Dive Show - Worth the wait (£)?

[dave archer]

Going to the dive show to save money??
Like going to the M25 to avoid the traffic!

Cost me an arm and a leg last time. Wonderfull places for finding that essential but of kit you must have bit didn't realise even existed! "It's a safety issue y'see, so cost shouldn't be a factor..."

[tom]

You can pick up good deals though - for example, my wife got a BCD that currently retails for over £300 in some places for about £160. Having said that though I think you need to be lucky to stumble on a bargain like that for something you actually want. Prices on most items seem to be only about 5-10% lower. When you take the incidental costs into account (as per Dom's post above), you need to be buying a whole load of gear to make it financially worthwhile.

[Adrian Kelland]

When I first started diving, shows were good for deals, then came a period when they were lousy. It seemed like a price fixing cartel was operating. Things appear to be good again.

If I were looking for specific kit, get prices for it from your LDS, web etc, take them with you and see what you can get. If they are lower, phone your LDS to see if they will price match. Could be worth it if you get any grief with the kit. Not much fun having to send stuff in the post, waiting times etc, when you could take it back to your LDS and get it swapped etc there and then.

Adrian

[Boyd D]

thanks for response.

have been chatting to a couple of local dive shops and both are offering to match show prices and give deep discount if I purchase a shed load from them. However still going to the show, seeing it as n educational experiance. Will probably end up buying something though..

cheers

Boyd