I'm trying to compare the Highlife Costco spa with the HotSpring Sovereign.
I really don't want to start a holy war. I've researched these forums and other online resources. My question is regarding the true differences between a HotSpring branded spa and the Highlife version sold at costco.
Outwardly they are very similar, and it seems they use they same components. If this is true, then the price difference would essentially come down to options. Is this correct? So if one is happy with the only option at costco, then maybe that's a good way to go. If the buyer want's other colors or bells and whistles then buying a hotspring from a dealer is the thing to do. Would you say this is a fair assessment?
I don't mind paying for something of good quality, and I tend to like to buy things that are well built. And I do see minor differences in the technical specs, but I'm not savvy enough to know, for instance, the practical difference between a "90 sq. ft. top loading filter" vs. a "120 sq. ft. top loading filter"
A few other questions that come to mind:
- Service and support. Is this another difference? Does buying a Hotspring from a dealer mean that if something goes wrong we can get service more easily? I know that often that's the case, but it's also possible for things to swing the other way. With such deep pockets sometimes the large chains can actually offer satisfactory service. Does anybody have any real-world experience?
- Does anybody know if the EverFresh option is available on the Highlife?
- On the Costco site, it lists that the 115V is "convertable to 230V..." Is this any difference from the 230V system listed by HotSpring? i.e. is the 'conversion' something different from standard 230V option?
- I've seen posts regarding buying an actual HotSpring spa from Costco. I don't see this the site. Is this something you need to go and request in person?
In the end, my decision may hinge more on my general dislike for large retailers like Costco and their impact on local economies.
Anyway, thanks for any help you can offer. Just trying to gather enough information to make a good decision.
gary