New tub at Costco

[Curious]

Noticed a new tub being offered by my local Costco today.  It's called the OC 850L.  Anyone know if it is a rebranded tub?  The website is www.hottuboc.com.

[Chas]

That is a Cal Spa.

 8-)

[spaman--]

That is a Cal Spa.

 8-)

Cool ! new mold.

[Richs100]

That is a Cal Spa.

 8-)

I just saw this tub 'in the flesh' at the Kona, Hawaii Costco. We were there during our vacation since their gas is about 25 cents a gallon cheaper than elsewhere on the Island.  ($3.42 per gal at costco)   The tub looks pretty good.  The Sony speakers on each corner are flat, surface mount speakers rather than the pop-up kind.  So, they have got to stay wet all the time.....not sure about that.  The Cal Spa info from Chas scares me at bit, too!

They don't seem to have an "island surcharge" at the Kona Costco either.  A broiled chicken is $5.99 and a pizza is $11.99. Same prices as home. (plus they had great prices on Kona Coffee)

There was a hot tub at the resort (Hapuna Beach Hotel).  Beautiful place, but after reading several threads here, I was afraid to use the tub without a full water analysis.  I tried to get my Taylor Kit past the TSA but I couldn't get all the little bottles into a quart size plastic bag.      Just kidding...

[ndabunka]

Hmm, very similar to my Jacuzzi J-370 (this one is 450 gallons, mine is 480), both have a lounger and both have stereo.  The OC805 has more jets but no "footwell dome" so maybe that's a break even.  I am curious as to how much Costco is selling these for.  I didn't see the price anywhere in this thread....yet

[Chris_H]

My favorite thing is seeing Cal Spas selling at Costco because...  

1.  I remember seeing a letter from Cal Spas trying to recruit Hotspring dealers when Hotspring started selling at Costco.

2.  I remember reading this letter and it specifically stating that Cal Spas “respects" their dealers and would never consider selling their spas through a Costco type establishment.  

3.  It is amazing that they are selling through Costco.  They just went down 2 notches in my book.

[Spatech_tuo]

My favorite thing is seeing Cal Spas selling at Costco because...  

1.  I remember seeing a letter from Cal Spas trying to recruit Hotspring dealers when Hotspring started selling at Costco.

2.  I remember reading this letter and it specifically stating that Cal Spas “respects" their dealers and would never consider selling their spas through a Costco type establishment.  

3.  It is amazing that they are selling through Costco.  They just went down 2 notches in my book.

I wonder if this is why they are shown as being made by OC spas without any mention (that I could see) about them being a Cal product? Maybe they're hoping to somewhat hide the fact that its a Cal. I didn't see a price or is that at the Costco site somewhere?

[Dr. Spa™ Ret.]

Domain Name: HOTTUBOC.COM

        Registrant:        
         California Acrylic Industries, Inc.
         ATTN: HOTTUBOC.COM
         c/o Network Solutions
         P.O. Box 447
         Herndon, VA 20172-0447
        
         
 
         

         Administrative Contact :       
         California Acrylic Industries, Inc.
         vg2tt6js2w4@networksolutionsprivateregistration.com
         ATTN: HOTTUBOC.COM
         c/o Network Solutions
         P.O. Box 447
         Herndon, VA 20172-0447
         Phone: 570-708-8780
        
         Technical Contact :       
         California Acrylic Industries, Inc.
         vg2tt6js2w4@networksolutionsprivateregistration.com
         ATTN: HOTTUBOC.COM
         c/o Network Solutions
         P.O. Box 447
         Herndon, VA 20172-0447
         Phone: 570-708-8780
        
         Record expires on 30-Jul-2010       
         Record created on 30-Jul-2007
         Database last updated on 30-Jul-2007

[Chas]

That's exactly how I found them out.

 8-)

[Chas]

3.  It is amazing that they are selling through Costco.  They just went down 2 notches in my book.

Your book must have more notches than mine...

OK - that was low. But I will say this: HotSpring had their Costco program set up so the dealers could profit from it by doing full deliveries, selling Sub Panels and Ozonators, and by doing warranty work if needed. Of course, if the spa was located outside the regular service area a trip charge was to be expected. And the customers who purchased in a dealer's area were disclosed to the local dealer to allow them to connect and begin selling supplies and offering other support. I had zero in my area.

The HS program - which sold an amazingly LOW number of tubs - has been discontinued, btw.

 8-)

[Jacuzzi Jim]

 I just got a packet in the mail today saying we were qualified   to do service on that spa if we wanted. They even sent us a manual for it, with a parts list.  

 Doubt we will do it.

 Costco seems to change spa manufactures pretty often.

 The address on the business card inside is same as Cal-spa on there website.

[ndabunka]

My favorite thing is seeing Cal Spas selling at Costco because...  

1.  I remember seeing a letter from Cal Spas trying to recruit Hotspring dealers when Hotspring started selling at Costco.

2.  I remember reading this letter and it specifically stating that Cal Spas “respects" their dealers and would never consider selling their spas through a Costco type establishment.  

3.  It is amazing that they are selling through Costco.  They just went down 2 notches in my book.

Chris - It sounds like the marketing department @ Cal wasn't talking to the distribution group.  Now, If you could find that letter and a list of Cal Spas' dealers it might make for some interesting "mischief" to simply send them both the original letter and the advertisement and then see how pissed off those existing Cal Spa dealers get at their own corporate (wouldn't be the first time).  It's not like they didn't send this out themselves.

[BauerN]

Is this their new "regular spa", or is it another road show?

[Zep]

[size=20]
OC 850L Hot Tub[/size]
Sony Marine Grade Stereo Systems
50 Hydrotherapy Jets
UL Approved Dual Pump System
Ozonator 24 Hour Filtration for Water
M7 Command Station
5 Year Manufacturer Warranty






http://hottubsoc.com/hot_tub_specifications.aspx

The OC 850L luxury hot tub, is a high powered two pump system that
seats six, with 50 jets, an aqua therapy lounge seat, comfort head rest
pillows, standard ozonator, 24 hour filtration and a durable synthetic
wood cabinet.

[Vanguard]

My favorite thing is seeing Cal Spas selling at Costco because...  

1.  I remember seeing a letter from Cal Spas trying to recruit Hotspring dealers when Hotspring started selling at Costco.

2.  I remember reading this letter and it specifically stating that Cal Spas “respects" their dealers and would never consider selling their spas through a Costco type establishment.  

3.  It is amazing that they are selling through Costco.  They just went down 2 notches in my book.

Would anybody expect any less from Cal.  Some folks on this forum wonder why the people in the industry don't care for them too much.  These types of shenanigans are exactly why.  It's SOP for Casey.  Not that they are selling to Costco, but that they tried to recruit another company's dealers by saying, in print, they would never do that.  Now here they are doing it.  No surprise here.