More what I am trying to say is that not all vacation divers fit the mold of being careless and unskilled without the desire to improve their skills.
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Shops like that deserve the good press just as the bad shops deserve the adverse press they often get on the internet. Letting others know about good shops is good for everybody. Why don't you identify the shop.
A good post to start a thread that quickly captured a lot of attention - 272 posts in less than a week shows this is a topic of interest to a lot of SB'ers. In the end, you are right - each of us makes a decision about what's in it for them. Therefore, I fully agree with an initial premise - THERE IS NO ETHICAL OBLIGATION TO SUPPORT A PARTICULAR LDS, or even LDS operations in general. Rather, it is an individual business decision, based on weighing the value received for the dollars / whatever unit of currency invested. Several years ago, a SB thread asked, 'What do you use your LDS for? (www.scubaboard.com/forums/basic-scuba-discussions/272291-what-do-you-use-your-lds.html) and that provided some related information. In my own case, it caused me to reflect on the fact that I get through the existence of, and as a result of my support of, my LDS, in no particular order of value: 1) a very active Dive club, with interesting and informative monthly meetings; 2) Camaraderie and diving fellowship - a social experience, readily available within a few minutes of driving; 3) Training, including OW, AOW, DM, AI, IDC, plus Tec, Trimix, Gas Blender, etc. Plus, I attend seminars at DEMA as a shop 'staff member'; 4) Service. I can service my own gear, but I am free to use the bench and instruments at the LDS, and get my parts at a discounted rate. I am free to blend my own nitrox and trimix fills, paying only for the gas, at a cost-based rate; 5) Specialty needs, such as oxygen cleaning. I do some of the oxygen cleaning for the shop, and pay only a very discounted rate to do my own tanks, valves and regulators - with their equipment, reagents and supplies - because I am happy to also do cleaning on customer tanks at the same time; 6) Expanded contacts with the diving community. I have met a variety of people, at DAN, in PADI, divers with interesting credentials, etc, through the LDS and the shop owner, who is happy to introduce me and others associated with the shop whenever he runs into someone he knows.I know this subject has been talked about before and it was those previous posts that set me thinking. A lot of folks here believe that as divers we have some kind of an "ethical obligation" to support our regional LDS. I had been buying from internet retailers and after reading some posts here, I though okay lets take a look at LDS not just around where I live but other places too to see what do I get by supporting them? Here is what I found:
1). The LDS prices are way too much!
2). By having a good relationship with an LDS overall diving will become cheaper! LDS books trips in groups and would be able to get a better group rate for everyone. I really investigated into this part of the argument and it turns out to be so not true.
3) LDS lets you try gear befor buying! So do the internet retailers! I ordered 4 different sized wetsuits, kept one and return everything for a full refund. I did not even have to burn my gas to go to the internet retailer.
4) Through LDS you get in touch with other fellows in the diving community
Okay! Through LDS I will get in touch with other divers who are paying ridiculous prices on gear and in most cases coming together as a group to overpay on divetrips as well. On the other hand, SCUBABOARD enables me to get in touch with other divers not only from my area but also from other places. I have had the pleasure of diving with many people from this board and since scubaboard is not charging me money, we were all diving as richer people!
In the end I really dont get whats in it for me. ... Please share your thoughts.
Down Under Surf and Scuba in Raleigh, NC.awap:Shops like that deserve the good press just as the bad shops deserve the adverse press they often get on the internet. Letting others know about good shops is good for everybody.