Question About Online Gear Retailer

[flfishhead]

If this is not the best forum subset to ask this, so sorry. Anyway, looking at buying a new dive computer at a moderate price (strongly favoring an Oceanic VEO 3.0 at this point). Have found an online retailer that carries this particular one at a very good price, but know nothing about them. Sooo, has anyone had any experience with a company called "dive INN" (the "d" is not capitalized, for some reason)? They apparently are a subset of a larger company that specializes in various sports equipment (swim Inn, bike INN, trek INN, etc). Very hard to determine from their site just where they are located, but they claim to be an authorized Oceanic dealer. Don't guess they could, or would, claim that if not true. So, anyone done business with them? Good or bad?
By the way, normally try to buy from my LDS, especially for something in this price range, but they apparently don't carry Oceanic.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

They are based in Spain. scubastore store. Online dive gear and dive equipment shop.

 

[diversteve]

Dive Inn is based in Europe so you might have warranty/repair issues.

All our products have 2 years international manufacturer’s guarantee. If you find a defect, you may send us some pictures on which the defect is visible, so we can send them over to the manufacturer. When the manufacturer confirms that the defect is covered by warranty, we will organise a collection for the item and send it to the manufacturer once we receive it. They will then decide whether the item will be repaired or replaced by a new one.

Possibly the reason you're seeing a better price is that their pricing structure is different to compensate - i.e. no VAT tax on orders sent to the U.S.

Some of these reviews are pretty old but:

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/ma...-www-scubastore-com-spain-stole-my-money.html
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/oceanic/374713-shoddy-retailers.html
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/ge...ssions/77212-anyone-canada-order-diveinn.html
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/computers-gauges-watches-analyzers/41925-smartcom-dive-inn.html

I'd call (not price-check online) ScubaToys. They are an authorized Oceanic dealer and can possibly offer a better price than they're required to advertise online. This it? http://www.scubatoys.com/store/detail.asp?PRODUCT_ID=OceanicVeo3Wrist

 

[docmartin]

I have only bought once from Dive Inn. I had a great experience. Fast, low price and great customer service.

 

[buddhasummer]

I have had almost nothing but trouble from them. Often the stock they advertise they do not actually have and you only find this out after they have taken your money. They have a dreadful customer service system where by you cannot contact anyone directly but must use their online contact form. You cannot reply to emails from them as they are "No reply" addresses so end up talking to numerous people about the sane issue eventually necessitating a phone call. Very frustrating. I've made around 8 orders with them IIRC and have had issues with all but one. Their prices are good customer service sucks. I will never use them again, way too much drama. YMMV.

 

[flfishhead]

Hmmm. Sounds pretty iffy so far. Better start looking around a little more. Thanks for the inputs.

 

[buddhasummer]

Hmmm. Sounds pretty iffy so far. Better start looking around a little more. Thanks for the inputs.

If you call them first to ensure they actually have the item in stock and is the model they show and not an old model you should be ok. They are a very big store with a huge inventory which I think is part of the problem. If the price is really good and they have the item ready for immediate shipping then go for it. I'm just done with them after so many issues, it got boring. Good luck.

---------- Post added October 24th, 2013 at 09:17 PM ----------

Note: they will likely want credit card identity confirmation, copy of statement or passport, if paying by card although using Paypal seems fine/and preferred(?).

 

[monoxide]

My lds told me to find stuff online bring a list with prices and they would match or beat them.

 

[ams511]

DiveInn or Scubastore was much more popular in the past than it is now. Their prices were great if you wanted Scubapro or Aqualung products. However, the manufacturers have cracked down on them and they will no longer ship many products to the US. I have tried to order some Apeks items from them and it was no go. Also located in Spain the warranties on the products may not be honored in the US.

 

[buddhasummer]

DiveInn or Scubastore was much more popular in the past than it is now. Their prices were great if you wanted Scubapro or Aqualung products. However, the manufacturers have cracked down on them and they will no longer ship many products to the US. I have tried to order some Apeks items from them and it was no go. Also located in Spain the warranties on the products may not be honored in the US.

Agree. Since manufacturers have cracked down there are very few items from them that interest me, I was lucky and bought some Apeks regs just before they shut the window. My family us from the UK so can still get stuff from ST.com if I really want it but like I said too much drama to be worth it in most cases.