Wow, Hot Spring Highlife selling at Costco.

[Gomboman]

Chas broke the news about this development but it's buried in another thread. I thought it would be nice to start a new thread.

Costco online is now selling the Highlife for $5,699. This seems like a good price point for someone wanting a great name brand spa at a reasonable price. The Highlife is setup to run on 110V but can be upgraded to 220V through your local dealer. The warrantee isn't quite the same but I believe it will be handled through your local Hot Spring dealer. It's much better than any other curb side delivered spa that I've heard of. The dealers can chime in here for specifics.

I don't have anything to do with Hot Spring--other than being a proud Envoy owner. I just wanted to pass this option on to folks who can't justify spending 10K on a new spa. To be fair, I know there are other brands in this price range that also deserve consideration.  

This will bring new meaning to the words "Costco Spa".

http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11112486&whse=&topnav=&browse=&s=1

[salesdvl]

I always liked the "Highlife" model.  I liked the original one better than the current version.  ( They retired the original model and then brought back the name years later as a deeper variation of the sovereign model.)

[TN__HOT_TUB]

Brand name spa not sold through a dealer. Very interesting.

The good news is that you can probably work something out with the local Hot Springs dealer for service issues.

Is it more important to have high quality spa, or strong relationship with local dealer?  I've always felt that you can pay a service technician at the local store.

[hottubdan]

It is not being marketed as a Hot Spring Spa.  Rather, it is from the makers of Hot Spring Spa, just as Tiger River Spas are from the makers of Hot Spring.

Warranty is 1 year parts and labor, 5 years on shell.  Service will be done by Hot Spring dealers who opt in.

Truly a new venture for Costco.com, Watkins Mfg. and the dealer network.  New paradigm for on line spas.

[Zep]

re: Costco now selling HotSpring spas

I am sure HotSpring spa dealers are
really going to be "thrilled" about this.  :-/

Yeah about like when I was shopping for a piano last year and told the
piano store that Costco was now selling the exact same piano for 30% less!

I ended up buying from the piano store but Costco
allowed me to beat them down on price and save
some additional money.

I am sure that same thing will happen
with these Costco spas made by the exact
same company as HotSpring.

Costco and Sam's are hard to beat on price, but ya wonder if you would get
as much help from a dealer as if you had bought the product from them?

I am a huge fan of Sam's & Costco but there are certain things I would not buy
from the mega-stores because of issues that may arise down the line as far as servicing.

It's tempting, but be careful.

[hottubdan]

re: Costco now selling HotSpring spas

I am sure HotSpring spa dealers are
really going to be "thrilled" about this.  :-/

Yeah about like when I was shopping for a piano last year and told the
piano store that Costco was now selling the exact same piano for 30% less!

I ended up buying from the piano store but Costco
allowed me to beat them down on price and save
some additional money.

I am sure that same thing will happen
with these Costco HotSpring spas.

Costco and Sam's are hard to beat on price, but ya wonder if you would get
as much help from a dealer as if you had bought the product from them?

I am a huge fan of Sam's & Costco but there are certain things I would not buy
from the mega-stores because of issues that may arise down the line as far as servicing.

It's tempting, but be careful.

Repeat:

It is not a Hot Spring Spa.
You cannot get the same spa at Costco.com from a dealer.
You cannot get a Hot Spring Spa from Costco.com.

Most dealers are happy with the program.  After all, we drank the kool aid.

[Zep]

re: "Reapeat...It is not a Hot Spring Spa"

I thought you said in your post the spa Costco is selling
is made by the exact same maker of the HotSpring spas?

[Gomboman]

It's a discontinued model which makes this a clever arrangement.

re: "Reapeat...It is not a Hot Spring Spa"

I thought you said in your post the spa Coscto is selling
is made by the exact same maker of the HotSpring spas?

[Chas]

re: "Reapeat...It is not a Hot Spring Spa"

I thought you said in your post the spa Coscto is selling
is made by the exact same maker of the HotSpring spas?

You are both right: it is made by HotSpring, but is a  model which is ONLY available through Costco.com - notice I didn't say IN COSTCO, BTW. Only Costco.com

And the spa comes with a dealer - 80% of the dealers in the US ahve signed on to help with the delivery and warranty service of this special spa.

Now, if I wanted to show this tub on my floor, I could order one online just like everyone else.

[marks]

Still this has to be scary for Hot Spring dealers.  Hot Springs will now be associated with a big box wholesaler and not a small independent spa store.  If I where a dealer I would not want to go along with this unless I was forced.  By the way the Costco Home store in Phoenix is selling a full line of Cal spas including the Rock faced one in the post on this page.

[Zep]

re:"Still this has to be scary for Hot Spring dealers"

marks.....I have never heard of "Costco Home Store"

I don't think they arrived in Dallas yet.

Can't wait to see one of those.

Did you know Costco is selling caskets too?





In God's Care Casket
by Universal
Standard Shipping
18 Gauge Steel

$924.99
Item # 810224
3 Business Day Shipping & Handling included
(Over night shipping available)

http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11008303&whse=BC&topnav=&browse=

ps: I heard people are "dying" to get one of these!

[salesdvl]

Repeat:

It is not a Hot Spring Spa.
You cannot get the same spa at Costco.com from a dealer.
You cannot get a Hot Spring Spa from Costco.com.

Most dealers are happy with the program.  After all, we drank the kool aid.

EVERYONE that has sold Watkins spas has banked on the phrase "It's made on the same assembly line as a Hot Spring, by the same worker, doing the same task, so you can be comfortable in buying a ....Tiger River or Hot Spot or whichever.  The fact that it isnt being called a Hot Spring doesnt really matter.  We all know it is, just minus the warranty.  Watkins adds alot of money to the dealer cost to pay for that warranty.  Marketing a model through Costco for less but dropping the warranty is a wash in my book.

If it walks like a duck...  

[hottubdan]

It's a matter of branding.  It is made by the maker' of Hot Spring.  It is supported by Hot Spring, and 80% of the dealers, as Chas posted.  It's similar to washing machines.  There are only a few manufacturers, but many more brands.

Bring 'im on, I say.

[TN__HOT_TUB]

If I were a HS dealer I'd figure out a way to make servicing these tubs a profitable endeavor.  Seems I've heard something about a "truck" fee.

Costco & Sam's usually make a "deal" with a manufacturer and then somehow stop selling that product.  In my world, we call these folks "prospects."  If I were a HS dealer, I'd figure out a way to make money servicing these tubs and convince them to buy their next tub from me (upgrade..no doubt).

A solid dealer should not feel threatened by Costco.

[marks]

Zep,

Costco Home is a test store only in Phoenix and Kirkland Washington.  They sell nice furniture, pool tables, fancy flat pannel TV's and outdoor furniture.  It is really well done and has great prices.  They also sell the Cal Spa line of outdoor grills and outdoor kitchens.  Anything you buy can be returned to any Costco store.