OP
Right now I'm looking for a couple maintenance kits for ScubaPro MK25AFs. They're my primary sets on my doubles rig. The rest of my regs are Aqualung and getting parts for those is easier (but definitely not easy).
I realize that o-rings are easy to get. I buy all my tank/valve orings from Good-All which is a local store that only sells o-rings (same place I used to get them for the dive shop I worked at - so I know the part numbers). I'm not willing to take chances comparing regulator o-rings to sizing charts and hoping one that looks the same truly is the same. That's not worth the risk. That, along with the fact that you also need other proprietary parts like seats, is why we're all having this issue.
LDSs and Manufacturers should realize that this is a big issue. Instructors/DMs aren't going to go out and recommend to students that they should purchase DiveRite regs because you can service them yourself. No experienced diver would ever suggest to another diver that they should service their life line unless they have the ability/training to do so. The capable and manufacturer trained divers should still have access to parts.
To the non-professional, but equally experienced and avid divers who have replied to this thread - I keep saying pro but I honestly don't mean to imply that you need to be an agency certified professional to service a reg set. Any diver (professional or recreational) has the option to attend a manufacturer service course. Most of the time the local dive shop wont offer courses unless you are an employee or contractor for the shop. That doesn't stop someone from contacting the manufacturer and seeing when their next servicing course will be in a certain area.
The big issue I'm presenting is that even manufacturer certified technicians cannot get parts. Manufacturers only sell to their approved retailers.
I realize they only sell parts to their retailers to protect that retailers ability to make money with servicing. I take this statement differently though - I feel that by refusing to sell me parts kits, these manufacturers are telling me that I'm not capable of servicing my own equipment. Shouldn't the owners of all of the regs I've serviced know that the manufacturer now considers my training&previous work to be untrustworthy? Not saying I would consider doing that - But what if somebody did? I suppose all it would accomplish is more business for the LDSs.
