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I recently took my spare Regulator in to a local dive shop for a service. Wanting a "proper" job done I confirmed that they were authorised dealers and could service this particular make and model. When I handed it in over the counter the member of staff gave it a look of contempt,( its quite an old model) but not been abused and not had much use. I was told depending on what parts were needed it would be between£30-70, as the Technician was away it would be a couple of weeks.
A couple of weeks later I had a message left asking if I could ring to discuss the servicing of my regulator.
I rang the shop and spoke to a member of staff, who was trying to decypher a note left by the service Technician,saying the second stage is beyond economical repair, and to use his words it was "mashed" and it would be cheaper to buy a new. I found this explanation of its rapid demise a little odd as I had been using the Regulator with it performing faultlessly over a recent diving weekend. Peace of mind was the dictating factor it getting it serviced. When I mentioned this in conversation it was pointed out he was only reading what was wrote down. Not wanting to pour good money after bad I requested no further work be done on it and would collect it.
I turned up at the diving shop,unfortunately the Technician wasn't in. I explained the situation to one of the female Sales staff and she produced the regulator minus the second stage, telling me there would be a charge of £40. "FOR WHAT" was my first thought, the Technicians report was produced shedding a little bit more light, it read "second stage shattered during dissassembly", my thoughts were having brought a regulator in working now it wasn't. The second stage of the Regulator was described by the manufacturers a high impact plastic,strange having coped with the rigours of British diving ironically it's demise was on a Technicians bench!!!.
My opinion is that it was obviously damaged whilst being taken apart.In the defence of the Technician I'm realistic enough to understand that things can go pear shaped when trying to take things to bits,a bit too much pressure in a vice or screwdriver especially with plastic components and you have damage. There's two sides to this the Technician would argue that the second stage damage occured due to some sort previous abuse or lack of care whilst I am off the mindset that he damaged it admittedly by accident. To cut to the chase after the staff phoned the Technician I found out that the £40 charge actually referred to the work done on the First stage, which had new parts and had been serviced, in something of a Catch 22 situation.
The shop in fairness said that they could offer me a second stage at a "reduced" price aprox £70, a few comparisons with other retailers showed this wasn't such a great deal and could get the second stage cheaper at most other places. I slipped up in this experience as I didn't have the damaged second stage part returned to me,would have been interested in what the manufacturers had to say.
This isn't the first time I had a negative experience in regulator servicing, already having had one previously butchered during a annual service and returned to me in bits following the attention of a "Technician".
Luck of the draw a lot of the time as competency varies so much person to person. Makes me wonder who many people have had a similar experience sometimes (especially as a newbie) all to easy to accept things on face value and buy a replacement.
I won't be taking any more kit to to this particular retailer for servicing maybe a one off!! but I'm not prepared to take the chance.
Tony
I recently took my spare Regulator in to a local dive shop for a service. Wanting a "proper" job done I confirmed that they were authorised dealers and could service this particular make and model. When I handed it in over the counter the member of staff gave it a look of contempt,( its quite an old model) but not been abused and not had much use. I was told depending on what parts were needed it would be between£30-70, as the Technician was away it would be a couple of weeks.
A couple of weeks later I had a message left asking if I could ring to discuss the servicing of my regulator.
I rang the shop and spoke to a member of staff, who was trying to decypher a note left by the service Technician,saying the second stage is beyond economical repair, and to use his words it was "mashed" and it would be cheaper to buy a new. I found this explanation of its rapid demise a little odd as I had been using the Regulator with it performing faultlessly over a recent diving weekend. Peace of mind was the dictating factor it getting it serviced. When I mentioned this in conversation it was pointed out he was only reading what was wrote down. Not wanting to pour good money after bad I requested no further work be done on it and would collect it.
I turned up at the diving shop,unfortunately the Technician wasn't in. I explained the situation to one of the female Sales staff and she produced the regulator minus the second stage, telling me there would be a charge of £40. "FOR WHAT" was my first thought, the Technicians report was produced shedding a little bit more light, it read "second stage shattered during dissassembly", my thoughts were having brought a regulator in working now it wasn't. The second stage of the Regulator was described by the manufacturers a high impact plastic,strange having coped with the rigours of British diving ironically it's demise was on a Technicians bench!!!.
My opinion is that it was obviously damaged whilst being taken apart.In the defence of the Technician I'm realistic enough to understand that things can go pear shaped when trying to take things to bits,a bit too much pressure in a vice or screwdriver especially with plastic components and you have damage. There's two sides to this the Technician would argue that the second stage damage occured due to some sort previous abuse or lack of care whilst I am off the mindset that he damaged it admittedly by accident. To cut to the chase after the staff phoned the Technician I found out that the £40 charge actually referred to the work done on the First stage, which had new parts and had been serviced, in something of a Catch 22 situation.
The shop in fairness said that they could offer me a second stage at a "reduced" price aprox £70, a few comparisons with other retailers showed this wasn't such a great deal and could get the second stage cheaper at most other places. I slipped up in this experience as I didn't have the damaged second stage part returned to me,would have been interested in what the manufacturers had to say.
This isn't the first time I had a negative experience in regulator servicing, already having had one previously butchered during a annual service and returned to me in bits following the attention of a "Technician".
Luck of the draw a lot of the time as competency varies so much person to person. Makes me wonder who many people have had a similar experience sometimes (especially as a newbie) all to easy to accept things on face value and buy a replacement.
I won't be taking any more kit to to this particular retailer for servicing maybe a one off!! but I'm not prepared to take the chance.
Tony
