blogging for $$$$

[loosenupspas]

there is a company located here in rainy central florida that often finds itself in hot water.   its is a pr firm that blogs for clients, like a product placement in the bloggsphere.  could this be going on on this blog?

[D.P. Roberts]

Are you asking if some members of this forum are being paid to be here? I think there are many dealers here, many of whom are quite open about what they do & whom they represent. I do not believe that anyone is secretly on someone's payroll.

[East_TX_Spa]

I believe some of the goobers that pop up from time to time are subversives, shills, whatever you want to call them.  I get a kick out of the ones that come on like gangbusters, know EVERYTHING there is to know about the spa industry, and then just disappear once the posse comes ridin' in.

Terminator the Pure

[Vinny]

Ya mean I can get paid for doing this ... where do I sign up!

[D.P. Roberts]

I believe some of the goobers that pop up from time to time are subversives, shills, whatever you want to call them.  I get a kick out of the ones that come on like gangbusters, know EVERYTHING there is to know about the spa industry, and then just disappear once the posse comes ridin' in.

Terminator the Pure

 I think Term's right. Aside from their brief appearances, you can usually recognize these people because their facts don't line up, or they can't provide the pertinent info when asked.

I've also been interested in trying to figure out which manufacturers have "representation" on this & other forums. As far as I can tell, Tom G. is the only one here in an "official" capacity, and he's obviously very up front about that. Other than Tom, I think most of the people who work in the industry are dealers rather than mfr. representatives.

I've compiled the following list of dealers:

Mendocino101 – Marquis dealer in Canada
Stuart – D1 and Marquis dealer
Wisoki – Jacuzzi dealer (hasn’t posted since May)
Serjicalstrike – Sundance tech
Jacuzzi Jim – dealer in CA
Giraffeattheoasis – Hot Spring dealer
Term – Hot Spring dealer
Markee – Marquis, probably dealer, possibly a representative
Guzz – HS dealer
Spiderman – new HS dealer in Michigan
Pathfinder – dealer in Ontario – Probably Beachcomber, possibly Pacific/Arctic
Golferm – HS dealer
Micah – Jacuzzi dealer Long Beach CA
Repeat Offender – Bullfrog dealer(?)
Loosenupspas – Bullfrog - dealer (?)


Some people are up front and put their affiliation in their sig, just so everyone knows where they stand. Others don't make that obvious, either because they're trying to remain "neutral" or because they think most people already know who they represent. I don't think anyone - at least of the list above - is intentionally trying to be sneaky.

[East_TX_Spa]

That's a pretty good list to which I'd like to add some adendums:

Mendo is indeed a Marquis dealer, but he's located in So Cal

Stuart is in Colorado

Wisoki was in Indiana, relocated to Reno, NV...I haven't heard from him in 3 or 4 months now

Jacuzzi Jim is in Oregon, I believe

Markee works at the factory refurb store in Oregon, I believe

Guzz has left the industry, I've been told

Pathfinder used to sell CalSpa, now has his own store selling Pacific

Loosenupspas used to sell HS, now sells Coleman and runs a pr firm in Central Florida

Spiderman and Golferm started out as Watkins spa customers and decided to get in to the industry

Chas has a HS store and a Caldera store

Term

[powernoodle]

I was charged a one time fee 29.99 to join this forum.....  
Im still a newby.   The forum is good education about different mfr.
VitaSpa dealer...Florida

[wmccall]

I think Term was pretty accurate.  I'm happy with the diversity of this forum. There have been calls for every body to identify themselves, but I keep mentioning that is unenforceable.  The odd "homers" quickly burn out.  Most of the people on the "professionals list" above aren't pushing their brands, but just being helpful and when you do it long enough people figure out your affilliations. And those people seem to give good advice and will be clear where their advice is coming from.

I do know a lot of industry insiders at the top levels monitor the forum to see what is being said.  Even on the local level, most of our dealers look in here on occasion, quietly.

[SpaNE]

 
Mendocino101 – Marquis dealer in Canada
Stuart – D1 and Marquis dealer
Wisoki – Jacuzzi dealer (hasn’t posted since May)
Serjicalstrike – Sundance tech
Jacuzzi Jim – dealer in CA
Giraffeattheoasis – Hot Spring dealer
Term – Hot Spring dealer
Markee – Marquis, probably dealer, possibly a representative
Guzz – HS dealer
Spiderman – new HS dealer in Michigan
Pathfinder – dealer in Ontario – Probably Beachcomber, possibly Pacific/Arctic
Golferm – HS dealer
Micah – Jacuzzi dealer Long Beach CA
Repeat Offender – Bullfrog dealer(?)
Loosenupspas – Bullfrog - dealer (?)


.

It wold be great to have this updated with Term's comments and retained as a sticky.  What do you think mods?

[loosenupspas]

Allow me to fully disclose, that I am a gator.  I sell the superb line of California Cooperage, Coleman Performance Spas and Maaxim luxury line.  I have been selling this excellent line up for 5 years in the historic city of Sanford, Florida.  The name of my business is Loosen-Up Spas and Hot Tubs, Inc., we are located on Hwy. 46, about 1.5 miles from the I-4.  Stop by anytime....you are all my friends, course I am drinking while watching the world champion University of Florida Gators play football....FOOTBALL.........Tom "Cheap Commercial Plugger" Smith.....trying to create a cool apellation like term..........Bless you All........going to the refridge for beer.....Out

[Jacuzzi Jim]

I am actually in Washington state a little town calle Bellingham 20 min south of the Canadian border.

Basically Term,I got your back!

http://www.bellingham.org/content/content.asp?ContentId=143

[Repeat_Offender]

No dealer here, just a satisfied Bullfrog owner.
Thanks for the compliment?

[D.P. Roberts]

No dealer here, just a satisfied Bullfrog owner.
Thanks for the compliment?

Yeah, R/O, I wasn't sure about you, thus the question mark.

Sorry JJ, I'm not sure why I had you listed as a Californian.

And I did have Mendocino in California in my original notes, I just mixed up my "CA" abbreviations. I always get CAnada and CAlifornia mixed up - I know one is the 6th largest economy in the world, the other is just freezin' cold, but I can never remember which is which.  

[hottubdan]

Um, I am a Hot Spring dealer in CA...That's California for the abrieviation challenged.

[Gomboman]

Don't forget about Doc, hottub.pool_boy, sandiego, spaman, hymbaw, and my old favorite J._McD. Anyone seen hymbaw lately by the way?