How Much More Will You Spend at Your LDS?

[DeepBound]

We all know that you can get great deals when you buy online, but that there are benefits to buying locally. You have to balance the savings with the benefits of buying from your LDS. But just how much more are you willing to pay and still shop at the local dive shop?

 

[nereas]

I have all my equipment serviced regularly at my LDS, and get all my trimix, nitrox, oxygen, and argon fills there. It is also where I order all my gear.

I need to keep them in business, so that they can keep me in diving.

Without them, I would need to buy my own compressor, my own oxygen, my own helium, and my own argon. That would be no fun. I took the gas blender course, but I still do not enjoy blending on my own. And buying the required equipment would cost over $10,000.

Think about that the next time you are tempted to buy online.

 

[NSDiver]

I have all my equipment serviced regularly at my LDS, and get all my trimix, nitrox, oxygen, and argon fills there. It is also where I order all my gear.

I need to keep them in business, so that they can keep me in diving.

Without them, I would need to buy my own compressor, my own oxygen, my own helium, and my own argon. That would be no fun. I took the gas blender course, but I still do not enjoy blending on my own. And buying the required equipment would cost over $10,000.

Think about that the next time you are tempted to buy online.

... maybe. Then again, if they went out of business someone else would probably fill their spot and do business better.

-Nick

 

[garyfotodiver]

It is not a question of how much, but rather who has what I want...

I don't buy the most expensive of anything, and the LDS's seem to only stock high end merchandise. If I have to wait for the LDS to order something for me, I am not saving anything. So I go on-line, order, and have it in a few days.

 

[Aelvin]

bought all my stuff from LDS, MSRP price.. Have to keep them in business..

 

[RJP]

Depends on the item.

20% more on a back-up light is no big deal.

20% more on a $2000 dry suit is a different story.

 

[irishsquid]

What RJP said.

 

[reo]

I'm fortunate to have an LDS that charges less than MSRP for most of their stock. That being said, if the LDS has what I'm looking for in stock, I'll buy it.

If the LDS has to special order the item, but is close to the "internet price", I'll order through the LDS.

Things that need to be serviced on a regular basis, i.e. regulators, I purchase from the LDS, and bring them back to the LDS for service.

Things that need to be fitted, like wetsuits, fins, etc. I purchase from the LDS.

Anything else, I purchase online.

Ron

 

[do it easy]

I generally buy from my LDS- their prices are competative with online sales, plus I get free hair I get a discount because I am a DM/AI for the shop, but I think they would give most people a discount for larger packages.

 

[lastprettyone]

I buy from three LDSs whenever I can. I need them for air fills and classes, after sale service and trying stuff on for fit. I expect them to go to bat for me with the manufacturers they retail for, should that need arise. I don't mind paying a little extra. What bugs me though, is when they expect me to wait for a product that they have to order in for me. I can order something without them. I expect the LDS to have inventory on hand, and I'm willing to pay a reasonable markup for them to do that.