Who has the best warranty out there?

[BIG_PAPA]

Pick only one manufacturer.who in you opinion offers the best warranty out there and really does stand by there product? only pick one.

[Wisoki]

The warranty is only as good as the company that sells you the hot tub.

[HotTubMan]

Talking to sales their salespeople, CalSpa has the best.....
Taking to their customers.......

About the best out there is 5 years parts and labour on equipment. Acrylic 7 seems to be about the best. As far a shells, well you'll replace everything else first so....

[huh?]

Is that an 8oz or 10oz can of worms?

[Mendocino101]

That is the super size can of worms....I think what separates warranty's are the items that are excluded and and those that are NOT PRO RATED....

[Chas]

I would agree that this can be a real can o' worms. But if you take time to read the warranties, you will know what you have before you buy.

For example, there are a couple of companies offering lifetime warranty coverage on the shell. Fine. Trouble is, after five years or so you have to ship the tub to the factory. Still fine. But it gets better: they prorate the coverage so that it is entirely possible that you could have a problem, think you are 'covered,' and end up shipping a spa across country at your own expense only to have the factory fix the tub and then bill you for 80% of the cost of the repair.

Not that I'm bitter...

I like the simpler approach: 5 years on this, 7 years on that, 5 years no-fault on the heater or whatever.

I also agree that the company behind the warranty gives you confidence in the warranty - or not.

[TALKCalgary.com]

A little bit off topic, but forgetting the warrantee issues what is the average life of a spa? for example, do any members of this forum own (or know someone who owns) a spa which is over ten years old?

Steve

[Chas]

A little bit off topic, but forgetting the warrantee issues what is the average life of a spa? for example, do any members of this forum own (or know someone who owns) a spa which is over ten years old?

Steve

Oh yeas oh yeas oh yeas....

I have two neighbors who own HotSpring tubs which are older than 15 years - and still goin' strong.

I have a lead salesman who owns a HS Sovereign which is about 16 years old. I have owned Classic models which were well into the teens.

Here is a customer's tub which was produced in 1994 - still going strong:
Keep in mind that I started selling HotSpring tubs in 1986 - and that I keep in touch with my customers. There are many hundreds of tubs which I have sold out there - and some of them are getting down-right old!

[Chas]

Followup to my previous post:

Many name-brand tubs will last this long or longer. I didn't want to imply that ONLY HS tubs will do this....  

[Lori]

I have a friend who bought a Jacuzzi tub (used) about 15-20 years ago!  It is still going strong.  In fact, her tub was a deciding factor for me to get my own!

[ebirrane]

I would pick Watkins manufacturing, but I own a hot springs.  Hot Springs had some problems in the 90s with subcontractor parts.  I believe heaters that could cause a fire and shells which could develop ugly micro-cracks in them.  From everything I have read Watkin's response to these was incredible, even helping tub customers who were out of warranty.

I would do a search for these two incidents (maybe more?) but I have always had the impression that Watkins stood by their product very well.  I have also heard they watch over their subcontractors more, too.  

-Ed

[Brewman]

Most manufacturers have one or two "oopses" in their history.  
Things can go wrong despite anyones best intentions.
It's how the problems are deal with that matter.
Watkins did the right thing to resolve their problems, and look where they are today.  

Brewman

[Mendocino101]

Brewman......doing the most basic of thngs...like honoring their warrtanty.....has been a huge pay off to Watkins....I understand that it caused them some hardship to do it....but it was the right thing to do....and todays benefit of being known as a manufacture who stood and still stands behind their product...(the contrast between them and Cal Spas)...has severed them very well....there seems to be only a handful of manufactures out there share in that commitmentt....Hot Springs.....Marquis....Beachcomber..I am guessing Sundance/Jacuzzi as well....How is Master with regards to claims....

[Drewski]

For my Artestian Platinum Class:

5 year bumper-to-bumper on EVERYTHING, non-prorated, no expenses except water.

7 year shell "surface" warranty, no blisters, cracks, defects, etc.

LIFETIME shell structural warranty against leaks caused by defects in shell.

Probably not the BEST, but it's working well for me...

Drewski

[BobRex]

You might want to check with a lawyer regarding the definition of "LIFETIME" in your state.  Pennsylvania defines lifetime as 7 years in the context of warranties.

Kinda sheds a different light on some of these "superior" warranties, don't it!