going to my lds next week...

[larryjoe]

As a new diver, I purchased some scuba toys.(yes right here) I will be renting some equipment next week. The lds will ask, where did you get your other equipment? And a probable guilt trip for not buying from them. Support your lds, that's what I hear. I agree, having them go out of business is not good. lds will say, call us for a price before you buy equipment. To me that is not convenient. I don't like to haggle, call, waste time, etc. If the lds would show their gear prices online, and if its $20 or so more than a reputable online store, than I will buy from an lds. Do the majority of these guys just barely get by financially, or is it a difference if they make say 300k a year versus 200k a year?

[Flatliner]

I would say your average LDS owner just barely makes it. If your local shop is willing to discuss what you are looking at I say you should give them the chance.

[snagel]

My LDS closed it's doors in Dec 08. I know you have heard it all before, but I can say for sure it really sucks not having an LDS (next one is 60 miles away).

When I heard they were closing I had a lot of talks with the owners. They told me that they were basically putting their own money into it during the final year to keep it open. They had to let all there help go and were operating it by just the owners (2 partners). It was getting too overwhelming because they also had other jobs. (I wish they would of told me because I would have volunteered time to help out in the shop). Being in the midwest, what killed them was the winter months. Historically, they were able to suppliment their sales by also selling Paint Ball Gun items, but the last couple winters have been very cold and these sales didn't come in. They still had to pay rent on the building, taxes, utilities, and insurance during the winter and was taken this out of their pockets. Obviously, this was a small shop, but very comparable to most LDS's.

The shop was located in a midwest town with about 25,000 population. There are a lot of divers around, but obviously not enough to support the shop.

I can tell you that these guys didn't make the 200k and as you can see were not making much profit at all. Obviously, I don't know anything about their business plan or what their profit margin was on gear. I can say that they tended to be a little higher than ST, but were very competitive in pricing. During the warmer weather they seemed to have classes about every weekend.

For the record, I purchased all my initial gear with them about $1300 in investment.

Snagel

[chicken]

I think it is always better to buy from a "GOOD" LDS if possible. The one I use in Atlanta will match, come close, or tell me to buy when I find a better price from ST or Cave Adventurers.

That being said, I haven't paid for a local tank fill in over a year. Why? I buy from my LDS and take part in the activities (classes, dive n drive, referrals, ect.)

[DMWiz]

Originally Posted by Flatliner

I would say your average LDS owner just barely makes it. If your local shop is willing to discuss what you are looking at I say you should give them the chance.

+1

[Lobster Hunter]

Always better to at least give them a chance to price match. Keeps everyone happy and you can always count on ST to be there if things don't work-out.

[larryjoe]

Thanks for the responses. I think what I will do is......email the lds what I am looking at to purchase. I will then have a written response of any price quotes, and not have to haggle on the phone or in person. Some people do not like to haggle, hence Saturn car purchasers. As a new diver, an lds has already talked down to me when I inquired about purchasing some equipment. Made me feel like I am an idiot, and it was only a simple gauge we were talking about.

To: Chicken, love your quote..."Life is tough, but it is even tougher if you are stupid."

To: DMWiz, love your quote also..
My low self-esteem is at an all-time high!

[mwhities]

I would LOVE to buy from my lds, but they are marking everything up so high, that if they gave me 50% off, it's still more than other places I can the same equipment from.

Even if I were to drive to the coast, buy a reg from an authorized dealer and came back to have my reg serviced, they'd question if I had bought it off the internet or not. They know I'm an Internet Shopper, so they'd assume it I'm sure.

I work for the state and with budget cuts and possible job losses, I'm buying used and internet gear. I gotta think of myself before I think of my lds. I wish them and all other shops the best of luck.

Michael

[fire diver]

I know all about not having an LDS. When I started diving, my closest dive shop was 100 miles away from me. He had "good" prices, but not great prices, but the time and gas costs made it pointless to go there except for training. That was when I started buying onilne.

Now, we have 2 LDS's (although I don't see one of them lasting much longer). My LDS (the good one) has a great owner, great pricing, and good instructors, and a clean compressor with PP blending of nitrox. I give my local shop most of my business, but even the owner will tell me to buy through ScubaToys for stuff he can't carry. Sadly it costs in the 10s of thousands of dollars to become a dealer for individual scuba brands.

[it_mike]

I always give the LDS an opportunity to make a counteroffer. I believe in supporting the local business community, keeping in mind that I have to support my family.

I generally allow a 5-10% premium for the local business, but I'm not afraid to take my business elsewhere.

Mike