Hot Tub Forum
Original => Hot Tub Forum => Topic started by: Gomboman on April 27, 2006, 09:02:24 pm
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We've talked about D1, Marquis, and Caldera now. I don't know much about LA spas. Let's here some info on LA Spas.
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I like LA Spas. I am impressed with the strides they have made through recent years. Great quality product, innovative designs, high performance and a lot of bang for your buck. It is as good as any of the top ten brands, without the high costs of manufacturers advertising and marketing built into the price, like some of the well known brands. Dave.
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Question ...not at all debating the quality of the LA Spas/but when you speak about price....I found them to be very comparably priced to any of the "premium line" spas...In fact to me most makers of any size seem to have at least 2 lines with one being a more price sensitive line and than the other being in line again with most premium makers....am I wrong ?
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Thanks for the kind words Dave & Mendo.
The Cliffs' Notes on L.A. Spas:
Started in 1976 by a guy named Bill Holmes. 3 years ago he sold to a financial group called Sage. In the years just before the sale he did alot of things that caused the name and reputation to go into the crapper. Things like not keeping good people,not replacing reps, not supporting dealers etc....Many dealers eventually left.
Anyway, since the new owners... Key people have been put back into key positions. People from places like Sundance & D-1 etc...Quality is excellent now. Territorritories that didnt have reps now have them. ;)
There are 2 series, the L.A & Tropical with Tropical being the lower end. Every L.A. is offered in various jet configurations ( some have 4 ). L.A. offers every option such as waterfalls, stereos, TV, etc... Less options are offered on Tropical.
We dont have a 5 million dollar advertisng budget but L.A. builds a very good quality spa and offers it's customers alot of options in how they can have it.
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From what I know about LA spas, they are a ok brand. Lots of jets big horsepower (assuming it's brake horsepower) but from feedback I've heard from customers who wet test spas, they don't wet test as well as a Sundance, Hot Spring, Caldera, D1, Jacuzzi or Marqui
Also from what I remember their warranty doesn't cover parts and labor. Make sure you ask the dealer to show you the "real warranty" located inside the spa, not just a warranty "highlight"
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Thanks for the kind words Dave & Mendo.
Started in 1976 by a guy named Bill Holmes. 3 years ago he sold to a financial group called Sage. .
I think it was 3 years ago I saw the LA line at the Ohio State Fair, it was a dealer from either Marion, or Upper Sandusky. (Too far for me to consider) If they are back at the fair this year, what would I see different? Or the same?
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From what I know about LA spas, they are a ok brand. Lots of jets big horsepower (assuming it's brake horsepower) but from feedback I've heard from customers who wet test spas, they don't wet test as well as a Sundance, Hot Spring, Caldera, D1, Jacuzzi or Marqui
Also from what I remember their warranty doesn't cover parts and labor. Make sure you ask the dealer to show you the "real warranty" located inside the spa, not just a warranty "highlight"
I'm not sure what you mean by "real warranty". That sounds like a dealer issue rather than a manufacturer one. L.A. warrants: 20 yr structure, 7 surface, 5 plumbing, components etc. Labor is 3. Nothing trying to be hidden here, or are you trying to create an issue?
As far as your "feedback" obviously those would be the customers that came back and bought from you. I think it would be safe to say that the customers that preferred the fit of the L.A. ( or whatever brand) would not come back to enlighten you with their report.
AND, you spelled Marquis wrong. ;)
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I think it was 3 years ago I saw the LA line at the Ohio State Fair, it was a dealer from either Marion, or Upper Sandusky. (Too far for me to consider) If they are back at the fair this year, what would I see different? Or the same?
In the past year there have been many changes to the molds, so I would say that would be the most visible. Alot of updating, smoothing lines, getting rid of the "Miami Vice" looking palm trees ( now being featured on Artesian's Island Series, thanks to Manny), also alot of internal changes ( packs etc..)
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As far as your "feedback" obviously those would be the customers that came back and bought from you. I think it would be safe to say that the customers that preferred the fit of the L.A. ( or whatever brand) would not come back to enlighten you with their report.
AND, you spelled Marquis wrong. ;)
You got to be kidding me ... you mean that when I hang around an Artesian dealer or LA Spa dealer or ___ (fill in the blank) dealer I won't be hearing the praises of other spa companies as the dealer is writing up the order.
So that was missing when I bought my spa! ;D ;)
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I'm not sure what you mean by "real warranty". That sounds like a dealer issue rather than a manufacturer one. L.A. warrants: 20 yr structure, 7 surface, 5 plumbing, components etc. Labor is 3. Nothing trying to be hidden here, or are you trying to create an issue?
As far as your "feedback" obviously those would be the customers that came back and bought from you. I think it would be safe to say that the customers that preferred the fit of the L.A. ( or whatever brand) would not come back to enlighten you with their report.
AND, you spelled Marquis wrong. ;)
Thanks for correcting my spelling. I was never good at grammer and since there isn't a marquis dealer here it's not an issue.
As far as my feeback from customers that's not entirely true. I always stay in contact with my customers and I'll admit that I've lost a few wet test to sundance for one reason or another and I've lost a few to Hot Spring for one reason or another but I've always heard that customers prefer Caldera, Hot Spring and Sundance to LA Spas. That's just what I've heard in my 10 years on the floor.
As far as the warranty I always tell customers to ask for the warranty before they buy because often times what is printed in the brochure is just a "highlight" of the warranty
And since we're on the subject correct me if I am wrong but LA Spas warranty for plumbing only covers parts and not the labor, which as we all know can be very expensive if a tech is having a problem finding the leak. Again I am not claiming I know exactly what the warranty is for LA and I'd love it if you would educate me correctly but when there was a dealer in my area he told his customers that LA's warranty was better than Sundance, Hot Spring and Caldera and that just wasn't true. He is no longer in business so I am not as familiar with LA as I used to be.
That being said I still always tell people to do research on their local dealer and to wet test. Make their own opinions.
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And since we're on the subject correct me if I am wrong but LA Spas warranty for plumbing only covers parts and not the labor, which as we all know can be very expensive if a tech is having a problem finding the leak.
As I said in my earlier post, labor is 3.
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I guess the trick would be to not have leaks to begin with.
Boy, there's never a Koolaid saleman around when you need one.
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As I said in my earlier post, labor is 3.
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I guess the trick would be to not have leaks to begin with.
Boy, there's never a Koolaid saleman around when you need one.
devl- thanks for clearing that up.
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Boy, there's never a Koolaid saleman around when you need one.
Save the Koolaid comments for the HS guys :D
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Save the Koolaid comments for the HS guys :D
True
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Hey, the Hot Spring guys drink the Hot Spring Kool Aid, because it tastes better!! ;) ;) ;)
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Hey, the Hot Spring guys drink the Hot Spring Kool Aid, because it tastes better!! ;) ;) ;)
That's because it's filtered better.
;)
As to LA - I like the plumbing set up. They slide a reinforced tube over a barbed fitting with glue, and they screw hose clamps down on it as well. I don't know if it actually is better than a simple glue joint or not - they don't post their warranty claim numbers on the 'Net these days - but it sure looks like a good bit of redundancy.
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but it sure looks like a good bit of redundancy.
you can say that again.
but it sure looks like a good bit of redundancy.
you can say that again. ;)