Maybe that`s what it takes to be a successful local dive shop today.
The closest 1 to me advertizes on their website that they will beat any price by 5% and has sales a couple times each year.
The next closest will try to match prices and also, has monthly specials and sales each year.
Going further to the next shop that I deal with, They had coupons for 15% off equipment issued to divers who entered a local dive site park. They matched an online price and then took off an addition 15% to make the sale and honor the coupon.
The furthest shop local shop I deal with sends out monthly emails with specials and discount coupons. They try to match prices. They have an online sales presence and run holiday sales. They actively promote diving both locally with socials, special events and abroad with regular trips.
All these shops have a website to promote themselves and communicate with their customers.
There are other LDS within a useful range some I haven`t tried yet and others that sing the sour tune. Why would I deal with a subpar LDS when I can choose from others that do everything they can to compete and do? When they do they earn my respect and loyalty when they don`t they know it isn`t my fault but they fact that they haven`t yet gotton to sales levels that get them best pricing from manufacturers.
One thing I`ve notice locally is that some LDS that don`t have any formal connection have started to work together to create a better dive community. Maybe a good next step would be some formal associations for purchasing so they could show better sale numbers to the manufacturers and demand top tier pricing.
The shops that sit by and whine deserve what they get. I`m sorry for those divers that don`t have better shops to choose from. The fact is if a LDS wants to stand out and earn your dollar they can. Too many old shops remember easy money when they had no competition. Now they must work for a living like so many of the rest of us.