Well, after reading some of the comments on this posting, I feel much better now. I love to support my LDS here in town -- but I can't be responsible for the 50%+ markup in prices for general equipment, including accessories and dive computers just to keep my local buddy in business (he has a full-time job anyway!)
While I probably would never buy my Life Support gear (such as 1st/2nd stage, tanks, hoses, etc.) online due to servicing issues, I really didn't want to waste about 400-500 bucks simply to buy my new Uwatec Aladin AirZ computer through my LDS (I currently wear an Uwatec SmartPro (officially bought at full rate from my LDS and under warranty) as a primary so it will be relegated to my secondary on most dives.
I found the price a-ok on EBAY for a subsiderary of LeisurePro (ScubaEquipment I think) but I'm really bummed about no warranty. Here's my two cents worth:
I filed a complaint today with the Fed Trade Commission requesting an answer to my question that ScubaPro was failing to honor these warranties, especially relating to safety recall info and support, and might be illegal under section 1 of the Sherman Act of 1980. If you will research the case law on FAS (several Chrysler dealers that bonded together) who decided to refuse warranty service on autos that were bought online by non-authorized dealers outside the geographic area, the courts ruled that such actions were in violation of the section on free trade and price fixing. If the new cars were provided by the manufacturer to the non-authorized dealer, it was between those parties, not the consumer or external parties. Any warranty work normally covered from one dealer must apply to all dealers, even though online and outside of the geographical region of their contracted zone (with the manufacturer).
Think about it -- ScubaPro wants to keep the prices high and to lock out resale of used equipment. They allow the products to fall into the hands of LeisurePro and other Internet discounters but then try to penalize the consumer because a lower price is available outside of the LDS region. I actually had a non-SP vendor tell me that he knew that ScubaPro's management was intent on stopping online sales and was doing everything possible to force consumers to stop buying cheap (potentially illegal), rather than focusing on stopping non-authorized dealers from obtaining the products (legal). In fact, this person said that battery replacement (free for most LDS purchasers) can run as much as $150 for people like me and any upgrades of software, etc. would be so prohibitively expensive that we consumers would be taught a lesson never to buy via the Internet again. As a solid ScubaPro customer until today, I don't appreciate someone busting my chops simply because I want to save a few C-notes.
I love ScubaPro equipment -- but this practice of potential illegal price fixing and failure to notify users of registered products, especially keeping the serial number info in the database has got to stop. You simply can not require consumers to police themselves when products are freely available at non-authorized dealers at a lower rate. If the manufacturer allows those products in the hands of non-authorized dealers at a discount, it is not the responsibility of the wary consumer to keep up with the list of authorized dealers and lose the warranty. It smacks of price fixing, collusion to avoid warranty repairs that would otherwise be covered, and is a negligent safety hazard to those "illegal" persons that want to save a few bucks and register a product for safety bulletins but fail to receive them. Yes, I can check for recalls at other places, but why should I have to? What gives any manufacturer the right to force registered product users into paying a fixed rate for a product or risk safety issues because their registration wasn't accepted? This isn't something that can simply be placed as a disclaimer on the web page and be expected to pass legal recourse. No business can declare these kinds of self-imposed rules in the course of trade and expect not to receive some sort of pushback from consumers. I thought that the US was a free-market operating under principles of captialism.....
Keep in mind that I know ScubaPro is not the only manufacturer that does this....but reform has to start somewhere and usually starts with one person asking the infamous question, "WHY?"
I will keep everyone posted on any response that I may receive from the FTC but in the meantime, check to see if section 1 of the Sherman Act of 1980 prohibits this practice. Any information on this topic is appreciated! Any be sure to tell your ScubaPro buddies to complain to anyone who will listen, including ScubaPro management. One person's voice does little...but many voices are powerful!
