I disagree with the directionality implied in the correllation between wal-marts and small towns that seem to be growing. I'd suggest based on the evidence that wal-mart moves there because they are growing, not that they are growing because walmart moved there. Walmart is well known as a small town business killer.
My point was that LP is similar in its effect on small local dive shops. The difference is that there is not enough volume for an LP in every town - which is why they are an internet oriented business. My other point is that most of the herd shows concern with and desire for the lowest price, but then expects the LDS to stick around and subsist on what is left with the expectation that they keep their doors open to supply gas to the same divers who saved a few bucks to buy from LP.
The irony here is that we then blame local dive shops for not adopting a new business model or for getting into a low volume business in the first place. And we revere Sam Walton for making a fotune pumping money out of local communities. So, if the LDS owners take that astute advice, they'll close the doors and open some other business. That will benefit the diving community how? Just because a new idea makes money does not make it the right thing to do. The thought that it does is one of the major issues we face - we as a herd are addicted to next quarter's profit and loss statement and it leaves us short sighted with regard to the long term health of our economy. It is also how we got in the position of no longer being competitive in the first place.
If you think LP will stick around once the market forces make it less profitable you are badly mistaken - they'll just quietly and gradually slide into some other market. On the other hand, a large number of the local dives shops in this country got into the dive business, not because it was lucrative but rather because they had a passion for diving and were willing to take the risk just to create diving opportunities in their local areas. And we reward this loyalty to the sport by buying on-line.
Again, I can empathize with an LDS owner who has an attitude about on-line retailers and I have little sympathy for people who buy on line to save a few bucks and then whine when they get push back from an LDS and/or when their LDS charges an arm and a leg for training, service and gas or chooses to close the doors as there are better ways to make money.
My point was that LP is similar in its effect on small local dive shops. The difference is that there is not enough volume for an LP in every town - which is why they are an internet oriented business. My other point is that most of the herd shows concern with and desire for the lowest price, but then expects the LDS to stick around and subsist on what is left with the expectation that they keep their doors open to supply gas to the same divers who saved a few bucks to buy from LP.
The irony here is that we then blame local dive shops for not adopting a new business model or for getting into a low volume business in the first place. And we revere Sam Walton for making a fotune pumping money out of local communities. So, if the LDS owners take that astute advice, they'll close the doors and open some other business. That will benefit the diving community how? Just because a new idea makes money does not make it the right thing to do. The thought that it does is one of the major issues we face - we as a herd are addicted to next quarter's profit and loss statement and it leaves us short sighted with regard to the long term health of our economy. It is also how we got in the position of no longer being competitive in the first place.
If you think LP will stick around once the market forces make it less profitable you are badly mistaken - they'll just quietly and gradually slide into some other market. On the other hand, a large number of the local dives shops in this country got into the dive business, not because it was lucrative but rather because they had a passion for diving and were willing to take the risk just to create diving opportunities in their local areas. And we reward this loyalty to the sport by buying on-line.
Again, I can empathize with an LDS owner who has an attitude about on-line retailers and I have little sympathy for people who buy on line to save a few bucks and then whine when they get push back from an LDS and/or when their LDS charges an arm and a leg for training, service and gas or chooses to close the doors as there are better ways to make money.
