HURAY!!!!!!

kwbyron · Post by **kwbyron** » Sat Jul 28, 2007 12:25 am

*tauntingly I GOT A T-ANK! I GOT a T-ANK!!! *
I went down to diver's fair today..worthington 119 for $275...while I am not a big fan of UWS, I am under the impression that shops pretty well sell tanks around cost, make a few dollars, but not much. So, a $100 off means they are taking a good loss, so by purchasing only the tank...i am actually hurting their buisness and supporting the local shops I visit. That's what I choose to beleve, mainly because I couldn't really justify a tank otherwise. The sad part is they sold out in like 3 hours...so I have to wait a week or so : ( ...ugh, it's going by SO SLOOOOOOOOWWwwww...I feel like a 5-yr old nagging the mailman for my decoder ring.
I looked around at the stuff they were saleing...i like to think as a newbi, i didn't buy into all that hype and junk....but sadly....I know I probably did and the 6 yr-old thing of mask de-fog is proof.

Sounder · Post by **Sounder** » Sat Jul 28, 2007 12:41 am

You only got one?! $275 for a 119 is an excellent deal and I know you'll love your 119.

I almost hung out for Diver's Fair today for the 119s but I had the GMAT today at noon (which BTW I kicked ass at! $\:D/$

... not that you or anyone else asked

) and purchased 4 more 130s recently.

I also am not a huge fan of UWS so I was glad to support my local dive shop (NWSD!

). They continue to earn my business, and more importantly, my referrals. NWSD is a class act and should be recognized as such - just see the recent thread "thanking them publicly." I'm about to move to Snoqualmie Ridge and will STILL drive to Kenmore for most all of my dive-related needs.

Great news on the larger tanks! Let's go diving!!! $\:D/$

Nwbrewer · Post by **Nwbrewer** » Sat Jul 28, 2007 8:11 am

Sounder,

Congrats on finishing your GMAT. When are we going diving?

kwbyron · Post by **kwbyron** » Sat Jul 28, 2007 12:19 pm

congrats on the GMAT! Which reminds me...I need to sign up for the GRE......I was supposed to study all summer. NWSD is a great shop, I've relied on them for all my gear so far over the past year and a half.

Sounder · Post by **Sounder** » Sat Jul 28, 2007 1:05 pm

Nwbrewer wrote:Sounder,

Congrats on finishing your GMAT. When are we going diving?

Anytime now that I'm out from under the burden of my studying!!! $\:D/$

thelawgoddess · Post by **thelawgoddess** » Wed Aug 08, 2007 10:55 pm

Sounder wrote:
Nwbrewer wrote:Sounder,

Congrats on finishing your GMAT. When are we going diving?
Anytime now that I'm out from under the burden of my studying!!! $\:D/$

um ... correct me if i'm mistaken, sounder, but doesn't the GMAT just qualify you to go back to school for more burdensome studying?

kwbyron, i hope this thread full of excitement is because you got a new tank and not because it's your only tank.

kwbyron · Post by **kwbyron** » Fri Aug 10, 2007 1:22 am

It will be my new...one and only tank. Although...I still havn't recieved it yet. I need to call them (probably tomorrow) and see if it's come in yet. I heard they were trying to bait and switch people though, pass off PST's for Worthingtons...hopefully not, I really don't feel like raising hell, but I will. Actually, I'll probably just demand a refund...although a class-action lawsuit would help with the student loans and a more bubble toys....

thelawgoddess · Post by **thelawgoddess** » Fri Aug 10, 2007 9:07 am

kwbyron wrote:It will be my new...one and only tank. Although...I still havn't recieved it yet. I need to call them (probably tomorrow) and see if it's come in yet. I heard they were trying to bait and switch people though, pass off PST's for Worthingtons...hopefully not, I really don't feel like raising hell, but I will. Actually, I'll probably just demand a refund...although a class-action lawsuit would help with the student loans and a more bubble toys....

definitely raise hell. maybe you could raise enough hell to get an extra tank thrown in ... lol.

kwbyron · Post by **kwbyron** » Fri Aug 17, 2007 7:24 pm

well, it will be a few weeks, "they project an early sept delivery date" - UWS, I'm starting to think I should have just paid the extra 100 and bought it from NWSD...sorry guys, but it's $100! I'll be outa town for two weeks anyways.

coachrenz · Post by **coachrenz** » Fri Aug 17, 2007 9:48 pm

Sorry that you don't seem to have had good experiences at UWS. I have been in several of them, but the Underwater Sports in Federal Way is the shop I consider my Local Dive Shop. I will admit that I followed the Shop Manager to that particular shop from a couple of others.

I support the concept of the LDS. I try to stop by as many as I can when I travel, if not to purchase something at least to tell them hi and say thanks for keeping their doors open.

What I don't get is the need to bash a Local Dive Store. If you don't like one, find another one. Or better yet, talk to those in charge of the shop. No need to "go off," just have a conversation. As with any store and any business, there are employees/managers/owners that we won't personally get along/agree with. If you get past that first (or second or third) impression, you may find that they are actually alright.

This same tank discussion came up last year around the Dive Fair. They were clearly advertised as limited to stock on hand, so, them even offering to special order one for you at the sale price seems like pretty good service to me. I know several people who got their early enough, as suggested, and are already diving theirs. Instead of looking to litigate, maybe you should have gotten there sooner.

Sounder · Post by **Sounder** » Sat Aug 18, 2007 12:02 am

coachrenz wrote:What I don't get is the need to bash a Local Dive Store. If you don't like one, find another one. Or better yet, talk to those in charge of the shop. No need to "go off," just have a conversation. As with any store and any business, there are employees/managers/owners that we won't personally get along/agree with. If you get past that first (or second or third) impression, you may find that they are actually alright.

This same tank discussion came up last year around the Dive Fair. They were clearly advertised as limited to stock on hand, so, them even offering to special order one for you at the sale price seems like pretty good service to me. I know several people who got their early enough, as suggested, and are already diving theirs. Instead of looking to litigate, maybe you should have gotten there sooner.

Yup - I DID go to another LDS, and I DO support my LDS... even if it means I have to drive past 5 other dive shops to get there!!! I've been screwed by 2 dive shops - UWS and 5thD (who STILL owes me a tank!). ](*,) In fact, I bought 4 more 130s just to make it possible for me to get enough dives between LDS visits!!! Yup - the cost of four MORE 130s was enough to ensure I could continue to use NWSD as my LDS.

FACT: Last year (2006) at the UWS sale I was #13 in line and got there around 6am for a much later opening (I think either 8am or 9am).

The reason I got there so early was that they advertised steel HP80s for something like $150 or so. $\:D/$ When they opened their doors, I immediately went to the tanks looking for the HP80s for $150. I was NOT mistaken as to what was advertised for this product. At the tanks, I asked where the $150 HP80s were and was told by some high schooler that they were "right there," as he pointed to LP80s when I asked for them. Well, those tanks were indeed LP80s, not HP80s. I then pointed to the SIGN, that THEY HAD WRITTEN IN DRY-ERASE MARKER (in red which they had again-traced, for a second time, in blue) ON A WHITE BOARD ABOVE THE TANKS, which read "HP80s $150," referring to the tanks which clearly weren't HP-anything.

When I pointed out the sign, and pointed out the tanks, the little sh*t running the tank area reached up and erased the lower legs of the "H" and the upper-right arm of the "H" to make it some retarded little f-ed up "L" which looked like a stupid misplaced exponet to the still-full-sized "P" - some good the Seattle public school system did this little 17yo high school dumb***!!!
](*,)

At that point I was awkwardly pitched on several HP80s from some other high school student sales-rookie (saying for buying several I could get a DISCOUNT!!) to which I promptly asked for a manager... which we waited and waited for... who didn't show up for over 10 minutes when I left the tank area with everyone else who was there to buy HP80s at $150ea.

Regarding the $275 for a HP119 - that's a great price, $\:D/$ but it's CERTAINLY NOT below cost!!!

They WERE NOT

taking a hit for those tanks, but rather were using them as one of their "quasi-loss leaders"... an excellent business strategy. They were NOT actually loss leaders, but were marked far below what they would be priced at outside the sale... but still a good deal if you VIP your own tanks.

Truly, (as hard as this is) to UWS credit, $275 for 119s is a great price... now if they only included VIPs and O2 cleaning!

Trouble is that NWSD

$\:D/$ would have sold you those tanks at a VERY fair price, and they include 2 years VIP and O2 cleaning!!! Add THAT to your UWS price and see how well you came out.

](*,)

Disclaimer: In my opinion

, UWS was dishonest in their pricing of tanks on last years big sale and because of which they have lost my business at that sale (which I'd planned to be in the $3k-5k range), and in all future sales, of which I expect I would have immediately spent $10k or more. They had a chance to earn my business, and they failed.

Don't even get me started on 5thD! (Sorry, I'm a bit fired up).

Where is that tank anyway? ](*,)

kwbyron · Post by **kwbyron** » Sat Aug 18, 2007 1:16 am

Yeah, I talked with NWSD, If I were staying up here for more the 6 months, I would have bought from him at the drop of a hat. He did offer me air-fills instead, but with a busy up-coming quarter, i am not sure I'll get all those used either. My wife is up for orders, I'm applying to Gradschool, it's just too unstable of a time to take in something that doesn't have immediate cash value.
As for Clearly Advertised, the 119's were not "limited to stock on hand" I checked and double checked, then e-mailed them to find out what a VIP sticker would cost (9.95, includes the nitrox banding) and if they were limited to stock on hand.
Even if they were being nice and letting us order them, I think 1 month is a little excessive for a special order, no matter what the price. I can't really see it justified when other shops can get a tank in 3 days. I am not too upset now, just annoyed, because they said it would be 2 weeks.
I think we have every responsibility to express our concern on these forums about LDS's, our experiences, and results. While it's beating a dead horse for lots of us, many use the forums when they are new to the area, and this prevents them from being taken advantage of. This is even more important when dealing with a corporate franchise, I went to UWS's website to find a customer service contact besides the local store, and there is no-one to contact. I would like to express my disappointment to the "corporate office" or Main store, but neither are identified. I doubt that the issue is a result of the Everett branch, but it's probably related to the passing of the information on from Diver's Fair to the location (if I had known it would cause problems, I would have picked it up from Seattle). As for getting there sooner, I used the "get directions here" link off their website, which landed me in Pioneer Square! It took me 2-2.5 hours to get there, an hour to downtown, 30-45 mins of walking around looking for the place, then someone told me it was next to REI, so over there I went, before I finally 411'd them and got directions. Little things make a big difference to me, if they sweat the little stuff, you know they'll take the big things seriously.

Pinkpadigal · Post by **Pinkpadigal** » Sat Aug 18, 2007 10:25 am

Kevin,

Before I owned a dive shop, I was a shopper, just like you. If I was in yours or Sounder's place, I would be mad, and I would want a refund. However, I would talk to your local UWS and ask why the delay and if the delay isn't an incoviencence, wait and get your tank. You did get a good deal but you did not buy below cost.

As most of you know, dive shops do not sell tanks at a normal profit. We don't take a loss on them, but we don't make as much on them as it cost to ship and stock them. The price of metal has gone up in the last year as well. Unfortunately, pricing is passed on to the consumer.

In order for a dive store to offer a low price, and make anything on the tank, they need to order tanks in extreme bulk, and get a deal on shipping. In fact, I know many dive stores that get together and buy a bunch of tanks at once, to save money. Because of the excessive cost of shipping tanks, many stores will buy tanks only 1-3 times a year. Once the tanks are ordered, it takes them 3-6 business days to get in. Most of the LDS use the same suppliers of Catalina, Luxfer and Worthington tanks so I know how long it takes. They are shipping from California.

I am not familiar with UWS policy with this, but I would imagine that they will place an order sometime this fall when they have a bunch of people waiting for tanks. If you want to get your tank shipped now, offer to pay $50 to have it shipped. If they take it, you will have it in 3-6 business days. Regardless, I am sure they will want to work with you to make sure you are happy.

Diver_C · Post by **Diver_C** » Sat Aug 18, 2007 11:38 am

Worthington tanks are great tanks. I have six Worthington hp100s, and love them.

I really like UWS - Kirkland. Steve is a great manager, and will bend over backwards to help his customers. To each his own...

:rr:

Diver_C · Post by **Diver_C** » Sat Aug 18, 2007 11:45 am

Sounder wrote:Sorry, I'm a bit fired up.

Doug - breathe. Ummmm... Find your happy place. Ummmm... Breathe... You kicked GMAT's tail... Ummmm... Great job! All will be okay... Ummmm Soon you will be diving in a wonderful wolf-fish filled environment... All will be okay... Ummmm

kwbyron · Post by **kwbyron** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 10:56 am

Hurrays are re-expressed with annoyance now, My tank will be coming in tomorrow. I think it's crappy that it's taken so long, and I understand it's a big order they placed, but with a sale like that, they should have notified XS of the impending sale so that they could have at least given those of us who ordered tanks a reasonable time frame to expect delivery. I was told 2 weeks and it took 7 and a half. What's worse was every time I called after two weeks, it was, oh should be 2 more weeks, then next week, then next week, finally a "We don't know." I canceled the Everett delivery when I found out it would take them another week to get it up to that shop. Seems with such a long delay they would make an effort to get them distributed as soon as possible, apposed to waiting untill they "ship" stuff to the northern stores. I really wanted to just get my money back, but with the order already shipped, there really wasn't much of a point and it would have just taken longer to get my tank.

Grateful Diver · Post by **Grateful Diver** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 12:53 pm

Diver_C wrote: I really like UWS - Kirkland. Steve is a great manager,

Hmmm ... Steve is the reason I stopped patronizing UWS for such a long time. And although I have since made purchases from other UWS locations, I won't go into the Kirkland shop.

Diver_C wrote: and will bend over backwards to help his customers.

... unless he finds out you might have bought something at another store. Then you might as well have leprosy ...

Diver_C wrote: To each his own...

Yup ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

kwbyron · Post by **kwbyron** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 5:30 pm

I finally got the tank!!!! I just picked it up, although it wasn't in time for my scheduled dive. I have to say that UWS did give me a free nitrox fill and didn't charge for the o2 cleaning, so that was nice of them. I didn't even ask, we were just talking about our frustration over XS's inability to give a reliable delivery date. I've been diving 100's, I think this is the first time I've dove a 119, man, it seems to weigh a ton more then the 100's did....could just be that I haven't gotten wet in a few weeks though. Looking foward to taking it out though!!!

mattwave · Post by **mattwave** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 7:14 pm

kwbyron wrote:I finally got the tank!!!! I just picked it up, although it wasn't in time for my scheduled dive. I have to say that UWS did give me a free nitrox fill and didn't charge for the o2 cleaning, so that was nice of them. I didn't even ask, we were just talking about our frustration over XS's inability to give a reliable delivery date. I've been diving 100's, I think this is the first time I've dove a 119, man, it seems to weigh a ton more then the 100's did....could just be that I haven't gotten wet in a few weeks though. Looking foward to taking it out though!!!

Dude in the time you were waiting for your tank XS delivered my over 10 119's at different times. Please let us not make XS scuba to be the scapegoat in your delivery delays. Shipping from California is 3 days.

Pinkpadigal · Post by **Pinkpadigal** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 9:52 pm

mattwave wrote: Dude in the time you were waiting for your tank XS delivered my over 10 119's at different times. Please let us not make XS scuba to be the scapegoat in your delivery delays. Shipping from California is 3 days.

I am with Matt on this. I have had 3 different orders, all with 119s shipped and delivered since August 1st. All took 3-4 days from XS-Scuba.

kwbyron · Post by **kwbyron** » Fri Sep 21, 2007 12:07 am

I'm not happy about the time, it took, I went in to cancel it on sat, but they said the order would arrive on tuesday and that it already shipped(not worth the effort of arguing and canceling and reordering). I guess they said the order was for around 80 tanks, and XS need time to produce the order, which seemed a little odd... since I have trouble with the idea that they produce the tanks as they order them...but I'm sure UWS is blaming XS and XS is putting some of the blame on UWS, oh well. I got my tank, they didn't charge for the cleaning, and I probably won't participate in a sale like that again (unless I can get it in stock).