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My Majesta reminded me it was its birthday last night. Yup, its been a year since I started shopping for and buying my 2nd hot tub, the Sundance Majesta from a dealer here in Columbus, Ohio.
I thought I'd take a look back:
The purchase. 10 years ago when I bough my Dynasty, I was tired of visiting dealers and I settled for the first offer that was below the price on the sign, and what I thought was a good tub. In fairness, I got 10 years out of a decent tub. The dealer did go out of business a year after I bought my tub with the local authorities on their heels.
This time, thanks to this forum, I was better educated and I made the shopping experience more enjoyable. Since my first tub, the economy has been less than ideal. Most people here need no further explanation. I definitely felt like it was a buyers market. There were quite a few less dealers here in town than there were in 2003. Because of that, a few brands you may know and love were never considered. I did visit one dealer who has been around many years, but has carried many brands in that time. They had a tub carrying the Lazyboy brand. After 30 seconds I said no way on that one. There was one dealer that has been around a while now that was about 30 miles away and carries MAAX spas. Its just in a part of town I rarely go, so I didn't consider it. (I see them at the fair every year)
That pretty much had me down to two dealers. One primarily carries Hot Springs and over the years they had carried several other 2nd and 3rd brands. Today that includes Dynasty. This dealer is also big into above ground pools, patio furniture and a few other outdoor type things.
The other one has primarily carried Sundance and Jacuzzi for as many years as I can remember. They have carried a couple other brands to round out their inventory. They are also now carrying Master's swim spa line.
Both dealers have been around more than 10 years in the same location and have good reputations locally and with the BBB. I started off leaning toward a Hot Spring Vanguard because my sister bought one in 2009. Its a nice tub and I have a lot of good to say about it. There are at least two other HS i considered.
Both dealers have a large selection of hot tubs on their floor and at least 3 in a wet test room. Over the past 10 years the HS dealer's showroom has taken on more of a warehouse feel, while the Sundance/Jacuzzi dealer has really worked on their showroom and I think its the nicest one I have ever been in. When my Dynasty dealer went under this store picked up the service agreement to work on them and they impressed me when I used them. I was also able to get filters locally for it. (that started me on a good relationship with this dealer)
I had never been in a Sundance or Jacuzzi though and I knew I would be wet testing this time after preaching about it here for years. I had planned on buying a smaller tub this time since it is just my wife and I 99.9% of the time. My Dynasty was a 92*92 7 person spa. I would buy big again if a great tub/deal arose, but I knew we could go smaller, but I didn't consider any of the 2-3 person spas.
I ended up trying one HS spa and 5 different Jacuzzi/Sundance spas initially. I didn't feel the need to test HS as much having been in a couple of them. I will also add that I have a PC repair business and I have at least 2 customers with 20 year old HS spas. I didn't need a lot of selling for them.
Initially I really liked a couple of Jacuzzi spas. We also tried one of their lower end tubs that we could have gotten for around $5000 and to be honest. It was comfortable and I could have lived with it. But we are empty nesters with a paid off mortgage so I was willing to spend a little more. I never considered a spa with a stereo or TV. Had a dealer made a great offer on one to get it out the door I may have bit on it. My wife Gina floated a bit too much in the higher end Jacuzzi's We tried several of the Sundance tubs including ones with loungers. I was indifferent about loungers with no strong love or hate. I had one in my Dynasty for 10 years and it was the least used seat. But when I was out alone in the tub I would use it. I relate it to having 3 great cars, one car will eventually become the least use, but you still use it once in awhile.
As we finished our wet test at the Sun/Jac dealer I mentioned the Majesta because I had seen it on the website. The dealer showed it to me. When I asked about a wet test, he quickly replied,
"Give me a few days" I think this was the single biggest thing to sway me to this dealer. I did let both dealers know I was a serious buyer and would be purchasing, but wasn't going to be rushed. I was treated well at both stores, but felt a little more respected at the Sun/Jac dealer.
As you know we ended up with the Majesta. It was a good compromise tub between my wife and I. Had I been single or not taking in her opinion, I would have been in a Jacuzzi or HS today, depending on who made the better offer. I did get what most people would say was a good offer on the Vanguard.
Decision made - It was the Majesta. I ordered it was told about 4 weeks, which turned out to be pretty close.
I thought I'd take a look back:
The purchase. 10 years ago when I bough my Dynasty, I was tired of visiting dealers and I settled for the first offer that was below the price on the sign, and what I thought was a good tub. In fairness, I got 10 years out of a decent tub. The dealer did go out of business a year after I bought my tub with the local authorities on their heels.
This time, thanks to this forum, I was better educated and I made the shopping experience more enjoyable. Since my first tub, the economy has been less than ideal. Most people here need no further explanation. I definitely felt like it was a buyers market. There were quite a few less dealers here in town than there were in 2003. Because of that, a few brands you may know and love were never considered. I did visit one dealer who has been around many years, but has carried many brands in that time. They had a tub carrying the Lazyboy brand. After 30 seconds I said no way on that one. There was one dealer that has been around a while now that was about 30 miles away and carries MAAX spas. Its just in a part of town I rarely go, so I didn't consider it. (I see them at the fair every year)
That pretty much had me down to two dealers. One primarily carries Hot Springs and over the years they had carried several other 2nd and 3rd brands. Today that includes Dynasty. This dealer is also big into above ground pools, patio furniture and a few other outdoor type things.
The other one has primarily carried Sundance and Jacuzzi for as many years as I can remember. They have carried a couple other brands to round out their inventory. They are also now carrying Master's swim spa line.
Both dealers have been around more than 10 years in the same location and have good reputations locally and with the BBB. I started off leaning toward a Hot Spring Vanguard because my sister bought one in 2009. Its a nice tub and I have a lot of good to say about it. There are at least two other HS i considered.
Both dealers have a large selection of hot tubs on their floor and at least 3 in a wet test room. Over the past 10 years the HS dealer's showroom has taken on more of a warehouse feel, while the Sundance/Jacuzzi dealer has really worked on their showroom and I think its the nicest one I have ever been in. When my Dynasty dealer went under this store picked up the service agreement to work on them and they impressed me when I used them. I was also able to get filters locally for it. (that started me on a good relationship with this dealer)
I had never been in a Sundance or Jacuzzi though and I knew I would be wet testing this time after preaching about it here for years. I had planned on buying a smaller tub this time since it is just my wife and I 99.9% of the time. My Dynasty was a 92*92 7 person spa. I would buy big again if a great tub/deal arose, but I knew we could go smaller, but I didn't consider any of the 2-3 person spas.
I ended up trying one HS spa and 5 different Jacuzzi/Sundance spas initially. I didn't feel the need to test HS as much having been in a couple of them. I will also add that I have a PC repair business and I have at least 2 customers with 20 year old HS spas. I didn't need a lot of selling for them.
Initially I really liked a couple of Jacuzzi spas. We also tried one of their lower end tubs that we could have gotten for around $5000 and to be honest. It was comfortable and I could have lived with it. But we are empty nesters with a paid off mortgage so I was willing to spend a little more. I never considered a spa with a stereo or TV. Had a dealer made a great offer on one to get it out the door I may have bit on it. My wife Gina floated a bit too much in the higher end Jacuzzi's We tried several of the Sundance tubs including ones with loungers. I was indifferent about loungers with no strong love or hate. I had one in my Dynasty for 10 years and it was the least used seat. But when I was out alone in the tub I would use it. I relate it to having 3 great cars, one car will eventually become the least use, but you still use it once in awhile.
As we finished our wet test at the Sun/Jac dealer I mentioned the Majesta because I had seen it on the website. The dealer showed it to me. When I asked about a wet test, he quickly replied,
"Give me a few days" I think this was the single biggest thing to sway me to this dealer. I did let both dealers know I was a serious buyer and would be purchasing, but wasn't going to be rushed. I was treated well at both stores, but felt a little more respected at the Sun/Jac dealer.
As you know we ended up with the Majesta. It was a good compromise tub between my wife and I. Had I been single or not taking in her opinion, I would have been in a Jacuzzi or HS today, depending on who made the better offer. I did get what most people would say was a good offer on the Vanguard.
Decision made - It was the Majesta. I ordered it was told about 4 weeks, which turned out to be pretty close.
