Good post Shaamus...
I looked at the Tatum stuff at a show and thought it looked great.... Later I had the local distributor bring one down to my store so I could look deeper. I warned him that I would want to take it apart when he got here and see the insides and he agreed.
When I got into the cabinet and saw how cheap the product was built I was ashamed of myself for ever thinking it was decent.
1. 2x2 pine frame stapled with the wood not even coming together.
2. Insulation sporadic and missing for the most part.
3. Glue dripped all over the place
4. Hoses bent and kinked
It was an ugly sight under the nice wrapper....I can't imagine them building any name brand any better.
Whereas Maax seems to have possibly underestimated the value of the Coleman name (I have quite a few Coleman dealers that say it really helps), I think Coleman is overestimating it even more as they have now entrusted it to Tatum.
The problem with all the Tatum private labels is that dealers aren't stupid. They know that if they pick up Coleman or Lazboy, the scammer down the street carrying the low-end Tatum stuff is going to say "They're all built in the same plant and mine is $4000 cheaper." I wouldn't be surprised to see another announcement forthcoming about how a major mass-merchant or large chain like Leslies is getting the distribution like LaZboy ended up with Costco.
RIP Cal Cooperage / Coleman Spas