What I want in a dive shop.

[MNDiver]

OK, just got home from work, too much caffeine on the evening shift so I am wide awake ready for a long post. :o :o

Well I have to say that our little part of the world has tons of dive shops and if you look hard enough you can find almost everything a diver could need.  Unfortunately you have to go to a bunch of shops to get it all.

The shortest answer is that I would like to do business with a shop that sets the pace, not just keeps up with the other twenty or so other shops in the metro.

It is really hard to find any one dive shop that can meet a variety of  “diving” needs.   So the number one thing I would like in a dive shop is one that “does it all.”  Not just market that they can do it all, but actually does.  The closest I have found was a shop in Texas.  They had the huge deep pool, lots of brands of gear, great prices, several full-time informed staff, travel, local divining, all levels of training from several training agencies, dive club, parties… every time I went there I was shocked at what they had added.    Whenever I went to Texas, they could get done whatever I needed quickly efficiently and affordably.    Sadly they did so well in their market area they tried to expand too quick in other markets and bankrupted themselves….    (The place sells cool motorcycles now).  Wouldn’t it be nice if we had that type of shop here?  We have so many knowledgeable dive experts working in so many different stores around town.  If a bunch of them got together and opened one huge store - that would be cool!  All my diving needs in one place…. Priceless

Short of the above “dream store” here are a few specifics….


First the easy stuff, or at least it should be…

Understanding…  I would like a shop that knows me.  Yes, actually takes time to get to know a customer BEFORE they “recommend” the latest greatest gear they know I could use.  Just because the storeowner thought it was cool at DEMA or got it in the store at a good price, does not necessarily indicate I need it….  Don’t get me wrong; I don’t have time to keep up on all the latest and greatest dive trends (I wish I did).  I go to local stores to see, get my hands on and learn about this stuff.  I just don’t need a sales person telling me what I need when they don’t know anything about me or my personal diving preference.

Integrity….   I would like a dive store that does not engage in gossip or speak poorly of other dive stores.  Some of those people that work in the other “Bad” stores are my friends.  I have known and dove with some of them for a decade or more.  If speaking poorly of others is the best a store can do to market themselves, they have bigger problems and should worry more about their own business.

Knowledge…  I would like the staff at the store to be knowledgeable and honest.  Know the industry, know about the dive stuff the market offers and speak intelligently about the gear.  Not just the gear on their shelf, but the competition too.  If I wanted to do all the research myself, I would.  Just because you sell it, doesn’t automatically mean it is better.  On the other side of the coin, just because you don’t sell it, doesn’t necessarily mean it is crap.  I may actually use some of that “inferior” gear, get offended and not come back.  I lost count of how many times I have hear something like “we only sell the best” or “this is the best brand.”  Best for what?  My favorite was when a local store told me I would have to sign a waiver of liability if I dove with them using my ScubaPro gear because ScubaPro gear was just so unsafe.   NO, they did not sell ScubaPro.

Competence…  I would like competent professional gear service. It would be sweet if the regulator did not free flow on my next dive and have to be brought back for adjustment.  If the best the repair tech can do it to get “close” to proper adjustment then at least give me some free pool time (in a deep pool) to test my gear.  On the topic of gear, it would be nice if a shop could tell me what service is needed, how much it cost and how long it will take then just do what they promised.  When I get my regulators back I would like all my used parts and a description of what was done. Not just “serviced.” It would be great if the price stayed the same as what was promised or I got a phone call discussion options before the price went up.

Compassion…  It would be great for the store I spend my hard earned scuba bucks to give some of that back to the community in a visible way.  Make me proud to be part of your “dive community.”  Sponsor dive parties for “A” students, donate to the local dive team, put up dive flag teaching posters at local boat landings, teach underserved kids to swim in your pool, volunteer teach a day of cool applied science at the local school, whatever, just get out there.

The harder stuff.

Pool… I would like a deep pool at the shop to take classes in, hone my skills, try out gear, party with other divers, whatever….  I know it is expensive to maintain a pool and I will have to pay for it in higher gear cost and a pool rental fee at times.  That is ok, it is worth it.  Remember I want a shop that sets the pace, not just keeps up with the others.

Convenience…. The idea of do it yourself air fills ROCKS!  If I can’t have that then I would like drive up air fills or some type of cart that I can pile my tanks on and wheel it up to the fill station.  If the shop can’t do either of these things, then how about making the fill station easy to get to by either placing it at the front of the store or having a clear path from your front door to the fill station.  The drive up air station could also be the same place I drop off all the wet rental gear I am returning. 

Support…   I would like a shop to support all types of diving, not just the one limited way they do it.  I have to drive all over town to check out “tech” gear, another store to discuss local diving, and another if I am going on a trip.  How about a shop that just knows the industry and supports it?  There is more than one way to dive, configure gear, one set of places to go on a trip, one “best brand” of dive training and so on.  Give me options and discuss them intelligently.   

Ok, caffeine is wearing off.  That is enough for now….