ScubaToys vs. my LDS

[frogman159]

Mask $70 at LDS- $50 at ST
Snorkel $27 at LDS- $5 at ST
Fins- $175+ at LDS- $135 with spring upgrade at ST
BC Rig-$510 for thier lowest line model- $500 for a tricked out Mach V Xtreme rig at ST

8.25% sales tax at LDS- 10% discount at ST for being a forum member

even though they are 1000 miles away, I think ST is my local dive shop

[SHAGGY]

The only downside to shopping with ST is that now anytime I go into my LDS they treat me like I have dog poop on my shoes. Myself and my partner have tried booking several classes with my LDS and they say there is not enough demand for the type of class that we want to take or they say they will check with the instructor and call us back and they never will. After my department bought our drysuits and other various dry gear from ST my LDS really gives us the cold shoulder, but I gave them the same oppertunity to give a good price but, "come on", ST beat the price by appx $2,500, and they even gave a lil drysuit class for free.

Bottom line,.... expect your LDS to hate you now,.........LOL

shaggy

[scuba007]

I live in Canada and ST still my local dive shop for most of my dive equipment purcahses.

[divergirl]

I was told by my LDS that if I bought any equipment off the internet they wouldn't be able to service it for me. They were telling me this information after they found out I bought the bcd I had been oggling at their shop for a while off the internet instead of from them, and then warned me off the dangers of buying a regulator off the internet, insisting that "no shop will be able to service it here"

[terrillja]

Originally Posted by divergirl

I was told by my LDS that if I bought any equipment off the internet they wouldn't be able to service it for me. They were telling me this information after they found out I bought the bcd I had been oggling at their shop for a while off the internet instead of from them, and then warned me off the dangers of buying a regulator off the internet, insisting that "no shop will be able to service it here"

Good news- ST will service it!

[hoobascooba]

boy am I glad i've got 2 LDS's!

my back-up lds is 6 blocks away, just around the corner from my house

[navyhmc]

Originally Posted by divergirl

I was told by my LDS that if I bought any equipment off the internet they wouldn't be able to service it for me. They were telling me this information after they found out I bought the bcd I had been oggling at their shop for a while off the internet instead of from them, and then warned me off the dangers of buying a regulator off the internet, insisting that "no shop will be able to service it here"

I would hazard a guess that they don't do much equipment service as if they did, they would realize that this is where a lot of the better LDSs will make a profit. Why does it matter where I bought a peice of equipement? By their logic, if I move from here in lovely downtown doo-dah Kansas to your neck of the woods for the scenery and diving, they wouldn't service my gear? I would imagine that my money is still good.

A good LDS will realize that keeping a good amount of loyal customers will make all the difference.

[frogman159]

Originally Posted by hoobascooba

boy am I glad i've got 2 LDS's!

my back-up lds is 6 blocks away, just around the corner from my house

I've got several dive shops in the area as well, I'll buy some things from them, but to routinely pay 40-50% more for major gear purchases is just crazy. I'm willing to give them a small premium for thier expertise but seriously....

I may by my regulator and my wifes regulators from them, but if they try to soak me 40-50% more for those, I'll be right back at ST getting much better quality regs for the same money....

[malley1717]

agreed. I walked in to get my regs serviced at a dive shop near my house (not my LDS lol) with my regs in their scubatoys reg bag. You should have seen the look on thier face. hahaha Luckily i do a lot of dives with them so they dont hate me too much.

[Zenagirl]

We just took my husband's regs to our LDS for their annual service, and produced our original ST receipt as a proof of purchase from an authorized dealer for free parts. They didn't bat and eye and simply thanked us for our business.

We'll continue to return there as long as they treat us as valued customers.