Dive Show - Worth the wait (£)?

[Boyd D]

Hi

Just a quickie. New to diving and in the process of getting together my kit. Still got to get regs, BC and computer but was thinking of waiting until the dive show to see if any savings could be made. Having never been to the show before I don't know what to expect. Can you help?

Cheers
Boyd

[bottle_monkey]

More often than not i think dive shows are cheaper. a few years a go i bourght myself a semidry and a stab from the birmingham dive show and saved about £60 in total(I think was a few years ago now).

I also got a drysuit this year at the london dive show and saved well over a £100 (although I have yet to hear of anyone that has payed full price for an otter drysuit) . however, don't feel that you have to buy there and then.You are not saving money if you are buying the wrong peace of kit just because it's cheap. Also look at how much it's going to cost to get there and get in and see whether u r still saving money.

Finally I think it is always best to go with a couple of mates just so you have some other people to discuss it all with. however, having said that never go with digger cos he will just be egging you on to spend more.

Hope that has helped

kev

[Ian B]

Things are usually less expensive than dive shops and if you're buying a lot from one stall you should keep asking for more off. Best to go with a list so you don't end up buying more than you need! I usually take cash so when its gone its gone.

Keep an eye on the diving store's websites as they often have special "dive show prices" deals at the same time as the shows.

Bottle Monkey gives good advice - go with friends.

[NJT]

I got a vyper from the NEC dive show last year. I recon I could sell it 2nd hand for more than what a paid for it.

Nick

[Helen F H]

And be sure to come and see me on the dive girl stand

And go straight away to the DDRC stand to see if they are getting people narked again (oooh what fun that was) and sign up for a rebreather try dive just for the hell of it (get there early).

[Angus]

Originally Posted by bottle_monkey

never go with digger cos he will just be egging you on to spend more.

That's right - I remember him in the bar of the hotel on the Saturday night egging people on to buy more drinks - he didn't participate in the custom by the way!!!

ATB

[ahar]

If you know exactly what you want it's worth it, but if you're new to diving, it might be better to shop around a couple of local dive stores - they gennerally can get very close to show prices if you buy lots of kit together, and you get the added benefit of lots of time to discuss things, try stuff on and get the benefit of staff experience. It gets pretty hectic at the show and staff don't always have very much time for each customer

[Diving Daisy]

Originally Posted by Porg

And be sure to come and see me on the dive girl stand

The rest of us of course will be at the Daisy stand

[Foggy]

Often your local dive shop will match show price during the show itself, thereby saving admission & parking/ transport. BUT they usually don't stock everything, so you need to know what you want, if they stock it, and if they're doing a price match.

Shows are good to compare brand X with Y, getting your mitts on it, and then getting a good price. Warning, if you need to send stuff back, it can get expensive....."you're based where???"

Finally shows are bad if you don't like crowds.

Cheers, Paul

[Dominic]

If you know exactly how much you'd pay for it elsewhere, you can sometimes get ti cheaper.

But when you factor in petrol costs, admission costs, food & drink costs... it's not easy to make the whole day work out cheaper than staying home.

The trick is to assure yourself "I would've gone anyway" to see all the gear, presentations, and fellow divers, cos then none of the incidental costs matter