How big a markup would you expect at LDC?

[2DiVE4]

I'll second that internet purchases generally get internet service when the s**t hits the fan.

You should always try and support your local dive shop if you can. If you think you can save £50 - £100 by shopping online then that's your choice.

Your need to get good advice from professionals and also try equipment on. Any decent LDS will give you a deal, whether it comes in shape of a discount or a free add on. But don't try and screw them on price by asking them to price match an internet price. Internet shops don't allow you to try on kit and ask valuable questions.

Yes you can go to your local LDS, get advice, try all the kit on then go and buy online but quite frankly that's taking the p*ss. This is the reason why a dozen or so closed down last year.

I run an LDS and also an online shop. My prices are slightly less online due to the lack of time I need to spend on the transaction. The same applies to the customer service as my local divers pay more so hence get preferential service.


Steve

[DIVE BUDDHA]

Originally Posted by Twinsetmad

This also always amazes me too....These internet shops like SDS are someones local dive shop. So why should someone that lives in Sheffield give better prices than another local dive shop?

As said before I would expect them to meet or beat the net prices....or go elsewhere.

Support your LDS....but don't let them take the piss with their prices.

a question ive asked myself many times andrew and perhaps they buy stuff in bulk and pass the savings on to the costomer as im one of the many people who have saved money with buying from arthur at sds at halfway !
and can recomend both their prices and costomer service ! any problems with anything and they are the other end of the phone sorting stuff !! not like some of the problems ive heard on y-d where shops wont answer the phone or return e-mails !!!!

[Ding Dang Doo]

Touch the kit.... feel the kit.... smell the kit...oh yesssssssss...

can't do that on t'internet!

Pete

[Scubee]

My LDS will always try to match any reasonable internet price. I have got stuff online, but usually something they didn't have in stock, and wouldn't be able to get in before I needed it.

I can't fault the service I get from my LDS. I do know that very few things irritate them more than someone coming in, spending hours getting advice, information, trying stuff on, then going online and buying it there to save about a tenner.

Whilst they will service anything, including stuff not bought there, I think they draw the line at fixing for free and if anything needs sending back, i think they would be within their rights to charge postage.

So... buying online is all very well until it goes wrong. then you could end up spending what you saved on getting it back to the supplier for fixing. Whilst I agree that in general very few of the big manufacturers, e.g. Scubapro, stuff goes wrong, it can happen. The LDS are not obliged to replace unless you bought from there.

the reason some places can sell online for less than many people's LDS is basic economics - if they shift enough stuff, they can afford to have a lower mark up. They can get supplies in bigger quantities with lower trade prices. Exactky the same reason wht tescos, Sainsburys etc has lower prices than your average corner shop.

[rossbale28]

Hi,

My LDS sells everything at RRP prices - over the odds for kit/training - possibly.

But, you walk in for advice, airfill, chat etc, however busy they are you get a cuppa and a chat - they know you by name. Kit advice is plentiful and from either a PADI Platinum Course Director or a PADI Master Instructor as the two fulltime members of staff, let alone the other staff that are in the shop from time to time.

The two full time staff above have well over 10,000 dives between them and really know their stuff.

I don't mind paying their prices due to the service, backup, warranty/maintenance and the social side of things - you actually feel valued and more than just a customer.

Just my two penneth!,Ross.

[2DiVE4]

I really don't believe that RRP prices are over the odds for equipment OR training.

The mark up on scuba equipment varies between 20% - 40% generally which is far less than a majority of industries.

Take away overheads etc and then a customer discount then there really isn't a great deal at the end.

As for training then generally you get what you pay for. Our price for a PADI Open Water Course is £369 which is about average for the area we're in and is a fair price considering present day pool costs, liability insurance etc. We also give one on one supervision on all open water dives.

If you cut prices then somethings got to give and the first thing would be standards.

Steve

[sleaford_diver]

I do use the shop that is 40miles away but only if im in the area. they also didnt have the regs i wanted at the time so the internet was the best otpion for me

[Scuby]

Depends what postage you'd have to pay to get it elsewhere, and how quickly you need it.

As long as postage is reasonable, and you don't need it same-day, then i'd go for the internet one. Dive shops aren't charities - if they want your custom, let them compete for it. But if you think their service is worth £100 more than the postman delivering it direct to your front door, then use the LDS. Some do, some don't - everyone's different.

One thing to consider though, its very unlikely that you'll have anything go wrong with a reg or BC that would be a warranty issue - in which case when they do need servicing you can take them anywhere (including the LDS if they do servicing), you won't have to send them back to where you bought them.

Personally, i'd much rather shop online from the comfort of my living room, at the time I want to (which is usually on an evening when shops are closed). It also means I get the full choice of what's out there, rather than being dictated to by the usually very limited product ranges the LDS keep in stock. And more often than not, if I want something from my LDS i'd have to order it anyway, so what's the point in having it delivered to them when I could have it delivered direct to my front door?

David

[2DiVE4]

Looks like a split opinion!

All in all there is need for online shops for convenience & a slightly lesser price and the local dive shops for good advice, seeing and trying the product in the flesh and don't forget air and gas fills! Can't remember getting one of them online.

Happy diving

[Amphibian JIM]

most of the shops that i no will give you a deal if they can. but as i no it costs around £30000 a year to just open your doors in the morning and working on a 10 to 15% mark up its hard to make a good living. we cannot just open a shop up on £3.50 air fills. most of the bigger names in diving retial get a large discount on trade than the smaller shops which might get a small discount as this works on turnover. so the bigger shops can sell at a price and still will make 25 to 30% mark up.
it is a very hard game to be involed with but is sad that every morning i love comming to work.
i have gone round some of the web sites seen some deals i think you stil get better though your shops. i made a lot of friends while i've been at amphibian
its more a social club. which a shop should be. not sending an email to someone about diving who might not be a diver.
safe diving
james