cool_hardware52
Contributor
It sounds like you agree with me but don't want to admit it. BUT, the scuba industry is not all that competitve and is actually quite closed and as close mined as this thread has become. There are rarely head to head unbiased testing by an uninterested party for scuba gear as there are for many other consumer products. So my question is where is your evidence the industry is compettive? I don't see you providing any of the evidence that you DEMAND of others? You stepped up as an example--where is your evidence? If the industry is so competitiv and creative why do all of the BCs look so much alike, cost so close to the same price with virtually the same fluffy features and even the same color--black.
Nemrod,
There are at least 10 different well known and widely distributed brands of BC available today, and probably 20 more less well known brands.
That alone is proof that there is competition, unless you believe that there is collusion amongst all these suppliers to maintain artificially high prices.
I think it unlikely that Oceanic, and ScubaPro, and Cressi etc. have a secret backroom deal to fix prices.
Why is there so much similarity between brands? I've addressed this too previously. I see three main reasons; 1. form follows function, 2. there are only a few (but certainly more than one) actual manufacturers of inflatables for scuba, 3. There is not a lot of real innovation.
I look at these facts and see a mature industry largely devoid of new ideas, you apparently see a conspiracy.
Don't write any PMs to me insulting me again either as in the past.
We have exchanged maybe 2-3 PM ever. I have never intended to insult you via PM, if I have I apologize. IIRC I have been quite complementary. I have attempted to reason with you but it was evidently a wasted effort.
Tobin