Buying Online

[oddbod]

Originally Posted by Swanny

I have to disagree with you on that one. I think it is completely disingenuous to go to your LDS without the intent of buying, waste their time trying on things, and then go home and order it online.

Ditto, I own a shop and due to the vagaries of worldwide markets some items are now as cheap on line as we can buy them from our wholesalers, still need to carry them in stock and get quite sick of people just looking and getting model numbers, or worse is if they bring them in afterwards because they can't work the items and expect me to explain it to them.

[ReefHound]

Originally Posted by Splitlip

Disagree. The local shop wins nothing with this type of thinking:

Quote: "Go to your LDS, try it on and see what fits you. Come and buy stuff here at 50% discount. With the rest of the money, buy some more stuff "

The entire world of marketing disagrees with you. Getting a customer in the door is the biggest hurdle. It's why car dealerships offer prizes if you will come and take a demo drive, why timeshares offer prizes to come listen to their pitch, why businesses extend introductory offers and special coupons. The LDS has the chance to make their pitch and the chance to completely remove from the equation the part about "buy stuff here at 50% discount".

[Sansho]

I have to disagree with you on that one. I think it is completely disingenuous to go to your LDS without the intent of buying, waste their time trying on things, and then go home and order it online.

I agree with this ... if you're going to use your LDS (or any local store for that matter) to try things on, get the benefit of their knowledge, then you should give them the opportunity for your business.

[snoballz]

Originally Posted by mike_s

Unless it's scuabpro or Aqualung, pretty much everthing they sell in their shop can be purchased online. Most likely for less money.

And Atomic Aquatics.

Well, I've been sharing the wealth.

I purchased the requisite mask (Atomic Subframe), snorkel (Scubapro Nexus), and fins (Apollo Bio-Fins) at my LDS for the OW cert course given by my LDS. My initial purchase was done without much thought and I guess I lucked out by picking up a few items I wouldn't have been able to online.

However, subsequent purchases, including a dive computer, wetsuit, boots, gloves, mesh dive bag, and other odds and ends were purchased online since it offered better prices, same warranty, and with ST, great customer service.

Recently I purchased my regulator and octo from my LDS since they are Atomics (ST1 and T2) although I wouldn't have blinked an eye if I could have gotten 'em at ST. My next purchase is an Apeks WTX harness and wings, which will have to go through my LDS before my AOW course given by my LDS. Again, I would not have a problem getting the harness and wings online if it was possible (and have the warranty intact).

I guess I'm lucky. The stuff that my LDS carries are equipment that I want and cannot purchase online anyway. So I am supporting my LDS by purchasing those items through them (as well as taking cert courses through them) while also purchasing everything else online (ST being the first choice).

Don't get me wrong, I like the people at my LDS. They are very friendly and everyone personally knows my name... and love my dog when I visit. However, the truth is, with a place like ST that has exceptional customer service, selection, and prices, I look to ST before the LDS any day.

[Splitlip]

Originally Posted by ReefHound

The entire world of marketing disagrees with you. Getting a customer in the door is the biggest hurdle. It's why car dealerships offer prizes if you will come and take a demo drive, why timeshares offer prizes to come listen to their pitch, why businesses extend introductory offers and special coupons. The LDS has the chance to make their pitch and the chance to completely remove from the equation the part about "buy stuff here at 50% discount".

No, Sasha is going in the shop only to try for size so he can buy the right size on line. I see it all the time. You know as well as I, most local shops cannot compete with ST and LP.

But for Divers Direct, the only shops in my area who are still going are the Aquallung, Scubapro and Atomic shops.

And as you told me, you would not consider Divers Direct an LDS.

And as for the world of marketing disagreeing with me? Most on line sellers don't have doors and could not care less if we know where they live. You told me that the LDS has to adapt to these new buisiness models. Well, then they are not an LDS. Like Divers Direct

(Don't make me dig up some of our discussions from Scubaboard .)

[mike_s]

Originally Posted by snoballz

And Atomic Aquatics.

[snip]

Atomic allows online sales now... (but they are pretty restrictive I think... I haven't looked into their online sales much ).

[Swanny]

Originally Posted by Splitlip

No, Sasha is going in the shop only to try for size so he can buy the right size on line. I see it all the time. You know as well as I, most local shops cannot compete with ST and LP.

But for Divers Direct, the only shops in my area who are still going are the Aquallung, Scubapro and Atomic shops.

And as you told me, you would not consider Divers Direct an LDS.

And as for the world of marketing disagreeing with me? Most on line sellers don't have doors and could not care less if we know where they live. You told me that the LDS has to adapt to these new buisiness models. Well, then they are not an LDS. Like Divers Direct

(Don't make me dig up some of our discussions from Scubaboard .)

AquaLung and ScubaPro are both holding on to an outdated business model, and I would wager to say that sales are probably sagging for both as a result. The thing is, once you figure out that the free parts/warranty deal isn't much of a deal, then you can go and buy AquaLung and ScubaPro products online anyway from a gray market retailer like LeisurePro.

The funny thing is, AquaLung and ScubaPro could shut down the flow of their products to LeisurePro if they really wanted to, but it would ultimately be cutting off their nose to spite their face. Instead, they put some strong language on their website about LeisurePro and the gray market, and essentially look the other way.

[Splitlip]

AL and Scubapro models are keeping the local shops in business. Which is great for me. That is also why AL and Scubapro have the largest world wide nework of shops and service facilities I suspect.

Locally, no matter where you purchased your gear, you have to go to a SP or AL dealer to get fills. Weekends are a sight to behold when they are filling. Only thing that sucks, I got rid of my LP tanks and there sometimes is not enough nitrox banked to give me full fills during busy times.

[Navy OnStar]

Everyone put your hands up, walk to the back of the plane and noboby will get hurt.

While LDS Vs. Internet ethics/tactics is a great debate, and I am interested in this thread, I think we have gotten off of the topic of the OP.

stekun
Bottom lines:
Yes, you can get Full Warranty regs from the internet.
Yes, I recommend Scuba Toys if you do!
Yes, your local LDS might be hurt and refuse to service it if you do get it online.
Yes, most LDS's will service it if you have all the warranty paperwork.
Yes, you can send it off to get yearly service. And the price will be competetive.

Beware of grey market retailers with their own warranty!

Also, there are several brands (ScubaPro, Aqualung, and others) that do not authorize internet sales. These you have to get at a LDS and don't expect them to match grey market internet retailers. The LDS is bound by the company to give only small discounts (usually 10%) off MSRP for these brands.

By all means shop around, I saved over 500.00 dollars on my wifes and my set-ups (on the Same Exact ScubaPro Gear) by talking to 2 LDS. One would give me a 10% discount and the other would not. I tried to get the one closer to me to price match and they didn't. They were upset when I came in with the gear and I told them straight up, "I gave you the chance to make money off of me, the other LDS was fine with making a little less but still making a profit" The arguement doesn't have to be LDS Vs. internet. Some LDS's think it should only be them. I still use the closer LDS because they are closer and I like the instructors. (they still give me grief about getting a discount)

[Splitlip]

Originally Posted by mike_s

Atomic allows online sales now... (but they are pretty restrictive I think... I haven't looked into their online sales much ).

AFAIK, the only authorized on line purchases of Atomic is from an Atomic site.