Only 2 Manufacturers???

[mgc91941]

We were told by several dealers at the local Fair that there are only two spa manufacturers in the US, and that all the dealers add their own "bells and whistles".  The Sundance rep also said this was true of the competition, but added that Sundance & Jacuzzi Premium had their own manufacturing facility.   Just how true is this statement?

[tjr]

 do you want to buy a bridge?

[mgc91941]

Who's selling the bridge?  Sundance or the "competition"? :-/

[Chas]

mgc91941,

There are over one hundred hot tub makers in the US.

The two largest are HotSpring and Sundance.

HotSpring is really all of the following: HotSpring Spas, Tiger River spas, Caldera Spas, HotSpot Spas, and Solana Spas. Jacuzzi and Sundance/Sweetwater are also one company.

There are also only two makers of Acrylic sheet material, from which all the makers buy and form their own shells - at least all the makers who use Acrylic sheet. Any possibility that's what they were talking about?

[drb]

Well, not only is it not ture, but it's brown and sometimes the other cows step in it.

I have personally been to two spa manufacturers in my town, and I know for a fact there's one more here.

[mgc91941]

I thought it sounded a little strange.  They (the three dealers I spoke to) all said it in the context of only two "spa" manufacturers.  In hindsight perhaps it was a ploy to get us to focus more on who had the better fiber optics, waterfalls and stereo systems and not "worry" so much about the spa itself.  We did notice that with the exception of Sundance, the other vendors (this was at our local Del Mar Fair) all had similar looking shells, and their jets all looked very similar, if not exactly the same.  To me, this gave some credibility to their statement.

[stuart]

If there are only 2 manufactures in the US than the 5 factories I have visited this year alone are really not there!

I would run from whatever company told you that very fast! I don't think I could have confidence in anything they say unless, like chase said, they were talking about manufactures of acrylic sheets.

[Shut_Down_Stranger]

You must have visited the Del Mar Fair..

I believe what would have been more accurate would be that there are 2 spa manufacturers in San Diego county.

They are Watkins (e.g. Hot Springs/Tiger River/Catalina) and Dimension One.

Del Mar Fair prices are no longer as good as they used to be. I have heard that the fair auctions spaces off. So you have to sell a lot to make up for the cost of the show.

A number of spa dealers, including some good  ones no longer participate.

[dpgtech]

You are absolutely right the spaces are auctioned.  Many dealers hire dealer support sales crews.  Maybe be great salesman but in my experience selling against them at a state fair many are your stereo typical snake oil salesman, who will tell you everything you want to hear and say whatever they have to get your money. Why would they do this, because they are not going to see you again.  try telling the dealer " but the salesman said" for some problem that arises. a local salesman will develop an unhappy customer base making promises or claims that don't hold water.  this auctioning and the hiring of salescrews with per diem rates  and commissions can actualy drive prices up during a fair.  be Wary!