Some of the gems I've encountered:
- one well-known shop which advertises lowest prices (without actually guaranteeing them) wanted an extra $500.00 for a drysuit. When mentioning the best quote I'd received, the manager relayed that the owner said I should buy one for him at that price.
- one shop wouldn't come down from full MSRP on ScubaPro gear on full packages for two divers.
- another tried to convince us we'd need nitrox-specific gear for recreational nitrox.
- while asking about gear packages, one dive shop owner's face visibly fell when he learned we were already certified (Warning sign #1).
Then he tried to convince me that the BC I wanted (which he didn't have in stock) was the exact same as a Brand X BC he just happened to have. "In fact, sir, they're made by the same manufacturer. They just slap a different label on it. Here, try it on!"
One teensy little problem, though: The one I wanted was a back-inflation; the one he offered was a jacket style. (Giant flashing warning sign #2)
So by the time he finally got around to pricing the package exactly the way we wanted it, we knew we were in for a treat. He was a mere $700.00 more than the shop we'd just visited.
Any wonder why I don't sing the praises of the LDS?
As if it weren't bad enough having to listen to the usual lame diveshop garbage every single time (New Padi specialty: Drysuit Pocket Pool! Spare-Air Trimix! Cozumel package featuring No-Name Airways, Cattle-Boat Divers, & the luxurious Hotel Cucaracha!).......