Hot Tub Forum
Original => Hot Tub Forum => Topic started by: david on October 24, 2004, 12:31:28 pm
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Looked at spas yeasterday.
Caldera Utopia Geneva for 8600 with steps, cover, chemicals
or
Master Spa Legend 800 for 8400 with steps, chemicals, no cover.
I am leaning toward Caldera with more powerful jets for my back. Are these a good deal with end of year sales
Thanks
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david,
Though I am a very happy Master Spas LSX owner, I suggest you take more time while shopping for a spa. Don't cave to any of the 'year end specials' or 'today's price' that you may hear or see. Take your time and wet test as many tubs as you can. Though it would thrill me to no end to have another satisfied Master Spas owner posting here, I would rather see you as a completely happy spa owner who feels he made the best choice regardless of the brand. And, BTW, I don't think you've reached the bottom price for the LS800 and any dealer who sells a tub without a cover (are you sure?) should be approached with a leery eye.........
Good luck!
8)
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I am sorry. The spa comes with a cover but not the bar to make it easy on my wife to move the cover. We have settled on these two spas after looking for several months. Thanks for the response.
:)
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Can't comment on the MasterSpa, but the Caldera price seems consistent with "sticker" price that I've seen around here in L.A. before haggling.
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Should be able to get that 800 for around 7800-8000. Dont let a cover lifter be the deal breaker, you can get them from 100-300 bucks.
Ex neightbor just started working at Master Spas, they gearing up the 2005 line as we speak.
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I like windsurfdogs style and advice and would encourage the same.
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Thanks for the posts. Caldera here list on spa is over 10,000. Sounds like price is inflated to make 8600 look good. Wonder if I can do better?
Decided against master spa at present as had to buy today to order 2004 in color we wanted, told us electric was 100-200 when over 300-400 for our neighbor who also had to have new spa as it leaked. Nevertheless they are satisfied so we will take a slow approach as you all suggest.
Thanks
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In Connecticut I paid 7600.00 for the Geneva Utopia with steps, lifter and startup chems along with cover and delv.
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End of month is cut off for 2004 Master Spas models, and the 2005 line comes out a few weeks later. My dealer was telling a customer the same thing this weekend when I stepped in to buy extra set of filters.
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David, sounds like you did well. The only advice I would have offered is (for anyone that still may be pondering)that Watkins (owns Caldera) doesnt usually shut down production until Dec so the "gotta buy now to get the color you want" sales pitch seemed a little early. But maybe not. As long as you feel good about your choice that is really all that matters. Welcome to the Spa Owners Club.
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That's a really good price on a great spa David!!
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We just paid $7500 for the same Caldera in Rochester NY. Ours is a floor model and was dicounted $500. Got the cover, chemicals, etc., and got them to throwin a set of the wider entry steps.
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Thanks again for the responses. Just talked to the salseman here in Missouri.
Surprising but will not change price from 8699. This does include the GFI for the electricity which he says is 150.
I could get a scratched floor sample for 8100 but not the color my wife wants. Can there be that much of a difference between parts of the country. Likely just an established business with a wider profit margin?
:-/
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If you simply can't live with their "final" offer you could make another type of counter offer. Instead of taking $$ off the sale price, try asking if they'll give you $150 in store credit (or $200 or whatever you feel you need to be content of the deal). That's typically much more preferrable to them than taking it off the sale price and you'll need more chems/accessories anyway. If they still say no then you'll know they truly are making what they consider to be their bottom line offer.
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It is not that I can not live with their offer. I wanted to get the best hot tub of the two for the best price. I am going to buy the Caldera this weekend if nothing changes before then. I appreciate all the help and kind words. Seems like some feel that 8699 is a reasonable deal here in the midwest despite others paying in the mid 7000's on the east coast. I wish I could explain the difference. Maybe because the Cardinals lost to the Red Sox-LOL
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To pay over $7,000 for the Geneva Utopia is a major shame. It is a good spa, but my Catalina El Cortez has better therapy IMO, and the price with all the usual necessities/goodies plus a vibrating lounger headrest was $6,000 delivered and set up. Caldera is certainly head and shoulders above HotSpring, but sheesh.
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To pay over $7,000 for the Geneva Utopia is a major shame. It is a good spa, but my Catalina El Cortez has better therapy IMO, and the price with all the usual necessities/goodies plus a vibrating lounger headrest was $6,000 delivered and set up. Caldera is certainly head and shoulders above HotSpring, but sheesh.
Oh sure, considering that HotSpring engineered your cool vibrating headrest!
I would say that paying $6000 for any Catalina is a major oversight! Compared to HS or Caldera, Catalina is pretty "bush league"!
BTW, I don't sell HS or Caldera nor are they my first choices but they are certainly in the top yet I wouldn't even consider a Catalina.
You sound a lot like a guy we had here named Maverick?
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I just had a strange thought, if you go back and read past post's of Maverick and Wisoki they sound strangely similar, then read Top Cat's post they have the same ring. Is it a Catalina thing? Do they have a "bashing section" in their sales training manual? ???
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As a newbie to this board I rely on the knowledge of those that post. It is unfortunate that some will confuse others (especially a neophyte to hot tubs as I am) with their very biased views which are not based on facts. Unfortunately I do not know what to believe when those people post to the board. I am going to go with my hunch and believe that the hot tub I am going to buy(Caldera) is at least a reasonable price and of course of good quality and reliability as I have read here and elsewhere. Thanks
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David - Dont let comments of a few ruin things for you. Buy what YOU think is the best deal for YOUR money. I was in same boat when looking, and when I found a Master Spa model I liked, didnt care for cabinet color. I simply asked the dealer if he could change the sides, then we would have a deal. He checked, and had extra cabinet panels in stock, and swapped them out prior to delivery.
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David,
Relax and don't listen to Top Cat. His rants have no basis in reality and I'd guess he either sells Catalina or has a major need to justify his purchase by trying to put the competition down. In this case the majority here will tell you his spa is average (not junk, just average) and that kills him. Caldera has a very good reputation so you'll do fine there (I can't comment on $$).
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It is not that I can not live with their offer. I wanted to get the best hot tub of the two for the best price. I am going to buy the Caldera this weekend if nothing changes before then. I appreciate all the help and kind words. Seems like some feel that 8699 is a reasonable deal here in the midwest despite others paying in the mid 7000's on the east coast. I wish I could explain the difference. Maybe because the Cardinals lost to the Red Sox-LOL
david, you need to decide what is a reasonable deal for the tub you purchase. Posting here to get an idea of price is a good thing to do - doing your homework is a must if you want to make an educated spa purchase. Search other forums as well for threads about the tub you are interested.
If you want to truely consider responses be sure to take into consideration who they are coming from (dealer, owner of the same, owner of a different tub...); there is no way to be sure but if you aren't familiar with the poster you can get an idea from reading past posts... there are some that will tell you it's a great price no matter how inflated it is as there are those that will tell you that you should pay many thousands less.
I am not familiar with Caldera pricing but from what I've gathered it is a quality, reputable brand and is a good choice. The other question you need to ask yourself is... "is the dealer a good choice?". If you are not comfortable with and/or don't trust the dealer then you may want to consider a different tub.
Best of Luck!
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Just bought the Calgera Geneva. The wait is 2-3 weeks. Just enough time to get the electricity in. Just felt the Caldera was better for us. Thanks for the posts. Will update on the spa after we try it several times. Now I have to learn the maintanence shedule. Should be easy once I am well trained.
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David,
You made a good choice.
good luck and happy soaking.
I don't sell Caldera either but my experience tells me taht they are one of the better tubs out there.
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Congratulations and welcome to spatopia. You made excelent choice, and may you have many years of warm soaking!
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Congrats, david! May the goddess of Spatopia bless you with crystal water!
8)
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Caldera Geneva arrived and finially have electric hooked up. Filled with water and metalgon. Started to test for Alkalinity, pH, etc. Feel like an idiot learning how to do this with test strips. Suggestions appreciated on how to test-tub or bowls, and in what order. Seems hard to add just the right amout of spa up or down then adjust the ph let alone but another bottle for calcium.
Thanks!
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"...included GFI.....$150....". The Caldera has that included, it comes with it, not a local add on. So that is not a valid reason why his price his higher.
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Caldera Geneva arrived and finially have electric hooked up. Filled with water and metalgon. Started to test for Alkalinity, pH, etc. Feel like an idiot learning how to do this with test strips. Suggestions appreciated on how to test-tub or bowls, and in what order. Seems hard to add just the right amout of spa up or down then adjust the ph let alone but another bottle for calcium.
Thanks!
David -
First of all, welcome to spatopia. You will enjoy your tub - may you 'soak long and prosper.'
Next: don't fret too much over the chems. Most of our new owners spend too much time chasing the pH up and down and so forth. Go with the basics:
test for pH and TA. If they are a bit high, add some 'spa down,' or 'ph minus' or whatever you got with your kit. Add about two ounces at a time, retest no sooner than four hours. After that, don't retest for a couple of days. That generally takes the chasing and bouncing out of it.
Keep sanitizer in the water. If you are using Dichlor, add a TABLESP00N after each spa use. This one you should test every few days - if the chlorine level keeps climbing, switch to TEASP00NS.
That's it for starters - just doing these simple things will get you safe water for the first few weeks. Then, apply "Chas' Law." That is: change the water about the fourth week. You will not have to do this more than just this one first time - after this most folks go three or four months on a water change.
Turn off the power before you drain your spa, and remember two things: water is the cheapest chemical you can add to your tub, and:
Tubs are fun !!! ;)