Prices around the country

[drprwnap]

I really don't have a problem with a dealer refusing to service a tub that someone went elsewhere to buy for a better price. My problem is the "futrue service calls factored into" the price of my spa. If I buy a spa from a dealer and he treats me good, I will:
1. Buy chemicals from him.
2. Buy spa accessories from him.
3. Tell everyone I know what a great dealer he is and praise him to no end (especially to friends looking for a spa).  
So the dealer gets a new, loyal customer. Why the need for the "future service calls" bs???

drprwnap  

[Vinny]

Well, I guess it gets down to price and I would think that all dealers are building that in. If they have 5 service techs and there's no long wait times - that is what your paying for or the owner goes out on the service calls, maybe it's greed. If you looked at brand A and saw it for $7,000 and you look at the same brand and found it for $6,700 then most likely you will go the second store and buy, but do they have the same service department?

What is considered good? Is a low price considered good? If the owner remembering your name is that considered good? Your tub breaks down on Thanksgiving (or a Sunday) and they get a tech out to you considered good? I would opt for this! After reading posts for a long time A LOT of people want that $12,000 spa for $4,000.

I agree with you but to some people a low price is what their after. In my example I probably could have gotten a spa cheaper by going with the local dealer who does what he wants but I decided to buy from a different dealer who wasn't as flaky.

Did I shop price - sure I did. But all the dealers I called to shop at I asked if they would cross territory lines and they all answered - yes! I would have expected them to service what they sell.

Will I support my dealer - I can't honestly say yes. I would love to but they are 1/2 hour away and I'm sure pricey on most of their items (I could buy 2 bottles of dichlor at a time). If it's an Artesian product - I'll be there (pillows and such) but I probably can get product (dichlor) on line for cheaper.

[East_TX_Spa]

If I buy a spa from a dealer and he treats me good, I will:
1. Buy chemicals from him.
2. Buy spa accessories from him.
3. Tell everyone I know what a great dealer he is and praise him to no end (especially to friends looking for a spa).  
So the dealer gets a new, loyal customer. Why the need for the "future service calls" bs???

drprwnap  

This is exactly our train of thought on the matter.  We are here to sell spas, a lot of spas, and that is where we make our money.  We are not looking to make our living from our service department.  It is strictly there to make sure our customers remain happy and keep sending their friends and family here to buy spas.

None of our competitors even have a service department.  It's all subcontracted between a couple of no account varmints that don't even have gas money to go out on calls most of the time.  We have 3 full-time service techs and we take care of our own!  

Terminator

[hotubinn]

So the dealer gets a new, loyal customer. Why the need for the "future service calls" bs???

drprwnap  [/quote]

Many times customers call with a "problem".  When you arrive at their house, you realize that there is not a problem at all.  This scenario happens often with new spa owners.  The dealer only gets paid for true warranty related calls.  If it is not a warranty issue, the dealer is out tech pay, gas, wear and tear etc...  If they have not made enough on the sale of the spa, they will be less inclined to provide this level of service.  The fact of the matter is warranty work is a break even prospect at best.  Building a little extra profit to cover these scenarios results in timely service.

[kvnlaw]

I figured this would generate a quite a few responses. I may have not worded things quite the way I intended. Warranty work is definitely not a money maker(break even if you're lucky). I am here to service my customers first and foremost. I will gladly sell chems., accessories etc. to anyone. If you move your spa from out of state or from a great distance and it's under warranty I will service it. If you went an hour away to save money, have your selling dealer fix your problem. Just an example. I had a dealer about 40 minutes south of me who would sell a spa for little to no profit when he found out someone had been in my showroom. After delivery if the customer had a problrem they would be at the very bottom of the food chain for service or treated so badly they would call us for service. In a case like that I would service the spa but I will also charge them a trip charge and labor which is my right. This is not a charity. It is a for profit business. If you don't make a profit you don't stay in business very long. We will soon be celebrating 20 years so we must be doing something right.

[Gary]

Kent ,this may start a problem, but, if a customer buys a tub from a different dealer in the same geographic area as my store he will not be getting service from me. Warranty work is not profitable. When we set the price for a tub we are not only factoring in cost of spa, shipping, etc. but the any possible future service calls. If a consumer moves a spa from a different locale and provides me with proof of purchase I will gladly service it. If you go 100 miles away to save $200.00 don't ask me to fix any problems under warranty. I would definitely be interseted to hear other dealers thoughts.

I am sorry but that is just plain nutty. I would do the service call and charge them a little mileage and try sell them other things as in chemicals, filters... and like alwaysperky stated you have a chance to pick up some new leads. I do not turn down any work. I understand warranty is not a profit center but it can be if you try a little.

[Gary]

If you went an hour away to save money, have your selling dealer fix your problem.

This should be used as your opportunity to gain that customer back. If you pass on this chance you will lose out on new customers.

[East_TX_Spa]

This is not a charity. It is a for profit business. If you don't make a profit you don't stay in business very long. We will soon be celebrating 20 years so we must be doing something right.

AMEN!

Terminator

[obi wan]

So the dealer gets a new, loyal customer. Why the need for the "future service calls" bs???

drprwnap  8)Many times customers call with a "problem".  When you arrive at their house, you realize that there is not a problem at all.  This scenario happens often with new spa owners.  The dealer only gets paid for true warranty related calls.  If it is not a warranty issue, the dealer is out tech pay, gas, wear and tear etc...  If they have not made enough on the sale of the spa, they will be less inclined to provide this level of service.  The fact of the matter is warranty work is a break even prospect at best.  Building a little extra profit to cover these scenarios results in timely service.

we have he same kind of issues in my biz, as far as customer error, or other non warrantee problems. we make it very clear when a service call is requested, if its not a warrantee related issue, a $68 trip charge + $65 per hour charge/ with a 15 minute minimum($16.25) charge applies. there are exceptions to every rule of course, but are not santa clause.
we do sell the service contracts i mentioned above, and honestly they make enough $ to cover our overall service costs + small profit.
i had asked earlier but got no response.. do any of you dealers offer any kind of long term service contracts?

i used to never buy them on other things i buy, but after a fiasco with a GE dryer very recently, i purchased the extended warranty plan on a $430 (NOT A GE PRODUCT, NEVER AGAIN) dryer for $89, to go from standard 1 yr to 5 years.i did this after i was told, my 12 1/2 month old dryer that was 2 weeks out of warrantee was going to cost $158 to fix.(it was $210 new) but i digress, just wanted to vent.....

since it sounds as though the warrantee reimbursement is not really working for most dealers, has anyone addressed it with their respective manufacturers?

[Vinny]

i had asked earlier but got no response.. do any of you dealers offer any kind of long term service contracts?

When I questioned my dealer about the 3 year warranty, they offer an extended warranty through them. Their whole thing was that the Artesian Island series is as good as their Platinum and Gold series that they really don't see the need but for those of us who are still nervous - we can get one.




I still think that if you went to a dealer and he/she was too expensive for the tub that ALL their products are going to be expensive. I can't see buying from a dealer an hour away to save $200 and now go to the local one and buy whatever else you need especially when you can buy through the internet.

I have a local dealer and he is expensive but people go to him. I have a friend who swears by them but for me they just are too expensive. YES, they need to make a profit but I don't have to shop them. I needed Algaecide from them for my pool, walked in and bought a quart for $24 a week later I went to Leslies pool supplies and bought a half gallon (a quart was $13.95) for the same price - It was the same ingredient 60% poly........... Both stores HAVE to make a profit but one is cheaper and I shop that store.

I have to say that if you moved into the area, the closest dealer should be forced to take care of you under warranty by the manufacturer. But if you bought from a different dealer then that dealer is responsible for you.

[Gman]

I know this has been beat to death -- but I have one other item to share.  I was and am still interested in an Artesian Antigua.  My local dealer (that has most of the northeast tied up) offered to give me a deal and sell me the 29 jet model for $6500.  From this forum I spoke with a person who bought the 38 jet model in Knoxville for $4200.  I even called the store and they told me they sell the 29 jet model for $3900.

I sent an email to Artesian and they gave me a lame excuse and told me that thye TN store absolutely will not and can not sell and ship the spa to me in Boston.  

M

[Spatech_tuo]

 My local dealer (that has most of the northeast tied up) offered to give me a deal and sell me the 29 jet model for $6500.  From this forum I spoke with a person who bought the 38 jet model in Knoxville for $4200.  I even called the store and they told me they sell the 29 jet model for $3900.

Wow, that is an extreme difference. Are you sure this was apples to apples?

[Vinny]

I know this has been beat to death -- but I have one other item to share.  I was and am still interested in an Artesian Antigua.  My local dealer (that has most of the northeast tied up) offered to give me a deal and sell me the 29 jet model for $6500.  From this forum I spoke with a person who bought the 38 jet model in Knoxville for $4200.  I even called the store and they told me they sell the 29 jet model for $3900.
M

What are other spas going for in your area? I found that the Down East and Sweetwater were about the same price as the Island series.

If they are selling for a lot less - I would say walk away from that dealer and spa brand. If it's because of greed, then that dealer won't be around much longer but if it's the going price - then that's the price in your area. There's a person here that got his spa for $1,000 less than I got mine for - he got a steal and I believe I got a good price.

If the dealer does ship you the spa and you have problems, you might end up paying for service.

[Mendocino101]

Hello....

Something I wish more people could and would understand about Spas...The Market is in the bigger picture of things is VERY VERY SMALL...that is why you have dealers of a particular brand with a territory that is rather large .... If my understanding is correct the number of spas sold per year is less than 700,000 as many like to compare it to autos where annually sales exceed 16 million .....That is why there are not more dealers it is not an easy industry to succeed in....I am in no way in favor of those who do seem to be exceedingly higher priced than others...being in the industry I think a price difference of up to a $1000.00 can be acceptable based on your areas market there are genuine  differences in the cost of doing business when it gets above that I myself have to go hummmm .....do keep in mind that at times there are a few dealers across the country who are no more than a catalog store where they show no tubs and are only a dealer because they might be a supply house or maybe a service center and a manufacture can not find another out let for their spas and as such these type of “dealers” with substantially  much less overhead can sell for less these types of dealers are few and far between but do exist .....I think it is wise to shop and get the best deal possible however do keep in mind where you live and the type of dealer you are dealing with if they are a full service dealer you may pay a bit more but you are also getting more and again depending on circumstances up to a 1000.00 would not be out of line and also you may be the one who is on the low side of the scale ....Happy Shopping...

[alwaysperky]

Look at the post from this poor fellow/fellett. I'd guess they're bummin quite a bit thinking gosh, I might have even prepaid for service calls,  and now I'm afraid I wont get service from anyone because I didn't buy the spa from them.

bulmer4nc
Ultimate Member

Even our Optima misses Hockey!!
Posts: 322
 Dealer gone... now what?
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So...  After all the debating about which spa to buy, we made our decision mostly based on how much we loved the local Sundance dealer.   Well, 8 months later and they're gone.  They still have a store that's about 2 hours away that I can call for support but that's a long way to go for supplies.

Anyone know of a place online that you can purchase Sundance supplies?  Things like MicroFilters and socks for the footwell are mostly what I'm interested in.

Any thoughts?

Ken