LDS serviceing to use on open water course?

[awap]

So there is the answer Dave. Just go tell them,"Scubatoy's sales are up, up your's."

[rktman26]

Originally Posted by Splitlip

He is also full of shitt about a learning curve on a reg. (inhale, exhale). Total bull shiit. The reg is the least subjective piece of gear you will ever own.

Darnit, you beat me to it. Breathe in, breathe out.

[in_cavediver]

OK, most of what the shop said was BS. Regs are pretty simple to use devices.

That said, there is *one* little detail and that's liability. If I was the instructor and I saw the reg that I didn't have a good feeling about it, I might not want to have a student use it under my watch without checking it out. The solution here is easy though - explain the concern to the student and offer to let them use the rental reg in class rather than theirs if they didn't want to pay for the service. No harm, no foul and a way to keep a customer. To me, this is only really a concern at the OW level. Some lawyer could make a case about the uncertified person and making judgments about suitability of equipment if something bad should happen.

Still - 'learning a reg'......(walks away shaking head)

[brandon]

An instructor's regulators need to be properly serviced to be covered under their equipment liability policy. But instructors aren't required to carry an equipment policy in most areas, and it only covers their gear.

But what he's telling you sounds like total BS. Expect more problems and be on your toes.

-B

[in_cavediver]

Originally Posted by brandon

An instructor's regulators need to be properly serviced to be covered under their equipment liability policy. But instructors aren't required to carry an equipment policy in most areas, and it only covers their gear.
-B

Instructors (at least PADI circa 2002) are required to ensure their students equipment is in good repair and appropriate for the training. At the OW level, the student can't be expected to know whether the gear is good or not. Once certified though, most of that burden falls to the student (not all though).

Remember, the instructor is responsible with a clear duty of care to the student. With that, the instructor now has a vested interest in the equipment used by the student during the class.

Still, what was said is BS. If you don't like your OW students reg - you give them a rental.

[trekkindave]

WOW

Thank you for the overwhelming responce to my question!!

I have decided to let him service it anyway, since he only said it would cost 20-30 dollars, and that was to include a new hose saver boot on the HP line, and repositioning of the regulator so that the octo came off the right. (old owner had it off the left)

Also, condidering that I have saved so much money by purchasing use stuff that I felt bad not buying anything but training and the "Crew PacK" from him. I got my entire reg set up with a basic SPG/Depth console for 450. And that was for a Scuba Pro x650/r190 octo set up with a MK25 First Stage. Also i got a Zeagle Ranger for $225 from ebay. So for $675 I feel I have a great set up, plus the extra 25 to make sure its working good, is ok in my book.

With the ready availability of lower cost equipment, like from scuba toys, its silly to give him my money when can just buy more stuff with it. I do feel bad because of the plight of the common small buisinesman, but if your prices are off the wall.. i mean common.

[awap]

Originally Posted by trekkindave

WOW

Thank you for the overwhelming responce to my question!!

I have decided to let him service it anyway, since he only said it would cost 20-30 dollars, and that was to include a new hose saver boot on the HP line, and repositioning of the regulator so that the octo came off the right. (old owner had it off the left)

Also, condidering that I have saved so much money by purchasing use stuff that I felt bad not buying anything but training and the "Crew PacK" from him. I got my entire reg set up with a basic SPG/Depth console for 450. And that was for a Scuba Pro x650/r190 octo set up with a MK25 First Stage. Also i got a Zeagle Ranger for $225 from ebay. So for $675 I feel I have a great set up, plus the extra 25 to make sure its working good, is ok in my book.

With the ready availability of lower cost equipment, like from scuba toys, its silly to give him my money when can just buy more stuff with it. I do feel bad because of the plight of the common small buisinesman, but if your prices are off the wall.. i mean common.

I'd be real careful. Parts alone would run over $40 for that rig. For 20 to 30 I would expect he will just do an inspection and maybe a little adjusting. Or he may come back and tell you how much more this job is going to cost you to fix all the proble,ms he has found.

[bassplayer]

Originally Posted by awap

So there is the answer Dave. Just go tell them,"Scubatoy's sales are up, up your's."

I just HAVE to tuck that quote away for the right occassion

[BoomerNJ]

I can see how you feel bad about not buying your gear from your LDS. I've bought very little from mine also. All told though, I have spent over $1000 for the classes I've taken, plus the basic gear (mask, first set of fins, etc...). Plus I rent tanks from them just about every weekend... So I don't feel too bad anymore... I read on here sometime ago something to the effect of, "if they would just try to compete with online scuba retailers (i.e. ST), I would buy more from them." The other day I asked the shop owner in my LDS about a pony reg. The quote I got was almost $500. So I bought a new primary reg from ST for $400, with octo & am now using my older primary as my pony rig. So I saved myself $100... My LDS also quoted me $395 for an LP95 Faber tank. ST sells the XS Scuba LP95 for $300. Where do you think I'm gonna get mine eventually?

Anyway, enough of my rant...

Take care & dive safe,

Chris

[fireflock]

Part of the reason for an overwhelming response is that many avid divers find themselves disappointed with the way some shops treat people who are new to the sport. The story always starts off with some off the wall advice/suggestion/requirement, and it never gets better from there.

Best of luck with your training. Hopefully this is a one-time screwy thing at the shop and not a sign of things to come.

Rich