You say that you and your friend went to several dive shops to get your
masks fitted, then ordered online. While the dive shop doesn't have a right
to require you to buy from them just because you are training there, you
think nothing of expecting local merchants to provide you with free sizing
and fitting help, including stocking several lines of merchandise for you to
try and then orderinig online. Why don't you try getting the online seller
to do the sizing for you. Include your cost of shipping back and forth a
few times and see if there is a real saving then. You got the support of
your local dive shops, then gave someone else the opportunity for the sale.
Why not be honest when you walk in and tell them you have no intention of
buying from them, you just want to use them for a bit?

There is more than one side to the local shop vs. online business. But
there is no profit in selling scuba lessons. In fact, in our market, it
doesn't even cover the overhead.
"Dirk Nielsen" wrote in message
news:B3xE4.241$lT3.14892@news.swbell.net...
> Quick background: I am new to the sport of diving. So new, in fact, I
have
> never actually been diving before. Therefore, I concluded it logical to
> attend a class. Simple enough. So . . .
>
> I looked up a local dive shop in Dallas (DiveWest, to be specific) to
query
> them about a diving certification. They passed along tidbits of info,
along
> with a few forms, and finally discussed equipment options. After filling
> out the forms, the salesman paused and asked, "So, are you going to buy
your
> required equipment now?" By this he meant, the mask, snorkel, fins and
> boots.
>
> I said, "No, not today, but I might be back later." Intending all the
while
> to identify the appropriate equipment and order it at an online
discounter.
>
> He replied, "Well then, we'll just keep your book and video here until you
> have a chance to buy your equipment." He was cordial enough, and I
thought
> nothing further of it.
>
> A few days later, a friend and I visited a few more dive shops in the
area,
> got our masks fitted and ordered each of the four items at a heavy
discount
> from an online shop. Later that day I returned to DiveWest to update them
> that I had purchased the equipment and to request the course materials.
>
> The salesman who assisted me located my forms and materials. While he was
> doing so, I mentioned I had the required mask, snorkel, fins and boots.
He
> said, "Did you bring them in and show us?"
>
> I said, "No, they are being delivered."
>
> He tensed visibly and replied, "Did you order them online?"
>
> "Yes," I said in defense, recognizing his change in demeanor.
>
> "Well," he said, "we don't like it when you order equipment online . . ."
>
> They "didn't like" people ordering equipment online? What? I was
> flabbergasted. After a short, bewildering argument (my brain idled,
> spinning, speechless), the DiveWest salesman refused me in the class based
> *solely* on the fact I had not purchased equipment from their store.
>
> My question: is this ridiculous? Based on my understanding of
> macroeconomics, the law of supply and demand dictate I can buy my
equipment
> wherever the hell I please ... regardless of how much, or little, a
> competitor likes or enjoys it. Equipment (and the training that accompany
> it) are simple commodities, easily bartered from a competing shop. In
fact,
> I wasn't even aware you could make a teaching service contingent upon a
> retail purchase.
>
> What do you think about this? I await your opinions. And, incidentally,
> the next dive shop I visited offered cheaper courses and wasn't concerned
> about the origin of my equipment.
>
> Sincerely,
> Dirk Nielsen
> Dallas, TX
>
>