If you think bike shops are bad... try going to your LDS! (Local Dive Shop).
A lot of the dive equipment manufacturers set prices and maximum discount levels (eg. no more than 15% discount) which means that most shops tend to be very expensive. If they break their agreement, the manufacturer will no longer sell them any product.
So the internet dive shops get around this by a number of methods, but the main one is buying out of the country and they can sell the same piece of equipment for up to a 40% discount in some cases.
So many people buy stuff online to save money... which pisses off the LDS, to the point that many of them won't service equipment or do any sort of warranty work unless you bought your equipment from them.
A lot of the dive equipment manufacturers set prices and maximum discount levels (eg. no more than 15% discount) which means that most shops tend to be very expensive. If they break their agreement, the manufacturer will no longer sell them any product.
So the internet dive shops get around this by a number of methods, but the main one is buying out of the country and they can sell the same piece of equipment for up to a 40% discount in some cases.
So many people buy stuff online to save money... which pisses off the LDS, to the point that many of them won't service equipment or do any sort of warranty work unless you bought your equipment from them.