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Here is the real deal. If they have a really great buy on something, than it would be worth it. Just to go and look and maybe find something...I would say no....For service the manufacture is who is backing your spa, Yes the selling dealer should service it but in your case you have no local dealer so the maker would pay a local service tech on your behave. Trip or Travel fees excluded.Where most makers have issues is an outside dealer low balling someone just make a quick sale and than expecting the local dealer to handles all service issues. Small dealers are generally smaller Mom and Pop type stores and some offer very few display spas and sell on a order basis only with next to nothing show rooms. It is not hard to see that they have very little over head compared to someone who is showing 10, 12 or more spas and are a full retailer. Like so many Internet sellers of varying items who really are nothing more than order takers and as such almost anything they make is all profit.
Vinny, That is correct and a good local dealer would maybe already have arrangements made with a local tech who is located in those far reaching outline areas with the factory's knowledge and blessing I am sure. If you live in the sticks so to speak I am sure driving for certain products is just what you do and understanding the service issues are just part of living where you live.
How far away can someone safely or realistically go away from there home to purchase a spa? At what cost: increased fees for service visits. There is a Marquis dealer in Houston and that is about 230 miles away from where I am. Is the thought of putting Marquis on my "list" even feasible or should I just say forget it. Experts / Dealers / regular guys and gals your thoughts!
I look at it as an educated risk, Coleman makes a highly reliable hot tub and in reality I should never have to return to service it. The vast majority of the time I am correct and never see the people again.
This is how my experience has been with my MasterSpas LSX. At the time of my purchase and install (July, 2004), there was only 1 MS dealer in Florida...in the Tampa/St. Pete area...about 250 miles from me. When I asked about possible service calls, the dealer was very upfront and said that he would make arrangements with a local tech to install/repair any parts that he would ship overnight. As it turned out, I've never had a service call and, subsequently, a local spa dealer in Tallahassee added the MS line about a year after my purchase and has been very willing to support me should it be necessary. So, in my case, I took a chance to get what I felt was the best spa for me from a non-local dealer and, so far, it has paid off.
I'll at least check it out. Worst that can happen is that they can't service that far, or the costs will be too high. From all that I have heard the Epic is a tempting hot tub.