Ok, people, what ya like....

[WarmWaterdiver]

That iota is a bit smaller today. Already disgusted with the two dive shops in the New Orleans area for horrible service among other things, I decided to go to Baton Rouge today to sign up for a Rescue class.
I talked to the shop owner via telephone on Monday and was quoted $175 for the class and $25 for the Naui book. The course was to consist of 5 night classroom sessions and two pool sessions.
Suddenly when I arrived today to complete the course application and pay my fees, the book was $50 and the course was 3 classroom sessions, 2 pool sessions and one Gulf open water session. A trip to Panama City, FL costs about $300 and includes a two tank boat dive.
Now this may not be a big deal but the Naui Rescue book is smaller than the PADI rescue book and I think I only paid around $25 for the PADI book. $50 for a book that I was originally quoted $25 for is ridiculous.
Throw in the added expense of the Panama City trip and I may as well have just gone to a resort for a week to take the course.
Yes, the resort would cost more but in addition to the course, I would get lots of fun diving.
This misinformation sort of ate into me as I rode back home from Baton Rouge. That is just plain bad service and the dealer didnt even see it as a big deal. 25 bucks, 50 bucks, same thing right? 5 class sessions, 3 class sessions, same thing right?
I am so close to only doing business online that at any moment I may snap. I now deeply regret paying the fees and wish I would have just said forget it, I am going do my original plan - train at a resort in paradise.

[Sarah]

Tell them that if there is no difference between $25 and $50, then there must also be no difference between $25 and 0$, and 0$ is what you will pay for the book.

[seasnake]

This is the same kind thing that happens at the local shops in my area ... sad thing is I work for one of them ... I will tell you the NAUI Rescue book costs $39.66 US for the store to buy, and everyone can understand a retailer having to mark things up to cover shipping, overhead and the like and also make a profit. That's what they are in business for. But the point is, if you were told $25, than the price should be $25.
I will also say any Rescue course that DOESN'T include time in the ocean ain't worth a hooey ...

[WarmWaterdiver]

yes, I agree that a worthwhile rescue course should include classtime, pooltime and ocean time. my point was this was not explained when I called to gather information about the course.
my original plan was to go to Utila to take the course there. because I find it difficult to get away for 5 weeks to take rescue and dive master together, I thought it would help by taking the rescue course locally thereby cutting the Utila time to 4 weeks instead of 5.
I do not mind the ocean portion, but if it was explained initially when I inquired, I could have calculated the total cost correctly and made a better informed decision about where to train.

[seasnake]

I hear ya'. To me that's all part of customer service. Even if the messed up and told you the wrong info when you called, they should do something to make it right.

[wetwillie]

Over here near Lafayette it is not any better, go into the store and it is like walking onto a used car lot......I needed a new 3 mil and wanted to order one shop owner said he had one in the back but couldn't find it right away... the next week when I went in his partner was there and said the reason he couldn't find the shorty to the farmer john was that the suit was his and he had it at home...and he was very pissed that the other guy was selling his personal gear out of the store....gear got ordered and I picked it up brand new but ....shady stuff like that makes me leery...so now I hear the two in N.O. are not good and Red Stick...Guess I will have to head to Lake Charles....

[SoCalDiveGirl]

Over here near Lafayette it is not any better, go into the store and it is like walking onto a used car lot.....

Lafayette? Thats where I'm from My family still lives there....

ok.. LDSs... Well... ok, for the most part, we have "decent" dive shops here.. There's a newer one in San Diego that gives you unlimited fills (you choose the gas) for a set amount of $ per month.. I think its $55 for air & Nitrox, and $75 for Trimix, O2, and I think argon too... Really good deal.. I dunno about their gear or tank prices since I kinda buy my stuff from a non-local shop

[lars2923]

DiveChick, you live in S. Florida... (Thats what I read)
I live in N. Florida...
I've read the posts and I wonder, if floridians have crossed the line between Layed Back and LAZY..
I moved the Fla just a couple of years ago, from Dallas. What a difference... I call it "Conscious Ignornance"
It appears they want to wait for the customer to come in, not to market
to drive customers in. When they do come in, it's a I don't care if you buy it or not. No follow-up..
For example, last March I asked about taking a class.
They did not have one scheduled but were looking at schedule this class..
I hear nothing for over a month. I walk back into the shop, I see my name and number, taped on the piece
of paper I wrote it on in the area where the registers are, in plane view for ANYONE to see. I inquire and still, nothing..
TO make a short story long.. after three months I gave up and went somewhere else. Can't say I didn't try.
I notice this at almost every dive shop, except one.. I notice this at work too.. W.T.F.!!! It's driving me crazy...!!!

[wetwillie]

it almost seems that this is the attitude in all retail almost everywhere these days...the norm , not the exception that it used to be....

[WarmWaterdiver]

As it turned out, I finished the Naui Rescue class. It consisted of two classroom settings, one lasting about 3 hours and the other 4 hours. We were supposed to meet the instructors at a pool but when we got there we found the pool filled with screaming 6 year olds in a swim meet.
We (my buddy and I) called the shop and was told there is a meet there today and the pool session had been cancelled, sorry we didnt call you.
My buddy was ticked, I was calm and cool, waiting to talk with the owner before I went ballistic.
The next day, which was classroom setting number 2, the owner came in smiling and apologizing. The other student rented a hotel room for the weekend so I guess we (my buddy and I) could not get real ticked off considering how badly this other guy got screwed.
Anyway, we finished the classroom stuff and took the written test. We had the owner over a barrel now so he agreed to give us the CPR, first aid, O2 and shock thing machine deal for a bargain basement price of $85.
My buddy and I came back next week for that course and test. The other student was a EMT so he didnt need it.
Finally, the next weekend we went to the Florida Springs - Vortex on Saturday and Morrisons on Sunday. We did a few tricks, saved a few people and that was it. Done, finished, over.
The instructors were nice guys, the shop owner is a nice guy but very laid back. I ordered some spring straps and now a month later I still do not have them.
I have decided to go with the flow. If he has what I want, fine, if not, go online or somewhere else. I probably wont take any more courses from him or any other LDS. I think the way to go is find a good instructor that works independently and get the training from them. It will be more individualized and I think I will learn more since it will be one on one.
So overall, service is out the window. If you want a live body to talk with, go to the LDS. Pricing will vary, dont use an ink pen when writing quotes and dont order anything that isnt in stock.
Overall though, it was a good experience. I am not sure I learned how to be a Rescue diver but I did learn some rescue skills. The rest is up to me to practice and keep up to date. But I suppose that is how it is in any situation.