Who delivered your spa?

[bulmer4nc]

Think our Sundance dealer has the delivery crew working for them.  It was 2 guys.  They installed ozonator, cover lifter, and LED light and put the spa in place.  

Our delivery went perfect.  The guys showed up with the spa on a flatbed.  After installing the ozone and LED the tipped the spa onto it's side onto a combo plastic/carpet pad.  One guy pulled it around the backyard (other guy making sure it didn't tip over..).  He pulled it right into position and the two guys lowered it.  Once in position they installed the cover lifter.  Whole process took probably 45 minutes.  Electrician came the next day and we were up and running.  Couldn't have asked for a better delivery crew!!

[newtotubbing]

My dealer has dedicated delivery crews.  They did a good job with the delivery as they do 3 a day.

I guess the real question that might be asked is, what if a sub contracted crew damages your spa?  Do you have a claim with the dealer or the sub contractor?  

I am in the freight shipping industry and this would be interesting to see some answers.  If the dealer was A+ they would take responsibility, but I know the trucker would really be responsible in the end.

Jonathan

[Brewman]

I would expect to have my dealer be responsible for any damage done by them or their subs.  
Unless you agreed to something else, your agreement was between you and the dealer.  The dealer, in turn, had their own agreement between them and the delivery company.  

Our spa was on a really neat trailer.  
Once unhooked from the tow vehicle, the installers put a special set of wheels on the trailer, and tipped it up on its side, spa and all.  The road tires stayed with the truck.
These other wheels had 4 relatively large air filled tires, which were steerable.  The trailer converted right to a spa dolly.  Really clever gadget.  Two men were easily able to wheel it down into our backyard, and set it down right on target.  

Brewman

[poolboy34]

The dealer I work for has it's own crews.  Our delivery guys work in our service deptartment, install In-ground, and above ground pools as well.  Spa deliveries keep them busy during the months that we can't install pools.

[tony]

You deal with the dealer.  The dealer deals with the sub.  Any dealer that uses a subcontrator should be sure they are adequately insured.  IMO, the spa in not yours until it is in its final resting spot.  If it is not perfect, that is the dealers problem.

[wmccall]

Ok, my 1000th post will be recounting the day my tub was delivered.  I had all the prewiring done, I was told the day it would be, the exact time could vary.

I took the day off work. 2pm in the afternoon came, I called the store, the delivery company hadn't picked it up yet.   5pm, same story.   7pm,. the store was closing, but someone would wait around for the delivery company to pick it up.   I called back at 8pm nobody answered, I figured I had wasted a day's vacation.

About 10:15pm up pulls the delivery truck.  Two guys were going to move our huge tub. I elected to help, big mistake.  They got it in place, proceeded to try to figure out how to put the steps together (we had to help) They installed the cover lifter and drilled a hole through our cover.  Then the guy told me the chemicals that came with our tub were not sufficient and we needed to spend $200 on his kit.  I threw him out of my yard and completed the water and electrical hook up.  Just after midnight I had a functional tub that was sitting at 52 degrees.  The dealer replaced the cover the next day and apologized repeatedly.   Its been all good since then.

[wmccall]

I guess the real question that might be asked is, what if a sub contracted crew damages your spa?  Do you have a claim with the dealer or the sub contractor?  

As you will see in my story above, the dealer took care of me.

[doodoo]

I guess the real question that might be asked is, what if a sub contracted crew damages your spa?  Do you have a claim with the dealer or the sub contractor?

I should add that I only signed for delivery of the tub once everything was in place. The service manager had to go for another delivery apppointment halfway through my delivery and left the form with the lead hand. When everything was installed, he produced the documents along with all of the other paperwork like warranties etc... and I signed for the tub.  Up until that point the dealer was still legally in posssession of the the tub. So anything happens it is his.

[Top_Cat]

Chris, each of them got a very big tip.

[newtotubbing]

I am glad to see that the dealers are standing behind their 3rd party contractors (so far, Spa Haven Owners not so lucky).

I tipped the 3 guys $75  and told them to enjoy and good lunch on me.  Back in the day (not long ago, $25 would get you a nice dinner, and I'm not that old!)  I saw one of the delivery guys when I went to the store and he went out of his way to say hi to me and ask about the spa.  As I paraphrase Steve Martin in the movie 'My Blue Heaven', "I just don't tip, I over tip".  My thought exactly.

Jonathan

[Spa_Tech]

I AM a subcontractor...

I have delivered spas for as many as four dealerships in my territory as well as individual spa moves for folks moving across town.

And unlike other subs mentioned here, I dont use my beer drinking buddies and a flatbed trailer to get from point A to point B. I dont use cardboard to sled or skid any product. I dont use plywood to make a piano dolly work. And its never taken me more than myself and another fellow to deliver any spa.

The company that delivered Brewman's spa used the Spa Dolly made by Almar Manufacturing in Kansas (1-800-617-5496). This is the same system I have used since 2001 and the thing is worth its weight in gold. (Well... almost... Lets put it this way-- If I allocated all the net income made using this specialized trailer I would have been able to purchase another new Spa Dolly the first year I used it,... this year it would be two.)

As a service provider I was able to use this equipment to suppliment my income by delivering for dealers that couldn't deliver as fast or as safely--or didnt have the dedicated manpower.

If youre either a dealer or service provider its essential that you have the right tools to do the job. In my opinion its not enough to have your delivery crew in matching t-shirts and I can tell you from numerous deliveries that theres nothing more effective in earning your customers confidence in your ability than using tools specifically designed to the job youre out to do.

Cardboard--- silly boys.

Oh and as for damage done to the product in the course of delivery... It would be the subcontractor that would be responsible for damages- Anything happening to the product while it is in their posession is something that they'd be liable for.

[ZzTop]

I AM a subcontractor...

I have delivered spas for as many as four dealerships in my territory as well as individual spa moves for folks moving across town.

And unlike other subs mentioned here, I dont use my beer drinking buddies and a flatbed trailer to get from point A to point B. I dont use cardboard to sled or skid any product. I dont use plywood to make a piano dolly work. And its never taken me more than myself and another fellow to deliver any spa.

The company that delivered Brewman's spa used the Spa Dolly made by Almar Manufacturing in Kansas (1-800-617-5496). This is the same system I have used since 2001 and the thing is worth its weight in gold. (Well... almost... Lets put it this way-- If I allocated all the net income made using this specialized trailer I would have been able to purchase another new Spa Dolly the first year I used it,... this year it would be two.)

As a service provider I was able to use this equipment to suppliment my income by delivering for dealers that couldn't deliver as fast or as safely--or didnt have the dedicated manpower.

If youre either a dealer or service provider its essential that you have the right tools to do the job. In my opinion its not enough to have your delivery crew in matching t-shirts and I can tell you from numerous deliveries that theres nothing more effective in earning your customers confidence in your ability than using tools specifically designed to the job youre out to do.

Cardboard--- silly boys.

Oh and as for damage done to the product in the course of delivery... It would be the subcontractor that would be responsible for damages- Anything happening to the product while it is in their posession is something that they'd be liable for.

Spa Tech

Excellent Post.  Thats the kind of information I can get my teeth into.

Thanks

Regards, Zz

[salesdvl]

I agree. Nice comments ST.

[rocket]

I was surprised to see so many dealers using subs.  My feeling is that when you use subs, you have the opportunity to loose too much control and customer service.  If there is a problem, the customer should go to the dealer and make him responsible to fix it.  He then can do with what he wants with the subs.

[Spa_Tech]

I was surprised to see so many dealers using subs.  My feeling is that when you use subs, you have the opportunity to loose too much control and customer service.

Actually, subcontractors can help a retailer retain more control over their business.

For example, smaller or newer retailers often arent generating enough income to justify hiring a part time staff, let alone a full time crew to deliver spas. Often, this type of retailer doesnt have the experience in service and delivery necessary to put the professional polish in execution. And there are experienced retailers that want nothing to do, other than sell spas...

With a qualified subcontractor, the product gets from point A to point B on a cost per unit basis, without having to pay for workmans comp insurance, the cost of processing payroll, the cost of a delivery truck and equipment on standby, insurance for said truck and equipment, and dealing with the income vacumme created by hourly employees.

This is the primary reason why dealers use subs- Now on the other hand,...

As an experienced spa service man and delivery tech, that's not how I will be conducting business. Once I'm in position to open doors on a storefront spa dealership, I'll be servicing and delivering my own product. Perhaps my feelings will change over time, but I tend to be a little bit of a control freak.