Hot Tub Forum
Original => Hot Tub Forum => Topic started by: Saved by Grace on April 05, 2008, 07:10:54 pm
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We woke up at 3:30 AM and put on over 400 miles today but we made a decision and purchased the Jacuzzi J480. Our first stop this morning was in Oconomowoc WI were we wet tested the J375. It wasn't even close to what we had hoped for. I am so glad we were able to find one that we could wet test because were really considering purchasing it.
From there we drove back north and stopped in at a Hot Springs dealer in Omro WI where we were able to wet test a Grandee. It was a good tub that we just didn't fit in as well as the J480. Ever since wet testing the J480 nothing has compared to it for us. We left the Omro store knowing that we needed to make a decision between the Grandee and the J480. We have really grown to like and trust the local HS dealer (Spiderman) and decided that the Grandee was really in play. It was less expensive then the J480 and the service would be good and the dealers within 5 miles of us.
However, we decided that we really liked the J480. For us it was simply the best tub. So we came up with a plan. We decided to stop in Green Bay at the Jacuzzi dealer and shot him a low price (what we perceive to be anyways). They had started at 11,300 for a 2008 without a stereo or lift ($300.00) and the manager had reduced that to $10,800 yesterday. So we went there today and told them we would pay $10,000 which would include the lift. If they would not do it for that we were set on buying the Grandee from Spiderman.
Their reply was they would do it for $10,100 and we told them thank you but the 10K was were needed to be. We thanked them for their time and started walking out. He then stopped us and asked if we would do it today for the 10k and we then had a deal. So we ended up getting the J480 with everthing (no stereo) for 10K. That was a long ways from the $11,300 (without the $300 lift) they had started out at and ended up being only $500 more than we would have paid for the Grandee.
So now the tub will be here in 3 weeks and the fun is just beginning. We need to add onto our deck....however the snow hasn't even melted yet. Aslo have to the electric run....
It will be a very hectic 3 weeks but I can't wait to sit in our own tub in our own yard...
Sorry for the longwinded post but I wanted to share our experience with you all because this forum has helped us greatly by educating us. Thanks to all. I have to run now because I'm going to grab my wife's hair dryer and start melting the snow.
In His Peace,
Fred
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"That was a long ways from the $11,300"
wow
but with the economy tanking
it doesn't surprise me
congrats
happy tubbing
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Well played on your part! ;D
Zep, he dropped that price quicker than Jackie Smith drops footballs!
Enjoy! :)
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Congrats on the purchase. How far away is your Jacuzzi dealer going to be from you? Take some pictures for us.
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Our jacuzzi dealer is about an hour away. We have in writing that the first year the service charge (travel fee) is free and for the balance of the warranty it is $45. This is their standard policy but I wanted it written and they did it without hesitation. They have 5 stores in the state of Wisconsin and have been in business for over 57 years. My mom and dad bought a pool from them when I was very young in their original Milwaukee store.
I will certainly take pictures. I should have taken a before picture earlier before I took my wife's hair dryer to the snow bank off the end of our deck. Actually I spread it out with our four-wheeler.
We are extremely excited to have found the right tub. We did a lot of research and put on a lot of miles driving to a lot of stores and got wet several times...it was all worth. I can't wait.
AND to ANYONE reading this that is searching for a tub and considering buying one without wet testing it first. DON'T DO IT. Do whatever it takes to find one that is wet and jump in. This way you know for sure how it fits you.
In His Peace,
Fred
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Fred,
It really is amazing to find that one tub that fits just right, isn't it? The J480 was awesome to me -- my 2nd favorite of all we tested. 2nd fave for my wife was the HS. You couldn't go wrong with either tub, but when you wet test -- as you said -- you really know which one is THE ONE. Congrats on the purchase. Post your pics once you're done. My tub comes next week, and I should have pics up shortly thereafter.
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Congrats SBG,
I also loved the J 480 and probably will be buying it this week , I think you made a great decision and you are absolutley right about WET -TESTING before you buy, my problem was that I found two that I loved so it all boils down to $$$. I think you made a great deal and played your cards right. what colors did you get for the shell and cabinet??
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We went with the platinum shell and the walnut cabinet. Spatini, your post helped us understand just how much more room we had to negotiate with the price. Thanks a bunch.
IL Parrothead....One week? Sounds great! I can't wait the three.... I'd be soaking right now if it were here.
Thanks,
Fred
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We went with the platinum shell and the walnut cabinet. Spatini, your post helped us understand just how much more room we had to negotiate with the price. Thanks a bunch.
IL Parrothead....One week? Sounds great! I can't wait the three.... I'd be soaking right now if it were here.
Thanks,
Fred
Fred,
Congratulations with the purchase. After looking at several brands I find myself drawn to the Jacuzzi's, my only problem is that I'm not sure about my local dealer. IMHO I think that Jacuzzi's are the BMW's of the spa's. If Hot Springs are the Harley's of the business then I would say that Jacuzzi's are the BMW's of the spa business. You chose wisely......
Good Luck,
Scott ;)
BTW Parrothead, I forget what tub did you buy?
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We have 4 new shoppers here on the site and 2 of them have bought Jacuzzi J-480's. I see a trend here. JJ will be proud.....
Scott ;)
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We went with the platinum shell and the walnut cabinet. Spatini, your post helped us understand just how much more room we had to negotiate with the price. Thanks a bunch.
Thanks,
Fred
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Like a dummy I forgot to put in my reply on previuos post oops,
SBG I'm glad to have helped in some way,, I am also going to get the Platinum Shell but with the Silverwood cabinet. Like you I cant wait , I have been out in the yard trying to get a visual of Spa placement and the whole SpaScaping I 'm am now going to be pulling my hair out over trying to get it the way I want , Whew does this ever end :o :o
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Fred,
If Hot Springs are the Harley's of the business then I would say that Jacuzzi's are the BMW's of the spa business. You chose wisely......
Good Luck,
Scott ;)
BTW Parrothead, I forget what tub did you buy?
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Shoot I did it again,
Swell, I like the Harley / BMW analogy , hmmmmm what about Lexus , Merecedes , rice rockets ??
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Spatini, your post helped us understand just how much more room we had to negotiate with the price
way to go Spatini!
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We did believe the Jacuzzi was the better of the tubs. But I can certainly see why Hot Springs sells a bunch, it was no slouch. I know Spiderman will sell a bunch because they have the best wet test area of all the 12 or so stores we were in. Wet testing is key to selling IMHO.
Spantini, I have been doing the same thing with our yard. I have orange spray paint outlining two different size decks and have been trying to figure out the best case senerio taking into account the direction of the tub, the overhang of the house, the septic drain field location (don't want to put any concrete piers in the drain field) and on and on.
Also, I have my electrical engineer budy on the alert. I down loaded the 2007 Owners manual for the 480 (they don't have the 2008 one posted yet) and have printed a copy off. I made a copy of all electrial info and took it over to him. Just a heads up on the electical on the J480; the unit comes factory defaulted to be hooked up at 50 amps which then means your heater will not be heating if both pumps are running. If you want to have your heater active when both pumps are running you need to hook your unit up for 60 amps and your electrician will have to make a simply modification to the circuit board.
I discovered this while reading through the manual (again a 2007 manual). The instructions for the modification are in the manual and my friend said it is really basic. Can anybody tell me what the reason would be for this default setting? I wondered if it shortens the life of the heater and/or was a energy cost situation. My friend figured it was for energy conservation more than anything else. I'll go with the 60 amp option because it can get mighty cold around here.
As far as when does this end....not until I am able to test my water and it is good. Then it will end as I step into it for the first time.
In His Peace,
Fred
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Jacuzzi Jim may have more info. Here is my hit. The only advantage of 60 amp vs 50 amp is you can run all pumps and heater at the same time. With 50 amp you can run 1 pump with heater or 2 pumps with no heater, but not all three.
The default on all 220 spas from Jacuzzi is going to be 50 amp because most people don't need the 60 amp, standardization, and 60 amp gfci breakers are hard to find and pricey.
There are minimal differences in power consumption and there should be no differences in lifetime of heater etc. Your energy consumption will be higher with the 60 amp as you will be attmpting to heat with the cover open more.
(With Hot Spring, you can run both pumps and the heater on a 50 amp circuit. In that situation, we run less KW to the heater. This comment only because I know you were looking at HS with Spiderman).
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Thanks hottubdan. That makes sense. I wonder out loud if one could hook up the 60 amp breaker and flip the switch on the circuit board to run the heater with both pumps in the winter and switch it back in the summer so it only heats when one pump is running. Or put in the 60 with it set at heat with one pump and if we find that isn't working then switch it to the heat with two pumps mode.
Any thoughts/input would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Fred
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I think you could. However, it is not quite as simple as filling a switch. You have to shut off the poer, remove the panel door, remove the door to the control box, move a jumper and reverse.
Doable, but not practicle?
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Thanks for the thoughts. I think we'll go with the 60 amp option and if we find the cost is outrageous then we could always go through the procedure you described to switch it over. I can certainly see what you mean about it not being practical to do on a twice a year. But once to try to save money if needed would be doable.
Thanks again,
fred
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Thanks for the thoughts. I think we'll go with the 60 amp option and if we find the cost is outrageous then we could always go through the procedure you described to switch it over. I can certainly see what you mean about it not being practical to do on a twice a year. But once to try to save money if needed would be doable.
Thanks again,
fred
I don't think you'll find any measurable cost difference going with the 60 amp setup. The only time you'll be using more energy is when both pumps are on and it calls for heat. Even with the 50 amps and the heater shuts off when both pumps are on, the spa still needs to heat to temp when one of the pumps shuts off. The difference is that you can heat with both pumps on. FWIW, my SD is set up at 50 amps and I never run into a situation that the temp has dropped more than the normal two degree variance for heat on/off, including NE winters.