The Dive Shop merges with Great American

[theskull]

Can't believe I'm the first to break this news here on the Forum. I've been waiting to have the complete story rather than just spread rumors, and perhaps that's what the others in the know have been doing, too.

The Dive Shop of St. Louis has been acquired by and has joined forces with The Great American Diving Co. (*****) of St. Charles. The present storefront location of The Dive Shop will move just up the street to 11125 Manchester (near Lindbergh), where we will maintain a retail operation and have air fills available on-site. You can check out class scheduling and trip info at www.*****.com (http://www.*****.com/) . At least 90% of staff from The Dive Shop are staying on and becoming staff of *****.

theskull

[scububa]

Hmmmm....
So, I guess that has to make you ....

the 'great american diving' skull ????

[DeepDiverBob]

At least 90% of staff from The Dive Shop are staying on and becoming staff of *****.

theskull

And the other 10%??? Also, which percentile do you fall into? Inquiring minds wanna know. ;)

[theskull]

Just "theskull". No honorifics are necessary.

I am still with the staff. As far as I know, everyone is still intact, but I didn't want to speak for the couple about whom I do not know for sure.

theskull

[Atlaua]

Can't believe I'm the first to break this news here on the Forum.

Yea, I heard the news Friday but I've been too busy to do much posting lately.

All I can say is that it sucks to be you dude. Good luck with your new owner and when you realize what your new boss is like, I'd be happy to recommend you to any of the other shops.

I guess this means there are now four shops I am not allowed to enter by virtue of the fact that I took a class somewhere else.

Steve now has 4 of the 8 shops in town.

James

[DeepDiverBob]

I too, had heard the news, but figured it wasnt my news to break. I was just waiting for you to break it.

I have not ever personally met Steve, so I cant really say anything from first hand experience. But from the sotires I have heard from many many many people, well, I think i will just let the sleeping dog lay.

[Atlaua]

BTW, TS. I don't know what Lisa is telling you but "merge" was not the word I heard, nor is it the word being used on the ***** web site:


***** Buys The Dive Shop of St. Louis

We are excited to announce that The Great American Diving Company has purchased The Dive Shop of St. Louis located on Manchester Road. TDS Owners Lisa & Rick Schneider as well as the retail and instructional staff will be joining ours to create what is arguably one of the most experienced staffs in the dive industry.

Over the coming weeks, we will be incorporating the many innovative and exciting programs that The Dive Shop has created into ours. Be sure to keep an eye out for these new additions to our lineup.

In late January 2007 we will be relocating The Dive Shop of St. Louis from it's current venue in Rock Hill to a new state of the art retail center in Kirkwood. The new store will be at 11125 Manchester Road - near the intersection of Manchester and Geyer.

Join us in welcoming our new dive buddies to The Great American Diving Company.

Merry Christmas

Steve, Mark, Dianne and the staff

[scububa]

you say toe-mate-o
I say tow-mat-a

My corporation recently 'merged' with another, equally sized, entity. We have replaced all our old signs and logos with our new 'merged' entities ;-)

[theskull]

Wow! Many issues to address.

*My quote was, "The Dive Shop of St. Louis has been acquired by and has joined forces with . . .." Merge was your word, not mine. Still, as scububa says, it would be in line with today's corporate terminology. TDS was purchased, but since the transaction was desired by TDS owners and was entered into with the full intent of retaining all current staff if they so desired that seems more like a merge to me. They sure could have bought the name, inventory, and customer list and kissed the people off.

*Those of you who were very familiar with TDS know that Gary Miller was a huge part of our operation, from maintenance and repairs to teaching advanced courses to daytime and kids' classes to technical expertise. His prolonged severe illness and ultimate death left a big hole that would have been extremely difficult to fill with a new hire. Something had to be done, and this may well be good for all of us at TDS.

*So far my only small regret is the reputation my new owner has with SOME in the local diving community. But since all the local owners have minor reputations and conflicting personalities it is simply a matter of picking one you can live with. I could live with many of the current local operators, and have done some business with most of them.

I could be wrong, but my impression was that at The Dive Shop we were like Switzerland. We tried not to offend anyone and I don't believe anyone felt they needed to stay away from us. I'll miss that. Perhaps our influence as an addition to the existing staff will soften things a bit and we can dominate the scene with a smile (just joking!!!).

After we're through hashing this over here, let's all go diving together and just enjoy being fellow divers. You'll recognize me at the dive site -- in all my brand new gear with the corporate logos by approved brands (joking again!!!)

Smiles,

theskull

[Atlaua]

Merge was your word, not mine.


Actually, you used it in the title but no biggie, I just wanted to make sure you weren't suffering from any delusions. I'm aware of and saddened by Gary's loss. He was a great guy. I have a PADI dive table in my logbook with his initials on it. When my wife and I took advanced at TDS and only had NAUI tables he gave us his personal tables, told us to keep them. What was a nice gesture is now a momento to remember a great guy.

As for Steve, it's not a matter of "reputation" for me. I spent thousands of dollars with his shop, refered him mulitple students. Then one day I inquired about a class he was running and was told that not only could I not take it, I couldn't ever enter his shop again. Why? Because he found out I took anothre class with another shop. Fact, not reputation.

Slavery wen't out a while back but Steve seems to think he OWNS his customers.

He has some good people working for him, why I don't know. The poor Jugans got themselves into a real mess. Yea, I could say somthing about every owner, including Lisa, but none of them have personally mistreated me the way Steve did.

James

[theskull]

Actually, you used it in the title but no biggie, I just wanted to make sure you weren't suffering from any delusions. I'm aware of and saddened by Gary's loss. He was a great guy.

As for Steve, it's not a matter of "reputation" for me. I spent thousands of dollars with his shop, refered him mulitple students. Then one day I inquired about a class he was running and was told that not only could I not take it, I couldn't ever enter his shop again. Why? Because he found out I took anothre class with another shop. Fact, not reputation.

Slavery wen't out a while back but Steve seems to think he OWNS his customers.

He has some good people working for him, why I don't know. The poor Jugans got themselves into a real mess. Yea, I could say somthing about every owner, including Lisa, but none of them have personally mistreated me the way Steve did.

James


So I did use "merge" in the title. Dang, that's 2 mistakes I've made this year. Sorry, even though you didn't make a deal of it.

I'm suffering from MANY delusions, many quite blissfully, but that was not one of them.

You and I like to argue phraseology and semantics, don't we? You had a bad experience, fact; then you told others about it; now it's a reputation. ;)

I have done business with Steve on a number of occasions and taken a class there before as well. So far, no complaints from me. I am definitely a rented customer rather than an owned one, though, as always.

And thanks for the kind words regarding Gary.

theskull

[DeepDiverBob]

After we're through hashing this over here, let's all go diving together and just enjoy being fellow divers.

I'm in...where we going? Oh thats right, your going to Florida...

[theskull]

I'm in...where we going? Oh thats right, your going to Florida...

Please drop in and join us, we'll be there all week. Otherwise, I believe I have a free weekend or 2 in February.

theskull

[Atlaua]

Please drop in and join us, we'll be there all week. Otherwise, I believe I have a free weekend or 2 in February.

theskull


I know you said something about 06 being all about dark and cold and 07 being all about warm and blue.... ;)

[theskull]

I know you said something about 06 being all about dark and cold and 07 being all about warm and blue.... ;)

Yes, I hope to dive Cozumel this year! Have to get my spousal job situation straightened out first, though, or I would already have the trip booked. Would also like to do Flower Gardens or a Blackbeards cruise again.

Was watching the video from my Turks & Caicos Aggressor trip and am ready to see some pretty fishies again.

theskull

[DeepDiverBob]

Please drop in and join us, we'll be there all week. Otherwise, I believe I have a free weekend or 2 in February.

theskull

Is January broken?

We can discuss all of this, this afternoon.

[nitram]

We are going to Cozumel Jan 21-28. Come & hook up with us!!! We will be at the Occidental Grand this time. Last year we stayed at the Allegro but this year got a better price at the Grand.

[theskull]

We are going to Cozumel Jan 21-28. Come & hook up with us!!! We will be at the Occidental Grand this time. Last year we stayed at the Allegro but this year got a better price at the Grand.

Thanks for the invite, but I already passed on a great invite for January. Need a few months to get the finances back in order, then will be up for invites.

theskull