Welcome to our forum.
I just purchased my 1st tub so I can't provide the Spa-knowledge that other people on here are such a great a resource for. However, I consider myself an expert at purchasing so I feel very qualified to answer these questions. There is very little you can find online regarding price, it's all negotiation. For me, I expect 15%-20% discount and never do worse than 10%. Several here (dealers) will give lots of reasons why you shouldn't expect that much - but markup on these items is WAY higher than most people think. Even if he makes a little less on this sale, he's gaining a customer, which will be back for chemicals and other items at full retail prices.The main thing is to keep your excitement to yourself. You said there's only the one dealer in your area, but hopefully there's a competing brand locally. Make sure the Sundance dealer thinks he needs to earn your purchase over something else that is cheaper. ALWAYS speak very highly of his competition and how much you're really looking carefully between the two, especially on price. Be an expert on the good qualities of the competing brand and ask him to help you understand his product. Let him talk more than you talk.My purchase experience, hopefully you find it helpful:Locally I had Jacuzzi, Bullfrog, Caldera, Hot Springs that I visited and a few others I didn't. The Jacuzzi and Bullfrog dealers both sold Sunrise as a secondary brand, which is what I bought. Being new to spas, I visited each store 3-4 times as I was deciding what to get, so they knew me when I walked in. I was able to get the Bullfrog dealer down 10% off the sticker price (which was already marked as being a "sale price") and the next time I went to the Jacuzzi place I told him "give me a reason to not go back to Bullfrog". Knowing that I had a deal on the table from Bullfrog, but not knowing exactly what that deal was, he quoted me 20% under sticker. At that point I told him if he'd throw in the cover lifter and steps for free ($400 value) I'd put down a deposit and he did. Deal done. Started at $8,000 base price and got it for $6,500 including the optional UV system, cover lifter and steps.
Well, what a difference a week can make! In the quest to find some comparable prices for the Sundance Optima, I came across some links for Marquis spas. My wife and I paid the dealer a visit at lunch and were very impressed with Marquis in general, and liked the Epic very much.Since both my wife and I have skin conditions (psoriasis, and very dry skin) we were intrigued with the MicroSilk system. The dealer didn't have one in stock, but from what we have read it sure sounds like a promising option.Both spas are comparably priced (approx 11k) but the Epic comes with the MicroSilk and wrap around bench.Two questions:For the Epic with MicroSilk, aromatherapy, wi-fi, lights, no stereo, and corner bench with regular bench is a little under 11k a good price?Initial Marquis quote included 3 months supplies - this seems on the low side. Am I correct on this?Thanks for all the suggestions and help!-Vorpel