laminar

I will post here too rather than on the thread with your query about monofin sales-- I am new to fins, too, and to diving.

Advice from Fondueset, who knew what I needed and is an excellent guide, was very helpful before reaching the point of sale. My purchase was guided by him and at the point of sale by Maksim Merkuri of Leaderfins, who was superb. Maksim handled the order process well, and also offers a deep feeling for finswimming. Knowledge and a deep feeling for a product do not serve as compensation for any problems with fulfilment, so it is important that the basic business process worked perfectly.

The barest basics on technique really start off a new user wonderfully. When you demonstrated the basic movement here in Michigan in June 2008, that was enough to get me started properly. New users have so much curiosity about the fin that a simple pointing in the right direction is fine, if the fin is good.

Some advanced fin buyers' comments evoked a sense of classical musicians considering their purchases. A bow-- with value of USD5-20K, and above-- for a string player is as important as an instrument, and they are usually purchased separately. There is an existing sales process by which musicians may have several bows shipped to them, with proper insurance, from an instrument purveyor. They then have several on hand to try for a period of time. It is amazing how much value in the form of fragile, insured, handcrafted objects is shipped around, no questions asked, for these trials. The trial is not for workmanship or other fundamentals, but for intangibles best sensed over time-- feelingtone; sound production and apperception by the musician of the bow's qualities; overall, the suitability to a particular musician. This is a different product in many ways, and also presents an impractical parallel given the weight/size of the fins to be tried, footpocket options, and distances to ship, but trial (for more than durability) with free shipping seems to be the unexpressed wish for many advanced fin users-- something a seller would need to solve. A new user, on the other hand, knows less and is not able to try out a product effectively-- so pointing in the right direction with a good fin is where attention is best spent.

My fin is beautiful and I am starting to swim with it better. As a new user, the above was all very important, but the fin speaks for itself. The seller was the means for bringing the fin and user together.

JOY, Alicia

Hi Pete,

I was really stoked to read your post about the website you are building to help match people with the best monofin for their needs.

I can't help with the technical input you ask for. For that reason, I'm posting here (and leaving real responses on the forum for the pros). However, I can offer a newb opinion: sharing what would help me feel better about laying down 300 Euro for a fin.

It seems monofin design is undergoing an evolution - maybe even like surfing did in the 1960-1970's. The pros seem to know a lot about what they want - but it seems even the most experienced freedivers are not exactly sure what works best. Buyer side - experimenting is risky. Seller side - experimenting is not cost effective.

At this point, it seems the best way to encourage sales is to (like the rep from SpecialFins posted) produce prototypes, send them out to experienced users. The rest of us will likely follow what the pros have discovered works best. Your idea of sponsorship for competitors - I think would really take us forward.

Thank heavens for people like salibandy who find something that works - and lets me know.

My two newbie cents.

Sending much support and appreciation for your dedications to the art,

~ Tobin