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You are not alone. Many dive shops just dont get it. They are bitter because they feel they have been burned by internet gear sales. They dont know how to change up their business model. And as a result, they are rude to customers. Eventually those dive shops will be weeded out and replaced by better ones with a different business model.

So What would be the best way to approach a dive shop owner or manager about helping them past this hump? LOL

Just inform them of the service you received. If they are smart, they will do something about it.

I will give it a try, thanks Greg.

There’s also popular dive shops that have been around here in California since the 50s that do really well, and have a large client list of divers/air supply/dive supply customers that sometimes do this. Like they don’t want to be bothered. Some might be high falutent about it or just not super interested in the work they do. I could name these shops, but they can change on a daily or hourly basis. The dive business industry is pretty strange sometimes, like Greg is saying they’re competing with online retailers and now some of the way overpriced gear can be found for cheaper. Dive Gear manufactures (some) have a minimum price not to go below. Diving I thought too was supposed to be a fun adventure, in and out of the water. At least I have fun!

So the difference between retail and internet wholesale is going to be the overhead. Knowing exactly where your costs and over head is will help the LDS to know if he needs to modify is business plan. Can he utilize more drop ship business from suppliers or perhaps become an affiliate for a larger internet retailer. It may still require the LDS to have extra staff, to handle the possible volume increase. Since the LDS requires what the internet store doesn’t (a face), having sales people able to actually sell would be a good thing. Not to mention approachable. I did email the Owner of the LDS in question, he only hires D/M’s and Instructors to run his shop. I see the logic in that, however, a little customer service training may not be a bad thing. I do like the prices that I have seen on the internet, but if I can pick my product up from a store, I’d much rather do that.

Nick really wants to dive, with me, we practice the hand signals in the pool all the times. He is Mod-High functioning ASD. I told him I would get my certs first so that he could watch me do the skills. I’m hoping that I can get him ready for cert in 6 mo to a year.