Need some advice

[aronsam]

Need [tr][/tr]

I've been reading the posts and could really use some help.

I am looking to buy a hot tub, knowing it will be the only one I will buy so i want a very good one.  I don't have money to burn, but would rather spend a few thousand dollars more and get "the best" than still spend a lot of money and not be happy with my choice.  

There are various dealers near me (NY) but I don't have a lot of time to drive from one to another.  I spoke to a low key Beachcomber dealer who I will visit and there are Sundance and Hot Springs dealers near me.    Once I buy, does the dealer service or the manufacturer?  If the dealer, isn't that almost a more important choice than the manufacturer?

I guess a question is if I visit the Beachcomber dealer and buy one without looking at the other top brands mentioned in this forum, will I know the difference?   Are the differences among the major makers really substantial?

I appreciate any guidance.

[Brewman]

You can't know what you've got till you look at other options.  All of the brands you listed would be fine choices.  But they're all a bit different, and you won't know what one fits you better till you hop in.  I suggest shopping all three.

The dealer services the spas (at least on spas of reputable quality.  Cheesy spas sold out of warehouses or door to door or on Ebay or the back of a truck or out of some nut cases garage in a certain state in the western part of the USA are serviced by some mystery method).  Dealer support in my opinion is very important.  A bad dealer could make getting service a miserable experience.  

 Your are wise in wanting to put your satisfaction in the spa before your wallet.  This is a relatively large long term purchase.  You'll very quickly forget what you spent once you start soaking.  But the sting from a compromise will possibly bother you for years- you'll be dwelling on the "one that got away" instead of enjoying what you have.

Don't settle- live within your means, but don't settle.
  And in some cases, cheaper isn't really cheaper in the long haul.

Good luck on your quest.  Use this forum, it's full of excellent advice.  
And much less soft core porn as of late.

[wmccall]

You seem to be on the right track and know what  you want and how to get there. You have picked 3 reputable brands (I personally have not been around any Beachcombers, except the one that was on stage at The Price is right, the day I was there   )  

The only statement that is out of line with the rest is

but I don't have a lot of time to drive from one to another.

 With your other expectations I would find the time to visit at least two.  As money as you seem to be willing to spend, I wouldn't hurry the process. If it takes you a month or three to make your decision, you will be living with it for many years.

Oh, regarding dealer vs manufacturer,  the dealer does the service, but as in my case, where the dealer is out of business, the manufacturer hired another dealer to do my warranty service.

[Spatech_tuo]

  Once I buy, does the dealer service or the manufacturer?  If the dealer, isn't that almost a more important choice than the manufacturer?
 

The dealer does but they have to then get reimbursed by the manufacturer. Often times, the better the dealer is treated (tech information/assitance from manufacturer, quality parts, being compensated in a timely manner, getting parts in a timely manner, etc.) the better they treat you. In other words, they are BOTH important.

[jfish63]

is the beachcomber dealer near sloatsburg? Even though i didn't buy from them I felt really comfortable with them.

[aronsam]

yes.  Pacific Pool.

I appreciate the advice.  I found one dealer with Hot Springs, Caldera, Tiger River Hot Spot and Solana.  Is that a good cross section to choose from?

[drewstar]

yes.  Pacific Pool.

I appreciate the advice.  I found one dealer with Hot Springs, Caldera, Tiger River Hot Spot and Solana.  Is that a good cross section to choose from?

I think it's a good cross section as far as seeing a variety of sizes, and prices and options. Yoou've got a lot covered there, and have a lot choices. But all thos tubs are made by the same manufactuer (Watkins).  - Which has one of the best reputations in the industry and come highly recomended - but I don't think it's a "fair" cross section as far as comparing different manufactuers. So a good variety? Yes.  Most dealers only carry one or two lines.  But a cross section. Eh, folks might disagree.

Think of Watkins as "General Motors"   And all those tub lines could be


Buick, Cadilac, Chevy, GMC, Pontiac.

[SugarBear]

If I were you, I would find the time to go to as many dealers as you can.  They may look alike, but they might not feel alike.  You need to wet test as many as you can.  You will be making a major $$$ purchase on a tub and you don't want to buy something that you will regret.  If you do a search on this site, you will find several people that are not happy with their purchases because they did not wet test the tub.  Do the running around and research now...it will save you in the long run!

[jfish63]

Is that dealer near Newburg? If so they used to carry D1. I used them for ordering parts when I had my first tub. They were always helpful in getting my parts even though the tub did not come from them.

[aronsam]

I visited several delaers yesterday on Long Island while traveling and saw the Arctic which looked great but I know I'm not the type to maintain wood and wpjuld be better off with fake wood.

The Dynasrty salesman said insurance regs would n't perm ity me to do a wet test, and I didn't care for the looks of the tubs, mostly the lighting.  

The Coast tubs seemed good, except that after I went to a HS dealer and thought those were much better (maybe a better salesman?)  

Turns nout, the delaer wouldn't sell to me and referred me to a closer dealer.  But, then he opined on hot tubs.  He said that although HS are the best, there are three other tubs that are close:  D!, Dynasty and Marquis.  Possibly he also said Sundance.

Tru or false?

[neocacher]

If you have access to HS, Caldera, D1, Marquis and Sundance dealers, those are definately top brands. I don't think you would go wrong with one of them, as long as the model you choose fits your budget and your body.

Neo

[Tman122]

I visited several delaers yesterday on Long Island while traveling and saw the Arctic which looked great but I know I'm not the type to maintain wood and wpjuld be better off with fake wood.
The Dynasrty salesman said insurance regs would n't perm ity me to do a wet test, and I didn't care for the looks of the tubs, mostly the lighting.
The Coast tubs seemed good, except that after I went to a HS dealer and thought those were much better (maybe a better salesman?)  
Turns nout, the delaer wouldn't sell to me and referred me to a closer dealer.  But, then he opined on hot tubs.  He said that although HS are the best, there are three other tubs that are close:  D!, Dynasty and Marquis.  Possibly he also said Sundance.
Tru or false?

Arctic is a good choice...if you don't mind, like you said, maintaining wood. D1, Marquis, Beachcomber, I like Dynasty but some don't. Hot Springs is no better than those other mentioned IMO but also a good choice. Sundance is a good choice, maybe a little to mass produced for me, and I don't like the propriotory parts. I'm not a Coast fan.

But it should not matter what any of us think because untill you are comfortable sitting in a particular brand and comfortable with a particular dealer regardless of the brand, your choice should still be open.

[bluesman]

aronsam,

I've been researching tubs for a month now and have narrowed my choices to three 1)Hot Spring Envoy, 2)Sundance Cameo,and 3)Marquis Epic. I will be wet testing the tubs next week. Good Luck!

Bluesman 8-)

[aronsam]

Hey Bluesman:

         Buddy Guy is touring near me, I saw him 35 years ago jump oiff the stage at the Fillmore east and break his ankle.    Not too many of them left.  

         Can I ask how you narrowed it down to those three?  

         Am I correct that marquis offers no stereo option, other than connecting to your home system?  

         Should I be overly concerned or fixated on jet number?  Some high end ones have 30 to 40, while other less hig end ones have 60, 70 and up?

         Aronsam, a lifelomng blues lover

[Chad]

Should I be overly concerned or fixated on jet number?  Some high end ones have 30 to 40, while other less hig end ones have 60, 70 and up?

Imo, the most overrated thing in the industry is jet count. It means absolutely nothing. If the jets are designed good enough and are a descent size, there's no need for the 60, 70, 80, ...................jets.
If a dealer makes it a strong point in their presentation, that their tub has x amount of jets opposed to x brand that has this amount of jets, that's a good sign for you to politely say, "thanks for your time but I need to be going now."