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What can dive shops do to make money?
Anonymous - 1/04/2007 7:21 PM
Category: Anonymous
Replies: 24

Online scuba sales has taken a good chunk of money away from local dive shops. They are very upset about this...sometimes to the point where they won`t service the gear if you bought it online.

I`m a firm believer in "the strong will survive" and I also know that anyone can make money in any environment if they apply some good business skills, marketing and customer service.

With that said, does anyone have any suggestions for local dive shops so they can continue to earn a living? We NEED them for training, maintenance and air fills. But many people don`t use them for gear or trip sales anymore...mainly because of price.

One suggestion would be to increase the cost of the things we NEED them for: Instead of a $5 air fill, charge $10? Instead of a $500 training package, charge $1000 (but that might deter new scuba students?

What about a monthly dive shop membership fee that gives you certain benefits (free air, service, etc.)?

Please share your thoughts.
Anonymous - 1/06/2007 9:59 AM
I think that online sales are only taking money from the dive stores that are resistant to change. This is the era of convenience and the market has dictated a consumer that is savvy and certainly one that is conscious of cost. There are several examples of brick and mortar dive stores that have changed their business model in order to reflect the growing trend in this recreational sport. Wouldn`t it be neat to be able to go down to your local dive store and visit with Ma and Pa scuba OR place an order with them online? Many stores are and have transitioned to this. Increasing the cost of select products/services would simply drive customers to the online businesses. The scuba industry is changing and the dive stores must be willing to accommodate this change or they will be left behind.
Anonymous - 1/06/2007 9:04 PM
Dive shops could sign up for the affiliate programs of some online stores to earn 5 - 10% of the sale the customer makes. Dive shops could have a terminal in the shop that lets customers browse their online affiliate stores to make a purchase. Or they could add links to those online stores from their website and encourage customers that are going to shop online anyway, to use the link on their dive shop`s website so they get something back.
Anonymous - 1/14/2007 1:53 PM
Interestingly enough we are not having any issues with the online stores. The store I operate with pride themselves on delivery a personalised offering to our customers. We consider ourselves as family, and often have people just sitting on the couches reliving their experiences. This in itself facinates new/novice divers who crowd around and listen, which creates a sense of community. I strongly believe that there is room for both ways to market. We are human, so do enjoy a level of social interaction, which in turns provides the opportunity to spend time and effort discussing the true needs of the customer. Something that an internet site cannot do on the same level.
Anonymous - 1/18/2007 12:19 AM
I believe that many dive shops are experiencing problems due to one factor! Staff that have no idea of what they are talking about. I have gone to a few shops to assist students of mine. I do not promote any specific gear, but I will tell students that ask what not to buy on the grounds that they will get no service from the vendor. I have been in shops, the vendor does not know me, and then I listen to what they have to say on the gear they are trying to sell. Most staff are just trying to make a sale, and not sell what is best for the diver. A LOT OF DIVERS WILL PAY EXTRA IF THEY ARE GOING TO GET SERVICE!!!!!!!!!!
Anonymous - 1/18/2007 10:14 AM
I know of several dive shops that won`t service your gear if you didn`t buy it from them. It`s absolutely crazy if you ask me, but they think it`s going to get people to buy their stuff if they deny servicing gear. I say charge more for the service, but do it with a smile...otherwise you just piss customers off and they NEVER want to come back.
Anonymous - 1/28/2007 10:29 AM
I would pay 5-10% more at a local dealer but I don`t like paying 100% more. Dealers will have to come a lot closer to online prices to get my business. Local dealers certainly don`t pay twice as much for the same product that an online dealer does.
Anonymous - 1/28/2007 8:55 PM
I have seen a lot of online gear come into my shop for service I do the work and then point out that had they bought in my shop the work would have been covered by their warranty usually they will look a lot closer at my prices and see that they could have bought the same piece of gear cheaper from me with a warranty. As an instructor , salesman and service tech. I get to talk to my students early on and show them the benefits of buying at our shop but I also tell them to price it online and really look we are usually right there in value. I do know there are a lot of shops that are way over priced so You really need to look for the right shop as much as the right gear.
Anonymous - 3/14/2007 1:28 AM
Well for one, dive shops need to support their customers.what I mean is their`s lots of shops that I have been in where the people act like they are doing you a favor by talking to ya. and that`s non supportive of the upbeat and excited mood that I was in. now , I felt like I just walked out of a mourge and my feelgood dreamboat just got turned into a shipwreck on it`s way to the bottom due to that shops torpedo of depression, so I have copped the attitude of just using shops for what ever I have to.However there has been three shops that I have enjoyed visiting and will continue to business with them.My point is, sometimes attitude can make you or break you. So support that customers positive side.
Anonymous - 3/31/2007 4:57 PM
Dive shops need to be the subject matter experts on actually providing service to people. Somethings are very difficult to do online, such as try on the equipment. Try it out to see if you like it. Etc. I haven`t tried buying equipment online because I don`t know enough to evaluate it after it arrives, I just don`t have enough experience with that yet. Dive shops that know how to capitalize on the weaknesses of online shopping can make money off of it without having to worry about inventory costs. If I were qualified to service equipment and had a shop, I`d seek out the business of people who needed the stuff they bought on ebay checked out. I`d set up dive trips where customers could try out various equipment. Even if I didn`t sell it because they bought it online, I`d make money off the trip.
Anonymous - 4/01/2007 6:26 AM
My dive shop lets my buy equpiment with very little cash down so i buy everything through them. EXAMPLE: say i bought a $1000 BC vest, all they require is a small down payment. Then i bring them monthly payments (whatever i can afford). But i still get to use my BC vest anytime i want the catch is it always has to go back to the store after it`s use until i pay it off. It works for me and im willing to pay a higher price because im not paying interest to a credit card and i get to use my equipment
Anonymous - 4/10/2007 9:38 PM
So the down payment thing is kind of like a layaway program for scuba gear, but you get to use the product while you`re paying it off. Sounds kind of weird, but if it works, it works. A $1000 BC?? I wonder which one you bought.
Anonymous - 5/17/2007 10:18 PM
My local dive shop (LDS) is the biggest in our state. Numerous stores. Each that I have been to does not have much on display AND only deals with certain mfg`s. Naturally, they will push those items. Every time I`ve asked their opinion about a competitor`s line, they naturally say "Our product is better because we only carry the best". I`m sick of those lines, sick of the b.s., and the "Tech" divers that work there becuse they believe they know it all and you`re just a couple of clicks below them. I got so sick of the crap, I buy 99 percent of my gear online. Less money, less crap, less wasted time. If dive shops only make a few cents on the dollar, sounds like it`s time to close up shop. People will start opening up rental shops for students and instructors, as well as provide air/nitrox/etc.
Anonymous - 7/03/2007 5:20 PM
Maybe work with online shops to sell some of your gear and then you ship it???
Anonymous - 7/19/2007 9:11 PM
Stop overcharging us- we purchase online because its cheaper- A LOT CHEAPER! Quit sneering when we bring a tank that has been inspected somewhere else and smile and thank us for the business and we`ll probably come back again. If a dive shop refused to service my equipment because I purchased it online- I would laugh (knowing that this dive shop would soon be out of business because they were jerks and lacked the people skills to establish and maintain a loyal customer base), then I`d walk out and tell every divebuddy I crossed that they were jerks and didnt want my business. Then I`d send my stuff to another shop or an online shop for service. Either way you lost another sale and many customers. We as divers will support a local shop that is knowlegable, frendly, service orientated and dosent over charge us. Keep overhead down to keep prices down, the best dive shop I`ve seen was run out of a mans garage it was open for 15 years before he retired (not went bankrupt)- I miss that shop.
Anonymous - 8/11/2007 7:55 PM
NONE of the dive shops in my State (that I know of) display DPV`s (underwater scooters). Whenever I take mine out, lots of divers ask where I bought it. I have to say I bought them (I have 2) on-line. My Local dive shop will sell them, but you have to ask about them, and then they will charge FULL BORE RETAIL! Let`s see, DISPLAY THE PRODUCT, SELL AT DISCOUNT with a class. Wow! What a concept!
Anonymous - 10/10/2007 6:21 AM
bold text here Go buy online products, sure you are getting them at a better price, but you dont have the years of experience from a dive shop that will give you hands on help etc. This subject actually makes me mad!! Your favourite dive shop wont be around for very long unless they can sell equipment. But unfortunately we cant always match prices because fo the overheads required to run underline text here diving course, provide underline text here with social facilities etc. In a couple of years time dive centres will have no choice but to put up the costs of diving courses or shut down!! Simple.
Anonymous - 10/28/2007 10:11 AM
I`m not certain on the issue. I know for one though I do not buy Scuba Gear online, I only buy it from a dive shop because they usually allow me to see the gear and sometimes try it first.
Anonymous - 11/11/2007 5:32 AM
Good quality service! It is that simple. I`m stationed in Okinawa, Japan and we have 3 US military dive shops. I use 1 particular dive shop 99% of the time. Good quality service, friendly staff, knowledgeable staff and quality (not cheap) dive gear. Have your staff be at minimum Open Water divers, that actually dive. How can you sell me something if you can`t or don`t know how to use it? That is like being a car salesman and can`t drive. Staff attitude is a big factor too. If they have attitudes with the customer, then your going to loose sales. The one dive shop I use has cut me deals on gear, fills, you name it. I`m leaving Okinawa in 2 weeks and being reassigned back to the US. I stopped by the other day to get one thing, and they offered me 10% off a light, gave me free decals and told me to be sure to stop by before I left to say, "bye". And you wonder why I use them. They didn`t have to do that, but I`ll tell you what. I let every student my instructor and I teach know which dive locker I perfer and why.
Anonymous - 1/28/2008 5:07 PM
New reply to an old post,I would be glad to give more fro a shop that was friendly they dont have to kiss my rear but be happy to have me shop my local guy is kind of mean and acts as he doing me a favor selling to me Ive tried to find a way around this but just upsets me some people will never change I spent 1000 dollars last year in three months over what I could have paid and he was nice for a while he seems as though he wants customers to support his dream attitude goes a long way.....Id be glad to pay more for to be treated better..Be kind to customers and theyll come back
Anonymous - 6/26/2011 3:03 PM
make being in their shop fun, have a clean shop, competitive prices,good attitude, knowledgeable about all brands,not just their’s is the best everyone elses is crap, my LDS gave me a quote on a zeagle ranger package that was $1200.00 more, i kid you not,than i bought it for online for the exact same gear model number for model number, and then got mad at me when i bought online and told me if he goes out of business i would have no choice but to buy online from then on.(my city has 3 other dive shops in a 10mile radius of my home). when i went back into his shop to buy other items because i did want to try to support him as much as i could, he did not want to help me and just kept telling me how i was screwing the LDS’s out of business. i ask you why would you want to do business with that LDS again, and i tell everyone when i dive just how i was treated. Make Diving Fun and we will be loyal. thats all i wanted was to have fun. 
Anonymous - 7/07/2014 5:50 AM
Focus on selling service, not products. Training, travel, fitting service, maintenance, inspection, air fills. Offer a friendly place that divers want to come to just to hang out. Provide free coffee, water and tea. Hold free, in-store events like info on gear cleaning, latest trends, safety tips, etc.