So . . . What are your best deals? What did you find that you either got a great price on, or figured out how to replace an expensive piece of equipment with something that works just as well but is far cheaper?
And in contrast, where did you try to save a few bucks and seriously regretted having done so later?
I'll start.
Best buys: My $800 brand new drysuit, which despite a variety of issues, now has about 200 dives on it. The Zeagle regs I got from Scubatoys for the Leisurepro price, with warranty, which my husband loves. The Scubapro MK2 regulator for $50 from Scubatoys (I had to buy two, they were so cheap.) And my $20 Chuck Taylor tennies that play rock boots with my wetsuit.
Not so best buys: The used Scubapro regulators I got a very nice price on, which have lost their chrome and corrode quickly, and require frequent and not inexpensive service. In the long run, they're going to cost me easily as much as I would have spent for them new and in warranty, with the "parts for life" program.
The doubles I bought as O2 cleaned, which were shipped disassembled, got flash rust, had to be retumbled, and the valves, which had been wrapped in newspaper, had to be re-O2-cleaned, and the bands, which got smashed in shipping beyond salvage, had to be replaced. By the time I got all that done, they weren't a great buy any more.
And in contrast, where did you try to save a few bucks and seriously regretted having done so later?
I'll start.
Best buys: My $800 brand new drysuit, which despite a variety of issues, now has about 200 dives on it. The Zeagle regs I got from Scubatoys for the Leisurepro price, with warranty, which my husband loves. The Scubapro MK2 regulator for $50 from Scubatoys (I had to buy two, they were so cheap.) And my $20 Chuck Taylor tennies that play rock boots with my wetsuit.
Not so best buys: The used Scubapro regulators I got a very nice price on, which have lost their chrome and corrode quickly, and require frequent and not inexpensive service. In the long run, they're going to cost me easily as much as I would have spent for them new and in warranty, with the "parts for life" program.
The doubles I bought as O2 cleaned, which were shipped disassembled, got flash rust, had to be retumbled, and the valves, which had been wrapped in newspaper, had to be re-O2-cleaned, and the bands, which got smashed in shipping beyond salvage, had to be replaced. By the time I got all that done, they weren't a great buy any more.
.)
