Let’s Talk Dimension One (D1)

[Sam]

I think you will be thrilled with D1, problems in the past are exactly that now,  in the past...

I would assume this too.  I hope I didn't sound like I was bashing them.  They really are some of my favorite spas out there.  Just trying to provide my honest opinion and experiences and there was certainly some frustration.

[aug0211]

I just need to find a D1 dealer who will respond to me. Have emailed twice, talked to 3 different associates who “promised” their D1 specialist would contact me, and left 3 voicemails. It’s been three weeks and I call about 3x/wk to leave a VM or talk to an associate (but never the main D1 guy who can have a meaningful convo with me). The company will not connect. The service guy is great - called me from his personal phone after hours and talked for about 30 minutes - but I can’t talk to anyone in sales who knows anything about D1. It’s a 1.75 hour drive to get to the store so I want to talk before driving there.

Who knows of decent D1 dealers within ~2 hours driving from Central Ohio (so really, anywhere in Ohio)?

[Sam]

Honestly, that would be a big enough red flag on the dealer that I would probably eliminate them from contention.  If they can't return your call with the prospect of a $15k sale, what will happen when it's a service issue or operational question?  I'll give people the benefit of doubt once or twice but this appears to be egregious. 

[aug0211]

This is what I’m so torn on. The sales team seems rough. The service guy, however seems great! So maybe service would be excellent after purchase? Going to give them through next week to see. Maybe things are crazy with people out around the holiday period?

We also reached out to the one other D1 dealer I can find in Ohio (really? Are there only 2 D1 dealers in all of Ohio!?).

[swilly1000]

If you have a good local service guy then can you not negotiate the best deal you can with the dealer and then not have to deal with them again?

I would try contacting D1 directly and feel them out on the warranty questions.  Can your local service guy do the warranty work?  Ask them about those service issues from years past.  Guessing they will have a scripted answer for that, but at least you will get a feel.

I would also consider letting them know about your difficulties getting a hold of the dealer.  They won't be happy to hear that their dealers are not following up on unsolicited leads!?!?

[BullFrogSpasMN]

Honestly, that would be a big enough red flag on the dealer that I would probably eliminate them from contention.  If they can't return your call with the prospect of a $15k sale, what will happen when it's a service issue or operational question?  I'll give people the benefit of doubt once or twice but this appears to be egregious.

I would agree, slightly alarming...I'm in sales and If i get a notification on my phone about a 'lead' either calling or emailing I'll literally pull off the road if I'm driving to call them back immediately.  If you submit a 'request' to our own local website (those leads are live, meaning once they hit send I get it immediately) I'm calling you if it's 8:00 pm at night, cause I know you're in front of the computer looking at spas.  Are you sure you're calling the right number? lol something just doesn't add up

[aug0211]

If you have a good local service guy then can you not negotiate the best deal you can with the dealer and then not have to deal with them again?

I would try contacting D1 directly and feel them out on the warranty questions.  Can your local service guy do the warranty work?  Ask them about those service issues from years past.  Guessing they will have a scripted answer for that, but at least you will get a feel.

I would also consider letting them know about your difficulties getting a hold of the dealer.  They won't be happy to hear that their dealers are not following up on unsolicited leads!?!?

I just sent a text to the service guy asking if he has any idea what is going on. We'll see what he comes back with. I'll be sure to let D1 know this dealer isn't trying to sell their tubs, too. Your note about only having to work with the dealer a little bit is actually the only reason I'm still considering these guys. I figure they can make some money off me on the orignal sale, that's fine - and then from then on, I'll be calling the service guy (and he may go through them, which is fine, as long as I am talking with him because he is super responsive).

Honestly, that would be a big enough red flag on the dealer that I would probably eliminate them from contention.  If they can't return your call with the prospect of a $15k sale, what will happen when it's a service issue or operational question?  I'll give people the benefit of doubt once or twice but this appears to be egregious.

I would agree, slightly alarming...I'm in sales and If i get a notification on my phone about a 'lead' either calling or emailing I'll literally pull off the road if I'm driving to call them back immediately.  If you submit a 'request' to our own local website (those leads are live, meaning once they hit send I get it immediately) I'm calling you if it's 8:00 pm at night, cause I know you're in front of the computer looking at spas.  Are you sure you're calling the right number? lol something just doesn't add up

Agree - it's so odd. Only thing I can think of is they're a member here on this forum and have decided I'm too high maintenance of a customer for them 

They have two locations. Their website "Call Now" button sends you to location A. Location A has always been super nice and pretty responsive. The first person I spoke to took down all of my information (name, number, email) and said he was going to line up a wet test for me in the Amore Bay and Sarena Bay - but would need to use both locations (and would drive us back and forth between the locations - wow, that's nice). Wanted to get my info so he could call me back with a date once he had everything coordinated. I send an email to location A to follow up (based on the address on their site) - and I never hear back).

Two weeks went by and I never heard back. I called back to location A and they said they would need to connect me with location B for D1 conversations. I said I'd call over there and they said don't worry - we have your info (remembered me from first conversation) and will send it to location B and have them call you.

Two days go by and I don't hear anything. I call back in to location A to make sure I wasn't mixed up. They apologize and say location B will call me before the end of the day. Nobody calls.

The next day, I call location B - and get an associate who works on fireplaces, not hot tubs, but she tries to answer some of my questions. She is super friendly - but not able to get specific with wet test opportunities and or pricing. Plays a game of telephone with the sales manager, but would not put him on the phone to talk to me directly. Finally, I give her my info, and also get an email address from her (different from location A, and I confirm it twice) and send that email address all of my details. I never hear back on that email.

That night, service guy from location B calls me on my cell phone and apologizes for missing me earlier in the day (?). I explain that I'm in the market to buy, and don't want to waste his time since I don't have any service needs (yet), but he proceeds to chat with me for about 30 minutes giving me general info, and gives me the specific name of the sales manager to ask for at location B.

I call location B again 2 days later, no answer, leave a VM.
One more day, another VM.
2 days pass, another VM.
3 days pass, I send another email to both email addresses (location A, location B). No response.

That's been about 3 days, I believe. I texted the service guy just now and he replied in the time that it took me to write this - gives me another number and another name to ask for. Fingers crossed that this one works out.

Meanwhile, the other D1 dealership that I can find in Ohio seems great - they are really friendly and responsive. Unfortunately, they are transitioning to a new location right now - and won't be set back up until March.

D1 is making it tough to buy a tub :-) Maybe we'll end up with Hot Spring/Jacuzzi/Sundance just because they are purchasable, lol (to be fair, we also like those three other brands, we just really want to give D1 a shot before pulling the trigger).

[Hottubguy]

I'm the same way as most of the dealers on hear.  I get a email and I automatically respond right away unless it's a holiday or I'm on vacation.  If I'm away the Emails get sent to one of the salespeople in my office and they do the same.  Would definitely give me second thoughts about purchasing a tub from them.  For whatever reason it seems D1 doesn't have a large dealer base (at least compared to most other high end brands).  There is a dealers about a half hour from me of them but I don't think there is another anywhere close to me.  For comparison there is 4 Hot Spring dealers whithin a hour and a half from me, 3 Marquis dealers, 4 Caldera Dealers, 3 Sundance dealers and a couple of Bullfrog dealers

[aug0211]

Good news, I reached out to "Location A" of the closest D1 dealer, and they apologized again and said they're really confused. The guy promised he would personally dig in to it for me.

Got a call from "Location B" about an hour later - he thinks their call routing is messed up so that calls are not routing to their sales floor. I hope it's true and it's just an honest mistake.

He talked to me for a really long time and clearly really likes Viking. He does also have the Amore Bay on the floor wet ready to be tested.

I'm not sure if this guys is really, really honest, or if he's trying to turn a huge profit here. Do these prices seem reasonable? I looked up other prices but they are all back from the ~2005 timeframe and I'm guessing things have changed.

D1 Sarena Bay - $15,500 supposedly this is loaded with every option/upgrade; includes delivery, cover, startup chemicals (no lifter, no chemicals beyond startup)
D1 Amore Bay - 14,000 supposedly this is loaded with every option/upgrade; includes delivery, cover, startup chemicals (no lifter, no chemicals beyond startup)
Viking Heritage - $9,900 supposedly this is loaded with every option/upgrade; includes delivery, cover, startup chemicals (no lifter, no chemicals beyond startup)

[castletonia]

Those D1 prices appear to be inline with what I have heard they sell for, but I do not have direct knowledge of their pricing.  The Viking price to me seems really really high.  I have nothing against Viking because I think they make a fine basic hot tub, but I could not justify spending $10k on them. 

[aug0211]

Those D1 prices appear to be inline with what I have heard they sell for, but I do not have direct knowledge of their pricing.  The Viking price to me seems really really high.  I have nothing against Viking because I think they make a fine basic hot tub, but I could not justify spending $10k on them.

Thanks so much. Not really too serious about Viking, but he was pushing it - and this was a good way to check his honesty. Odd that he'd be in the ballpark for D1s but so far off on Viking.

It sounds like this is a major "proceed with caution" in terms of this specific dealer. At least he has the Amore Bay that we can test. Is it fair to say the Amore and Sarena are similar enough inside (in terms of sculpting of the lounger seats, jets, etc) that sitting in the Amorea lounger will be reflective of what the Sarena would be like? We just can't find *anyone* who has a Sarena that we can wet test.

Also - was just reading a D1 manual online (an old one, from 2004 was all I could find), and that sport seat idea is interesting. Is that still available? I found an old thread here from years ago that indicated it was discontinued, figured I'd ask if maybe it was back?

[bachman]

Seriously, bad comms with that dealer and leads must cost them a ton of business.
Many people are just not that patient about that sort of perceived blow-off but I do get the idea if it's a great rated tub / company and local service is friendly, helpful and responsive when you've to yet buy anything.

Now that you've had that intial contact, I'd just tell him very directly that you do trust there was some call routing goof up's or confusion and ask for a personal # for that guy so you know it'll never happen again or if it does, his excuse is balony and at least you know NOT to trust them.


I did a recent visit to HTU and seen a favorable or hopeful comment regarding D1 as Chris W. mentioned the new leadership is the son and he is making it a priority to turn around the reputation that (I assume) must have slipped some in recent years.

Good luck moving forward to get the tub of your dreams !!

[swilly1000]

D1 Sarena Bay - $15,500 supposedly this is loaded with every option/upgrade; includes delivery, cover, startup chemicals (no lifter, no chemicals beyond startup)
D1 Amore Bay - 14,000 supposedly this is loaded with every option/upgrade; includes delivery, cover, startup chemicals (no lifter, no chemicals beyond startup)
Viking Heritage - $9,900 supposedly this is loaded with every option/upgrade; includes delivery, cover, startup chemicals (no lifter, no chemicals beyond startup)

"Every option/upgrade" would include a lifter.  What other "option/upgrade" is/are being excluded here? Again, check with manufacturer.

https://www.d1spas.com/hot-tubs/bay/sarena-bay/

[Sam]

$10k for a viking seems a bit crazy to me.  They are perfectly fine spas on the low end but if you're willing to drop $10k there are just so many other options out there that I can't imagine picking a viking.

As for the sarena bay, I think the loungers are very similar to those in the amore but the the rest of the spa is going to be significantly different.  Honestly, I don't like the way the sarena has those very enclosed seats.  They feel kinda weird.  I absolutely love the amore though.  It may very well be my favorite overall spa out there.

[BullFrogSpasMN]

$10k for a viking seems a bit crazy to me.  They are perfectly fine spas on the low end but if you're willing to drop $10k there are just so many other options out there that I can't imagine picking a viking.

As for the sarena bay, I think the loungers are very similar to those in the amore but the the rest of the spa is going to be significantly different.  Honestly, I don't like the way the sarena has those very enclosed seats.  They feel kinda weird.  I absolutely love the amore though.  It may very well be my favorite overall spa out there.

They are attempting (a horrible horrible idea in my opinion) to go 'higher end' One of their reps roped me in their booth a couple months ago at the Pool & Spa show in Vegas and was trying to get me to order a truckload...multiple pumps, more lights, stereos, more jets, fancy proprietary sub-structures, etc. problem is they are still using thermo plastic or whatever it's called for their shells which for YEARS have had fading and other issues.  If guys in the industry saw the current 2019 wholesale price list you wouldn't believe your eyes, you simply CANNOT compete with acrylic around that 10k price point using a plastic shell like they do, hence why I feel it's a bad idea for them..just my opinion of course.

Too me it's like Nordic trying to manufacturer and sell a spa that retails for 10k....why? you have an amazing business model already, why try to fix what's not broken?