Hi Chris - I have also bought a variety of items from John . I find him to
be very well informed and helpful.  He stands behind his gear and is a great
guy to deal with..

Eric

----- Original Message -----
From: "dmdalton" <dmdalton@qu*.ne*>
To: <techdiver@aquanaut.com>; <WatsonCJW@ao*.co*>
Cc: "John's Scuba" <JDA000@ao*.co*>
Sent: Tuesday, May 09, 2000 7:31 PM
Subject: Re: Don't deal with John Allen/ An opposing view!


> Chris,
>
> Sorry, but I don't share your feelings. I have been dealing with John
Allen
> since he had a shop in his garage behind his house in 97, in fact that was
> the only shop  of his that I have been in. He has since moved into a
> conventional shop several years ago and probably handles more tech gear
than
> any other shop on either coast.
>
> With the exception of two PST 95 cu ft tanks that I drove up to his
original
> shop to pick up, all of my purchases from him have been over the phone,
and
> they have been considerable during the past 3 years. I have purchased new,
> used and "new but sitting in the warehouse so long I got a great deal on
it"
> items. In addition, he has hunted down items that were so small they
weren't
> worth his time or effort (or the effort of any of my local shops in the
> Washington DC area). He has shipped items to me, brought them to the Tom's
> River Flea Market, and to Dutch Springs and Willow Springs so I could pick
> them up when I was making a dive and save on shipping and driving.
>
> As far as community support, he runs FREE fun dives at local quarries and
NJ
> beaches that anyone can go to who would like to dive but doesn't have a
> buddy,  and has even brought his shops fleet of DPV and let the group use
> them all day at no charge! I am sure there are other shops that do similar
> things but I haven't run across them yet.
>
> I'd give him 6 stars on a 5 star scale!
>
> I am sure he will work things out to your satisfaction.
>
> Dave Dalton
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: <WatsonCJW@ao*.co*>
> To: <techdiver@aquanaut.com>
> Sent: Tuesday, May 09, 2000 9:13 AM
> Subject: Don't deal with John Allen
>
>
> > I advise everyone reading this message not to do business with John
Allen
> > (a.k.a. "Trader" John, "Big" John, JDA000@ao*.co*, John's SCUBA
Equipment,
> > Northeast Scuba Supply of Norristown PA), unless you are in his store
and
> can
> > touch what he sells.  Specifically, do NOT order equipment via phone or
> > website.
> >
> > I placed a small order with Northeast SCUBA on 5 April 00, and haven't
> > received it yet.  My order was made over the phone, and I spoke with
John
> > Allen personally.  I specified the shipping method (US Priority Mail;
> > required due to my address), and he assured me it was no problem; he did
> it
> > all the time. He charged my credit card that day and it posed to my
> account
> > 48 hours later.
> >
> > After almost three weeks I began to get nervous.  Between then and now
> I've
> > sent four emails to John Allen.  He replied to the first with a one-line
> > reply: "It was sent."  The second he ignored.  For the third he wrote me
> back
> > that he was "checking" and would get back with me that day.  That was
six
> > days ago and I haven't heard anything.  Yesterday I sent my last
message,
> > which he received and again made no reply.
> >
> > I've called my credit card company and disputed his charge, and I hope
it
> > causes him as much irritation as he's caused me.  To me, this is piss
poor
> in
> > general, and borders on fraud in particular.  He took money without
> providing
> > a product as agreed and added insult to injury by not even replying to
my
> > attempts to solve the problem.  My order wasn't big, but we all know how
> > frustrating this kind of situation can be.  Also, if he doesn't work
with
> you
> > on a typical order, why would you ever make a big one? (rhetorical)
> >
> > For those who may be lurking as I was and contemplating buying gear from
a
> > distance, here's my summary:
> >
> > Joe McGrath / Highland Mills: Absolutely fantastic from start to finish.
> >
> > Dive Rite:  Bent over backwards. (yeah, yeah, I know, but this isn't a
> > product endorsement, it's about their willingness to help a customer)
> >
> > Lloyd Bailey:  Excellent, polite and prompt in every way.  My
> recommendation
> > from now on.
> >
> > Mike Strong / Pro Ski and SCUBA, KS:  Great guy, fine deal (tanks)
> >
> > Leisure Pro, NY:  excellent service and prices for gray market
> recreational
> > stuff.
> >
> > Halcyon:  a bit slow but worth the wait.  (Wish I'd bought their stuff
> > sooner!)
> >
> > Stingray Divers, NY:  average service, but fantastic price and delivered
> > immediately.
> >
> > I don't claim these descriptions are definitive, just my personal
> experience.
> >
> >
> > I have been lurking this list extensively for several months, and I've
> > learned a great deal.  Thank you to all the frequent contributors for
your
> > efforts to share your knowledge and skills; I think I'm a better diver
for
> > your efforts.  Based on what I've learned, I've been doing what many
> others
> > have done and migrated in fits and starts toward the equipment and
methods
> > recommended here.  I wouldn't use the term "DIR" to describe myself
(yet),
> > but I'm trying to learn and make progress.  I do think I'm better and
> safer
> > now than before.  Maybe I can help someone to prevent the mistake I did:
> > DON'T deal with John Allen / Northeast SCUBA Supply.
> >
> > Chris Watson
> > PSC 813, Box 157
> > FPO AE  09620
> > (Naples, Italy)
> > --
> > Send mail for the `techdiver' mailing list to `techdiver@aquanaut.com'.
> > Send subscribe/unsubscribe requests to `techdiver-request@aquanaut.com'.
> >
>
> --
> Send mail for the `techdiver' mailing list to `techdiver@aquanaut.com'.
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>

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