Scuba shop online pricing

[owlbill]

Soooo, what are the general thoughts on product pricing on scuba shop websites? Is it something people look for? ( I know I do LOL) Do people actually compare pricing online?

[scubagirl]

Yes, I look at pricing and shipping rates (when applicable).

[Terry]

Heck, no. I race right down to Burtons and plonk my money down. You just can't beat Burton's LOW, LOW prices, SPEEDY delivery, and FRIENDLY SERVICE! In fact, I think I'll head over there and buy something RIGHT NOW!

[owlbill]

Ok, I get it. Sarcasm, LOL. (Terry, we take 3 major credit cards, interac and cash :-) )

[rwhitbread]

I'm the same type online buyer as Scubagirl. Before I buy anything onlne, I compare prices and shipping costs with other on-line vendors and also factor in duties. I also do research on the vendor's reputation, return policies, if warantees are honored, etc.

I then go the the LDSs in the area and see if their pricing can compare. It used to be that once you factored in the actual price, exchange (all those vendors use the USD as their preferred currency), shipping, customs, and the hassles should warantee work be needed, I usually end p buying locally. However, with the Loomie now up over the USD, exchange is o longer an issue, and should the Loonie reach 1.07 USD (something many are saying may happen in the next year or so) paying the taxes will become less of an issue.

I know that many retailers are in a hard place right now as much of their stock was purchased before the Loonie took flight and their customers are complaining that they are not seeing any pricing declines due to the stronger Loonie. This may push some folks to use on-line vendors more, at least until the wholesalers, shippers get on board with the stronger Loonie and have to start offering better pricing to the retailers.

So to answer your question, yes I check prices, and all those other tangables listed above.

One thing I will add, I do TRY to buy my gear locally (especially the lie support stuff) but some of the gear I am shopping for, cannot be purchase locally as the manufacturing companies do not have resellers in Canada.

[Warren_L]

Soooo, what are the general thoughts on product pricing on scuba shop websites? Is it something people look for? ( I know I do LOL) Do people actually compare pricing online?

I buy almost everything through my LDS, and I do little to nothing in way of price comparison. Because I teach there, I get pretty well everything I want at cost.....

[Terry]

Mostly sarcasm (well, no, call it affectionate satire.) But with a grain of truth. I don't do that much comparison shopping, and I don't shop on line for dive gear. There are intangible and tangible benefits to dealing with a dive shop, not the least of which is helping a dive shop survive in a low margin retail market.

[Tom Falardeau]

For us it's quite simple: if Burton's carries the brand, and can get it in a timely manner, they have the business. If it's something they can't get, we buy elsewhere. Of course, getting the "staff member" discount makes it all that much sweeter for us :D

[owlbill]

**snip**One thing I will add, I do TRY to buy my gear locally (especially the lie support stuff) but some of the gear I am shopping for, cannot be purchase locally as the manufacturing companies do not have resellers in Canada.**snip**

Care to elaborate on "lie support stuff" LOL.

Oh, I am kidding, no need to elaborate.

[Terry]

"Staff member discount"??

(Imitating James Earl Jones - "Billlll -- I AM your father...

[Tom Falardeau]

Darth Rudden?

*shudder*

And I let you co-teach with my wife????????

[Alias]

Soooo, what are the general thoughts on product pricing on scuba shop websites? Is it something people look for? ( I know I do LOL) Do people actually compare pricing online?

I compare. I barely buy online but I pretty much always check what things are going for and I am annoyed at shops that won't give their prices but face-to-face. I even make purchase choices that way - does the shop answer price questions by e-mail/phone even if they do not know me. (And yes I know it's a pain for them. I hate companies that allow only publishing MSRPs because it's more work for everyone). Even between online shops I don't necessarily choose the cheapest if I find that they screw around with you when you ask about prices/shipping etc.

I usually buy from shops I like (except when I can't travel). I will pay more than things are online if I like the face and tone. I don't like price-hiding. I look up the price and go bargain and see if I can get close enough not to feel totally robbed. I am usually patient and can wait for the deal.

[rwhitbread]

Care to elaborate on "lie support stuff" LOL.

Oh, I am kidding, no need to elaborate.


"Lie support stuff" ...dive gear that I really wanted, but don't want my wife knowing that I bought it. As I am usuallt the one buy our dive gear, when she notices a "new piece of gear: I usually tell her it's been kicking around for a while, and she must have forgotten about us discussing ans her agreeing to, the purchase.:D

Hence it's "lie support stuff".:roll:

Example;

"What's that dear? Scooter....what scooter... OH THAT scooter. It's been kicking around here for a dog's age. We talked about buying it last year. You must have forgotten::roll:


"Lie support stuff" must be purchased in person and smuggled into to the house as the wife checks the mail more than I do, and a FedEx note would raise too many questions.;-)

[Terry]

That's the "Lie Stuff". You should specify that the Lie SUPPORT stuff is the service provided by Burton's to support the lie under desperate circumstances - the artificially faded and back-dated receipts, the carefully timed "casual" call from Bill ... "Oh, no message, just tell him I was just checking on how that very old scooter he bought, gosh, YEARS ago for a sinfully low price was doing..."

[scubagirl]

One thing to add. Price comparison is a thing that I always do; however, whether an item is in stock or can be ordered and arrive in a couple of days (such as all the Ikelite stuff) is also very important, sometimes more than price.