Spent $400 on a drysuit zipper repair that failed in 3 weeks

Local shop in Norfolk quoted me $400 to replace the main zipper on my drysuit. Said they had a guy who specialized in it. First dive after getting it back, took on water through the zipper backplate, not even the teeth. They refused to warranty it, claimed it was wear and tear. I get that zippers fail, but 3 weeks? I should have just sent it to the manufacturer. Any of you dealt with subpar drysuit repair shops, or am I just unlucky with this one?

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milesbailey23d ago

Took on water through the zipper backplate" is WILD. That's not even the part that wears out, that's just a bad install. Three weeks is insulting, and them calling it wear and tear is them straight up lying to your face. I've had drysuit repairs go sideways before, but never that fast or that expensive with zero accountability. You're not unlucky, you got robbed by a shop that knew they could get away with it. Honestly, at this point I'd blast them on every dive forum and local group you can find, because that's the only way these places ever learn.