Ghost.Diver
Contributor
This is something to consider also....
My regular buddy and one of instructor friends just finished taking some tech classes. They arrived in the Caymans about an hour ago for some more tech classes.
Two years ago, they were barely a Dive Rite dealer. Now after mainly these two ordered all this equipment, the LDS's standing with DiveRite has given the LDS a larger discount from DiveRite. All the equipment they have bought could have been bought from leisurepro. Since one of them ordering was a part ower/instructor for the shop, naturally he got a cut on the price. I checked on alot of the items he bought and the prices at leisure pro were in line with what he paid.
Bottom line, use good judgement. I dont feel like giving my LDS the shaft buy buying "everything" from online services but somethings I might. Think of it this way also; you find a great deal on the latest SuperScuba Mk50 regulator on ebay for over 1/2 the cost of new. guy is selling it new in the box with all warranty information with it. You know that your LDS can service this since they are a SuperScuba dealer. You find out that the cost of the one on ebay is less than the dealer cost. You do your checking and find out the guy is legit. You win the bid.
Do you feel bad about it? Do you still take it to your LDS for service? Would you buy all your equipment like this?
In one respect, buying online from LeisurePro, DiveINN, etc is pretty much the same as buying at Ebay. So if you get a great deal on Ebay and are all happy about it, what is the difference between buying there or online and feeling like you are cheating, stabbing your LDS in the back?
My regular buddy and one of instructor friends just finished taking some tech classes. They arrived in the Caymans about an hour ago for some more tech classes.
Two years ago, they were barely a Dive Rite dealer. Now after mainly these two ordered all this equipment, the LDS's standing with DiveRite has given the LDS a larger discount from DiveRite. All the equipment they have bought could have been bought from leisurepro. Since one of them ordering was a part ower/instructor for the shop, naturally he got a cut on the price. I checked on alot of the items he bought and the prices at leisure pro were in line with what he paid.
Bottom line, use good judgement. I dont feel like giving my LDS the shaft buy buying "everything" from online services but somethings I might. Think of it this way also; you find a great deal on the latest SuperScuba Mk50 regulator on ebay for over 1/2 the cost of new. guy is selling it new in the box with all warranty information with it. You know that your LDS can service this since they are a SuperScuba dealer. You find out that the cost of the one on ebay is less than the dealer cost. You do your checking and find out the guy is legit. You win the bid.
Do you feel bad about it? Do you still take it to your LDS for service? Would you buy all your equipment like this?
In one respect, buying online from LeisurePro, DiveINN, etc is pretty much the same as buying at Ebay. So if you get a great deal on Ebay and are all happy about it, what is the difference between buying there or online and feeling like you are cheating, stabbing your LDS in the back?