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Community Chat: LDS comment
Bonaire Talk: Community Chat: Archives: Archives 2008: Archives -2008-05-01 to 2008-05-31: LDS comment
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Denise K ** Bonaire trip June 08 (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1892) on Saturday, May 3, 2008 - 12:07 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

We have often discussed the reasons to support our LDS as opposed to possibly getting 'deals' on line. I am a believer in supporting you LDS. Having said that..

I recently went to a LDS, not so local when in Maine, and had a very unsatisfactory experience. The owner was very full of himself and rude. I went there for hard sole booties for our next trip to Bonaire. He went on and on about that could be very difficult because my feet are only size 5 1/2 women's and how can he know what I want since his sensitivity of feet may be different from mine and from others. When I said my size he stared at my feet as if he did not believe me. I did not ask him what exactly I should buy. I just wanted to start looking at what he had. He was RUDE. He gave me a pair to try on and walked away. A couple of the women who work there saw what was going on and came over. They were nice, polite, and ended up selling us, Teddy and I, each a pair of boots. I bought a very comfortable size 5 :-) My husband then asked if I was going to look around more and I quietely said "not here".

The owner heard this and asked if we were looking for anything else. I said lights but that I did not have any idea of what I wanted so maybe I'd be back another time. He then insisted on showing us lots of lights and explained the plusses and minuses of many many. At one point he said some thing like - Duh, what don't you understand about electronics and sea water? This was in regards to why he would not recommend a certain type of on/off switch. He was just so rude, so impressed with himself.

I then contacted our Tom :-) He was surprised by the price my LDS wanted for one of the lights my LDS was charging and had recommended. Tom also recommended lights that were not overkill for Bonaire. The owner of the LDS knew I only wanted the lights for diving Bonaire, and maybe FL.

Happy ending, I bought two appropriate lights from Tom at very reasonable prices, and a 'dry' box for $ and keys while diving and received them very quickly at reasonable shipping cost.

I believe there are others here on BT who own or work at dive shops. So, I say - if your LDS just does not provide the service you want and pay for, think of Tom and anybody else here who you know to be in the business.

Of course Tom can not self promote on BT, but I am more than happy to sing his praises :-) A very big Thank You to Tom !

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Kathy Hall - Bonaire in September 08 (BonaireTalk Deity - Post #10713) on Saturday, May 3, 2008 - 12:41 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I agree. :-) I got my fins from Patrick!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Boat Chick************** (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #5070) on Saturday, May 3, 2008 - 12:51 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Denise, I agree, if your LDS is rude, well, they don't deserve the business. I would have been appauled at the comment on the foot size. I wear a 5 1/2 too, and when I got my new 5mm a couple years ago as my old one's wore out, they ordered my size once I found the boot I wanted, and if it didn't fit, they would take it back and try another.

I am afraid I may also be ordering stuff from Tom from the left coast now however, as our LDS was sold to another LDS owner, who now has four shops. They actually have an existing one closer to us, but the times we had been in there previously, we were met with arrogance or complete lack of knowledge, so continued to go with our other one. We even took Martini in there when they were here as he was looking for a particular mask they said they had from their website, but didn't have it in the store (and didn't know what it was)....WTF? martini has also been to our old LDS (the one that sold).

Long story short, when I had to buy my new BC, since the old owners were no longer there, I thought I'd try the new guys....I had to haggle to get a 10% discount on it, and they tried to sell it to me with integrated second stage, which I was VERY clear about...I did NOT want it. I haven't been back since, and dread even thinking about having to have my gear serviced, or even trying to buy something in the store.

Denise, I'm glad you brought this up, because I have been really feeling like "I should continue to support the new guys" but the feeling I get there, well, just ain't like home.

So, guess I'll be buying items I can from Tom too...

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Kristi..donation bucket is full!!** (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #902) on Saturday, May 3, 2008 - 12:53 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

well, interesting. I am looking to get a henderson full suit gold core...I was cold at Vortex and very envious of a warm buddy who had one of these. He was also very warm at Destin...burr...any advice?

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Kristi..donation bucket is full!!** (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #903) on Saturday, May 3, 2008 - 12:56 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

note here...I do not have a LDS. I shop online. I would love to buy from fellow BT'ers

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Boat Chick************** (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #5072) on Saturday, May 3, 2008 - 1:20 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Kristi, email Tom, or Patrick. Patrick also has a dive shop.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jim McPeak (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1498) on Saturday, May 3, 2008 - 3:26 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Denise, did it happen to be the dive shop in Rockport? Kathi and I dove in Rockport off of Beauchamp Point years ago. I could not believe how clear that water was there.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By MzFish on Bonaire is less than 20 days! (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #109) on Saturday, May 3, 2008 - 4:27 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I will always try to buy locally, and the dive shop owners in Rapid City are wonderful. Yeah, if your local dive shop owner is a jerk, they don't deserve your money.

Of course, it isn't nice to run the local dive shop guys ragged with questions and shopping, then go buy it online after they've done so much customer service for you.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By MzFish on Bonaire is less than 20 days! (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #110) on Saturday, May 3, 2008 - 4:30 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

LDS. First glance, and I was wondering what the church of the Latter Day Saints was doing, popping up on Bonaire Talk. Acronyms can be misleading...

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Denise K ** Bonaire trip June 08 (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1895) on Saturday, May 3, 2008 - 5:04 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

No Jim, a dive shop in Portland, ME. I'd rather not name it. My experience could have been just a bad day for the guy, although I don't think so.

And MzFish, I agree, I would not waste the time of a lds with questions to then just go buy on line. As I said, I do believe in supporting the lds - just not if they are jerks. There are some dive shops in NH and MA that I can go to, I live in Maine...

ha ! LDS church of .. LDS is a very very frequently used acronym by divers, at least in USA. Sorry it was misleading at first to you.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Spring is BOOMing! (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #6828) on Saturday, May 3, 2008 - 5:12 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

mzfish, LOL!! Very good point too about using the lds for research and then purchasing elsewhere. I have a shop (not dive) and online site and I can't tell you how many times people come in and spend an hour or so with every flashlight or compass or harness, then go and buy it online. Most of those come back- I'm sure due to my sparkling personality :-) but it makes for an expensive conversation on my part.

That said... no business deserves your hard earned $$ if they don't treat you well. In this day and age... local is a relative term. It's a very small world :-)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Denise K ** Bonaire trip June 08 (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1897) on Saturday, May 3, 2008 - 5:34 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Just a last quick comment. I did not start this thread to in any way imply any support of on line shopping vs the lds. I have read plenty of threads on that subject. And remember, I did buy two pairs of expensive boots there. The shop owner insisted on telling me about lights after I told him I did not know what I wanted in lights and was not interested at that time.

I am only pointing out that we have some BTer dive shop owners we can support if the lds is not providing good service.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Spring is BOOMing! (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #6832) on Saturday, May 3, 2008 - 5:41 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Absolutely Denise... it's a great thread if you ask me. Of course I am always interested as a retailer to hear people's experiences/preferences, etc.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dr. Director (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #447) on Saturday, May 3, 2008 - 6:27 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

OK, help me here. Which Tom? Patrick as in the one who herds sharks?

What about just waiting and buying when you are on Bonaire? Bruce Bowker has rates that are competitive with many on-line discounters. Not knowing about Tom or Patrick, we bought Suunto nitrox-compatible dive computers from Bruce on our last trip and his price was the same as the really big, NY-based internet guy. His other stuff is equally as well priced, and I suspect there are other retailers on the island that also have very good prices.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By MzFish on Bonaire is less than 20 days! (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #112) on Saturday, May 3, 2008 - 6:30 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

It is a small world. Very competitive, too. Poor service or rude service is the best reason to take my business somewhere else. I like the idea of supporting our BT dive shop owners when the local venues bomb out. Patrick has the kind of horse-sense I look for in a friend AND in a vendor.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By MzFish on Bonaire in less than 20 days! (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #113) on Saturday, May 3, 2008 - 6:47 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Patrick as the one who herds sharks, yes! He is a great guy, very personable, knowledgeable and outgoing.

I have no idea who Tom is... need some help here.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By A rose by any other name..aka RosAnne (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #2319) on Saturday, May 3, 2008 - 7:18 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Tom is Tom Cousino, he is in Vermont. A truly wonderful person! (we have never met face to face but I just know I'd love him!)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Becky H - majorly into PBD (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1713) on Saturday, May 3, 2008 - 7:21 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Tom Cousino is the Tom in question. He runs a dive shop (at least that's his story:-)) in Vermont.

I have to say, my LDS is awesome! It's over an hour one way for me to go there, but they've done right by me and have definitely earned my loyalty. Yeah, I could have gotten things cheaper online (maybe 10% cheaper) but having a face/name to go to with trouble is well worth the extra 10% to me.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Becky H - majorly into PBD (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1714) on Saturday, May 3, 2008 - 7:22 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

GMTA RosAnne:-)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Timmmy - Bonaire Bound in September (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #5317) on Saturday, May 3, 2008 - 8:16 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

And Tom has the only shop in the world with Nitrox snorkels.

If Patrick doesn't have it - you can bet he can find it.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Freddie (BonaireTalk Deity - Post #10182) on Saturday, May 3, 2008 - 10:12 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

lest we forget that Tom was until recently a moderator for Bonaire Talk and is on the Bonaire Talk board of directors?? OH yeah THAT TOM.. and he is a sweetie patootie besides

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Kristi..donation bucket is full!!** (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #904) on Saturday, May 3, 2008 - 10:12 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I would love a nitrox snorkle, one just like PS's buddy had....

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Hippie Boat Chick************** (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #5085) on Saturday, May 3, 2008 - 10:30 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Dr. Director, Bruce is great, but for those of us who dive in our local waters, and in MUCH different temperatures...well, the gear is a bit different...lol...

I'm thinking of buying a yellow snorkel and painting "nitrox" on the side...LMAO...

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mare (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #2187) on Sunday, May 4, 2008 - 1:33 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

If you need some o-rings, Tom is your man.
Mr. O-Ring

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Tom Cousino (BonaireTalk Deity - Post #16786) on Sunday, May 4, 2008 - 8:55 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Denise - all, you are too kind.

Folks, I encourage all to deal with their local dive center when possible. They are the people that support your local:

a. youth groups
b. school programs
c. shelters
d. food shelfs
e. and
f. on
g. and
h. on

at least, I believe they do.

I too am disgusted at times by people that use my store and staff as well as my closest competitor's, (who is a real nice guy with a lovely family and wonderful staff) for advise and verifying sizes then, buy over the web because they can save a few dollars. It is part of doing business in today's world and I accept that.(rant off).

That said, Pam, (I believe Patrick) and I are not in the mail order business, in fact by signing a written agreement with some of our suppliers (one of which our family has dealt with since the 1950's) we promised to sell most of their products in-house only. I know some shops violate these agreements but, the only person I have to account to (besides Pam) is the guy that looks back at me in the mirror.

If your "LDS" is on Bonaire, in addition to Bruce Bowker, there are a few others that run class operations, B.D.A, Buddy Dive and WannaDive (city shop) are a few. I only mention these because I have used them and were very happy with their products/services. I am sure that others will provide similar testimonies about other Bonaire based dive retailers.

Again, while I am happy that I have been able to help a few when their L.D.S.' people should not be in a "service" type business to begin with or, in a few cases (like my friend Denise), their prices were WAY above retail, I am not in the mail order business.

I believe I speak for Patrick also, when I say we are more than happy to help our BT friends make informed decisions but, prefer you keep your business "local".

T.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Denise K ** Bonaire trip June 08 (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1898) on Sunday, May 4, 2008 - 9:07 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Yikes, Tom ... I am sorry, I thought you and Patrick deserved a 'send business your way WHEN APPROPRIATE' posting because you are so helpful and so nice :-) (again, only if the lds experience is like mine). Once again, sorry, only good was intended.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By PegiSue* (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #4582) on Sunday, May 4, 2008 - 9:28 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

He knows that Denise...and we all appreciate you reminding us of the good people we have here. I can't tell you how much help I have gotten when I had all of my "dumb blonde" questions, when I first started diving, and I posted them here, for all the world to see...
But I always got a phone call, tons of info and I learned...I have some GREAT friends now!!!:-)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Tom Cousino (BonaireTalk Deity - Post #16787) on Sunday, May 4, 2008 - 9:33 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Denise, I appreciate what you said and your intention.:-) I was happy that I could help. I still can't believe that shop was charging almost 50% above "suggested" for one of the lights we discussed. I just felt compelled to let people know that we normally don't ship products and to encourage all to use their "local" shops. I originally was not going to post here but, I received a notice including an invitation to bid on another dive center's equipment and inventory yesterday. This man, was also a competitor but, is a nice guy that I have enjoyed sharing time with including time at "Witches Hut" a few years ago.

I just removed a sentence that might have been on the edge. Once a mod always a mod, I guess:-)

(Message edited by vtscuba on May 4, 2008)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By PegiSue* (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #4583) on Sunday, May 4, 2008 - 9:48 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

See? I told you! He's just a nice guy...even when he get's "edgy"!!!LOL

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By **Patrick who herds sharks on Bonaire** (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #2892) on Sunday, May 4, 2008 - 2:22 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Thanks Tom, and Yes you do speak for me also about that subject.

 


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