Hot Tub Forum
Original => Hot Tub Forum => Topic started by: dead men walking on October 28, 2006, 09:12:17 am
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I am looking at the Hydro spa Millennium for about $6700 ith delivery, cover, stairs and set up from a local dealer. Any thoughts on the company and the spa. Also if there are other choices in the same price range. I think i really like the valcano jets. Help me
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Hydro Spa isn't mentioned much.
Spas for about the same money would be secondary spas of Sundance, D1, Marquis and Artesian. Look at Beachcomber and Jacuzzi as well. There could be others too!
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There are tons of spas out there for that price. What other manufacturers are in your area? Let us know and we'll go from there.
Tileman
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I'm in Buffalo and there are most of them brands except bullforg.
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I guess the next step would be to start wet testing and try to find a dealer that you feel comfortable with. Let us know what models you liked and we'll supply some feedback.
When you said you like the volcano jets are you talking about the footwell dome?
Chad
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I found some reviews on Hydrospas in the reviews section of rhtubs.com. :)
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I am looking at the Hydro spa Millennium for about $6700 ith delivery, cover, stairs and set up from a local dealer. Any thoughts on the company and the spa. Also if there are other choices in the same price range. I think i really like the valcano jets. Help me
Hydro Spa is the 5th largest Spa MFG in the World. Has been making spas longer than almost all other spa companies, since 1975. They are not liked in the Forums because they sell spas to Big Box Retailers and compete against the major brands by offering a lot of features for the money. They make a premium line of spas of which the Millennium is one, they also make discount retailer spas. The Hot Tub sold by Costco in the stores for the past two years the Platinum is made by Hydro Spa, this is a version of their premium spas with a few modifications to get the price down to $3999. The new PlatinumIII is due out at Costco any day, it has the foot dome, stereo, and all the features of more expensive spas. The dealers don't like the competition so they trash the company and the spas. Hydro Spa is a dirty word here. The forums are not nice to people who own them and they tell people looking at them to buy another brand. Over all they make some good spas and some cheap spas. Hope that helps.
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:-? I wonder what the service is like from Costco spas? :-?
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:-? I wonder what the service is like from Costco spas? :-?
If you buy a tub from Costco, Home Depot, Walmart, or online you are not paying for service. You are on your own to deal with the MFG for warranty issues. With a dealer purchased spa you are paying for service in the price of the tub. Some people are willing to take that risk to save some money, others are not. You can buy name brand tubs from Costco online, including Hot Springs. I saw Sundance doing a road show at Costco last week, they have a contract with Costco this year to and with the road shows you get the local dealer doing the sales thru Costco.
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I am looking at the Hydro spa Millennium for about $6700 ith delivery, cover, stairs and set up from a local dealer. Any thoughts on the company and the spa. Also if there are other choices in the same price range. I think i really like the valcano jets. Help me
Hydro Spa makes some real nice spas, if the dealer is good I wouldn't be afraid of it. Hydro Spa has some of the tightest cabinets, built on those heavy duty molded bases instead of a piece of plastic stapled on the bottom. Cal-Spa also has volcano jets in a foot dome, you might want to check them out to. I almost bought a Cal-Spa because of the volcano jets in the foot dome. Hydro Spa sells some cheap spas at Walmart, you want to stay away from those.
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:-? I wonder what the service is like from Costco spas? :-?
If you buy a tub from Costco, Home Depot, Walmart, or online you are not paying for service. You are on your own to deal with the MFG for warranty issues. With a dealer purchased spa you are paying for service in the price of the tub. Some people are willing to take that risk to save some money, others are not. You can buy name brand tubs from Costco online, including Hot Springs. I saw Sundance doing a road show at Costco last week, they have a contract with Costco this year to and with the road shows you get the local dealer doing the sales thru Costco.
I don't know about you but there is no way I'm buying anything from anyone who doesn't give a S%#@ about you the moment you leave the store.
I'm not a fan of these supercenter stores that sell everything from hot dogs to spas. They come into towns and run out all the small businesses that have been providing something more than just a product, but a little thing called customer service and truly want you to be happy.
These "mom and pop" stores have been around since the beginning and are there not just to make money but to educate their consumers on their products and won't let you leave until you are fully knoweledgeable working it. They'll take you to a demonstration room and go over the entire process of working the certain item your purchasing.
The big guys can't do this because of their extremely high overhead. Thats why they sell quantity instead of quality. They must hit certain numbers each month to stay alive. Whereas a small business w/ little overhead can provide you with a product at a similar price but still provide great service and actually be knowledgable about what their selling.
Big businesses are the downfall of the world. Before long Wal-Mart will be it. You want fast food , McWal-Mart, you want beer, Wal-Beer, you want tile,Wal-Tile, I think you get the picture. Why would you want to support such a mega corp that wants the middle class gone? 20 years from now if we let this continue , either you're pay check to pay check or you write paycheck after paycheck. I try to do everything I can to support small businesses as I am a part owner of one. I would rather have my kids work for a small family ran business that teaches good morals than a business who only looks at you as a #. But we all have our own opinions, right?
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Anyone actually have one of these Costco spas? I would like to hear about your experience thus far.
Chad
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Wow, a part owner of a business and with kids too? all at 23? Thanks for the socioeconomic lesson, flawed though it is....
"Big business are the down fall of the world"? I suppose you bought that 350Z from a small independent auto maker? And that Jaccuzzi you just purchased? Some 4 man shop?
"Megacorp wants the middle class gone"? How many millionaire executypes you see walking around Home Depot? Ha!. The middle class drives the big box stores, they are their life blood.
Getting the thread back on point, there is a reason for the low price of the big box spa. Yes, volume is one, and not having to provide a service support team is another. Buyers need to know this going in and make their decision about the purchase price with this in mind. For some this is the right choice, and they are entitled to make it without feeling belittled for doing so. Not everyone can afford a Jaccuzzi.
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Part owner yes, kids no.
You're not seeing my point at all. Last I checked my Z and spa were purchased from small family owned dealers. You do still know it is possible to have your own franchise right. You said and I quote,
'' How many millionaire executypes you see walking around Home Depot? Ha!. The middle class drives the big box stores, they are their life blood.''
Where else are they supposed to go? They drove every other business out of town.
I'm also not sure if you read my post about how much I pid for my JACUZZI, but it was $6095. DMW was saying his Hydrospa was $6700.
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I have fixed a few sold by a local liquidator. Hydro spa still has not paid me and I will fix them no more.
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Part owner yes, kids no.
You're not seeing my point at all. Last I checked my Z and spa were purchased from small family owned dealers. You do still know it is possible to have your own franchise right. You said and I quote,
'' How many millionaire executypes you see walking around Home Depot? Ha!. The middle class drives the big box stores, they are their life blood.''
Where else are they supposed to go? They drove every other business out of town.
I'm also not sure if you read my post about how much I pid for my JACUZZI, but it was $6095. DMW was saying his Hydrospa was $6700.
That is because he is pricing it at a Mom and Pops dealer. If he were looking at the similar model at Costco it would be $3999 with more features than your Jacuzzi and would come with a lifetime satisfaction guarantee.
If I want good advise on a building project I go to Home Depot, they hire and train the best. If I want the best guarantee in the industry I go to Costco they guarantee satasfaction on everything they sell. Yes I like small businesses, but I am not going to pay an extra 20% for the same product if I can get it at Walmart for less. And if I have a problem with a product I bought from Walmart, I take it back, no questions asked. If I have a problem with a product I buy at a Mom and Pops store they are really put out if I try to return it, they want you to deal with the MFG. I know it is hard to be a Mom and Pop business now days, I did it many years. When I was in business for myself, I could buy stuff cheaper in the city at K-Mart or Sams Club than from my wholesale supplier. But that is the way of Free Enterprise, and it has given us the highest standard of living in the world. You wouldn't be driving that car or sitting in that Hot Tub without big business.
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Part owner yes, kids no.
You're not seeing my point at all. Last I checked my Z and spa were purchased from small family owned dealers. You do still know it is possible to have your own franchise right. You said and I quote,
'' How many millionaire executypes you see walking around Home Depot? Ha!. The middle class drives the big box stores, they are their life blood.''
Where else are they supposed to go? They drove every other business out of town.
I'm also not sure if you read my post about how much I pid for my JACUZZI, but it was $6095. DMW was saying his Hydrospa was $6700.
That is because he is pricing it at a Mom and Pops dealer. If he were looking at the similar model at Costco it would be $3999 with more features than your Jacuzzi and would come with a lifetime satisfaction guarantee.
If I want good advise on a building project I go to Home Depot, they hire and train the best. If I want the best guarantee in the industry I go to Costco they guarantee satasfaction on everything they sell. Yes I like small businesses, but I am not going to pay an extra 20% for the same product if I can get it at Walmart for less. And if I have a problem with a product I bought from Walmart, I take it back, no questions asked. If I have a problem with a product I buy at a Mom and Pops store they are really put out if I try to return it, they want you to deal with the MFG. I know it is hard to be a Mom and Pop business now days, I did it many years. When I was in business for myself, I could buy stuff cheaper in the city at K-Mart or Sams Club than from my wholesale supplier. But that is the way of Free Enterprise, and it has given us the highest standard of living in the world. You wouldn't be driving that car or sitting in that Hot Tub without big business.
You seriously cannot think that Home Depot installers are trained to be the best. I am a union tile setter and have been trained by the best in my area. They have so much experience in their trade it's almost disgusting. We laugh at them trying to explain how to install tile and marble. They read books and think their qualified to set. We have hands on classes for three years from the Best setters in the biz in order to get our journeyman card. I can not tell you how many times I've had to fix their f$%# ups and how many times the customer says, "thats not how Home Depot told me to do it." I just shake my head and say that's why you want a PROFESSIONAL.
Chad
Btw, what is a lifetime satisfaction guarantee?
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That makes perfect sense George... if we we were talking about a toaster oven, but we are not are we. We're talking about four thousand pound appliance. Don't forget to throw in the $300~$400 for setup and delivery & possibly another $300~$400 for removal if your not happy with it. Personally I wouldn't pay two hundred dollars for a leather jacket without trying it on so I'm sure as heck not paying $3000~$4000 for a tub without taking it for a ride.
I ask you, "Do you feel lucky"
Just my $.02 :)
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That is irrelevant in my situation as I have a money back, no questions asked, free removal, for a full month. I'd like Costco to try and compete with that. 8-)
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Home Depot hires the best???? Are you kidding? Their "contractors" or whatever they want to call themselves are a joke, and horribly overpriced for the service they provide. My friend is in the process of trying to sue them for how they botched up a flooring job at his house. The house I live in now had fire doors put in by home depot before I moved in (sellers idea, not mine) and I could have done a better job cosmetically.
In the store, there are a few people in there who can answer your questions and are competent. The majority, however, are trained just enough to get by in their department.
The only reason I buy anything there is that I hardly have a choice, and yes, anything can be returned with no question. If there were another option, I would take it.
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Thanks for the support Anne.
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Home Depot hires the best???? Are you kidding? Their "contractors" or whatever they want to call themselves are a joke, and horribly overpriced for the service they provide. My friend is in the process of trying to sue them for how they botched up a flooring job at his house. The house I live in now had fire doors put in by home depot before I moved in (sellers idea, not mine) and I could have done a better job cosmetically.
In the store, there are a few people in there who can answer your questions and are competent. The majority, however, are trained just enough to get by in their department.
The only reason I buy anything there is that I hardly have a choice, and yes, anything can be returned with no question. If there were another option, I would take it.
I have not had bad experiences with advise from Home Depot, but I will admit I have never used any of their indepent contractors. I have only ask for advise from the sales people, which I have found very knowledgable.
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That is irrelevant in my situation as I have a money back, no questions asked, free removal, for a full month. I'd like Costco to try and compete with that. 8-)
Costco offers a Lifetime Garantee on anything they sell, if you are ever not satasified with an Item you purchased from them you may return it for a full refund for the life of the product. You of course would be responsible for the cost of getting it back to the store.
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The original question on this Subject was about Hydro Spa and not about Mass Merchants. I realize I mentioned that Hydro Spa sells a lot of spas thru Mass Merchants, but Hydro Spa does have a dealer network and a premium line of spas. Buying from a dealer does not insure, however that you will get good service. The most complaints you read about in the forums are about poor dealer support no matter what brand of spa you are talking about. Not all Mom and Pops dealers offer good service. I agree the Mass Merchants pretty much offer no service. But many spa owners have purchased from a dealer and been left dealing with the MFG to get warranty service anyway. Just because someone bought their Hydro Spa, Keys, or Hotsprings spa from Costco, Home Depot, or Online doesn't make them a bad person. I would think we should be helpful to anyone who asks for help even a customer of Jim the Jim from the famous Haven Spas Online the ultimate Mom and Pops Business.
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Hi, Dead Men Walking.
Let me preface this comment by saying that I am by no means an expert with spas. I am actually awaiting the arrival of my first! However, I did a ton of research before I chose the one I did, including asking questions all over the place and wet-testing several tubs to find just the right one for me.
Let me also tell you that I am very cheap. Often price sways me more than promises of service, since I'd rather do-it-myself than fork over cash to watch someone else do a job that I could do myself.
We started seriously considering buying a tub when we saw one at Costco similar to the one you are describing. We couldn't believe the price for the number of features that it came loaded with! That's when I started asking questions (both here and at the local dealerships).
The Platinum II at Costco (by HydroSpa) looked fantastic, propped as it was on its side to show it off. It had chrome jets, headrest pillows, a CD sound-system with pop-up speakers, and a funky LED lighting system - all the toys. However, I have no idea how it felt. We knew that a wet-test would be out of the question, but I didn't think it was unreasonable to ask to sit in the tub dry. The Costco guy was not prepared to let that happen; in fact he seemed put-out to be bothered by such a stupid request. Getting no further help, we left. A week later, the tub was still dispayed prominantly on its side but both speakers were damaged. One was hanging by its wires from the opening and the other was stuck halfway into its slot, jammed for some reason. Funny, but that made me feel better about dismissing it from my search, despite the price. I've since discovered that this particular tub has little to no insulation in the cabinet and, being an environmentalist and a tightwad, efficiency is high on my list of priorities! ;)
We narrowed our search to tubs that met our needs in the $7000-$8000CDN range. Two of those that we liked with foot and volcano jets were the Caldera Hawaiian and the Sundance Bahia. Both have good warranties and I trusted and respected what the dealers had to say about their product and service.
What won me over in the end was a simple thought: I'm buying this tub as a luxury. I want it to bring me years of relaxation and fun, rather than months of frustration and service calls. I was willing to spend the extra cash for the peace of mind that a reputable dealer could provide.
Any tub can have problems. What's important to me is how those problems will be dealt with if/when they happen. I think that if you try out a few tubs, talk to a few dealers, and read some of the opinions from people on this forum, you will find the right fit for you.
Best of luck with your search and happy tubbing, whatever brand you choose! 8-)