Hot Tub Forum
Original => Hot Tub Forum => Topic started by: Confused on November 02, 2005, 12:52:13 pm
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Hello all. Long time lurker, I decided to join the club!
First off, my thanks to the all those here on this site. I have found the buyers guide and all of the posts here invaluable in my shopping experience.
Being Canadian, I must admit I am a little partial to the tubs made here in the Great White North. I have narrowed my search to three brands: Arctic, Beachcomber and Hydropool. I have ruled out Coast due to much that been written here on this site. I don't see much about Hydropool or Beachcomber, but Arctic sure seems to stir the pot!
I would like to hear what everyone thinks about what happened last week in my shopping.
I went to the Arctic dealer. This was my second visit, I did get a different salesperson than the first visit. She asked me where I had been shopping. I didn't like that she asked, but I answered any way. I told her that I had looked at the Beachcomber dealer and California Spa & Fitness (the Hydropool dealer).
She immediately pulled out an energy report that has several manufacturers listed including Arctic, Beachcomber and others. She then pointed out that I might not want to purchase a tub from California Spa & Fitness as CalSpa was the worst rated spa in this study. This surprised me as I thought that the spas they sold looked to be designed well for the winter.
The next day I went back to California Spa & Fitness to see what they had to say about this study. The gentleman there was quick to point out that although his store is called California Spa & Fitness, the spas he sells are not CalSpa's but Hydropool, a brand that was not included in this study.
This has left me with an uneasy feeling about the Arctic dealer. Was she trying to deceive me or was it an honest mistake.
Any advice you have would be appreciated.
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I would say give her the benefit of the doubt....But I would also consider Hydro Pool, Steve a long time contributer here and is now a Hydropool rep after many years with Beachcomber has told me how much he is impressed by them.
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Once apon a time, I had an old second hand hot tub that used up hundreds of dollars of electricy every cold month. So when I went to look for a new tub, "energy efficenciey" was very high on my list. (For what it's worth, I went with a Full Foam tub from Tiger River and am very happy).
Since then I've talked to some friends who have a thermal pane tub as well as done a bit more research and I've come to the conclusion that a <i>quality</I> TP tub and FF tub are very simialiar in engery use.
That being said, This artic dealer seems to be the type to eaxgerate things, (is it just me, or is there a disproportional amount of Artic dealers do this?) and I'd take anymore of thier advice with a grain of salt.
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This has left me with an uneasy feeling about the Arctic dealer. Was she trying to deceive me or was it an honest mistake.
Maybe she is new and doesn't know what they carry because the name sure would be confusing to a new salesperson. If you really wanted to know for sure you could politely set her straight and then a few days later have a friend go in and slyly move toward the same conversation and see if it happens again.
Arctic seems to have satisfied customers at this site so they must be doing somethig right. I'd be confident that Hydropool and Beachcomber spas are energy effficient as well so I wouldn't let Arctic's energy study be a decision maker as i think it really just shows they're confident that they insulate them well. Dry and wet test the spas you like at each dealer, see what kind of deal they'll make you (ask for a quote of everything you need and then one for each item separate from the spa, i.e. steps, colored lighting, cover lifter (a must IMO), etc.).
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Boy, JA's spa challenge would just settle all of this.
For the life of me I can't figure out why nobody will take him up on it. Oh, yeah, now I remember. It was his ridiculous terms and conditions. That and the fact that none of the serious spa producers know he's alive.
But that would certainly settle the "Which spa is most efficient" argument once and for all. ::)
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Boy, JA's spa challenge would just settle all of this.
For the life of me I can't figure out why nobody will take him up on it. Oh, yeah, now I remember. It was his ridiculous terms and conditions. That and the fact that none of the serious spa producers know he's alive.
But that would certainly settle the "Which spa is most efficient" argument once and for all. ::)
Just imagine the response if you go to the major brewing companies of the world and challenge them to come to your garage for a brew off!! How dare they ignore you, you're BREWMAN dammit!!!! Maybe you should change your name to "The Beer Specialist".
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That being said, This artic dealer seems to be the type to eaxgerate things, (is it just me, or is there a disproportional amount of Artic dealers do this?) and I'd take anymore of thier advice with a grain of salt.
Well, that is where my mind was headed. The Arctic sales person was preaching Arctic like it was the second coming....that said it, it did impress me in many ways.
I am just a little concerned that if she would exagerate or mislead me regarding Hydropool, what else should I be skeptical about.
I guess I will give her a call and let her know what kind of tubs California Spa & Fitness sells. Then maybe I will send in my husband and see if he gets the same song and dance.
Any comments about Hydropool or Beachcomber? Any advice is welcome.
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Well, that is where my mind was headed. The Arctic sales person was preaching Arctic like it was the second coming....that said it, it did impress me in many ways.
I am just a little concerned that if she would exagerate or mislead me regarding Hydropool, what else should I be skeptical about.
I guess I will give her a call and let her know what kind of tubs California Spa & Fitness sells. Then maybe I will send in my husband and see if he gets the same song and dance.
Any comments about Hydropool or Beachcomber? Any advice is welcome.
But here's the rub, from what I've read here, and from my sister's friends who have an Artic, they seem to be decent tubs. However, a slipperly salesperson who exagerates things is frustrating. What do you believe when they talk about great service, best price and all the other stuff? Are they exagerating then?
Salespeople who act like this give me the impression that they are going to get the highest price out of you, rather than a square deal. Hey....Just my opinon.
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Salepeople are designed to sell. In order to sell, they must pick those attributes that they feel differentiate them from the competition. If theie product was inferior or even comparable to other brands, then the lustre is somewhat lost. This isn't about honesty, its about business. The motivation is to sell. Because without sales, you have no business.
You must as a consumer think critically about everything you are told.
Jc
And for the record, Arctic is the world's most effecient tub. Right Steve? ;)
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drewstar has a very good point. If they purposely mislead (and I'm not saying she did) about one thing, where do they draw the line.
When I first started in this business, one of my competitors sent their daughter in to shop me. I spent two hours with her, I gave her a brand new bathing suit, I let her sit in all the spas, I even popped her a bag of popcorn! She told me she was going to order a Grandee when her husband could come see the spa. I was happy.
Two days later I find out from one of my customers that works with the woman's husband that she had shopped me and what a great laugh they had over her getting a free bathing suit and popcorn. OK, fine, payback time.
I found her address and sent her a customized newsletter. In the newsletter, I made all kinds of outrageous claims:
Our spas start at $8,000!
HotSpring Spas only cost $10/ year to operate.
HotSpring is the only company that filters all the urine all the time.
Etc, etc, etc.
A week later a man comes in and says "I was at Pacific Pools and they said your spas start at $8,000."
Me: "No, they start at $2995. Our most expensive spa is $8000."
Man: "They said you claim your spas cost $10/ year on electricity."
Me: "No, $10 / month."
Man: "Well if she's lying about all these things, what else is she lying about?"
Me: "Makes you wonder, doesn't it?"
He bought a Tiger River Bengal. Two other people came in and bought from me in the same fashion. Pacific went out of business about 4 years ago and I'm still kickin'. :)
Never lie to the customer (unless they ask 'Does this spa make me look fat?'...then it's OK)
Terminator
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Salepeople are designed to sell. In order to sell, they must pick those attributes that they feel differentiate them from the competition. If theie product was inferior or even comparable to other brands, then the lustre is somewhat lost. This isn't about honesty, its about business. The motivation is to sell. Because without sales, you have no business.
You must as a consumer think critically about everything you are told.
Jc
And for the record, Arctic is the world's most effecient tub. Right Steve? ;)
Some sales people are better at it than others, some leave the customer feeling that they are being taken for a ride.
There are good salespeople out there, and there are some that will say and do anything to get your money and promise the moon and stars. This is true in every industry.
The moon and stars are not for sale, and if they are telling you they can deliver them, then be wary.
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Salepeople are designed to sell. In order to sell, they must pick those attributes that they feel differentiate them from the competition. If theie product was inferior or even comparable to other brands, then the lustre is somewhat lost. This isn't about honesty, its about business. The motivation is to sell. Because without sales, you have no business.
JC;
Forgive me if I misunderstand you.
Are you saying that if she did intentionally mislead me (saying that California Spa & Fitness sells Cal Spa when they sell HydroPools) is OK and in fact exactly what she is paid to do?
BTW my husband is a huge Rush fan too!
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You must live in Brampton or Mississauga since you are naming off stores I have been to. I have a Beachcomber tub which I have owned since the beginning of summer. I had some issues at the beginning but Beachcomber and Beachcomber Brampton made everything right and I haven't had an issue so far.
That being said my electric bill was huge this year cause it was so hot the airconditioning never shut down so I can't tell you how efficient the tub was but I can tell you my monthy bill was lower than a neighbours without a tub so draw your own conclusions.
I have had nothing but a positive experience with Beachcomber Brampton and the tub, say Hi to Shane and Gabe.
Good luck in your hunt and PM me if you need any info.
Rayman
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BTW my husband is a huge Rush fan too!
I love Rush too!
(http:// http://rickscafe.diaryland.com/images/rush2.jpg)
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[size=16]I love Rush too! [/size]
(http:// http://z.about.com/d/politicalhumor/1/0/b/A/limbaugh_oxycontin.jpg)
Not THAT Rush. They're talking about the good Rush!!
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Not THAT Rush. They're talking about the good Rush!!
I talking about the good Rush, as well. You must be confused.
Now back to Artic tubs....
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It is not ok for any dealer to intentionally mislead you. If you feel that this is infact the case, then by all means, move onto the next dealer. My point is that all these people are trying to sell you a tub, and they will use whatever they believe to be an advantage to their brand.
I suggest confronting the dealer directly. From this, you should be able to tell what is in your best interest to do next.
Good Luck!
(http://www.therushforum.com/html/emoticons/AlexFinal.gif)(http://www.therushforum.com/html/emoticons/NeilFinal.gif)(http://www.therushforum.com/html/emoticons/GeddyFinal.gif)
Jc
Your husband has impecable taste in music. ;D
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I love Rush too!
(http:// http://rickscafe.diaryland.com/images/rush2.jpg)
Proud HotSpring Spa owner and former spokesperson. Listening to him was the first time I'd ever heard of HotSpring, so thanks to him I'm where I am now.
Terminator
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My point is that all these people are trying to sell you a tub, and they will use whatever they believe to be an advantage to their brand.
VERY true. A customer once had an issue with a stereo and in talking to them they mentioned their BOSE speakers. After I was done with them I went to the salesperson and asked if she had told the customer the spa had Bose speakers. She said yes; she really thought they were. After speaking with her I figured out why she thought that but filled her in that they weren't. It was an honest mistake but she was bummed that I told her that because she loved being able to say it in her presentation. It became a running joke that she didn't want to talk to me because I was hurting her sales presentation.
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Regarding the CalSpa issue, it appears the mistake could be an honest one given she herself abbreviated the name down to CalSpa and pointed to that brand in the report. If she had said, the brand they sell at California……. I would be less inclined to give her the benefit of the doubt. As Jc points out, ask if you aren’t comfortable.
A high percentage of people don’t wet test. If you don’t wet test, what will persuade you to buy? Arctic has some nice tangible features for talking points. They use them. It’s about product differentiation, and they seem to do a better job (or more aggressive depending on opinion) of it.
The test to which she refers was performed by the Alberta Research Council. They purchased the tubs independently, but had solicited advice from Arctic. Given the test conditions (i.e. a controlled environment), the results were favorable for Arctic. Your results could vary depending on other environmental factors. It does however provide a “number” at which to point.
If you’ve got it down to three brands, I think you should dig the swim suit out and do some wet-testing. That will determine the best spa for you. Features mean nothing if the jets don’t feel good or you float out of most of the seats.
If you’re looking for a larger tub without a lounge, I, as an owner, can highly recommend the Tundra. My wife at a stretched 5’2” can use the deepest seat thanks to the arm rests. The deep seat with the inverted triangle jet design is not to be found on the competition and it truly offers a unique and superb massage. It works the traps/shoulders like nothing else we tested and feels great all the way down. And we like the rest of the spa too............
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VERY true. A customer once had an issue with a stereo and in talking to them they mentioned their BOSE speakers. After I was done with them I went to the salesperson and asked if she had told the customer the spa had Bose speakers. She said yes; she really thought they were. After speaking with her I figured out why she thought that but filled her in that they weren't. It was an honest mistake but she was bummed that I told her that because she loved being able to say it in her presentation. It became a running joke that she didn't want to talk to me because I was hurting her sales presentation.
Someone thought BOSE was a selling point??? (this coming from a Klipsch guy).
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Someone thought BOSE was a selling point??? (this coming from a Klipsch guy).
If you're really an audiophile, you're typically not going to buy a spa stereo. It was a name people have heard of that goes over well with the average spa buyer, to the salesperson's delight.
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This has left me with an uneasy feeling about the Arctic dealer. Was she trying to deceive me or was it an honest mistake.
Any advice you have would be appreciated.
I wouild call this a stupid mistake, not an honest one. Two of the people I hate the most are know it alls, but I have respect for know it alls if their right, but if you claim to be right and are not, but you are a BSer, and once you have BS'd me I won't trust anything you say. I probably would still consider an Arctic Product from this dealer, but I wouldn't deal with her.
I often say here that I have no sales skills, and have respect for people that do. But if I don't know something I'll say so, and that would probably lose me a sale quite frequently.
Now, I'm off to read your other replies. This title was sure to start something!
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welcome to the board. I really hope that you learn one important thing here, ok maybe 2.
First thing is that arctic has had some bad press about there sales people in the past. That is something that I believe is being worked on. They make a great tub and have many quality products that they try VERY HARD TO OVERSELL TO A NEW SPA USER. Educate yourself and you will see what you like.
I have said it a million times, ARCTIC in my opinion is no better energy wise then any tub in this price range. You are arguing cents a month. So really dont let this be a deciding factor unless you are buying a plug in tub where it sucks the crap out of hydro.
Ok now with that said, never narrow a search down because of this forum. Use this forum as a guide. You need to get your a$$ in these tubs and try them out. In my honest opinion, when you get in an arctic tub, you will love it. You also have to be open to molded seats though. I love it, but some do not like being confined to an open seat.
If she messed you up on purpose or not, who cares, you are doing the right thing by educating yourself here so that you do not make an uniformed choice.
Good luck, if you need any advice on the arctic, I can help, fletch49, JCdenton and Stlrex are all satisfied customers. The list is growing.
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Sorry to be so late on this one. I'm not used to titles with the name Arctic in it being in this section and not the "beating a dead horse"! ;)
Welcome to the forum 'O confused one.
Having a decent understanding of the brands mentioned, I can say that they are all considered quality brands. My feeling on Arctic has never been unclear to anyone and though they have their outrageous claims (Yes JC, Arctic is the BEST at everything!! ;D ) they are still a decent product.
The CEO of Hydropool also owns California Spa & Fitness and yes, the term CalSpa is sometimes used. I don't mind telling you that I wish it was called something different (much like my issue with the names Hydropool and Hyro Spa) and the association can be incorrect. I don't think this was done on purpose and I'm guessing that she just put 2+2 together and got 5.
If there's anything I can do to answer any questions on Hydropool, please feel free to ask. After all…Hydropool is the BEST at everything! ;)
Steve
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Sorry to be so late on this one. I'm not used to titles with the name Arctic in it being in this section and not the "beating a dead horse"! ;)
I'm surprised the mod didn't avoid the X-Mas rush and move it in anticipation. ;D
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If you're really an audiophile, you're typically not going to buy a spa stereo. It was a name people have heard of that goes over well with the average spa buyer, to the salesperson's delight.
I agree.
I don't understand the bad Bose comment another poster made. I find Bose to make exceptional speakers and although you can argue the finer details, overall they are great. I have a pair of the Bose 251 environmental speakers and the sound is stunning. :)
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In my opinion, whether the salesperson at Arctic misled you intentionally or not, it comes down to which tub you like best. Granted you have advice posted here already on how to trip them up, but the rest is played on trust...
First we looked at Arctic and were heading towards the Yukon. But when we saw Hydropool 625 spas, their warranty, longetivity, open seating (not too sculpted: which puts you in your place!) and over all value for comparative price, we went for that. Plus we wanted to shop Canadian as well. The heating/efficiency debate, being a heated debate to no conclusive conclusion, apparently costs within a few dollars a month either way.
Good Luck!
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In my opinion, whether the salesperson at Arctic misled you intentionally or not, it comes down to which tub you like best.
I mostly agree with that but at the same time service AFTER the sale is important and DOES vary from dealer to dealer. I would be a bit leary of a dealer whose personell knowingly misled me. In this case we don't know that it was intentional and with the confusing names I'd give the benefit of the doubt unless proven otherwise. If I knew I was being intentionally misled, I would let them know and walk away.
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Just so everyone is aware of how the dealers call themselves in this neck of the woods.
Beachcomber = Beachcomber tubs
Arctic = Arctic tubs
Polar = Polar tubs
California spas & Fitness (www.calspafit.com) = would equal CALSPA to most people around here but it is Hydropool.
Have a look at their site, it is confusing. Hey Steve get the marketing guys on that eh! I thought they were calspa as well until I went to there tent sale after I had already purchased a tub.
Just thought I would throw this in.
Ray
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Have a look at their site, it is confusing. Hey Steve get the marketing guys on that eh! I thought they were calspa as well until I went to there tent sale after I had already purchased a tub.
Yeah, and why the heck is a dealer in Canada selling a Canadian spa yet calling his dealership California Spa and Fitness?
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It doesn't help that the main store is attached to the factory that makes the tubs ( I can walk to it from my office)
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Well, I called the store. I didn't speak with her but I did explain the situation to the gentleman on the phone. I will send the hubby in to see if the story is any different.
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Confused, where do you live? Just curious as I work at the Whitby California Spa & Fitness store.
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I don't know anything about any of these tubs, but regarding the salesperson--first impressions often stay with you-- when we were looking a salesman actually lied about a "demo tub" but we caught him in it when he said something later, so we just decided to go somewhere else to purchase a hot tub. In the process of shopping around I found this forum, and some wise person stated that all salespeople are different and if you don't like that persons sales tactic next time you go in get another sales person. So we did go back and give them another chance, different sales person, different approach was a lot better still didn't buy a tub from there, but we liked the looks of the tubs and we didn't want to eliminate them based on one person.
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Yeah, and why the heck is a dealer in Canada selling a Canadian spa yet calling his dealership California Spa and Fitness?
My gym is called California Fitness, and its next to LA Tan. I guess Chas' and his PR firm are really pushing this California is something idea.
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To me, just by leaving out one very important fact (1" thicher cover that relates to 40 percent higher R-Factor) in the test, it is a decietful sales practice. I know, I know they chose a standered tub from each manufacturer. but if you were to make the test equal for all the brands chosen, would Arctic have come out on top, I don't think so. And the whole subject would be moot because the study would never be mentioned. Make sure you get a cover upgrade if you live in a cold climate. It will do more for your energy bill than picking what you think is the most energy effiecient brand. Because we are talking pennys difference per month between the brands but it could be dollars if you get a thicker cover. And a thermal blanket, and a wind break.
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and a wind break.
Thats seldom mentioned, but I can see where that could be a big factor in many cases.
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Make sure you get a cover upgrade if you live in a cold climate. It will do more for your energy bill than picking what you think is the most energy effiecient brand. Because we are talking pennys difference per month between the brands but it could be dollars if you get a thicker cover. And a thermal blanket, and a wind break.
You know I respect your opinion Tman but I don't agree with this last comment.
When I had a Beachcomber, I had a 3" cover. This was the standard cover offered at the time and I thought it would be interesting to see how it stood up.
Here in Alberta, it can easily reach into the -40's or even -50's at times. Let me throw this out to you;
If it's -30 and the snow is not melting on my cover, nor forming icicles along the seam anywhere, how much thicker does it need to be to be considered "efficient"? ???
What I can tell you without question is that the 4" or 5" covers have far more strength to them but I do question this consensus that having a thicker cover means lower operating costs. That, I strongly disagree with. After a certain point (or thickness), heat retention becomes a redundant issue.
Your feeling on that?
Steve
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Like Rayman, I have a Beachcomber (730) as well and its been nothing but great. We're in it every night and love it. Everything we heard about Beachcomber was pretty positive, and thats no knock on the other tubs. We live north of Brampton, up in Collingwood and our dealer has been awesome since day one. We still take water samples in from time to time for testing and they always give you all the time in the world. Absolutely you have to wet test to see what tub you like best, but don't forget that you're going to want good dealer support for a while. On principle, I would simply walk from anybody I felt was feeding me a line or whose integrity I questioned - no matter how much I liked the tub. My advice is to read the literature carefully, search this forum, wet test, wet test some more and then ask around as far as the dealer goes- ( if you can't do that, listen to your instincts - I walked from one guy I caught feeding me a story).
If you do live in the GTA, you've got lots of choices so take your time and good luck!
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We have a Beachcomber 580 and love it. It looks great and run perfect. We have had it for two months and our electric usage has not been different versus last year. Couple of things that I don’t like: The foot jet diverter valve is loud in my opinion, the valves to adjust the jet pressure basically change the pressure from high to low and not incrementally like you think they would. Wanted to look at Arctic but no dealer in my town.
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You know I respect your opinion Tman but I don't agree with this last comment.
When I had a Beachcomber, I had a 3" cover. This was the standard cover offered at the time and I thought it would be interesting to see how it stood up.
Here in Alberta, it can easily reach into the -40's or even -50's at times. Let me throw this out to you;
If it's -30 and the snow is not melting on my cover, nor forming icicles along the seam anywhere, how much thicker does it need to be to be considered "efficient"? ???
What I can tell you without question is that the 4" or 5" covers have far more strength to them but I do question this consensus that having a thicker cover means lower operating costs. That, I strongly disagree with. After a certain point (or thickness), heat retention becomes a redundant issue.
Your feeling on that?
Steve
You do realize that by using your theory, you're roundaboutly validating the ARC results favoring Arctic(given the controlled environment). :o ;D Senility creeping in?
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To me, just by leaving out one very important fact (1" thicher cover that relates to 40 percent higher R-Factor) in the test, it is a decietful sales practice. I know, I know they chose a standered tub from each manufacturer. but if you were to make the test equal for all the brands chosen, would Arctic have come out on top, I don't think so. And the whole subject would be moot because the study would never be mentioned. Make sure you get a cover upgrade if you live in a cold climate. It will do more for your energy bill than picking what you think is the most energy effiecient brand. Because we are talking pennys difference per month between the brands but it could be dollars if you get a thicker cover. And a thermal blanket, and a wind break.
It's a talking point. I don't think it's deceitful at all. If you're a sales guy it's: Fact - here's our cover - it's the thickest standard cover in the industry. Thicker cover = better heat retention. Fact - here's our tubs in an independent test. ARC bought them themselves. We came out favorably. I've seen a lot worse as a consumer. If the other mfrs were worried, they'd increase their std cover thickness to eliminate the advantage.
Notice Coyote didn't fare as well and they are made by Blue Falls also. But it has less insulation, a thinner cover, and the doesn't seem to have the quality that goes into Arctic. If it really was rigged, they would have propped Coyote higher. Pity the person with Coast or Cal Spa. (the real Cal Spa, not Cal-Hydropool). I noticed Beachcomber came out looking pretty good too.
The bottom line is we're talking braggin rights. You think Ford and GM didn't watch 0-60 times in Car Mags? 6.2 vs 6.3. The winner will claim braggin rights every time. The test may mean little in the real world, but it can have an impact on prospective customer.
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You know I respect your opinion Tman but I don't agree with this last comment.
When I had a Beachcomber, I had a 3" cover. This was the standard cover offered at the time and I thought it would be interesting to see how it stood up.
Here in Alberta, it can easily reach into the -40's or even -50's at times. Let me throw this out to you;
If it's -30 and the snow is not melting on my cover, nor forming icicles along the seam anywhere, how much thicker does it need to be to be considered "efficient"? ???
What I can tell you without question is that the 4" or 5" covers have far more strength to them but I do question this consensus that having a thicker cover means lower operating costs. That, I strongly disagree with. After a certain point (or thickness), heat retention becomes a redundant issue.
Your feeling on that?
Steve
Wow Steve.........I musta been around a while to gain your respect...well just so ya know I respect you more...buddy. Must be cause there's very few people that live in a place as ungodly cold as you and can call it the USA.
My thoughts. My tub came with a 2-3 tapered cover standered. When we have a big snow storm it will cover the cover up and you will see the snow on the cover for a long time. I always clean it off. Does this mean there is no heat loss from the top through the cover no. At -20 or -30 I have cleaned snow off my cover and it is still wet down at the cover surface meaning there is heat loss even though it is not enough to melt the snow before your eyes. A 3-4 taper would be 38 percent better and a 4-5 would be 70 percent better and the surface of the cover would be almost as cold as the outside. Now here is where you reach a point that you are correct in, anything over that and the savings starts to decrease because of cost versus size, blah blah blah but somewhere inside that foam cover at -20 or -30 besides being stupid to live here and be outside icefishing ;D there is a spot where the warm meets the cold from inside to outside and convection is occuring, and the cold of the north woods is sapping power from your tub, your life, your truck, your favorite dog.
Can you tell winter is close? Am I excited for being able to soak in the cool northern climate? Not any more it's been cool for a couple months. I got a new blizzard prototype plow for my truck though and I am excited about using that for the first time.
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Tman;
Does your cover have a 3rd piece of foam that dangles between the 2 large pieces when opened and seals the seem when it is closed?
This makes a huge difference IMHO. Many manufacturers do not have this peice. Most Canadian manufactured tubs feature this third peice of the cover : Hydropool, Arctic, Beachcomber, Coast all have this. Some American made tubs have it too, like Coleman. Dimension1 does not have it. I am pretty sure that Sundance and HS do not have it either (please correct me if I am wrong).
We all know that heat rises and radiates. If heat does rise, it will escape throught the seems where the cover folds. Some manufacturers take this into consideration, others do not.
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Well, I sent in my hubby to see if they would "mistake" CalSpa with California Spa & Fitness (Hydropools).
Much to my shagrin, she pulled out the energy study and told my husband that he didnt want to buy a tub there as they had the worst energy usage in Artic's independant study.
I definitely won't be buying an Artic from that store!
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Well, I sent in my hubby to see if they would "mistake" CalSpa with California Spa & Fitness (Hydropools).
Much to my shagrin, she pulled out the energy study and told my husband that he didnt want to buy a tub there as they had the worst energy usage in Artic's independant study.
I definitely won't be buying an Artic from that store!
Was it the same salesperson and did you definitely set her straight before your husband went back in? IFFFFF so, shame on them and I'd let them know why you're walking.
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Yep, sounds like she is knowingly misleading people. :(
Sadly, there are quite a few salespeople like that in this industry as I found out when I visited the State Fair of Texas last month. I do sympathize with your plight of having to wade through all of the baloney being slung out there. This is a great place to get factual information so use it to your advantage.
Good luck in your search! :)
Terminator
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Well, I sent in my hubby to see if they would "mistake" CalSpa with California Spa & Fitness (Hydropools).
Much to my shagrin, she pulled out the energy study and told my husband that he didnt want to buy a tub there as they had the worst energy usage in Artic's independant study.
I definitely won't be buying an Artic from that store!
It sounds to me it's more like she doesn't know the competition as Hydropool isn't in the study. IF you like the brand, point out the discrepancy and see if she'll recant, or talk the manager (praying she isn't the manager of course). Otherwise, you should find another dealer/brand with which you are comfortable. I found incompetant salespeople in my search also. I also found blatant liars. Fortunately, my favorite spa didn't have either.
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looking at beachcomber, pacific and coast and cal spa,as selection limited in my area. feedback on these please
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Mink,
Check out the Beachcomber or Jacuzzi below this one.