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I would say the reason has nothing to do with insurance. I would bet the sole reason is that virtually nobody wet tests for various reasons. For some they don't feel comfortable doing it and others are content sitting in the tub empty. This whole year I've had 3 people wet test spas and one of them came from someone on this forum. I agree with you that it's best to wet test and I always offer but you should see the looks I get when I offer it
Lol, I had to do the same thing with my wife. Her attitude was "get whatever you like". But I kept drilling in her head that I could love a certain tub that would not fit her, and she might not enjoy the jets as much as I. I kept telling her, there was a tub out there we both would love and the only way to know is to wet test. Now that we enjoy our tub daily, she couldn't imagine going with another tub. My dealer also was impressed with the fact I wanted to wet test, and said he had done all of three wet tests in the last few years. That really blows my mind, it's not like you can return it if you don't like it.
There are only 3 dealers in my town. Jacuzzi is the only one that will let you wet test. Sundance and Hot Spring say No, insurance liabilities. Would you buy one you couldn't wet test?
Thank you everyone. I am going to insist on wet test