I've been in one store where they didn't have something I was looking for and actually referred another store and actually called to see if that other store had what I was looking for. I appreciated that gesture.
I've had that too. TBH most shops know the general market and brands that the others shops in the area sell. So if you are looking at Scubapro fins particularly something unique like the Seawings, they can say that the other shop probably doesn't have them.
THAT'S a good dive shop. Our motto was to make the customer happy even if that meant sending him to another store. You can bet that we ordered that item in though, for the next time. Alec
Very smart comment you made, so many dive stores are only diving orientated and don't know the basic in retail industry. Often the staff are DM or instructor with little knowledge and interest in products that they sale. Other thing you could mention is website, with clear information about course, dive site , eg. Some shop advertise course that they can't conduct. For instance, they told you about some specialties or tec diving but they use an external contractor without clear mention in they ad about availability, minimum numbers of people... . So they give wrong impression about they activities that sometime could be assimilate to a fraud for fake advertisement (courses, maintenance, dive site acess...). Last thing, Alec pierce, you are a very pleasant and passionate person to lesson and please keep doing your awesome video!! Hugo, an instructors :-)
Thanks Hugo. I appreciate your comments. I didn't even mention the website. It is so essential now to building a good business that anyone without a clean, attractive and efficient website is soon out of business anyway. Many stores will get their instructional staff in to work in the shop - wrong!!! DMs and Instructors, no matter how good they are cannot do the same job as a knowledgeable and motivated retail clerk. Take care. Alec
You are so correct. He is awesome in person. Very humorous and fun. He is actually being quoted by other youtubers so he is gaining popularity. See Simplyscuba .
no mention of seeing their service area or fill station ? that would give a good indication if they cut corner where it matters the most. a new BCD or regulator is gonna be the same no matter where you buy it pretty much...
I was going to do that Alain but I feel that you can get a good idea of the attitude of the store from the front. It doesn't make sense that a store would have a clean, colorful, well-lit and organized retail area and then have a mess in service. It's good to check though. Alec
Hi, Alex. If you are in the Birmingham, area, you should stop by scuba Ventures. I bought some new fin spring straps today. They are the best in the state of Alabama. They are an awesome dive store.
Certainly important. I'm hoping you keep an eye on the date of the air inspection certificate that's on the wall - it is on the wall, right?? Take care. Alec
Thanks again for a great video Alec. You are becoming popular - Simply Scuba - another youtuber has quoted some of your comments. Your Academy Award nomination is on its way!! :)
I have been very fortunate to have a working relationship with two different dive shops. Once you have been into a good dive shop you know what to expect and when you walk into a bad one you pick up that right away. I have one shop that is less than a half a mile from my home. I have only been in there a handful of times over my 30-plus years of scuba diving. The only time I stopped there is if I need my tanks filled and do not have the time to go to my other two choices.
I volunteer at a bad dive shop (I enjoy helping students anf=d getting in the water), but get everything else, including my air at a good one. The bad dive shop has have bad air, broken/defective compressors. I strongly suggest you think about this on your future fills.
If they don't scrub the floors, don't dust the displays, don't rearrange the front counter, don't clean the windows, why would they change the filters?? Alec
Hi Alec. great video as usual. I agree with you for the most part. Some owners just get tired and let things slide - not good business sense. I actually have been to Scuba 2000, AquaSub (you worked at both but we never met) and a fair number of others. I would also suggest that a good dive shop, when they service your equipment, gives you back the old o-rings/parts in a bag. They of course should not be used, but it shows or should show that they actually replaced the old ones when servicing your regulators etc. I took a course on maintenance of equipment, they showed what a 'vis check' on a tank does. I know for a fact that the other shop I used to bring my tanks to does not do the job properly (e.g. have a device to look at the cylinder threads for damage). I would tend to trust dive shops that did advanced training / tech training more too to service equipment. My only other comment (for AquaSub in this case) is that it would be nice to have a copy of the scuba course books out where clients can look inside them vs behind the counter. I used AquaSub once (they were the only ones 'close by' that could service my Poseidon rebreather). I was happy with them but they were way to far away from my home to use them regularly.
I may do a video on good service. You're quite right. Used parts always come back to the customer. 1. they belong to him. 2 it shows what was replaced 3. it allows the serviceman to show what was happening inside the reg 4. it helps explain the cost of service Take care. Alec
Hey Aleic great video. What about a video on cold water diving (0-15 °C)/low visibility diving? Here in Germany we always have these 2 conditions and I'm often not sure whether to spend extra money on gear that is actually "cold-certified" or if that would be only for extreme ice diving... Many people here e.g. dive with 2 tanks and 2 first stages. Is that an overkill for water > 0 °C?
Great video! Especially the dirty floor. I tried locally to have my regulator serviced and the shop looked dusty and they tried to sell me another reg instead of fixing a $30 problem. I paid for shipping to a known service center and glad i did. A point I avoid is brand pushing. When you ask "how does it compare with .... ?" you get horror stories about competing brands, as if the entire company line is garbage.
You're right. It's dumb today to bash another brand. Like automobiles, TVs, washing machines and so much more, scuba regulators are so similar that they share many of the same features, have much the same performance and even share parts. There is no single brand that has a majority share of the market. It's like a Honda owner bashing Toyotas!! If for some reason you really like your Apeks (picked at random -could be any brand name), stick with it but please don't be so naive (stupid?) to think that it's the best and only Apeks will do. Thanks. Alec
Alec I was in that very store last year speaking to whom I was told was the owner. He was a very nice man to speak with, but spent more time pushing me towards a trip and less time talking to me about the equipment I came in to get. I was told to go home and do some research, and come back when I was ready to buy? I called a place in Toronto who invited me down to chat and offered to help me out. I spent an entire day with them and bought a full kit from top to bottom. A nice looking store is one thing, but good listening skills and patience is another. I do very much enjoy your videos however. LOL....
Yep! A good retailer is better at listening than at talking (looks who's talking !!). If you don't listen, you will never discover what the customer wants. Take care Paul. Alec
Hi Alec, great topic, theres a few stores here in Las Vegas but not much to dive, water here is Lake Mead, Colorado River & my Sisters giant pool over 26K gallons. I'd buy my gear from you anyday. Theres people you like and not so much. Alec you have a winning personality. I love your enthusiasm & passion. Great Shopping Hints on Deciding Dive Shops Presentation 👍
Appreciate the compliment Mark. Just sharing my decades of scuba, business and teaching experience to help divers be safe and smart. Keep watching. Alec
I have no retail experience/operating knowledge and can’t help but wonder about the costs of having such an expensive inventory. Do manufacturers provide the product and get paid after it’s sold or do shop owners actually pay for all those cool toys and just hope it sells? After being in business for some time with continuous cash flow, I can see it working but initially investing in that much inventory seems daunting...
Some suppliers offer 30 day credit; some will go 30/60/90 for preferred retailers. However, it takes time to get that kind of reputation. Generally, if it's in the dive store, the owner has bought it. It's amazing how you can build a large and varied inventory with not too much trouble or cost. Alec
Another extremely helpful video! Thanks for always sharing so many great tips with us. I’m still waiting for the Full Face Mask video. I’m considering the Ocean Reef FFM, but need your advice. Thanks!
The Ocean Reef mask is a good choice. I'm working on the Full Face video but I doubt you'll pick up much useful information about the brand to purchase. Go ahead and get started. I'll have some ideas for you but not so much gear related. Take care. Alec
I ran a dive shop in Key Largo about 100 years ago! It was the same then but few met my current requirements to be called 'Good'. I'm sure it's changed a lot. Alec
Hi Alec Have watched a whole load of your videos over the last year and now am almost feeling I am starting to actually know you. How weird is that? Loved the video on choosing a dive store. How different is the one I use ! Here in the U.K. I tend to buy my gear from the internet as local stores are quite limited. Could you step outside your comfort zone and talk about online retailers? Some of my equipment has come from other countries in Europe and has proved to be excellent. Anyway whatever you decide I’ll still be watching. Regards. Alan. Shoreham-by-Sea. West Sussex. England.
Hey, I've been there. My dad was from Kent and we have visited England many times, most recently in September. I have to confess that we've never been in a UK diver store. Next time for sure. Take care. Alec
woww, I went to my local dive store today, and it was the WORST experience I've ever had. I walked in and regulators BCDS waiting to get serviced were lying everywhere, and the owner was literally doing his own stuff the entire time, he said he was really behind and busy.... he said that he can make another appointment with me. I am soooo disappointed. Is this normal ?? or I'm being too strict?
If you are a customer with money in your pocket, you are the most important person in that store. Particularly the owner should realize that. I'm assuming the other staff follows his example. Time for a new store that actually cares about you!!!!!!! And this is the guy who will go out of business and blame everyone else. Good luck. Alec
Hi Alec, I recently got my dive tanks refilled and went for a dive, I felt like I was burning underwater/ over heating under water (I was diving around 90ft) my face was bright red i was told. Ive been told that it was because of the air in my tank being stale? Ive been diving for over 10yrs and this is the first time this has happened
In theory, air can go 'stale' although technically that means it's been around so long that the oxygen component has decreased. That might take more than a couple of years, if ever. In practice, good air in a clean scuba tank will not change in any way. It cannot "go bad". Red face and a burning feeling is NOT from stale air. It sounds more like a noxious gas in that air which can only come from a compressor. Carbon Monoxide gas will cause red skin and lips. Ask the dive store for their latest air test certificate. The symptoms also sound like a possible allergy but that's not likely from the air. An allergy to something will cause the skin to redden and produce the hot feeling too. Ask your doctor about this. Please let me know what you discover. Alec
as someone who is trying to start a dive center from scratch, I thought I could get some ideas from here. This was extremely interesting, but also hurting 💔. I can do the neat clean, but having all that variety and colors and tiny little toys... It does feel like in SCUBA there is no such concept as "start small".
I know dive shops that stared small, I did when starting out. It's building customer relations that's key. With todays rapid delivery services (see my video on Diversco), you can get big/expensive items delivered in 2 days or so. Saves inventory costs until you know your divers needs and stock the majority of what they want in-store. Good luck and keep watching for some more owner ideas. A
Bothered? Love it! A good dive store staff shouldn't be a bother, but I know what you mean. When you enter a dive store, someone should greet you with a friendly, "Hi. Good to see you. I'll just be a minute. Look around. I'll be right there and just call out if you have a question". This should happen whether the staff is busy or not. Then, after a couple of minutes, not too long nor too quickly, the staff should come over and say, "Hi. I'm Alec. Are you planning a dive trip? Is there something specific you need?", and then shut up! Their next job is to listen carefully, decide why you came in and work to meet your expectations. That's ideal. Let me know if you find a store like that!!!!!!!! Good luck. Alec
Totally agree Mr. Pierce but rarely has that been my experience here in Calgary! That’s just good retail standards but it seems the bigger shops here are staffed by DMs or Instructors who don’t really get both Scuba AND retail. That’s a nice looking store, where’d you find it? ;)
@@wmdoucette Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada. It's a 15 minute drive north from Scuba2000. Aquasub does service my Cressi gear (and has a greater selection of some stuff), Scuba2000 doesn't, but staff are great (both places) and Scuba2000 has a small 88F pool where you can always 'try before you buy'. I love both stores.
Hi Alec, Just curious about your opinion on snorkels. Should they be worn on mask, or get a roll up one and just carry with you. Seems like there is a lot of controversy on this issue. Would truly appreciate your opinion and recommendations. Thanks for all your hard work.
+1 on this... to be honest, I used the snorkel for my first 10 or 15 dives, then stopped using in it... still would like to know an expert, like Alec, opinions. What I have learned is that snorkel is useful to save air during surface displacement, but in my case (an inexperienced Caribbean diver) I always go from boat to water and then back to the boat, staying at zero depth in the water no more than a couple of minutes, sometimes with some waves, specially in the Atlantic, but I can spare a few breaths from my tank in wavy seas at such depth... or lack of it.
I haven't carried a snorkel on dives in about a decade. I know it's a bit controversial, but on the other hand, I've never had a dive operator demand I have one.
@@downlink5877 Exactly my case (way less than a decade thou :) I even have seen DM and instructors not carrying one either, but always in the Caribbean Sea or the Atlantic Caribbean. I do pack one in my divebag just in case but has been always left there, in the bag at the shore...
What do you think of store clerks mentioning another dive store in a positive light? Like, 'Oh, we don't have that in stock, but I know that the Scuba Center across town has it, give them a try.'
That is sign of good store because no store carries everything a diver wants. When I get a situation like that and I know another store either stocks what they want, i say: I know a store nearby that carries that special doo-dad you want. Let me call to see if they still carry it. In front of the customer I'll call the store, check they have it and tell the customer. But before they leave, I say hope it works out for you but if you ever need a doo-hicky, I have them in stock. First the customer leave my store happy to get what they want and they know I carry a similar/newer/shinny product for future sales. This worked very well for me for many many years. Alec
Hey, do you happen to have a video regarding the lifespan of an aluminum tank and the bad alloy luxfer used? I have tanks made outside the range where the bad alloy was used but still no one wants to hydro test my tanks. If they pass the hydro test, doesn't that mean they are good?
I went to a dive shop not the one I normally use, not one I'll ever use again but I talked to the owner for about 30 minutes, so I figured I should buy at least something. So I did it, was a little plastic whistle. Do you know what the owner of this dive shop wanted for a little plastic whistle? With tax it was over $11. On Amazon I could get 10 of them shipped to my house including tax for less than $8.
It may seem a lot but I get the LDS makes 50 cents. Watch my video S08E20 Local Dive Store vs Online Purchase for a comparison on what should and should not be purchased online. Thanks for watching T.D.
Scuba 2000 is located in Richmond Hill just at the north edge of Toronto. Diana and I sold our store in 2016 and we're not there much anymore but the new staff would be happy to show you around. Alec
It would be great if you ran SCUBA trips. I'd sign up in a heartbeat. It would be like diving with a SCUBA rock star. I'm sure we would learn a lot from you
@@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter You could hold a 'have a photo taken underwater in our pool with you for charity X day' like they do for Christmas and Mother's Day at your old store anytime you want I'd sign up just to shake your hand, get a photo, and tell you that you made me a Sea Hunt fanatic - as well as that you've helped me become a better diver (and better at maintaining my gear!) through your videos. Thank you for all the great info, tips, and the occasional Sea Hunt recreation/old gear videos! Your wife could also come for the photo-op in the pool!
My store lets me in their service area. Big and nice--but still do not know why service costs are so high everywhere. Tech wages and O-rings are not that much
I do not work in the industry but I am an instructor. here guys have to get specialized equipment, get training for each model/manufacturer for the first and second stages that are all different with proprietary wrenches etc. The tech at Aquarius ( Guy) went to Scuba 2000 when Alec left there. Not sure why the change in staff, but they are hard to replace
A really good tech guy, with training, experience and the right attitude is VERY hard to find. I hired Guy for that job because he is IMO, the best replacement for me. His professional attitude, customer care and experience are second to none. Re the cost of service, auto mechanics still earn $20 - $25 per hour but the shop service rate is $100/hour. As Brian says, there's much more involved than wages and parts. Every brand requires it's service people to take regular training course that cost in the area of $300+. It adds up. Take care. Alec
I'm believeing that many dive store owner can be jaleous of your store because it calls for huge maintenance energy and ultimately increased operation costs
It may seem that way but when you find divers traveling for miles, right past many other stores, to come to you, it becomes obvious it's a good idea. It really doesn't cost much to have a clean, neat store. It does require attention and care. You don't see my staff standing around waiting for a customer. They are not overworked but they always have something to do. That damn front door always needs cleaning! Take care. Alec
I don't believe I mentioned prices. I don't think you should equate a neat, clean, well-stocked store with high prices. In fact, our store was so popular and had so much business I was able to reduce prices substantially. A dirty, disorganized dive shop isn't necessarily cheap. It may well be cutting corners though - reduced frequency of air tests, cheaper quality gear, no guarantees on the gear, etc. Check it out. Take care. Alec
Hi Alec, please watch the intro again, every mention of dive store owner is he does this, he does that. I love your videos and they have helped me so much with my dive knowledge and history but just felt that this was a little off.
Maisey's Australian Adventures just a feminazi trying to start problems because of the usage of the word he. Probably any reference of the opposite sex or even the word mankind is to much.
I've been in one store where they didn't have something I was looking for and actually referred another store and actually called to see if that other store had what I was looking for. I appreciated that gesture.
I've had that too. TBH most shops know the general market and brands that the others shops in the area sell. So if you are looking at Scubapro fins particularly something unique like the Seawings, they can say that the other shop probably doesn't have them.
THAT'S a good dive shop.
Our motto was to make the customer happy even if that meant sending him to another store.
You can bet that we ordered that item in though, for the next time.
Alec
Very smart comment you made, so many dive stores are only diving orientated and don't know the basic in retail industry. Often the staff are DM or instructor with little knowledge and interest in products that they sale. Other thing you could mention is website, with clear information about course, dive site , eg. Some shop advertise course that they can't conduct. For instance, they told you about some specialties or tec diving but they use an external contractor without clear mention in they ad about availability, minimum numbers of people... . So they give wrong impression about they activities that sometime could be assimilate to a fraud for fake advertisement (courses, maintenance, dive site acess...).
Last thing, Alec pierce, you are a very pleasant and passionate person to lesson and please keep doing your awesome video!!
Hugo, an instructors :-)
Thanks Hugo. I appreciate your comments.
I didn't even mention the website. It is so essential now to building a good business that anyone without a clean, attractive and efficient website is soon out of business anyway.
Many stores will get their instructional staff in to work in the shop - wrong!!!
DMs and Instructors, no matter how good they are cannot do the same job as a knowledgeable and motivated retail clerk.
Take care.
Alec
This guy is so underrated. Hos experience and talk game is inpecable. I love this old guys advice
Thanks SoFlo, lots more coming so keep watching.
Take care.
Alec.
You are so correct. He is awesome in person. Very humorous and fun. He is actually being quoted by other youtubers so he is gaining popularity. See Simplyscuba .
Great tips I agree with your tips, keep up the great videos!!!
Thanks Justin.
Alec
no mention of seeing their service area or fill station ? that would give a good indication if they cut corner where it matters the most. a new BCD or regulator is gonna be the same no matter where you buy it pretty much...
I was going to do that Alain but I feel that you can get a good idea of the attitude of the store from the front.
It doesn't make sense that a store would have a clean, colorful, well-lit and organized retail area and then have a mess in service.
It's good to check though.
Alec
Hi, Alex. If you are in the Birmingham, area, you should stop by scuba Ventures. I bought some new fin spring straps today. They are the best in the state of Alabama. They are an awesome dive store.
I am down there occasionally and I will do that.
Thanks Jess.
Alec
I have to confess I now just click on like before I watch these
Careful!
What if I screw -up one day?
Now you've put me on the spot and I'll have to be really careful.
Thanks Richard.
Alec
Thanks for sharing your knowledge Alec.
Thanks for watching disgruntled.
Alec
For me the thing I look for the most is a good fill station, with reasonable prices. Beyond that the little dohickeys and repair parts that you need.
Certainly important.
I'm hoping you keep an eye on the date of the air inspection certificate that's on the wall - it is on the wall, right??
Take care.
Alec
Thanks again for a great video Alec. You are becoming popular - Simply Scuba - another youtuber has quoted some of your comments. Your Academy Award nomination is on its way!! :)
Thanks Doc!
Alec
I have been very fortunate to have a working relationship with two different dive shops. Once you have been into a good dive shop you know what to expect and when you walk into a bad one you pick up that right away. I have one shop that is less than a half a mile from my home. I have only been in there a handful of times over my 30-plus years of scuba diving. The only time I stopped there is if I need my tanks filled and do not have the time to go to my other two choices.
I volunteer at a bad dive shop (I enjoy helping students anf=d getting in the water), but get everything else, including my air at a good one. The bad dive shop has have bad air, broken/defective compressors. I strongly suggest you think about this on your future fills.
If they don't scrub the floors, don't dust the displays, don't rearrange the front counter, don't clean the windows, why would they change the filters??
Alec
Hi Alec. great video as usual. I agree with you for the most part. Some owners just get tired and let things slide - not good business sense.
I actually have been to Scuba 2000, AquaSub (you worked at both but we never met) and a fair number of others. I would also suggest that a good dive shop, when they service your equipment, gives you back the old o-rings/parts in a bag. They of course should not be used, but it shows or should show that they actually replaced the old ones when servicing your regulators etc. I took a course on maintenance of equipment, they showed what a 'vis check' on a tank does. I know for a fact that the other shop I used to bring my tanks to does not do the job properly (e.g. have a device to look at the cylinder threads for damage). I would tend to trust dive shops that did advanced training / tech training more too to service equipment. My only other comment (for AquaSub in this case) is that it would be nice to have a copy of the scuba course books out where clients can look inside them vs behind the counter. I used AquaSub once (they were the only ones 'close by' that could service my Poseidon rebreather). I was happy with them but they were way to far away from my home to use them regularly.
I may do a video on good service.
You're quite right. Used parts always come back to the customer.
1. they belong to him.
2 it shows what was replaced
3. it allows the serviceman to show what was happening inside the reg
4. it helps explain the cost of service
Take care.
Alec
Hey Aleic great video. What about a video on cold water diving (0-15 °C)/low visibility diving? Here in Germany we always have these 2 conditions and I'm often not sure whether to spend extra money on gear that is actually "cold-certified" or if that would be only for extreme ice diving... Many people here e.g. dive with 2 tanks and 2 first stages. Is that an overkill for water > 0 °C?
Yeah where I live in uk there’s just one and that’s everything you said hospital clean with everything perfectly placed colours
It's not hard to do but some LDS don't get it, clean = caring.
Great video! Especially the dirty floor. I tried locally to have my regulator serviced and the shop looked dusty and they tried to sell me another reg instead of fixing a $30 problem. I paid for shipping to a known service center and glad i did. A point I avoid is brand pushing. When you ask "how does it compare with .... ?" you get horror stories about competing brands, as if the entire company line is garbage.
You're right. It's dumb today to bash another brand. Like automobiles, TVs, washing machines and so much more, scuba regulators are so similar that they share many of the same features, have much the same performance and even share parts. There is no single brand that has a majority share of the market. It's like a Honda owner bashing Toyotas!!
If for some reason you really like your Apeks (picked at random -could be any brand name), stick with it but please don't be so naive (stupid?) to think that it's the best and only Apeks will do.
Thanks. Alec
Alec I was in that very store last year speaking to whom I was told was the owner. He was a very nice man to speak with, but spent more time pushing me towards a trip and less time talking to me about the equipment I came in to get. I was told to go home and do some research, and come back when I was ready to buy? I called a place in Toronto who invited me down to chat and offered to help me out. I spent an entire day with them and bought a full kit from top to bottom. A nice looking store is one thing, but good listening skills and patience is another. I do very much enjoy your videos however. LOL....
Yep!
A good retailer is better at listening than at talking (looks who's talking !!).
If you don't listen, you will never discover what the customer wants.
Take care Paul.
Alec
Will be heading up to the local dive store this weekend to get some fins to wear with my dry suit, I shall have to test them out :>
Hopefully they have a pool and you can try them before you buy. It's always nice.
Good luck.
Alec
Hi Alec, great topic, theres a few stores here in Las Vegas but not much to dive, water here is Lake Mead, Colorado River & my Sisters giant pool over 26K gallons. I'd buy my gear from you anyday. Theres people you like and not so much. Alec you have a winning personality. I love your enthusiasm & passion. Great Shopping Hints on Deciding Dive Shops Presentation 👍
Appreciate the compliment Mark. Just sharing my decades of scuba, business and teaching experience to help divers be safe and smart.
Keep watching.
Alec
Nice video again! Great tips.
Thanks for watching Steven.
Alec
Good advices
Glad it was helpful!
A
I have no retail experience/operating knowledge and can’t help but wonder about the costs of having such an expensive inventory. Do manufacturers provide the product and get paid after it’s sold or do shop owners actually pay for all those cool toys and just hope it sells? After being in business for some time with continuous cash flow, I can see it working but initially investing in that much inventory seems daunting...
Some suppliers offer 30 day credit; some will go 30/60/90 for preferred retailers.
However, it takes time to get that kind of reputation.
Generally, if it's in the dive store, the owner has bought it.
It's amazing how you can build a large and varied inventory with not too much trouble or cost.
Alec
Another extremely helpful video! Thanks for always sharing so many great tips with us. I’m still waiting for the Full Face Mask video. I’m considering the Ocean Reef FFM, but need your advice. Thanks!
The Ocean Reef mask is a good choice. I'm working on the Full Face video but I doubt you'll pick up much useful information about the brand to purchase.
Go ahead and get started. I'll have some ideas for you but not so much gear related.
Take care.
Alec
Hi Alec
That is great advice Alec. Down here in Fl one can swing a cat and let it go and find a dive shop that easy lol.
I ran a dive shop in Key Largo about 100 years ago!
It was the same then but few met my current requirements to be called 'Good'.
I'm sure it's changed a lot.
Alec
Hi Alec
Have watched a whole load of your videos over the last year and now am almost feeling I am starting to actually know you. How weird is that? Loved the video on choosing a dive store. How different is the one I use ! Here in the U.K. I tend to buy my gear from the internet as local stores are quite limited. Could you step outside your comfort zone and talk about online retailers?
Some of my equipment has come from other countries in Europe and has proved to be excellent. Anyway whatever you decide I’ll still be watching. Regards. Alan. Shoreham-by-Sea. West Sussex. England.
Hey, I've been there. My dad was from Kent and we have visited England many times, most recently in September.
I have to confess that we've never been in a UK diver store.
Next time for sure.
Take care.
Alec
woww, I went to my local dive store today, and it was the WORST experience I've ever had. I walked in and regulators BCDS waiting to get serviced were lying everywhere, and the owner was literally doing his own stuff the entire time, he said he was really behind and busy.... he said that he can make another appointment with me. I am soooo disappointed. Is this normal ?? or I'm being too strict?
If you are a customer with money in your pocket, you are the most important person in that store. Particularly the owner should realize that. I'm assuming the other staff follows his example.
Time for a new store that actually cares about you!!!!!!!
And this is the guy who will go out of business and blame everyone else.
Good luck.
Alec
great video.............yellow pages
Hi Alec, I recently got my dive tanks refilled and went for a dive, I felt like I was burning underwater/ over heating under water (I was diving around 90ft) my face was bright red i was told. Ive been told that it was because of the air in my tank being stale? Ive been diving for over 10yrs and this is the first time this has happened
In theory, air can go 'stale' although technically that means it's been around so long that the oxygen component has decreased. That might take more than a couple of years, if ever.
In practice, good air in a clean scuba tank will not change in any way. It cannot "go bad".
Red face and a burning feeling is NOT from stale air.
It sounds more like a noxious gas in that air which can only come from a compressor.
Carbon Monoxide gas will cause red skin and lips. Ask the dive store for their latest air test certificate.
The symptoms also sound like a possible allergy but that's not likely from the air. An allergy to something will cause the skin to redden and produce the hot feeling too. Ask your doctor about this.
Please let me know what you discover.
Alec
Nice
Glad you liked it.
Alec
as someone who is trying to start a dive center from scratch, I thought I could get some ideas from here. This was extremely interesting, but also hurting 💔. I can do the neat clean, but having all that variety and colors and tiny little toys...
It does feel like in SCUBA there is no such concept as "start small".
I know dive shops that stared small, I did when starting out. It's building customer relations that's key. With todays rapid delivery services (see my video on Diversco), you can get big/expensive items delivered in 2 days or so. Saves inventory costs until you know your divers needs and stock the majority of what they want in-store. Good luck and keep watching for some more owner ideas.
A
@@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter thank you so much for your reply and video suggestion.
It’s always nice when a staff member can be bothered to help you within 15min of walking in the door.
Bothered? Love it!
A good dive store staff shouldn't be a bother, but I know what you mean.
When you enter a dive store, someone should greet you with a friendly, "Hi. Good to see you. I'll just be a minute. Look around. I'll be right there and just call out if you have a question". This should happen whether the staff is busy or not.
Then, after a couple of minutes, not too long nor too quickly, the staff should come over and say, "Hi. I'm Alec. Are you planning a dive trip? Is there something specific you need?", and then shut up!
Their next job is to listen carefully, decide why you came in and work to meet your expectations.
That's ideal. Let me know if you find a store like that!!!!!!!!
Good luck.
Alec
Totally agree Mr. Pierce but rarely has that been my experience here in Calgary! That’s just good retail standards but it seems the bigger shops here are staffed by DMs or Instructors who don’t really get both Scuba AND retail.
That’s a nice looking store, where’d you find it? ;)
@@wmdoucette Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada. It's a 15 minute drive north from Scuba2000. Aquasub does service my Cressi gear (and has a greater selection of some stuff), Scuba2000 doesn't, but staff are great (both places) and Scuba2000 has a small 88F pool where you can always 'try before you buy'. I love both stores.
Hi Alec, Just curious about your opinion on snorkels. Should they be worn on mask, or get a roll up one and just carry with you. Seems like there is a lot of controversy on this issue. Would truly appreciate your opinion and recommendations. Thanks for all your hard work.
+1 on this... to be honest, I used the snorkel for my first 10 or 15 dives, then stopped using in it... still would like to know an expert, like Alec, opinions.
What I have learned is that snorkel is useful to save air during surface displacement, but in my case (an inexperienced Caribbean diver) I always go from boat to water and then back to the boat, staying at zero depth in the water no more than a couple of minutes, sometimes with some waves, specially in the Atlantic, but I can spare a few breaths from my tank in wavy seas at such depth... or lack of it.
I haven't carried a snorkel on dives in about a decade. I know it's a bit controversial, but on the other hand, I've never had a dive operator demand I have one.
@@downlink5877 Exactly my case (way less than a decade thou :) I even have seen DM and instructors not carrying one either, but always in the Caribbean Sea or the Atlantic Caribbean. I do pack one in my divebag just in case but has been always left there, in the bag at the shore...
Depends on the type of diving you do.
I do a lot of shore dives with long surface swims.
A snorkel is extremely valuable in that environment.
@@FreeFlyFreak69 "Depends on the type of diving you do."
Bingo! That's the thing to consider.
What do you think of store clerks mentioning another dive store in a positive light? Like, 'Oh, we don't have that in stock, but I know that the Scuba Center across town has it, give them a try.'
That is sign of good store because no store carries everything a diver wants. When I get a situation like that and I know another store either stocks what they want, i say: I know a store nearby that carries that special doo-dad you want. Let me call to see if they still carry it. In front of the customer I'll call the store, check they have it and tell the customer. But before they leave, I say hope it works out for you but if you ever need a doo-hicky, I have them in stock. First the customer leave my store happy to get what they want and they know I carry a similar/newer/shinny product for future sales. This worked very well for me for many many years.
Alec
Hey, do you happen to have a video regarding the lifespan of an aluminum tank and the bad alloy luxfer used? I have tanks made outside the range where the bad alloy was used but still no one wants to hydro test my tanks. If they pass the hydro test, doesn't that mean they are good?
I have not done one on that specific subject.
I'll ask Kevin to put it on our ideas list.
Thanks for watching.
Alec
@@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter Thanks! I'm looking forward to your opinion and ideas on it
I went to a dive shop not the one I normally use, not one I'll ever use again but I talked to the owner for about 30 minutes, so I figured I should buy at least something. So I did it, was a little plastic whistle. Do you know what the owner of this dive shop wanted for a little plastic whistle? With tax it was over $11. On Amazon I could get 10 of them shipped to my house including tax for less than $8.
It may seem a lot but I get the LDS makes 50 cents. Watch my video S08E20 Local Dive Store vs Online Purchase for a comparison on what should and should not be purchased online. Thanks for watching T.D.
Mr.Alec question for you, where is your store in Ontario? I would love to visit it and also scuba dive with you.
Scuba 2000 is located in Richmond Hill just at the north edge of Toronto.
Diana and I sold our store in 2016 and we're not there much anymore but the new staff would be happy to show you around.
Alec
It would be great if you ran SCUBA trips. I'd sign up in a heartbeat. It would be like diving with a SCUBA rock star. I'm sure we would learn a lot from you
@@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter You could hold a 'have a photo taken underwater in our pool with you for charity X day' like they do for Christmas and Mother's Day at your old store anytime you want I'd sign up just to shake your hand, get a photo, and tell you that you made me a Sea Hunt fanatic - as well as that you've helped me become a better diver (and better at maintaining my gear!) through your videos. Thank you for all the great info, tips, and the occasional Sea Hunt recreation/old gear videos! Your wife could also come for the photo-op in the pool!
My store lets me in their service area. Big and nice--but still do not know why service costs are so high everywhere. Tech wages and O-rings are not that much
Don't forget business licenses, space lease, insurance, professional association memberships, and a host of other costs of doing business.
I do not work in the industry but I am an instructor. here guys have to get specialized equipment, get training for each model/manufacturer for the first and second stages that are all different with proprietary wrenches etc. The tech at Aquarius ( Guy) went to Scuba 2000 when Alec left there. Not sure why the change in staff, but they are hard to replace
A really good tech guy, with training, experience and the right attitude is VERY hard to find.
I hired Guy for that job because he is IMO, the best replacement for me. His professional attitude, customer care and experience are second to none.
Re the cost of service, auto mechanics still earn $20 - $25 per hour but the shop service rate is $100/hour. As Brian says, there's much more involved than wages and parts. Every brand requires it's service people to take regular training course that cost in the area of $300+. It adds up.
Take care.
Alec
I'm believeing that many dive store owner can be jaleous of your store because it calls for huge maintenance energy and ultimately increased operation costs
It may seem that way but when you find divers traveling for miles, right past many other stores, to come to you, it becomes obvious it's a good idea. It really doesn't cost much to have a clean, neat store.
It does require attention and care. You don't see my staff standing around waiting for a customer. They are not overworked but they always have something to do. That damn front door always needs cleaning!
Take care.
Alec
Can you talk about full face mask
I'll add that to my list of future ideas.
Thanks Ice Game.
Alec
Thank God that shop is not near me. I can almost feel my paycheck draining away...
I don't believe I mentioned prices.
I don't think you should equate a neat, clean, well-stocked store with high prices.
In fact, our store was so popular and had so much business I was able to reduce prices substantially.
A dirty, disorganized dive shop isn't necessarily cheap. It may well be cutting corners though - reduced frequency of air tests, cheaper quality gear, no guarantees on the gear, etc.
Check it out.
Take care.
Alec
This may blow your mind but women are perfectly capable of running a business
K...?
What!!!!
Since when??
Several of our best dive stores are owned and operated by women.
What did I say to prompt that comment Maisey?
Alec
Hi Alec, please watch the intro again, every mention of dive store owner is he does this, he does that. I love your videos and they have helped me so much with my dive knowledge and history but just felt that this was a little off.
Maisey's Australian Adventures just a feminazi trying to start problems because of the usage of the word he. Probably any reference of the opposite sex or even the word mankind is to much.
Lol snowflake so easily offended...