Hot Tub Forum
Original => Hot Tub Forum => Topic started by: Big_Dog on June 19, 2007, 01:49:19 pm
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I too am looking to buy my firest hot tub and in need of some advice. I have been doing much researching and have narrowed my choice to a couple of spa's that I will wet test.
I live on the east coast and everyone I have spoken with that owns a spa has indicated that Janurary-February timeframe is the best time to buy because of the discounts at this time of the year.
Also, there are several regional Hot Tub/Spa "fairs" where many dealers get together at a specific location to show their wares and offer pretty good deals if you buy on the spot.
Curious if anyone has any advice on either topic, I would like to buy before this winter but if the price savings is substantial I can certainly wait a few more months.
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Hey dog,
I'm on the East coast (MA) too. I agree that in the begining of the year seems to be when folks can get some good deals. Usally these deals are on the previous years "left overs".
Keep in mind though if you are in a snow region on the east cost, the weather may keep you from actually installing it for several months.
Other folks have reported getting some decent savings on floor models. These are usually tubs that dealer has on the floor and used for demos and wet tests. (If you do get one of these, make sure you get new filters, and the warranty is full). Although you can stumble across these anytime, they seem to be in abundance at the begining of the year, when dealers are moving out old inventory and want the newest models on thier showroom floor. Keep an eye open for scuffs and dents.
Remember:
Never ever buy at a homeshow.
Never ever buy from an internet dealer.
And there is one manufactuer/dealer who advertises a spa and garden show (16 different manufactuers competeing for your business! This weekend only at the Expo Center! Hurry! Hurry! Hurry!) Bzzzzzt. Stay far away from these guys. They are only 1 manufactuer and it's a high pressured scam (and road side tent sales too.) They do this across the country and it's not worth your time.
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Never ever buy at a homeshow.
I need to modify this one.
Only buy at a home show or fair if the exibiter is a local dealer with a showroom that can service you.
My 2 cents. ;)
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Thanks for the responses, I am in MD, and have narrowed down (I think) to Hot Springs Grandee or Vanguard. Both are listed close to 10K and was looking to get a little better deal if possible.
There are a couple of Pool and Spa Expo's/shows throughout the year that many of the regional dealers attend to demo and show their spa's. Definitly would only buy one if I have a dealer local.
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$10k for a Vanguard? Wow, I live in Indianapolis and bought one at the end of 2006 for $8400 and that included tax, delivery, steps, cover, coverlifter, startup chemicals, etc.
At $10k I think you being taken for a ride.
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What wrong with buying at a home show Drewstar? Thats where I bought mine.
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I need to modify this one.
Only buy at a home show or fair if the exibiter is a local dealer with a showroom that can service you.
My 2 cents. ;)
+1
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Generally speaking there is no better time to buy.
Couple of ways to save money
Wet test every model you are interested in and narrow down a few spas brands/models.
Then, call everywhere within a 2 hour radius of your house and try and find a leftover model.
I found the further away from the cities I went, the best deals I found.
Negotiate over the phone, make sure you understand everything about the model so the saleman knows you have been shopping around and you are serious and ready to make purchase.
Make sure you are ready and let them know you are ready to sign.
Most important part is finding the tub you want and then finding the right price. The dealer is not important like everyone on this boards makes it seem. This board is all dealers and that is part of their sales game.
I wish they sold these quality tubs at the big box stores because I would have bought mine there in a heart beat. If that tells you anything.
Strange industry, good luck.
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Oh one other thing. Install it yourself if are willing.
It is very easy if you have access to your spot without the need for a crane or lift.
You can use picking up the hot tub and installing yourself as a negotiation tool also.
I saved close to $500 picking up and installing myself.
It was a piece of cake let me tell you.
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Oh one other thing. Install it yourself if are willing.
It is very easy if you have access to your spot without the need for a crane or lift.
You can use picking up the hot tub and installing yourself as a negotiation tool also.
I saved close to $500 picking up and installing myself.
It was a piece of cake let me tell you.
I wouldn't paint this with such a broad brush. Usually it is pretty simple. However, many times it is not, even for the people who deliver them as their job. Most people want the piece of mind to have this done for them. I would not recommend it for the average person but for some it may be the way to go.
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The dealer is not important like everyone on this boards makes it seem. This board is all dealers and that is part of their sales game.
That certainly may be your opinion and you're welcome to it but my experience differs from your vast experience!
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I would concur with Spatech t.u.o.
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I'm not a dealer but I am in the spa business. When people on this forum say that where you purchase may depend on the dealer. They (I) suggest this because you will be forming a mutually beneficial relationship. You will eventually need help, advice, service on any hot tub that you buy. If you pick a hoser of a dealer you expect bad, slow and none existent service when you need it most. They can turn the best hot tub into the worst experience and vice versa. This doesn't mean that you don't haggle for a good deal, as for when is the best time to buy, the best deal is had on scratch and dents and last year models. The scratch and dent is my personal favorite, you find a scratch that nobody will see once you fill it full of water and save a little $$. Good luck ;)
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The best time to buy is when YOUR ready, rarely if ever on just about ANYTHING I have ever purchased was there not a sale or an event of some type happening. I have mentioned this before and this not a if I could, would you thing but simply be direct with your dealer and ask what can they can be flexible on, perhaps they had a special buy on something maybe a color they want to move, perhaps something in stock that has been "walked" around in the warehouse, I think anyone who has ever worked where you have inventory in a warehouse knows what I mean when I say walked around. Simply let your dealer know what you want and how you can make it work for the BOTH of you. I know in the past I have been criticized for mentioning this but I have found being direct and up front will make things go many times in the direction you are hoping.
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I'm not a dealer but I am in the spa business. When people on this forum say that where you purchase may depend on the dealer. They (I) suggest this because you will be forming a mutually beneficial relationship. You will eventually need help, advice, service on any hot tub that you buy. If you pick a hoser of a dealer you expect bad, slow and none existent service when you need it most. They can turn the best hot tub into the worst experience and vice versa. This doesn't mean that you don't haggle for a good deal, as for when is the best time to buy, the best deal is had on scratch and dents and last year models. The scratch and dent is my personal favorite, you find a scratch that nobody will see once you fill it full of water and save a little $$. Good luck ;)
I completely agree. I believe the dealer can be as important as the manufacturer, especially when it comes to service.
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What wrong with buying at a home show Drewstar? Thats where I bought mine.
Sorry, I should modify/clarify my statemnet. I don't belive that you will get the best deals at homeshows. That's not to say the products, or the dealers representing them are either good nor bad. I've seen some of the best names and dealers at home shows, and I've seen some of the lower end tubs there. I think that home shows and such are great for learning alot, gathering information and making contact. I don't feel though that the "Deals" and "the specia show prices" are anything spectactuar, and everything I've heard from dealers supports that. Don't buy the tub at the home show becasue you think you are getting a once in a lifetime deal.
The poster specfically asked about shows, so that's why I mentioned it.
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The poster specfically asked about shows, so that's why I mentioned it.
There are a couple things to be aware of relative to home shows. Sometimes people get the perception that home shows = great deals. In reality its expensive to set up & sell there and often times you're lucky to get as good of a deal there let alone a better one than you can get at a dealer (but sometimes you can get good deals there, YMMV).
The other issue is that often times the people selling at these shows have no local (or even near-local) presence. Those are the two things to watch out for in a home show. Otherwise, they do have the advantage of being able to see multiple products (assuming its not a scam show where there is really just one manufacturer) so there is good and bad to them.
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I don't know what part of MD you are in, but I am in the "Exurbs" of DC and bought a HS Grandee about a year ago. We wet tested several different brands, but decided that we liked the HS best. We also liked the open seating of the Grandee much better than one with a lounger. Again, it is all personal preference. We also had to find a tub which would fit both my wife and I: she is about 5ft 2in and I am 6ft and carry a bit more padding than my doctor thinks is wise. :) At any rate, while several tubs offered "his and hers" seating, we never found one we both liked except for the Grandee. The price you quoted is comparable to what we paid last year. Much depends upon the extras (cover, cover lifter, stairs, handrail, etc) that you buy.
As far as delivery and installation goes, I was happy to let them do it. We had a fairly simple installation (I have a drive through gate installed in the fence, so no crane was necessary). The biggest problem is electrical: you need to run the 220 volt line to the tub. Shop around: we had quotes ranging from $1000 to $3500 for that service!
Another thing to consider is the pad or foundation for your tub. The Grandee weighs more than 3 tons when fully filled (without people). It should be placed dead level, and unlike some of the small tubs you can't shim the supports to make it level: the surface has to be right. We looked at a variety of options and finally decided on concrete pavers as the best option. The part under the tub was built to the same specs as a driveway, and so far it has been fine. The advantage of the pavers was that we could keep the area under the tub level but still have the rest of the patio with the proper slope for drainage.
I can't say which time of year is better to buy a spa: but now my only regret is that I waited so many years to buy a spa. Good luck in your purchase and enjoy your hot bubbly water!
Bill
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I agree with your statement Drewster. Its the busy time for dealers. It really doesn't matter when I buy. If I don't get a good deal, I walk. I actually bought one the dealer had back at his shop. Hold over Maxxus. I'm not going to say what I paid. You wouldn't believe it anyway. I paid cash which I think helped.
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I agree with your statement Drewster. Its the busy time for dealers. It really doesn't matter when I buy. If I don't get a good deal, I walk. I actually bought one the dealer had back at his shop. Hold over Maxxus. I'm not going to say what I paid. You wouldn't believe it anyway. I paid cash which I think helped.
Didn't you get a crappy cover and lifter?(not bitchin or putting you down, the tub is a great tub, but I thought the dealer short cutted a few things, no?) Still if the price was low enogh even with replacing the cover and lifter did you still come out ahaed?
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The cover problem was caused by my wife. She went out one evening an opened the cover to treat the tub. The cover had 3" of ice on it. When she got the cover up in the air she couldn't hold and it slammed down breaking one of the sections. It only took a few months after that to saturate the foam, to the point it was hard for me to lift. The lifter is working fine now that we don't have a cover that weighs 400 lbs. I also had a leak in one of the jets back in March. The service dept. came out and fixed it. I'm very happy with the level of service from the Sundance dealer. I was unhappy with how the cover can't stand much abuse.
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Thanks for all the good advice.
I have a stone patio that already has a 220v box. From what I understand the previous owners had a hot tub in the same spot several years back. When I had the patio put in I told the contractor where I wanted to put the hot tub and they leveled about a 9X9 square in the middle, the rest is graded away from the house so I should be good to go.
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Thanks for the responses, I am in MD, and have narrowed down (I think) to Hot Springs Grandee or Vanguard. Both are listed close to 10K and was looking to get a little better deal if possible.
There are a couple of Pool and Spa Expo's/shows throughout the year that many of the regional dealers attend to demo and show their spa's. Definitly would only buy one if I have a dealer local.
I am in Maryland too and bought my J-350 at the "Home & Garden" show in February several years ago. They had some actual "National" sales rep from Jacuzzi there who made me a terrific package deal on the tub, wrote it all up, and handed it over the a local Maryland dealer, who completed the deal.
I was not overly impressed with the local dealer, but the price was pretty darn good at the show.
Tim