online dive purchases

What I do when starting a new purchasing arrangment:
1: Stop in talk to who ever is there get an idea of what they are
looking to get for some items.
2: Stop again after looking on the internet what you can get the item
or items for
then see if you can talk to the store owner or who the owner is and
talk to them dirrectly.
3: Show the person that you are knowledgeable about the product that
you are interested in but very inportantly don't be a pain in the butt to
them. Show them you will be a good customer and they will be a good
retailer.
4: It is very important to know who you are dealing with because some
clerk might not have the authority to give breaks on items.


I have two dive shops that I buy stuff from one in Milwaukee and the other
in Moline,IL about 200 mile apart from one another. They both know I buy
from both locations because I dive in Lake Michigan and In Iowa is where I
live. They might not be able to give you the best price on one item (may
cost you $100 or $150 more) but to have some one that will know your name
and respond to you when you enter their store is priceless.

Little story time - Bought wet suit, gloves, hood, fins, and flag at local
Milwaukee dive shop(I'm from Milwaukee, Dive with brother there) in the
morning then we where going to dive in the afternoon, Using some of my
brothers equipment went to the dive site the reg that he let me use work
fine on the shore swam out the the dive location and the reg locked up. Got
to shore hopped in truck and drove 8 mile to dive shop( in wet suit) Went in
the dive shop he looked at us and said "need something ?" told him my reg
lock up can I use a rental, he pulled one out of a rental set and told us
"get out of here and get back to diving." He did not charge us for the
rental regulator. The dive could have been wasted or delayed filling out
paper work and other stuff. The next month when I was back in Milwaukee I
bought a new regulator and guage set up, Very fair price. But the thing of
this is he knows I will buy the big stuff and the little stuff from and he
does what he can on the price.

Now the dive shop in Moline I have bought enough other stuff so they know
that I am a serious buyer and they give me a good price right away and don't
be afraid to ask if they can can do any better on an item, But again don't
be a pain in the butt!!! They might not be able to do any thing else on that
item but something else they might throw in. But in both places I delt with
the owner of the store in the final pricing, the clerk help out the the boss
finalise the amount.
Both places I have spent over $1000 so they know I am serious and they will
alway respect me because I am not just a tire kicker. ( I get a standard
25% off at the Moline shop and on some item 50% off ) they know I am
serious.

While your searching for your best price on gear set what they charge for
tank inspections and fills and see what kind of deal they will work out for
you. The other thing you can get is information on your local dive sites,
Internet dive shop will not know what is in your area. The local dive shop
also might have a diving club. Which might give you a discount at the local
shop.

Hope this helps,
Paul





"J Galvin" <madmariner87@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:112csmc7755ded7@corp.supernews.com...
> I will definitely look into the warranty aspect as well as the customs and
> brokerage. I do have an import license but I haven't used it in years and
> found it to be a pain in the backside.
> Has anyone dealt with "Leisure Pro."
> "Jon C" <news@jonnythan.com> wrote in message
> news:WVsVd.35142$vK5.8615@twister.nyroc.rr.com...
> >J Galvin wrote:
> >> I am considering making a few purchases over the coming year. The local
> >> dive shop while a great resource, is very pricy. I have been looking
> >> online and have found a number of US online equipment outlets that are
> >> considerably cheaper than I can get here at home (central Ontario).
> >> Is there anything in particular I should watch out for, stay away from,
> >> or a recomended online Dive store.
> >> The one I have seen that has the best prices so far is "Liesure Pro".
> >> I hesitate to bypass the local shop for a few dollars but we are
talking
> >> hundreds. and in some cases almost half price.
> >> Comments welcome
> >
> > I buy everything online.
>
>

I am considering making a few purchases over the coming year. The local dive
shop while a great resource, is very pricy. I have been looking online and
have found a number of US online equipment outlets that are considerably
cheaper than I can get here at home (central Ontario).
Is there anything in particular I should watch out for, stay away from, or a
recomended online Dive store.
The one I have seen that has the best prices so far is "Liesure Pro".
I hesitate to bypass the local shop for a few dollars but we are talking
hundreds. and in some cases almost half price.
Comments welcome

One of the biggest things to watch out for is the shipping. If the company
ships UPS or FedEx then they charge a brokerage fee to bring the item into
Canada. These fees can be very large. I ordered some t-shirts and a ball cap
from a store in the U.S. just before Christmas and they were shipped by
FedEx. The order came to $91.00 and the GST, Brokerage fees, and something
called a disbursement fee came to $41.00 over and above the order. UPS uses
the same type of system. And of course these charges are over what the
online company charges for shipping. If they ship by U.S. postal service
then there is only a customs fee that Canada Customs charges and the GST.


Hope this helps

Wayne


"J Galvin" <madmariner87@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:112a716b7o493c2@corp.supernews.com...
>I am considering making a few purchases over the coming year. The local
>dive shop while a great resource, is very pricy. I have been looking online
>and have found a number of US online equipment outlets that are
>considerably cheaper than I can get here at home (central Ontario).
> Is there anything in particular I should watch out for, stay away from, or
> a recomended online Dive store.
> The one I have seen that has the best prices so far is "Liesure Pro".
> I hesitate to bypass the local shop for a few dollars but we are talking
> hundreds. and in some cases almost half price.
> Comments welcome
>

J Galvin wrote:
> I am considering making a few purchases over the coming year. The
> local dive shop while a great resource, is very pricy. I have been
> looking online and have found a number of US online equipment outlets
> that are considerably cheaper than I can get here at home (central
> Ontario). Is there anything in particular I should watch out for, stay
> away
> from, or a recomended online Dive store.
> The one I have seen that has the best prices so far is "Liesure Pro".
> I hesitate to bypass the local shop for a few dollars but we are
> talking hundreds. and in some cases almost half price.
> Comments welcome

I'd ask the store if they would do anything for you. Most will bend a lot
rather than loose a sale if you are a regular.
It sounds like they are charging full retail.

In some cases there are things they will not be able to match at all, but
most shops pay about the same for stuff.

As pointed out watch the shipping. On our side my bank just told me that
there will be a 3% charge on foreign currency now.

"Mike Painter" <mddotpainter@sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
news:ApbVd.1963$C47.1256@newssvr14.news.prodigy.co m...
>J Galvin wrote:
>> I am considering making a few purchases over the coming year. The
>> local dive shop while a great resource, is very pricy. I have been
>> looking online and have found a number of US online equipment outlets
>> that are considerably cheaper than I can get here at home (central
>> Ontario). Is there anything in particular I should watch out for, stay away
>> from, or a recomended online Dive store.
>> The one I have seen that has the best prices so far is "Liesure Pro".
>> I hesitate to bypass the local shop for a few dollars but we are
>> talking hundreds. and in some cases almost half price.
>> Comments welcome
>
> I'd ask the store if they would do anything for you. Most will bend a lot rather
> than loose a sale if you are a regular.
> It sounds like they are charging full retail.
>
> In some cases there are things they will not be able to match at all, but most
> shops pay about the same for stuff.
>
> As pointed out watch the shipping. On our side my bank just told me that there will
> be a 3% charge on foreign currency now.

There is no extra charge if you pay by credit card. You can just buy one item as a
test and see what kind of customs charges are involved.

Adam

J Galvin wrote:
> I am considering making a few purchases over the coming year. The local dive
> shop while a great resource, is very pricy. I have been looking online and
> have found a number of US online equipment outlets that are considerably
> cheaper than I can get here at home (central Ontario).
> Is there anything in particular I should watch out for, stay away from, or a
> recomended online Dive store.
> The one I have seen that has the best prices so far is "Liesure Pro".
> I hesitate to bypass the local shop for a few dollars but we are talking
> hundreds. and in some cases almost half price.
> Comments welcome
>
>

I guess it would depend on what I am buying. If it is something that
may require periodic service, such as a regulator, I would definetly buy
local. Also, some manufacturers WILL NOT honor any type of warranty
when the purchase is made in anyway other than a storefront location.
That includes mailorder as well as the internet.

I recently had a computer crap out. The local shop owner contacted the
manufacturer and I actually got a brand new computer for about 66% off
using the old computer as trade. I bought the old computer USED (on
Ebay) about 4-5 years ago.


--
I have never met a liberal street cop.

Adam Helberg wrote:
> "Mike Painter" <mddotpainter@sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
> news:ApbVd.1963$C47.1256@newssvr14.news.prodigy.co m...
>> J Galvin wrote:
>>> I am considering making a few purchases over the coming year. The
>>> local dive shop while a great resource, is very pricy. I have been
>>> looking online and have found a number of US online equipment
>>> outlets that are considerably cheaper than I can get here at home
>>> (central
>>> Ontario). Is there anything in particular I should watch out for,
>>> stay away from, or a recomended online Dive store.
>>> The one I have seen that has the best prices so far is "Liesure
>>> Pro". I hesitate to bypass the local shop for a few dollars but we are
>>> talking hundreds. and in some cases almost half price.
>>> Comments welcome
>>
>> I'd ask the store if they would do anything for you. Most will bend
>> a lot rather than loose a sale if you are a regular.
>> It sounds like they are charging full retail.
>>
>> In some cases there are things they will not be able to match at
>> all, but most shops pay about the same for stuff.
>>
>> As pointed out watch the shipping. On our side my bank just told me
>> that there will be a 3% charge on foreign currency now.
>
> There is no extra charge if you pay by credit card. You can just buy
> one item as a test and see what kind of customs charges are involved.

I'm not talking about custom charges. At least one of the US banks I have
credit cards with just sent me a notice saying that there would be a 3%
surcharge on transactions involving foreign currency.

J Galvin wrote:
> I am considering making a few purchases over the coming year. The local dive
> shop while a great resource, is very pricy. I have been looking online and
> have found a number of US online equipment outlets that are considerably
> cheaper than I can get here at home (central Ontario).
> Is there anything in particular I should watch out for, stay away from, or a
> recomended online Dive store.
> The one I have seen that has the best prices so far is "Liesure Pro".
> I hesitate to bypass the local shop for a few dollars but we are talking
> hundreds. and in some cases almost half price.
> Comments welcome
>
>

I buy everything online.

"Mike Painter" <mddotpainter@sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
news:HnnVd.10720$Pz7.1832@newssvr13.news.prodigy.c om...
> Adam Helberg wrote:
>> "Mike Painter" <mddotpainter@sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
>> news:ApbVd.1963$C47.1256@newssvr14.news.prodigy.co m...
>>> J Galvin wrote:
>>>> I am considering making a few purchases over the coming year. The
>>>> local dive shop while a great resource, is very pricy. I have been
>>>> looking online and have found a number of US online equipment
>>>> outlets that are considerably cheaper than I can get here at home (central
>>>> Ontario). Is there anything in particular I should watch out for,
>>>> stay away from, or a recomended online Dive store.
>>>> The one I have seen that has the best prices so far is "Liesure
>>>> Pro". I hesitate to bypass the local shop for a few dollars but we are
>>>> talking hundreds. and in some cases almost half price.
>>>> Comments welcome
>>>
>>> I'd ask the store if they would do anything for you. Most will bend
>>> a lot rather than loose a sale if you are a regular.
>>> It sounds like they are charging full retail.
>>>
>>> In some cases there are things they will not be able to match at
>>> all, but most shops pay about the same for stuff.
>>>
>>> As pointed out watch the shipping. On our side my bank just told me
>>> that there will be a 3% charge on foreign currency now.
>>
>> There is no extra charge if you pay by credit card. You can just buy
>> one item as a test and see what kind of customs charges are involved.
>
> I'm not talking about custom charges. At least one of the US banks I have credit
> cards with just sent me a notice saying that there would be a 3% surcharge on
> transactions involving foreign currency.

This must be something new. I've used my US credit cards many times abroad and have
not had a surcharge, besides the usual currency exchange

Adam

J Galvin wrote:
> I will definitely look into the warranty aspect as well as the customs and
> brokerage. I do have an import license but I haven't used it in years and
> found it to be a pain in the backside.
> Has anyone dealt with "Leisure Pro."
> "Jon C" <news@jonnythan.com> wrote in message
> news:WVsVd.35142$vK5.8615@twister.nyroc.rr.com...
>
>>J Galvin wrote:
>>
>>>I am considering making a few purchases over the coming year. The local
>>>dive shop while a great resource, is very pricy. I have been looking
>>>online and have found a number of US online equipment outlets that are
>>>considerably cheaper than I can get here at home (central Ontario).
>>>Is there anything in particular I should watch out for, stay away from,
>>>or a recomended online Dive store.
>>>The one I have seen that has the best prices so far is "Liesure Pro".
>>>I hesitate to bypass the local shop for a few dollars but we are talking
>>>hundreds. and in some cases almost half price.
>>>Comments welcome
>>
>>I buy everything online.
>
>
>

I've bought several things from LeisurePro and have visited their store.
Fine place.

You might want to check out www.scubatoys.com too. They're actually
authorized retailers for all of their gear, they match LeisurePro's
pricing, and the staff actually dives. I'd rather deal with them.. I
have dealt with both companies to my satisfaction.