Independant Intructors: why? pros & cons?

[divetrainerpete]

Papa Bear,

My shop provides Independent PADI Instructors access to PADI eLearning, all PADI materials at dealer cost (yes actual - you see the price-book dealer cost). Same for TUSA, Cressi, DAN and other gear manufacturers. NAUI Instructors receive all the same (except eLearning). Instructors for other certifying agencies can get gear as listed below too.

For example: Join us and when a student signs up for PADI eLearning in your area we:

• Send the student to you. You proctor the final exam and do remediation as needed
• You do the pool and OW training,
• We bill the student at the prevailing training rates for your area
• You recommend the dive gear to the student and send the order to us. We ship it to you to deliver to the student and show them how to use it.
• We do all the credit card processing for you.
• We maintain the inventory so you don't have to.
• We pay you 50% of the training fees and 50% of the profit on the gear.
  • We measure the profit by subtracting the dealer cost from your selling price and dividing it in half.
  • For example a mask has a list price of $75.00, a dealer cost of $32.00 and a purchase volume cost to DiveTrainers.com of $25.00. You would be paid $75-$32=$43.00 / 2 = 21.50 for the mask.
• You can buy anything we handle at dealer cost for your own demo or rental gear.

The net is Independent Instructors can now get all the advantages of being affiliated with a store but without the hassle. Additionally for each referral of another Independent Instructor you send us, who signs up, we will pay you 10% of their first gear order.


I can be reached as of next Monday at (609) 385-6119. I'm having some minor surgery tomorrow and will be out until then.

All the best,
Pete

[seasnake]

Why?: The greedy, money grabbing mentality and lack of commitment to safety and standards at the shop I worked at was unacceptable. Trying to do a good job in that environment led to constant friction between me and the owner.

Pros: I can finally teach to the standard and more with no one breathing down my neck. I can actually feel good about the courses I run.

Cons: Trying to bear the burden of inventory, rental gear, advertising, etc. . . .

So far I have had no trouble with NAUI dealing with me as an independant instructor.

[Papa Bear]

Papa Bear,

My shop provides Independent PADI Instructors access to PADI eLearning, all PADI materials at dealer cost (yes actual - you see the price-book dealer cost). Same for TUSA, Cressi, DAN and other gear manufacturers. NAUI Instructors receive all the same (except eLearning). Instructors for other certifying agencies can get gear as listed below too.

For example: Join us and when a student signs up for PADI eLearning in your area we:

• Send the student to you. You proctor the final exam and do remediation as needed
• You do the pool and OW training,
• We bill the student at the prevailing training rates for your area
• You recommend the dive gear to the student and send the order to us. We ship it to you to deliver to the student and show them how to use it.
• We do all the credit card processing for you.
• We maintain the inventory so you don't have to.
• We pay you 50% of the training fees and 50% of the profit on the gear.
  • We measure the profit by subtracting the dealer cost from your selling price and dividing it in half.
  • For example a mask has a list price of $75.00, a dealer cost of $32.00 and a purchase volume cost to DiveTrainers.com of $25.00. You would be paid $75-$32=$43.00 / 2 = 21.50 for the mask.
• You can buy anything we handle at dealer cost for your own demo or rental gear.

The net is Independent Instructors can now get all the advantages of being affiliated with a store but without the hassle. Additionally for each referral of another Independent Instructor you send us, who signs up, we will pay you 10% of their first gear order.


I can be reached as of next Monday at (609) 385-6119. I'm having some minor surgery tomorrow and will be out until then.

All the best,
Pete

I think thats what I said! I think the systems works and all independents should be shop affiliated or advertise that they aren't with all that it implies! I think the confusion is the word "Independent"?