11/6/2010 2:17 PM (PST)
Yes, I have had negative dealings with this store and it's owner. I am also aware of other that have had negative dealings with him. Most of these are via scuba website forums.
Here are some links:
diversone,com()forumtopics()is-oceanic-in-the-retail
(about half way down in the discussion a couple of posters mention being "fleeced" by Rusty Berry.)
scubaboard,com()forums()basic-scuba-discussions()117130-nitrox-tank-cleaning,html
(this one - a customer was quoted over the phone a very low price for tank cleaning, but charged a lot more! Rusty makes his typical excuses. Seems the forum consensus is that the original poster was ripped off by Rusty)
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11/6/2010 2:39 PM (PST)
Let's not forget Mahatma Robles who died August 16, 2006 while diving on a rebreather unit that was purchased, according to the Superior Court State of California First Amendment Complaint, from Rusty Berry's store. That was certainly a negative experience. Some of the court docs are available online at crossbow diving dot com under "Robles."
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11/7/2010 7:55 AM (PST)
In case you can't access those links above, here are some excerpts from them:
From Divers One, in December of 2009, a poster named Billy Donaldson posted -
"I got FLEECED by Rusty Berry of Scuba Schools of America, I am still reeling from the $10,000 bill I eventually walked away with. I was a new diver and ignorant of what was needed as far as equipment.
I trusted and was taken avantage of."
further down in the same thread, in January 2010, another poster named G. Kwontum responds to Donaldson's post -
"I had to jump in here. We got fleeced by that same SSI shop as well, personally fleeced by Rusty himself no less. My family got poked to the tune of $8k for extra doo-dads and "important additional support and spare gear" which we will never use for as often as we dive."
Then, over at another scuba forum - Scuba Board, a poster called mccabejc complains about how he was treated at Rusty's shop:
"Bought a couple brand new AL-80's today, and took to another shop to convert to nitrox. Called a local shop, who told me it would cost $50 each to O2 clean tank + valve. Cool. I figured I'd get outta there for a little over $110 total.
Took them to the shop, only took them 1/2 day to do the cleaning and fill with nitrox. Cool. I was expecting a week or so.
Got the bill. Total cost: $220 freakin' dollars !!!. That's what it cost me to buy the two tanks in the first place !!!!"
Rusty responds later in the thread as "voodoogas" and tries to cover his track, but some of the other posters nail him. One poster called "Scuba Steve" responds directly to Rusty:
"Well bud, I think you'll find his complaint isn't about the extremely thorough job you did, but the fact that he got told it would be about $50.00 a cylinder.
Since you knew it was going to be WAY more than that before it was all said and done (Or you could have easily inquired) I'd suggest next time coming clean in the first place, up front about the cost and potential costs.
Yes I run my own business too, and this is utter BS on your part. But hey, it's your business dude. Fill your boots."
So it's obvious that Rusty has been pulling these shenanigans on others for some time. It's only a matter of time before it all catches up to him.
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11/8/2010 7:48 AM (PST)
I've never met a business owner who displayed so much contempt towards his customers. You can read it in Rusty's responses how he just gloats about getting away with screwing them over. 2 day return policy my eye! He even admits that once "personal" snorkeling gear is out the door the return policy is void. What do you have to do? camp 2 days in the store before deciding to ask for a refund? And as far as I can tell, the only item that could honestly be considered personal is the $45.00 snorkel itself. A $128.00 gear bag is personal "snorkeling" gear???? I don't think so. What a crock!
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11/8/2010 8:33 PM (PST)
I find it odd and very suspicious how all of sudden there are these mysterious "5 star" reviews on SSA and Rusty. Gee Rusty, is that the best you can do? Have your buddies post positive reviews for you because everyone else is exposing you for the deceiving lying thief you are?
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11/9/2010 3:52 PM (PST)
So I see that both our reviews have been taken down Taken...I'm quite upset at this. How fair is it to only show positive reviews from your employees and buddies and no honest negative ones? That's just not right and completely unfair to the consumer looking for honest information.
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11/9/2010 5:33 PM (PST)
OMG...Rusty, you must be very angry.
Here's what I don't understand...how can so many people who have never met or talked to each other have the same or similar story??? You going off on them just tells me that they all have a valid complaint and that is why you are lashing out. Hmmm...
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11/9/2010 11:35 PM (PST)
No lashing out at all. You have two or three people that purchased equipment used it and wanted to return it. We have a very clear return policy. You got one guy that's convinced that we told him we would guarantee his personal equipment....but did he tell you we offered to give him free rental and his boats for free too?? He accepted that and four days later changed his mind. Didn't think so....and you have one Woman that was told to bring her system in and we would sell it for her over the summer.....she would have had a full refund if she would have taken our offer....did she tell that to you? Didn't think so.... Basically you have two or three people that need to hid behind a computer to compensate for their inability to accept that they take responsiblity for their actions. The only people that go to a BBB site is to bitch. So we are taking a proactive stance and asking our divers to write their own reviews. What we really get a kick out of is the idiots that can't even use their own names and email addresses for fear that they would become accountable. If you can't use your own names and need to hide behind an alias your complaint isn't worth addressing.
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11/9/2010 11:39 PM (PST)
One more thing...We never ever told Scott and Yvonne Neighbor that we would purchase back his personal scuba equipment. He was the one in the store asking questions about equipment and wanting to price out some type of system. In fact when we made the offer to take him diving on the boat for free his wife commented on how great our customer service was. He never once mentioned that on any of his notes. Maybe I should copy and paste his text messages to me so you can see how wacky he is. He only hears and sees what he wants to.
And yes Lina...our offer still stands....bring your system in and we will get it sold on consignment. We told you that in May.....it may take time but we can still get it taken care of.
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11/10/2010 3:59 AM (PST)
That's cute Rusty, 2 or 3 people. I'm not Lina but I have spoken to her and I'll relay your message, but I'm pretty sure I already know her answer and it wouldn't be polite to post it here.
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11/19/2010 3:27 PM (PST)
Ouch, u must check this out. So much for the BBB. Thought this was a place to go to get an un-biased opinion. Guess not guess its all about how much money u want to pay. No wonder Rusty Berry has an A.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0w6Oick8x48
If the link does not work, just google "Better Business Bureau Probe"
You might be surprised or maybe not.
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6/1/2014 9:41 AM (PST)
Rusty Berry SCUBA SCHOOLS of AMERICA is a complete ripoff
If you guys have an issue, it really should be posted on YELP. The only way to stop Rusty Berry and his further entrapments and swindles is to stop the steady stream of customers to his store. Yelp provides that opportunity. SCUBA forums are great, but to really hit his pocketbook you need to do things to stop the steads stream of new customers and "fresh fish" who get taken. Here is the link, please add:
http://www.yelp.com/biz/scuba-schools-of-america-montclair?hrid=f3jGozkvuuiAj4Q1a5Arlg#src:self
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8/12/2020 11:31 PM (PST)
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and they have lied to the scuba school, image has been gone down.
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