I'm Baaack! Tired, broke and humbled show report

[stuart]

Just got back from the AQUA show..

Paid the light bill for the city of Vegas this week.....

I wanted to give my report of the AQUA show but first I need to do some house cleaning.  Empolgation and Vinny,
Sorry I got a bit testy on the topic of posting prices. I do take integrity issues personal and mean what I said about as an industry pro that has paid my dues for many years living and breathing this industry with my heart, soul and personal finances I feel that I’ve earned the right to give the advice I do. This does not mean however that I should beat you guys up for your opinions…sorry

Steve,
Thanks for having my back buddy!

See ya'll there.
I don't know what guys like Doc, Chas and Stuart look like but I figure if I see 3 guys who resemble George Clooney, Pierce Brosnan and Mel Gibson standing around talking about spas I'll know its them.

Spatech,
God how I wish you were right…..!

I would think it would be more like Larry, Moe, and Curly.  I guess opinions vary.  

Chris,
If you only knew how close to the truth you where! I stopped by Doc’s booth and saw “Larry” in person but Moe (Chas) “sointenly” was not there.

OK, Show report;

1. HotSpring was not there.
2. D1 was not there.
3. Caldera didn’t look that much different but they had a huge turn out and had a classy booth.
4. Sundance/Jacuzzi didn’t seem to have as big of a presence as last year and I had already seen most of the changes.
5. Phoenix chased me out for taking pictures.
6. Great Lakes new spa line was the talk of the show with their new small line of spas. I really liked the way they looked and their price points but still question their filtration, cabinet and lack of frame. Jury is still out though, I think they are looking a whole lot better and might really have something going.
7. Didn’t see Coleman but ran into their upper end management who offered to bring me out for the NSPI in 2 weeks to see the new changes so I will give a full report then.
8. Master was pretty disappointing. Everyone was commenting on the fact that they where still using an older cheap looking cabinet and every spa shell in the booth had blems of some kind. They couldn’t even show the equipment on most of the models because they didn’t have time to put it in before the show. I looked at the new backlit emblem on 2 filter lids that looked like someone hacked it away with a drill bit!
9. Tuff spas seemed to making a bigger presence then in the past.
10. Marquis made some incredible changes and even if I wasn’t partial to them I would soon have to be. I ordered a new Reward for myself!
11. Didn’t see Hydro
12. Didn’t see Beachcomber
13. loved the new Leisure concepts cover lifts!
14. SpaFrog had a much bigger presence.
15. Lots of new toys, tools and accessories!
16. Looking forward to the bigger show in Dec.

Great to be back!

[Chas]

Cool. Thanks for the report. You didn't give us exact amounts on your 'gaming?'  

I was planning to go - but stuff came up on the home front. We will be there in December if at all possible, and the HotSpring 'show' at the plant is coming up in a couple of weeks.

I'll try to give a report on that, and who knows - I may have photos to post.

[Vinny]

Welcome Back!

Not a problem and PLEASE believe me when I say nothing I said was to insinuate anything toward you at all!

Vinny

[Tman122]

Another small report from Great Lakes. My Ottawa is over 2 years old and I had a problem with my 5 inch roto jet. The bearings fell out and it stopped spinning. Not really a big deal, but they, at no cost sent me a whole new set of jets for the entire tub, no questions asked. They have satisfied me, and my ownership of there brand has been a great value for me so far.

Now maybe they changed there jets over the last few years and had a pile of the old style on the shelfs, I don't know but, one bad jet and 14 showed up in the mail 3 days after I reported it to them. Seems pretty good to me.

Not the best built tub out there but value priced and a decent tub for anyone looking to see if a hot tub is for them before investing 8-10 grand.

Can any Joe Smoe go to these shows or is it limited to dealers?

[stuart]

Another small report from Great Lakes. My Ottawa is over 2 years old and I had a problem with my 5 inch roto jet. The bearings fell out and it stopped spinning. Not really a big deal, but they, at no cost sent me a whole new set of jets for the entire tub, no questions asked. They have satisfied me, and my ownership of there brand has been a great value for me so far.

Now maybe they changed there jets over the last few years and had a pile of the old style on the shelfs, I don't know but, one bad jet and 14 showed up in the mail 3 days after I reported it to them. Seems pretty good to me.

Not the best built tub out there but value priced and a decent tub for anyone looking to see if a hot tub is for them before investing 8-10 grand.

Can any Joe Smoe go to these shows or is it limited to dealers?

I gotta say that I think I hurt their feelings by saying that I was shocked with myself to have any interest in Great lakes!

BTW, the show is limited to the spa industry although I do believe I saw "Joe Smoe" there and he said hi!

[empolgation]

Great to have you back! - no harm done... I still think yer pretty cool  

I's love to hear more about Marquis "increadible changes", beyond the waterfall. Did Phoenix press charges for the paparazzi stunt?

[stuart]

Don't know if I'm supposed to "spill the beans" yet! I will IM you for the most part but here are a few. What would you say to a wireless remote on every spa, new design on the HK40 jets, a larger Reward, even more realistic wood look cabinet, and much more?!

As far as the paparazzi stunt, I'm just too well known in the industry and  my "covert" attempt made them nervous so really didn't make a big deal about it, after all we still have paparazzi spatech lurking around outside the gates of their factory!

[Phil]

Stuart,

tell Clayton thanxs for the T.O., I appreciate it!  (minnesota)

Roger,

I'll get ya in.............

[ttodd1]

even more realistic wood look cabinet, and much more?!

Fake wood that looks more real than real wood??!!  

[stuart]

Cool. Thanks for the report. You didn't give us exact amounts on your 'gaming?'  

Let's put it this way, I won until I lost and then I lost until I left. They have a machine I played a lot in most casinos that I won consecutively on called ATM....

I was planning to go - but stuff came up on the home front. We will be there in December if at all possible, and the HotSpring 'show' at the plant is coming up in a couple of weeks.

I will be at the Mandalay Bay I'll meet you by the ATM

At the cost of taxi's we should get a few of us together and rent a limo. Better yet at the cost of taxi fare we should get together and buy a limo!

I'll try to give a report on that, and who knows - I may have photos to post.

I'm really interested on what HS is going to do next year after the huge changes they've already made. Is it true their thinking of moving the plant to Mexico?