It is apparent that breed of shop owners of late do not realize they are creating their own demise.
I often stop into local shops as I travel coast to coast and amazed by the attitude and arrogance( maybe ignorance) that I get met with.
I do admit that they have a time coming ahead of them with the boom in e-commerce but more the reason to be friendly, knowledgeable, and courteous.
I recently went into a local shop looking for some black snorkel keepers. I was told by the shop owner that no one makes them in black. That was quite a surprise to me since me and some associates wear them across our watch faces in the old swatch fashion. It's function more than fashion if you going "What" . More interesting was the look on his face when I pointed to the one I had.....
The next closest shop gives a bit of attitude when I take gear in to get serviced trying to push the buying of the latest gear. Hence my joining the forum and the diving into DIY.
Soooo It appears that local shops are becoming more of an outlet for learning? Do they teach basics? or the theory of follow the computer.
Is it truly learning or cattle car cash collecting?
I needed to get my recently turned of age children their C-Cards for an upcoming trip. I spent a lot of time and found a shop 2 hours and 4 shops away that seemed the best due to others I contacted acting like total A Hs. Most interesting was when my 12yoa asked in class if they were going to go over dive tables..... He was told NO they are only referred to for historical purposes. My 13yoa who was in the class with him said to the instructors ( shop owners ) what if your computer dies??? She was told that's why we can sell you an extra computer... REALLY ???????
I will admit that they have been under the sea for several years and were taught basics and tables from the start. The shop owners wife started to yell at me when she found out they had already been diving. More over I think my kids were surprised and put off by the response ; buy a second computer.
Does this same attitude come from the pushing of classes vs dive experience ??? Have you seen, heard, or experienced this? I have over heard the newly crowned divers asking when the next class is so they can obtain their MASTER DIVER ....
So here is the question : what do we do as an industry to correct their misguided behavior? or Do we ?
Thank you for letting me rant as well.
Thank you for sharing of your knowledge on gear and history.
OLD SCHOOL is Still a School !