he said good luck and that I wont be covered under the same warrantee that his store gives me. When I told him that I ordered from an authorized dealer the guy tells me that the warranty that I got will not be the same because I did not buy from a local dealer and the manufacturers will say the same thing. when I asked him what he meant by that he just shrugged his shoulders and said "when something goes wrong, you'll see. Maybe next time you should buy from a local dealer". Not wanting to start an argument with the guy, I said politely that I would have liked to buy from him but was not given an opportunity and told him that I sent him several e-mails that he claims he never got. I think he simply just wants to keep his prices so outragously out of wack and did not even bother to respond. does he think that his **** don't stink? I should have walked out right there but still decided to buy the small stuff. while paying I asked the guy if I can use the pool and he said no because that is an insurance issue with on line bought merchandise. can you believe this guy? Full of you know what... OK, I will stop ranting now... I just had to get it off my shoulders and I was just wondering if anyone else every dealt with this kind of treatment. Horrible! nough said