How To Get Discount Scuba EquipmentDiscount Scuba Equipment, at times, the dive industry seems insulated from the bargain hunting that goes on in many other industries. If you ask most divers where they buy their dive gear, they’ll quote a single dive shop.It’s the shop where they were certified; the shop where they know the owner and the owner knows them. Scuba Diving Brand LoyaltyYou find the same loyalty when it comes to scuba equipment brands.Asking a question like, “Who makes the best regulator?” in a group of serious divers is as explosive as throwing a match into a powder keg. The situation is such that I’ve met cave diving instructors who refuse to teach a student unless they’re using a certain brand. Unlike other industries, brand loyalty is still alive and well in the diving world. In an industry climate like this, you’d think that discount scuba equipment wouldn’t exist…but you’d be wrong. In fact, buying discount scuba equipment can be easier than getting discounts in other industries. Try walking into your leading computer store and saying, “I really like this computer, but I was wondering if you could knock $100 off the price.” Tell me how that turns out. In comparison, it’s common for a diver who frequents a dive shop to ask if the owner could find him a deal on a certain buoyancy compensator or regulator set. There are a couple reasons why this is common in the dive industry. First, dive shop owners and frequent customers end up becoming good friends. When I was working in a dive shop I knew everyone who spent $5,000 or more in equipment and dives in any given year. In most cases I even knew their families. The dive industry is like that. Close ties tend to develop naturally among frequent divers. Second, dive owners frequently get special offers for certain pieces of equipment. If you’re looking for a good deal on a certain piece of equipment, just ask the shop owner to keep an eye out for you. It becomes a win-win situation. The dive shop owner is able to give you a great price and still make a good profit. Everyone wins! Maybe it’s situations like this that make the dive industry one of the few industries that still enjoys a high rate of customer loyalty. So how do you get discount scuba equipment?You do it the old fashioned way. You do a lot of research up front and find a dive shop with a staff you like and the equipment brands you want and you patronize the business regularly.Drop by to say “hi” when you’re nearby. Sign up for frequent dive trips. Ask questions and talk diving. Dive shop owners are one of the few people who really love their jobs and never get tired talking about it. In short, you need to make friends. Today’s world rewards those who open up their computer and do a little searching to find the best deals. The dive industry isn’t like that. In fact, if that’s the way you buy your equipment you may find that you’re just another face to your local dive shop. But if you show that you’re a loyal customer, you’ll be rewarded with deals better than anything you can find online. Return to Underwater Diving Equipment Home Page.
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