Welcome to our forum.
I can answer any questions reguarding Arctic Spas. This is the only spa I have ever sold in the 8 years of my adventure. I have a store in Breckenridge, CO and even at 9000 plus feet I still get referal letters on the energy efficeny. One customer just gave me a whole year of his energy bill. 9 months they used less energy. Of the 3 months that he used more one month was a 1% increase another was 8% and the third was 31% (however they were out of town for 2 1/2 weeks the month the year before). Michael
I haven't real all the replies here yet, but I don't think we've ever had an actual Pheonix Spa owner here. I wonder if anyone has posted the photos of their factory in this thread yet. They are somewhat infamous by association. The bible didn't fortell, as far asI know, that the Anti-christ would come to earth in the form of a spa salesman who rebrands Phoenix Spas and then trashes the rest of the industry and anyone who opposes him with all the charm of a rabid dog.
There is a glut of information regarding those pictures going back several years on this and other spa-related forums. When I first saw those pictures posted, it piqued my curiosity and prompted me to explore further into the story. It turned out to be a gateway to Hell and has taken years off of my life.I posted them as a not-too-subtle warning to you. If you choose to see it as an attempt on my part to influence you towards my brand of spa, I could simply care less as there is no profit in it for me.If you choose not to see that the quality of the product is a result of the quality of the process, then I wish you well.Terminator
We don't have any pictures someone took at the other factories, so I don’t really have anything to compare these shots to. Still, if storing a hot tub outside is a bad idea (is it?) then I suppose I should take it under advisement that they do this at Phoenix (or did as recently as 3 years ago).
Those spas are only outside for "bleaching" purposes. That's really no different than leaving frozen chicken out all day on the kitchen counter to thaw while you're at work. It probably wouldn't be a problem.
I'm sort of into the bells and whistles. At a minimum, I want to get lights and some sort of waterfall, not because I need them, but because they look cool. After all, that's half the phone of getting something new (I want it to look different than that one I already had).Comfort, lots of jets that can be adjusted and cost are the other factors I'm also really big on.
The best is the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF). They certify numerous things on the spa and then certify the entire spa. Their NSF Protocol P181 sets certain standards. To date, only Hot Spring and Tiger River have received the certification. Not sure why others haven't.
I think I've seen Hot Springs and Sundance photos, and they look nothing like that hillbilly moonshine looking factory posted earlier in this thread.
You need to check out Jacuzzi in your quest for a hot tub. They have just the right amount of bells & whistles, in my opinion, and a nice lighted waterfall, while keeping a reasonable price (compared to other quality brands). We have the J-365, and there's nothing I'd change (with the excpetion of another cupholder....they only put 3 in the shell...why not 4?!?)
You can find some factory pictures on some of the corporate websites. I think I've seen Hot Springs and Sundance photos, and they look nothing like that hillbilly moonshine looking factory posted earlier in this thread. And yes, it's a bad thing for an unfilled spa to be sitting in hot sunlight for extended periods of time. Some spa manuals warn against that very practice. Even if thiey aren't doing this now, they were at one time, and to me is a red flag as to the quality and professionalism of the product and the people who make it.
Paraphrased from my spa owners manual:"....an uncovered hot tub surface and wall fittings directly exposed to sunlight for an exetnded period is subject to permanant damage or discoloration....."That factory is knowingly using methods that are damaging to their own products. Connect the dots. Could one assume that if they are doing this, then it's likely they are doing other things as well that are not so desirable? I'd pretty much assume so, just to protect myself.
I did look at Phoenix spas when I was shopping. The dealer was in a low rent mall, and the whole business gave me the creeps. How cool looking or how many jets a spa has are relatively meaningless. Having a quality product backed by a dealer who's likely to be there when you need service is way more important. Phonix just didn't project that image. And that dealer folded up and blew town within a year of my purchasing my spa. I tried, out of curiousity, to find a local dealer, and there isn't one anymore. Which makes it all the more difficult to get warranty service. Which I suspect is needed quite often on these sub grade tubs.
And I could care less what spa you buy. Just trying to open your eyes a bit wider. Makes no difference to me what you do or don't do or what you do or don't cross off your list.
There is a guy selling rebranded Phoenix spas out out of Colorado you might take a peek at. Cut out the middlemen, get the "guts" of a Phoenix spa with even better embellishments, like tinfoil and fan insulation, might be right up your alley.