Hi all -
I am new to this forum but have been looking at a number of really helpful posts over the past couple days - thanks! Here is my solicitation for advice, accompanied by what I have gleaned from the discussions. Please feel free to add your $0.02, or correct any misperceptions I may have. I have wanted a hot tub for a long time (parents had one when I was a kid), but they are a 'big-ticket' item, so it has taken a while to get to this point. I numbered my questions below, and appreciate any suggestions on these or related issues that come to mind.
One lesson I have gotten from this forum is that the dealer matters. In a big way. We are in a bit of a rural area, and have two dealers: "A" sells Sundance and Artisian, and "B" Hot Springs. We are looking for a 5-ish person tub (4 in family). I have visited both dealers and wet-tested several tubs. I have also visited and wet-tested in a major metro area 3 hrs away to compare experiences.
I liked the Sundance and Artisian tubs, but dealer "A" left me ready to not really consider these further - even though the store was empty he seemed to not want to really inform us about the products and was not very helpful. There were bugs and grime inside the dry tubs near windows to the point where the family (wife + 2 young teens) didn't want to get in. Dealer "B" was informative and upfront (advised against salt system, extras like TV/sound, price) and seemed like someone who would provide good support and service. This is not meant to be a global reflection of dealers - just my experience with some in my immediate area with whom I'd be dealing.
1: Am I overemphasizing the role of the dealer? Should I reconsider products at dealer A despite the concerns of support left by visit?
2: We came away with the HS Envoy as the early leader. Any who can share experiences/concerns/etc?
3: At the two HS dealers, the Envoy was quoted $11,200 at the metro location, $9800 at my local location, not including tax, but including delivery and setup (electrical hookup to 220V box we have installed) and getting it initially running. Does one negotiate on hot tubs? I really have no sense of this - seems like some say yes, some no. On one forum a HS dealer noted they price theirs $10 over invoice, so no negotiation - but the spread in prices for the two tubs makes me question this.
4. A couple have noted online that the top mistake of first-time buyers is to "buy too much tub". Would you agree on this?
My main concerns is getting a good product that we use and enjoy and provides reliability. I'd rather pay a little more (but not a lot) for peace of mind. If it has problems, we can't use it and the investment diminishes.
We are in the early stages of a decision, and appreciate the advice of "those who have gone before us". Any input on any of the questions above would be very helpful.
Thanks - and we look forward to joining the official ranks in the coming months!
-Jim
