David Hale:

> I suppose the Oz dollar depreciation could explain
> much of the premium for US divers.

Not so fast.    Mike Ball's costs are in Oz dollars.  He's an Oz operation.
If the Oz dollar did indeed depreciate vs US dollar, then it should require LESS
$US  to pay the resulting bill, not more.

Likewise "maybe it wuz last second discount"  sounds like a non-denial denial.
Even the most novice reporter can't  make a magazine complaint out of that
occasional windfall.

Standing back from the fray, it would appear a little scam has come to light.
Certainly not  illegal, charging 50% more for whoever you can put the grip on, with
maybe some claims of "premium handling" or some such.    It's a service industry,
after all, not pearl being sold as ivory.
Service is in the eye of the beholder.

Sort of like the snipe hunt, where the city rube gets to stand there in the dark and
hold the bag while we go uptrail and run 'em down to him.
Once we're found out,  back at the campfire laughing at the poor bloke,  it's a
little KP and extra laps for the perps.

Then life goes on.


Wade