| There is on ongoing debate regarding where to buy | | | | They will often have lengthy stories about surly dive |
| dive gear; at your local dive center or on the | | | | center employees and owners who treat them |
| Internet. | | | | rudely when they bring in the Internet purchased |
| Proponents of buying dive gear from your local dive | | | | dive gear for service. They believe that buying from |
| center (LDC) will point out that if you buy off the | | | | a LDC is not supporting a local merchant who offers |
| Internet you often do not get a warrantee or at | | | | service but rather supporting an inefficient business |
| least the same warrantee as you get at your local | | | | model. |
| dive center. Several equipment manufacturers | | | | LDCs will counter with stories about people bringing in |
| including ScubaPro have strict policies against Internet | | | | their Internet purchased dive gear that was not what |
| sales. These policies have created a gray market | | | | they expected, does not work in their local diving |
| where discount dive gear companies will purchase | | | | conditions, does not have a manufacturer's |
| dive gear off shore or from LDCs going out of | | | | warrantee or arrived broken or missing pieces. |
| business. | | | | At a local dive center you will be able to feel, touch |
| The LDC proponents will also point out that the | | | | and try on the equipment before you purchase. The |
| Internet sources do not provide many of the | | | | Internet site will often give you a much wider |
| necessary services such as air fills, equipment service | | | | selection of dive gear because often LDCs cannot |
| or local diving information and that you should buy | | | | afford to stock numerous manufacturers. |
| from the LDC so they stay in business to offer | | | | If you mention the Internet at your local dive center |
| these services. | | | | the owner or employees are likely to be defensive. |
| Proponents of buying dive gear on the Internet will | | | | Do not be surprised if they begin with stories of dive |
| just as passionately point out that dive gear is a | | | | gear coming in without warrantee or defective. |
| commodity and you should buy at the lowest price. | | | | |