Intro Scuba packages

H. Huntzinger wrote:

>
> So how much is getting the right fit in a wet/drysuit worth?
>
> Saving a rush trip to the UPS/FedEx/Airbourne depot is worth how much?
>
> If something being serviced never leaves the premesis, it can never get
> lost in the mail, or mysteriously delayed. What's that worth to you?
>
> How late are they open on Friday night as you're getting your gear ready
> for tomorrow's 4am dive departure? Later than the post office, right?
>
> A free loaner when your regulator suddenly craps out is worth how much?
>
>
> Air fills...that are less than $50 each. People joke about Internet Air
> Fills, but the reality is that they're expensive and take forever at 56K
> (see: http://www.diveriteexpress.com/gas/etherfill.shtml)
>
>
> Finally, if you rely on the LDS to have stuff in stock for you to check
> out things like fit, providing this service isn't really free. If you
> have no intention on ever spending your money there, this practice is
> highly unethical, which tells us all that we really need to know about
> bottom dwellers like MDH. Either pay for the fittings that are provided
> as a free service to real customers, or get the hell out that shop and
> don't ever come back.

yup.

> Finally, if you rely on the LDS to have stuff in stock for you to check
> out things like fit, providing this service isn't really free. If you
> have no intention on ever spending your money there, this practice is
> highly unethical, which tells us all that we really need to know about
> bottom dwellers like MDH. Either pay for the fittings that are provided
> as a free service to real customers, or get the hell out that shop and
> don't ever come back.

Hugh--Fuck yourself. You can go deal with your lds--I'll continue to fuck
mine.

I get my fills at another source and have no use for the LDS "fill station".

Even then-Iused to buy fills from an LDS I never bought a single thing from.
They took my VISA nad always said thank you.

You people make me sick.

MDH

"Mad Dog Hog" <mdh@owningstevespencer.com> entertained us with:
:You people make me sick.

Glad to be of service.

Dan Bracuk
As Big Ben said to the Leaning Tower of Pisa, I've got the time if you've got the inclinaion.
The Best of Rec.Scuba
http://www.pathcom.com/~bracuk/RecScuba/


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I think everyone has missed the point of my original posting. I am looking
for some advice on brands and best place to purchase. My intent was never
to start a debate on LDS and on-line. I think this thread is getting out
of hand.

Let me narrow the scope of my question. What should I be looking for in my
first set of equipment? A good brand for the money? How "fancy" do I need
to get with the equipment?

"Mad Dog Hog" <mdh@owningstevespencer.com> entertained us with:
:See below the correct way to things.
:
:Run that line about not getting gas fills on the net....go ahead...make my
:day.
:
:
:Go to the LDS
:Try on gear
:Decide what you want and what size
:Go online
:Leisure Pro/Dive Inn/Divers Direct/NESS/etc.
:Save cash
:Get more training
:Go dive
:with the money you saved you can dive more, eat better and drink merrily.

Plagiarizing again I see. Looks word for word, straight out of the book.

Dan Bracuk
As Big Ben said to the Leaning Tower of Pisa, I've got the time if you've got the inclinaion.
The Best of Rec.Scuba
http://www.pathcom.com/~bracuk/RecScuba/


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Robert <robptaylor@fishhotmail.com> wrote:
>Let me narrow the scope of my question. What should I be looking for in my
>first set of equipment? A good brand for the money? How "fancy" do I need
>to get with the equipment?

How long have you been diving? What is your motivation to buy equipment
now? Where will you be using it - locally, or somewhere you fly to?

That would narrow the question well enough for answers outside of the
LDS-Leisure World type wars.

As a general rule, I'd suggest buying the reg with an octo and an SPG,
then get a wrist computer. Get a backplate - steel for cold water, alum
for warm water, along with a midsized wing. Last item is the exposure
suit appropriate for your needs. Don't buy tanks unless you're diving a
lot locally, or it's a pain to return them at the end of the diving. Even
then look for a used deal.

--
Jason O'Rourke www.jor.com

In article <Xns93BFAF588E249robptaylorfishhotmai@24.25.9.43 >,
robptaylor@fishhotmail.com says...
>
>I think everyone has missed the point of my original posting. I am looking
>for some advice on brands and best place to purchase. My intent was never
>to start a debate on LDS and on-line. I think this thread is getting out
>of hand.
>
>Let me narrow the scope of my question. What should I be looking for in my
>first set of equipment? A good brand for the money? How "fancy" do I need
>to get with the equipment?

Buried in the snowstorm of LDS vs Internet retailers (btw - welcome to
rec.scuba. Dan will be along soon to have a chat), was one very good piece of
advice from ESG - don't be so quick to go out and purchase gear. Renting for a
little while will help you decide what you like and what you don't, what works
for you and what doesn't. Buying locks you into your decision when you are
least able to make a good one.

> > No, the point was that you spend the money where it is cheapest - you
don't
> > 'support' the local shop because its local, you spend the money where
you
> > get best value for money.
> So how much is getting the right fit in a wet/drysuit worth?

Absolutely worth money! In fact today I went to a dive shop and bought a
new drysuit after trying it on in the shop - I wouldn't dream of buying one
without trying the size first! Now, the issue of price was important to
me - the shop were charging £495, but I could get it online (this is another
normal dive shop which also happens to sell online) for £450 - as a student
who doesn't have much money in the first place that was a significant margin
for me. I mentioned it to the shop, and they said they'd do it for £455 for
me (still higher because they had to order it in specially for me - but
showed their good intentions to do good by me). I accepted that, and await
its delivery.

> Finally, if you rely on the LDS to have stuff in stock for you to check
> out things like fit, providing this service isn't really free. If you
> have no intention on ever spending your money there, this practice is
> highly unethical, which tells us all that we really need to know about
> bottom dwellers like MDH. Either pay for the fittings that are provided
> as a free service to real customers, or get the hell out that shop and
> don't ever come back.

I fully agree with this. I could never go into a shop, go through trying
everything on (I was in the shop for an hour and a half today) and then walk
out saying "sorry I can get it cheaper elsewhere". As long as the dive shop
is at least trying to offer good value to its customers then that is fine -
even though the shop I was in today couldn't beat the other price, or even
match it, he looked at what he'd have to pay, sat there with his calculator,
and told me what he could afford to offer me. That was good enough for me!
On the other hand, if he just plainly refused to even try to make a better
offer for me, especially as I was spending a lot of money in there, I think
I would have just walked out of the door - I have to say I didn't mention
the price until after i'd tried it on (it never occurred to me until then
and we were discussing ordering the suit I wanted in).
It does therefore completely depend on the shop - if they make an effort to
offer me value, I will accept that and buy there. The shop I was in today
was very good to me, helped a lot, and so I would return there if there are
other things I want in the future. Its not particularly local, so I won't
be in there regularly, so won't benefit from any long-term benefits from
them for being a regular customer, but that isn't important. I can get what
I need from helpful and accommodating staff and that is great!
Then again, something else I bought online (although I did have personal
communication with the owner by both e-mail and phone before hand) and I was
equally satisfied with the service - he helped me get what I wanted and was
able to get it delivered very quickly despite being out of stock - I told
him when I needed it for so he rushed it out as soon as it arrived on
next-day delivery.

Being relatively new to diving, and particularly buying equipment, I haven't
had the time to build up and wide idea of dive shops, but from my
experiences so far it seems that talking to the people in the shop, whether
thats in person or over the phone, is the best idea for any type of shop if
you are buying anything that isn't just standard sizes, makes or types.

David

Some of your choice will depend on where you are going to be diving and
how close you are to the dive sites. Tanks don't make sense unless you
can take them with you. This is difficult or impossible on an airplane.
Also, I find it easier to just rent a filled tank and be done with it.

Most scuba classes make you buy a mask, snorkel, fins, and booties. I
would not worry much about them or their brands except for getting a
mask that fits. This depends on your face, so you have to try them on.
You can spend maybe $200-$250 for this equipment. You can probably
get a package deal especially if you buy it from where you take your
lessons. If all you do is tropical diving, then you don't need booties
and you want full foot finds.

A suit would be good, especially if the water temperature is under 70
degrees or so. The problem with a wet suit is that everyone feels cold
at different temperatures so your choice might not be someone else's.
Maybe you can rent one and dive it locally even if that means the quarry.

Regulators need to be serviced annually so you need to buy one that a
local dive shop can service. That will limit your choices somewhat.

Eric


Robert wrote:
> I am thinking of purchasing my first set of SCUBA equipment and I am
> looking for some advice. What is a good introduction package that's not
> going to cost a fortune but is trustworthy and dependable?
>
> What is the best way to buy equipment, from my local shop or the web? Any
> recommendations on websites?

Dan Bracuk <NOTbracuk@pathcom.com> wrote in message news:<lklohvkj498geugcsv1ab0v2di2su8t3re@4ax.com>. ..

> "Mad Dog Hog" <mdh@owningstevespencer.com> entertained us with:
> :You people make me sick.

> Glad to be of service.

Your service should have anticipated a larger barf bag. Otherwise, you
did very well.