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Author Topic: Hotspring at Costco.com?  (Read 7315 times)

Chris_H

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Hotspring at Costco.com?
« on: December 17, 2007, 05:38:25 pm »
Hello:

See the attached link.  It appears Watkin's is no longer offering the Highlife anymore on Costco.com.  Can anyone confirm or deny this?

Thanks,

Chris

http://www.costco.com/Common/Category.aspx?cat=4640&eCat=BC|111|4639|4640&whse=BC&topnav=&hierPath=111*4639*4640*&lang=en-US

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Hotspring at Costco.com?
« on: December 17, 2007, 05:38:25 pm »

Zep

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Re: Hotspring at Costco.com?
« Reply #1 on: December 17, 2007, 05:57:49 pm »
this guy claims he just purchased a Watkins spa at Costco in Dec '07

http://www.poolspaforum.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=10302



Spiderman

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Re: Hotspring at Costco.com?
« Reply #2 on: December 17, 2007, 06:32:15 pm »
I haven't received any info about Watkins no longer offering it at Costco  :-?
People suffer one of two pains in life:  the pain of discipline, or the pain of regret

Vanguard

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Re: Hotspring at Costco.com?
« Reply #3 on: December 18, 2007, 12:23:04 am »
Well, I looked too.  I didn't see it either.  I did a search for Highlife and for Hot Spring.  No spa.  Interesting.  I know the program was not at all lucrative.  Watkins did not sell very many spas through Costco.
The stars at night are big and bright, deep in the heart of Texas and my Vanguard!!!

hottubdan

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Re: Hotspring at Costco.com?
« Reply #4 on: December 18, 2007, 12:29:45 am »
I have emailed my contact at The Mother Ship, who is the Costco.com Watkins connection. :D
Award winning Hot Spring dealer for a gazillion years.

hottubdan

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Re: Hotspring at Costco.com?
« Reply #5 on: December 18, 2007, 11:01:20 am »
It is confirmed.

Not a big seller.

Too bad.  Even if a more than other spas on Costco.com it was the only one with an extensive nationwide network of service and support.  There were no returns.

So it goes.
Award winning Hot Spring dealer for a gazillion years.

Chris_H

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Re: Hotspring at Costco.com?
« Reply #6 on: December 18, 2007, 11:13:24 am »
Thanks.  It is interesting.  

Chas

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Re: Hotspring at Costco.com?
« Reply #7 on: December 18, 2007, 11:32:23 am »
I had one customer who was looking hard at the tub from Costco. She had owned the spa after which that particular model was fashioned, and wanted the exact shape and size.

We followed up for weeks, months, but to my knowledge she hasn't bought yet. '

I guess I'll have to get on the phone....

  8-)
Former HotSpring Dealer - Southern Cal.

East_TX_Spa

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Re: Hotspring at Costco.com?
« Reply #8 on: December 18, 2007, 05:18:06 pm »
Since there are no Costcos around here, I knew it wouldn't affect us much one way or another.  I even referred a couple of people to costco.com because I wanted to see one, but it never happened.

I wish I could find the thread pertaining to the Costco-HotSpring alliance.  There was a lot of doom and gloom on it from competing dealers.

Term
« Last Edit: December 18, 2007, 05:18:26 pm by East_TX_Spa »
Just layin' low and chucklin' in my stomach wif' da fidgets...

East_TX_Spa

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Re: Hotspring at Costco.com?
« Reply #9 on: December 18, 2007, 05:27:07 pm »
Just layin' low and chucklin' in my stomach wif' da fidgets...

Zep

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Re: Hotspring at Costco.com?
« Reply #10 on: December 18, 2007, 05:51:24 pm »
"It is confirmed......Not a big seller"

why did the Watkins spas not sell well?

Zep

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Re: Hotspring at Costco.com?
« Reply #11 on: December 18, 2007, 06:02:51 pm »
"I wish I could find the thread pertaining to the Costco-HotSpring alliance.  
There was a lot of doom and gloom on it from competing dealers"


Term although I am not a dealer do you think people
were over-estimating the power of the Watkins brand?

As someome stated they were "the only one with an extensive nationwide
network of service and support
".

I quess the expectations were that a good product, with a good name,
along with good service and good support....would be a hit.

What happened?

 

Pathfinder

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Re: Hotspring at Costco.com?
« Reply #12 on: December 18, 2007, 06:08:47 pm »
My guess is that the tub didnt retail at around the $3,000 range like the junk spas that they mainly carry. So most uninformed buyers thought that it was too expensive.
« Last Edit: December 19, 2007, 12:10:36 am by Pathfinder »

East_TX_Spa

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Re: Hotspring at Costco.com?
« Reply #13 on: December 18, 2007, 06:10:05 pm »
Zep, my belief is that most consumers simply looked at the following:

1. Picture- the HotSpring Highlife is not the prettiest pig at the fair.  The other spas being sold on the website looked nicer on the screen.

2.  Jets- the other spas have a lot of them, albeit primarily generic bullet jets and air injectors.  HotSpring always has the lowest "jet count".

3.  Radios/TV's/Doodads- the other spas have them, the HotSpring did not.

4.  Price- the others were cheaper.

I think that's pretty much it in a turtle shell.

Term
Just layin' low and chucklin' in my stomach wif' da fidgets...

Zep

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Re: Hotspring at Costco.com?
« Reply #14 on: December 18, 2007, 06:37:52 pm »
Term/Pathfinder

I can relate.

In my industry, we are the highest priced.

We do not offer discounts or match lowballers.

Thats not our nitch......we like our nitch.

Rather than be Walmart, we prefer to be Neiman's.

Funny story, one time an attorney called and said
"well I can get the same thing for alot less" and I
gently told him, "yeah I can find an attorney in
the Thrifty Nickel newspaper that practices law too".

Price isn't everything!

Hot Tub Forum

Re: Hotspring at Costco.com?
« Reply #14 on: December 18, 2007, 06:37:52 pm »

 

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