Buyer Beware

[SerjicalStrike]

"The warranty is backed by the factory and performed by the dealer"

The warranty is backed by the factory and performed by the dealer that sold the spa.  

Moving and taking your spa with you is very different to not buying from a local dealer because the price was better at the other dealer.

[Brewman]

If you bypass the local dealer to save $$$, that dealer will know or can find out where you got that spa- I'd suspect the factory would tell if asked.  
You'd then be relying on the kindness of that dealer who knows you skipped over him.  
Maybe he'd be a stand up guy and do a warranty claim, maybe he'd refuse because he's upset he didn't get the sale.  Maybe he'd put you on the bottom of the pile for servicing, maybe he'd charge a high trip fee.
You won't know which till you have a problem.

And from what I've heard here, dealers do not get reimbursed from the factory for warranty repairs at the rate they bill customers for who are out of warranty.

[Spatech_tuo]

If I  ever find out what dealers doing this Im going to turn him in to the Caldera People.

I imagine all you'd need to do is get the serial number and pass it on the Caldera. I gotta beleive tehy track who gets what spa by that number.

[stuart]

I imagine all you'd need to do is get the serial number and pass it on the Caldera. I gotta beleive tehy track who gets what spa by that number.

You should call Caldera with the serial #...They can find where that spa has been without a doubt.

My guess is that the local dealer might help with that.

[Chas]

Vinny is right - at least for the tubs I sell: if a customer moves it into my area I will gladly service it. I get paid to do so, and have no problem. That is completely different than what we are talking about. In fact, it makes a good case for buying from a name-brand if you think you might move...

On the other hand, put yourself in my position: if Mrs. Jones left my showroom in a huff because I wouldn't take money away from my family and give her a spa for next to nothing, and then later is on the phone begging me to come fix the same exact spa which she went off and purchased from a distant dealer who now can't show up until next Thursday - my normal answer is 'sorry, but no.' And the factory will back me completely.

[Chris_H]

On the other hand, put yourself in my position: if Mrs. Jones left my showroom in a huff because I wouldn't take money away from my family and give her a spa for next to nothing, and then later is on the phone begging me to come fix the same exact spa which she went off and purchased from a distant dealer who now can't show up until next Thursday - my normal answer is 'sorry, but no.' And the factory will back me completely.

I guess that has happened more than once...

[East_TX_Spa]

On the other hand, put yourself in my position: if Mrs. Jones left my showroom in a huff because I wouldn't take money away from my family and give her a spa for next to nothing, and then later is on the phone begging me to come fix the same exact spa which she went off and purchased from a distant dealer who now can't show up until next Thursday - my normal answer is 'sorry, but no.' And the factory will back me completely.

Amen!

Terminator

[kvnlaw]

Dead on  as usual Chas. We gladly welcome transplants into our family. People who choose to go elsewhere to save a few bucks can go to the same place for service. They can call me when they're out of warranty or pay me fair market value for the service call while still under warranty ,but, by no means will I service another dealer's spa who undercut me and then won't provide the service they are obligated to perform.

[J._McD]

"It is unwise to pay too much, but it's worse to pay too little.  When you pay too much you pay more money, that is all.  When you pay too little, you sometimes lose everything, because the thing you bought was not capable of doing what it was expected to do. A common principle of consumer economics prohibits getting more and even sometines the same for less, it can't be done.

If you deal with the lowest bidder, it is good advice to add something for the risk you run, and if you do that, you will have enough money to afford something better.

Shop - Compare - Be Aware."

This is taken from a booklet that we distributed back in 1985 and not much has changed in 20 years.  Prices are higher, products have developed and evolved, but buyers still bargain and and sellers still compete with lowball sellers.  Wholesale pricing is up and freight is outrageous and comes with a "surcharge".

We all want to stretch our dollars, but sometimes, we somehow shoot ourselves in the foot.  We have all saved a buck before, where we later spent more to replace it.  

ALL professional dealers will service ANY customer that moves into town with his product line without exception.  But shop him and buy his product from someone who does not expect to be responsible to you in the future, consider this, The money you save should be put in a cookie jar to pay for what you don't get.  

Maybe, just Maybe you will never need it.

[jsimo7]

"It is unwise to pay too much, but it's worse to pay too little.  When you pay too much you pay more money, that is all.  When you pay too little, you sometimes lose everything, because the thing you bought was not capable of doing what it was expected to do. A common principle of consumer economics prohibits getting more and even sometines the same for less, it can't be done.

If you deal with the lowest bidder, it is good advice to add something for the risk you run, and if you do that, you will have enough money to afford something better.

Shop - Compare - Be Aware."

This is taken from a booklet that we distributed back in 1985 and not much has changed in 20 years.  Prices are higher, products have developed and evolved, but buyers still bargain and and sellers still compete with lowball sellers.  Wholesale pricing is up and freight is outrageous and comes with a "surcharge".

We all want to stretch our dollars, but sometimes, we somehow shoot ourselves in the foot.  We have all saved a buck before, where we later spent more to replace it.  

ALL professional dealers will service ANY customer that moves into town with his product line without exception.  But shop him and buy his product from someone who does not expect to be responsible to you in the future, consider this, The money you save should be put in a cookie jar to pay for what you don't get.  

Maybe, just Maybe you will never need it.

Very Well said Jmcd..... !!

[stuart]

"It is unwise to pay too much, but it's worse to pay too little.  When you pay too much you pay more money, that is all.  When you pay too little, you sometimes lose everything, because the thing you bought was not capable of doing what it was expected to do. A common principle of consumer economics prohibits getting more and even sometines the same for less, it can't be done.

If you deal with the lowest bidder, it is good advice to add something for the risk you run, and if you do that, you will have enough money to afford something better.

Shop - Compare - Be Aware."

This is taken from a booklet that we distributed back in 1985 and not much has changed in 20 years.  Prices are higher, products have developed and evolved, but buyers still bargain and and sellers still compete with lowball sellers.  Wholesale pricing is up and freight is outrageous and comes with a "surcharge".

We all want to stretch our dollars, but sometimes, we somehow shoot ourselves in the foot.  We have all saved a buck before, where we later spent more to replace it.  

ALL professional dealers will service ANY customer that moves into town with his product line without exception.  But shop him and buy his product from someone who does not expect to be responsible to you in the future, consider this, The money you save should be put in a cookie jar to pay for what you don't get.  

Maybe, just Maybe you will never need it.

Nice to see you back around my friend....

[J._McD]

Nice to see you back around my friend....

It is always nice to be someone's friend....especially yours  
Things got off to a slow start, but boy did they accelerate fast.  Going to San Diego for the 3-4-5.

[stuart]

Make them take for to old town for some of the best Mexican food anywhere!

[hottub.pool_boy]

yep, there's still one born about every minute.

[bob5820]

Keep in mind that some of us tub owners are kinda plumbing smart and see the inside of a hot tub as a very very simple piece of plumbing. This of course is not just me, there is alot of us out there. I have not used my local dealer since I purchased. Except to get the phone number of the factory. My warranty is up on the plumbing and electronics so I will now have to buy parts, if needed, from him. Or another dealer of this brand.  So an internet purchase may not be that bad of a deal for some folks.

I am a proponant of local dealers for most people, but just wanted to put another spin on this topic.

Money is not the only factor to consider. I've been an aircraft mechanic for nearly 20 years, and while I could figure out how to fix the tub if need be, I'd rather have someone with experience do the job. The other thing to consider is time. If the goes down on Tuesday, I most likely wouldn't have time to look at it until Saturday, while the shop may actually have it fixed by then.  Do I really want to give up my weekend to fix a tub thats under warranty