Scubapro Ahthorized Deal Stole Equipment and Scubapro Won't Back There Equipment Hampton Virginia.

I am an individual with over 20 years experience in the scuba industry at the store level. I have handled virtually every brand of good equipment over the years and represent Scubapro and several other major brands at present.

Unfortunately Rusty's experience is one that has happened all too frequently over the last 2o years. The cause of the problem is twofold: first, hobbyists getting into the dive business thinking their love of diving will be all the experience they need to be successful. Second, once they realize, usually in a panic, that they are, and have been for some time, bankrupt, they slink off in the dead of night leaving everybody holding the bag.

I would be willing to bet (heavily) that the manufacturers and vendors of the store in question took a bath much worse than Rusty. That doesn't, I understand, make Rusty feel any better.

What must be understood is that the relationship between a scuba manufacturer and their dealer(s) is no different than, say, Sony and a store that sells their products. If a Wal-Mart goes out of business you certainly cannot believe that Sony should make good on all the customer issues that existed at the time of the closure, other than, maybe, warranty issues).

As Rusty's gear was in for service his "business" was solely with the dealer. The fact that the dealer absconded with his gear means he were dealing with a dishonest person. If there is a bankruptcy case in place he will have no problem getting his gear back. If not, he should call the police and file a theft charge.

There is just no stretch of imagination that would put Scubapro in the position of owing him anything. They stand behind factory defects not crooked dealers, and they have no way of screening for this until it is too late.

Rusty should keep his eyes open for a bankruptcy notice and get to the court and make his claim. Every time I have seen this happen everyone got their gear back if the dealer filed bankruptcy. When they don't, it is pretty much a done deal and not worth the time and aggravation it causes the upset customer.

Sorry, but Scubapro just isn't the bad guy here - it is the dealer.