oleras:
a: most online stores WILL give a warranty...
They CAN NOT give a MFG warranty, as most online stores are not authorized dealers. They may choose to give their own, store warranty, which is only good at their store.
c: see prev post, if i try in one "real store", too expensive, and buy in another, be it real or online, whats wrong with that ?...
Well, I suppose it depends upon intent. If you went there with the honest intent of buying it there, then nothing. The had an honest shot at your business and lost it. But if the store was only used to see, touch and try the item and perhaps get some advice, with the intent of buying it elsewhere....well that is just IMHO dishonest and a theft of time and services (yes they are providing you a service for which there is no intent of paying via the purchase of equipment). I also learned years ago that there is more to purchasing an item than the price, service counts too and that includes advice, loaner equipment when my stuff is in the shop etc.
d: thats between the store and MFG, not me...simple economics....would you rather sell 1 piece of EG at 300 and make 100 or 10 pieces at 250 and make 500 ?...
Agreed. but the stores have no choice in the matter, the mfg sets the rules. Secondly, the reality of marketing is that in any geographic area there is only so much business to be had. The online store has the advantage here of the world, the LDS does not. MFG prohibit, in most cases internet sales.
Bottom line, the physical stores have a lot of overhead the online stores don't:
1. An experienced sales staff to man the store from 9-9
2. A large retail facility with ample floor space so you can move around the spacious isles and see and touch the merchandise, and perhaps even an onsite pool.
3. Lights for a well lighted attractive sales floor (warehouses dont need as much.
4. Carpet, and a people and equipment to clean the store
5. Shoplifting losses
6. Heat for that large floor space.
7. Water for the pool
8. Local State, county, and city sales tax.
8. Air compressor so they can sell air. Only one online store that I have heard of sells air for diving, and I would not dive a tank using their online fill system.
Bottom line is we need local dive shops. Yes some are thiefs and charge way too much or make and endorse videos of riding angles sharks and deserve to go out of business.
But answer this, where would your diving be without a local dive shop?
Yes there prices will be highter, because they have to be. Their expenses are higher and there is not much they can do about that if they want to stay in business. but we need them, for air, and lessons. I will agree that some stores charge way too much.
I myself use a large chain store as my LDS for two reasons, they are only 1 mile from my house and the nearest other LDS is more like 7 miles and I have to drive past the chain store to get there, and second, the other store, well, lets just say the owner needs a class in marketing.
I do not own a dive shop, I am a business owner and understand their expenses.
