Hot Tub Forum
Original => Hot Tub Forum => Topic started by: maracujas on June 13, 2006, 04:35:32 pm
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Hi everybody !
I'm french and live in the caribbean.
I want to buy a spa between $ 5000 and $6000.
On the island where I live (Saint-Martin) there is no possibility to buy a spa at this price ! Sometime the price are the double of what you pay in USA.
I wanted to buy a spa in Florida (next to Miami because then I have to ship it to Saint-Martin)I know that I can't see the models but I have no choice... I can buy an HYDRO SPA MARK III OMNI at $ 5750. It seems to be a good deal.
What do you think about it ?
The specifications seem to be good for the price...
Thanks to help me.
P. S : Excuse my english... Please answer me with "simple word"
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Sorry I can't help you with your questions, but you did an excellent job posting the message. It is very clear and easy to understand exactly what you are asking.
Hopefully someone who knows about this spa can help you.
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What a beautiful part of the earth. I wish I was back in nearby St Thomas. At least here full foam vs thermopane shouldn't matter a whole lot.
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Bon jour. :)
What are your electrical requirements? Same as US?
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Bonjour !
Electrical requirements in Saint-Martin : 220 V / 60 Hz
(In France it is 220 V / 50 Hz)
Thanks
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I own an Omni and I love it. I have owned it for about a year now and still use it often. The seating is very comfortable and well laid out. In warm weather I think you will enjoy having the air blower. The volcano foot dome feels great and helps keep your guest’s feet from touching each other. The dual two speed pumps give you a nice range of jet pressure. The price you have is less then what I paid, but I live in New England so I’m sure shipping costs where included in my price. If you would like more information just ask.
I posséder un Omni et moi l'aiment. Je l'ai possédé pendant environ une année maintenant et l'emploie toujours souvent. L'allocation des places est très confortable et bien étalée . Par temps chaud je pense que vous aurez plaisir à avoir le ventilateur. Le dôme de pied de volcan juge que grand et des aides gardez vos pieds du ’ s d'invité de se toucher. Les pompes à deux vitesses duelles vous donnent qu'une gamme gentille de voyagent en jet la pression. Est le prix que vous avez moins puis ce que j'ai payé, mais je vis en coûts sûrs d'expédition du ’ tellement I m de la Nouvelle Angleterre où inclus dans mon prix. Si vous voudriez plus d'information demandez juste.
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 In warm weather I think you will enjoy having the air blower.  .
I normally don't like air blowers, but in his case you probably make a good point.
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I posséder un Omni et moi l'aiment.  Je l'ai possédé pendant environ une année maintenant et l'emploie toujours souvent.  L'allocation des places est très confortable et bien étalée .  Par temps chaud je pense que vous aurez plaisir à avoir le ventilateur.  Le dôme de pied de volcan juge que grand et des aides gardez vos pieds du ’ s d'invité de se toucher.  Les pompes à deux vitesses duelles vous donnent qu'une gamme gentille de voyagent en jet la pression.  Est le prix que vous avez moins puis ce que j'ai payé, mais je vis en coûts sûrs d'expédition du ’ tellement I m de la Nouvelle Angleterre où inclus dans mon prix.  Si vous voudriez plus d'information  demandez juste.
I agree. I think. ;)
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NO advice. just envy. St Martin was one of the nicest Islands I've ever been to.
I proposed to my wife on the beach at the Flamboyant.
ahhh.. St Marten. :)
Good luck with your hot tub expidition.
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I'm happy that you like Saint-Martin... I like it very much too... that's why I live here !
I saw in differents forums bad things about the manufacturer HYDRO SPA (bad maintenance service, they don't respect warranty, etc...) and about their spas (problem with insulation : I don't understand exactly what it is..., bad quality on buttons which break, problem with the shell, etc...)
I'll try to post you what I red.
Of course we can have luck or no luck whith each manufacturer of spa, it's like a car... a person can buy a car that all the people say it's a very good one and have problems... but for sure there is some manufacter which are reputable for bad,middle or good quality... or one product of manufacturer which are reputable for bad,middle or good quality...
Any way, I asked me if at this price for this kind of product, do I take a big risk ?
If I compare with other brands, at this price you don't have :
- so many jets,
- so big space,
- such caracteristics, etc...
The other question is : is there any reason why the price is lower than the other manufacturer ?
Perhaps they sale more hot tubs so that they can do better prices ? It is perhaps their politic ? or of course, there is a big difference quality ?
I red that HYDRO SPA do hot tubs since 1975 (my age !) I can't imagine that they do a bad work since this date and that they can continue to sell... ?
I saw that poolandspa gice them 5 stars for best of class : I don't know if it is "commercial" or true...
Thanks for theprevious answers and the next one...
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Just remember, it is a CHEAP spa. Why are some spas cheaper than others? They are made from CHEAP materials. It is what it is.
Are they the best? No.
Are they the cheapest? Close to being so.
Are they the worst? In my experience, close to being so.
Always remember: The bitter taste of cheap crap lingers long after the sweet smell of cheap prices has wafted away.
C'est la vie! :)
Terminator
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Hi Terminator !
Happy to see you !
I remembered that you don't like HYDRO SPA ! (I saw what you write in other forum)
You said you have experience, I trust you.
So, can you develop and tell me what is exactly cheap materials ? and what do you think is good materials ?...
Could you please give me exemple and tell me wich manufacturer use bad and good materials ?
In what is this manufacturer close to be the worst ? (exemple based on your eperience)
And wich spa do you advice me to buy in this range of price ? ($ 5000 to $ 6000)
"Always remember: The bitter taste of cheap crap lingers long after the sweet smell of cheap prices has wafted away" : I don't understand, sorry !
Thanks
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I am happy to have you see me, too, mi amigo! :)
When I say I do not think very highly of them, here is one small example why, straight from their warranty:
10 Year – Sterling Leisure Spa Surface Warranty
Hydro Spa warrants the Sterling Leisure interior acrylic spa surface against blisters, cracks, or delaminating resulting from a defect in the acrylic surface material for a period of 10 years from the date of purchase, based on the following formula: Retail cost divided by months covered (120), multiplied by months owned = replacement cost.
The way I interpret it is if you buy a $6000 spa and at year 5 there is a problem, you do the following:
6000/120 = 50 x 60 months (5 years) = $3000 replacement cost.
Plus, YOU are responsible for shipping costs, which can be substantial.
I perused their website and it is full of disinformation, obfuscation, and blatant misrepresentations of competing products. Too many to go into at the moment.
I have an entire file dedicated complaints against one of their associates who operates in Texas by the name of Stacey Diego that I'd be happy to post.
Stick with the brand names and you will not regret it.
HotSpring, Tiger River, HotSpot, Solana, Caldera, Sundance, Jacuzzi, Marquis, Dimension 1, Artesian, Beachcomber, etc.
The bitter taste of poor quality lingers long after the sweet smell of low price has passed.
Good Luck
Terminator
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I thought that Lucite acrylic shells, Waterway jets and pumps (wet ends), and Balboa spa packs where all name brand quality components. Where are the cheep components? Also, don’t most manufactures have prorated warranties? I would not expect a manufacture to replace a 9 year old spa with a brand new one because of a blister. Unless I paid double what the spa was worth in the first place. I think the insulation argument is insignificant. For cheep money anyone can simply add insulation to their spa.
J'ai pensé que les coquilles acryliques de lucite, voie d'eau voyage en jet et des pompes (extrémités humides), et la station thermale de Balboa emballe où tous les composants nommés de qualité de marque. Où sont les composants de piaulement ? En outre, mettez le ’ t fabrique plus ont partagé proportionnellement des garanties ? Je ne m'attendrais pas à ce qu'une fabrication remplace une station thermale de 9 ans avec nouvelle en raison d'une boursouflure. À moins que j'aie payé le double ce que la station thermale a valu la peine dans le premier endroit. Je pense que l'argument d'isolation est insignifiant. Pour le piaulement l'argent n'importe qui peut simplement ajouter l'isolation à leur station thermale.
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No co-extrusion
High strength bonding resists de-lamination
Cast acrylic is stain free and fade resistant
Every Hydro Spa Poseidoniteâ„¢ shell is constructed of non-porous dimensionally stable, one piece, acrylic sheet. The cross linking of the molecules makes the shell surface very durable. The vacuum formed shell is coated with a proprietary combination of chopped fiberglass and resins that are hand rolled onto the rear of the shell. We are so confident that our Poseidoniteâ„¢ shell is the best, we offer a lifetime warranty against shell leakage for as long as you own the spa.
(http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b206/EastTexasSpa/37ea791b.jpg)
Others may use ABS which is a high impact thermoplastic that may stain easily and does not have the structural strength to hold the weight of five thousand pounds of water and people. ABS shells are usually reinforced with a foam filled cabinet and may result in very expensive service calls when you get a leak. They are usually white in color with tile at the water line to deter stains.
PURE BALOGNEY SANDWICH (BS)! :P
Terminator
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I thought that Lucite acrylic shells, Waterway jets and pumps (wet ends), and Balboa spa packs where all name brand quality components.  Where are the cheep components?  Also, don’t most manufactures have prorated warranties? Â
Well, my Dynasty Spa uses the waterways stuff and Balboa packs, but Dynasty, at least in my case has a full 5 year no fault warranty that is not prorated. Pillows are the only thing with their label on it that I am aware of that this doesn't apply to. Cover and coverlifter don't apply. They have been true to their warranty word even though my dealer doesn't exist any more.
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Hi everybody !
I'm happy to see that I have some answers...
Concerning what you said inyour last post, Terminator, I don't understand ANYTHING !!! I think I'll call a friend who speaks very good english so that he can translate it to me...
Concerning the shipping that I will pay if I eventualy buy an HYDRO SPA and if I have any problem, I think it's exactly the same with the others manufacturer, isn't it ? (If I don't buy it in Saint-Martin)
I don't think that the manufacturer will always pay the shipping of the parts every time I have a problem ! It's different when you have your dealer next to you but in my case it's not possible.
In saint-Martin, there is no dealer of each manufacturer you (Terminator) listed. Here I can just find Beachcomber (small model : 320 m with 6 jets) at $ 4600 or Vita Spa : $ 6800 for model Alero (23 jets).
That's all !!!
If someone want to create a spa business here, there is space !!! (At good price of course...)
Then concerning the insulation and if it is what I think, I'm agree with uncommonlytasty, I can add it for cheap.
This is about the shell but the rest ? Pump, motors, electricity consumation etc...
Are they bad too according to you ?
Do someone (or know someone else) who is the owner of an HYDRO SPA, that they use every day since 5 years or more ? How work the spa ? What kind of problem do they have ?
For me there is a big difference on the price (more than double) if we compare approximatly the same specification. I'm not sure that the quality of an HYDRO SPA is half than the others... ?
I don't think I will keep this spa till the end of my life too... So if it's ok for a correct time it's good...
And for sure if you compare electronics stuff (like TV, DVD player, etc...) most of time this is approximatly the same inside but the brand change and the price change with it... So can we really says that this brand is much better than the other ?
For the shell they have their own "construction" ok, but the rest ?
Perhaps they all do a lot of things in China ? ;)
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My friend, since you are French it is understandable that my twang is difficult to interpret and for that I offer my most sincere and affable prostration. I have simply tried to help you avoid the pitfalls that many people make in their first attempt at spa ownership. I now realize that my efforts are unfruitable and are probably just adding to your confusion, so I will desist.
I truly and erectly wish you well in your endeavor and hope that you find the perfect spa with which to find pleasure for yourself. :)
Terminator
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Maracujas,
Look into gulf coast spas in Clearwater Florida. I've had a XL1100 since april and It's alot of spa for the money. Some people have said that gulf coast and hydro spa were built in the same factory for awhile?? We love saint martin. Anyway my warranty is decent. the spa has plenty of power and jets. seats are comfortable with arm rests. If i knew how to post pictures I would but check them out on gulfcoastspas.com good luck dswslp