Dirty Dealer Tricks

[hottublover]

Hi guys,

I'm new here, but not to the hot tub industry.  I've
been consulting to the industry for some years.

I'm working with a large hot tub manufacturer and
am writing a special report for them called, "Dirty
Dealer Tricks."

I know that you guys are the pros and have "seen it
all" in terms of dirty tricks dealers use to get people
to buy their hot tubs.

Could I get your help?

Would you take a moment and list the TOP 3 dirty tricks
you've seen dealers do to get people to buy a hot tub.

Plus, I think this will be a great resource for people
who visit this forum.

Thanks

Hot Tub Lover

[East_TX_Spa]

The biggest gripe I have are the vagabonds who set up on the side of the road promoting "factory direct pricing" or taking "$6000 off on overstocked spas."  They really get under my skin.

Terminator

[shabba34]

My personal favorite is holding their head under water until they say yes.

or

Hiring a privite investigator to dig up dirt on a customer, and then using that dirt as blackmail until they buy.

or

Just being a proffessional and letting the customer buy the spa on their own terms, when they are ready.  I have a small mom and pop operation that prides on comfort levels of the customer.  I always have that water trick to fall back on.

[Mendocino101]

I think a big thing to me is vastly exaggerated Horse Power numbers that have nothing to do with water flow. warranty's that state lifetime guarantee without pointing that in most states that means 7 years or not really explaining that the warranty is pro rated .

[shabba34]

Just in rebuttle:  What spa manufacturer would want a report written on the top 20 dirtiest tricks you can use to sell a spa?
I would imagine that all the dealers on this board would take offense to someone claiming that are sales tactics are touted as such "Dirty". IMO  or is this manufacturer using this report to learn what other spa manufacturers are claiming or doing to boost their sales???

[Perk1]

How about the 'Buy the spa now for $7000 and in four years get $5000 back if you fill in all the paper work exactly right and send it in on exactly the right day(usually a full moon on a Wednesday in a month that ends in R but does not start with S, O, N or D)

[Chas]

One of the worst dirty tricks is to post on a web board or two as somebody interested in learning some inside info on the tub industry.

Not many fall for it any more though...

[Mendocino101]

One of the worst dirty tricks is to post on a web board or two as somebody interested in learning some inside info on the tub industry.

Not many fall for it any more though...

 

only the slower ones .....opps

[shabba34]

One of the worst dirty tricks is to post on a web board or two as somebody interested in learning some inside info on the tub industry.

Not many fall for it any more though...

 

I follow what your saying Chas, hence the old head under water and blackmail routine

[drewstar]

Oh man don't get me started. I am shopping for a new tub and I'm currenty in the thick of the dealer's dirty tricks.

1) Dealer "A" offered to sell me factory balanced spa water to fill my tub for $3.99 a gal.

2) Dealer "B"  made a pass at my wife. Kept telling her about the size of his "Master Blaster"

3) Dealer "C" would only allow us to do a wet test if he joined us and suits were "optional"

4) Dealer "D"'s tubs were filled with cheap, yummy vodka.

[tonyp]

Asking me what "dirty" tricks other dealers used to try to get me to buy their spa so that he could then use them on future customers.

[Brewman]

Isn't cheap yummy vodka an oxymoron?
Brewman

[Backpains]

4) Dealer "D"'s tubs were filled with cheap, yummy vodka


Yummy vodka which dealer had cheap yummy vodka in their hot tubs, and which ones had suits optional!? cause all the dealers I went to just wanted me to buy their hot tubs, and by the way, each and every one of the hot tub dealers I went to and yes I will mention them Bullfrog, Hot Springs, Caldera and Coleman were very very good dealers with super products and never ever ever used any dirty tatics to get me to buy a tub..I choose the Coleman for theraputic reasons

[Brewman]

Dealer "E" adds a fan and tin foil, and........
Oh, never mind.
Brewman

[vlady]

The lies.  No need to lie.  Just about every dealer I visited wanted to tell me that their spa was THE BEST in the industry.  Everybody here knows that THE BEST spa is the one that fits you best.

No posted prices.  This leads the consumer to believe that the price is to be negotiated or that everyone gets a different price based on your haggling skills.