Brand Specific Forums > Hot Spring Spas

Nordic or HotSpot models - newbie looking for advice (add a HotSpring model too)

<< < (2/3) > >>

Scoobmaster:
Thanks a bunch for your helpful information.  I will definitely ask about the the availability of the Retreat SE

Scoobmaster:
We have an appointment to go for our first wet test tomorrow.  The dealer has some of the Nordic Retreats in stock, but the one that is full and ready to go is the Escape, so that will be the first one I try out.  I would still like to try the Retreat as that is the model I am most interested in, but I won't rule out the escape if the price is right and it feels good to us (who knows - after a soak I may find we like that layout better).

I also stopped at the other reputable dealer in our area and scoped out two models in/around our budget there.  The HotSpot Relay and the HotSpring Prodigy.  The Prodigy concerns me as it looks shallower (only 33" tall) - is that a legitimate concern, or not a big deal?  Based on size/shape/configuration/ and of course price, I have it narrowed down to these four.  Wet testing will help me pick the right model for us I am sure. 

I was also curious as to whether the pricing I am being quoted are fairly standard or if i am looking at a good deal (it always comes down to price - we consumers want the most tub for the least, dealers need to turn a decent profit to stay in business - I appreciate and understand this).  The Nordic dealer is asking $4500 for the Retreat and I believe $5500 or $6000 for the Escape.   Those include covers and chemicals, but NOT the cover lift arm, tax, or delivery ($200, 8%, and $250 respectively).  The HotSpring dealer prices "all-inclusive" and offered me the HotSpot Relay for $5300 and the HotSpring Prodigy for $6600.  Those two prices INCLUDE everything including tax,cover,lift arm, delivery, chemicals, and steps.
When I add the tax, cover lift (a must-have I am told by spa owners), and delivery to the $4500 Nordic - it puts it right close to the HotSpot Relay, which is a larger tub.

Comparing "apples to apples": Nordic Retreat vs. HotSpot Relay for around the $5000 mark.  Nordic Escape vs. HotSpring Prodigy for around $6000-6500 (HotSpring dealer said ne MIGHT be able to wiggle a bit on that $6600 quote).  I plan to test all four before making my decision, but I would love to hear any opinions based on these four options at this price range (My budget going into this was around $5000 max  - but I *could* spend a tad more if it were truly justified)

castletonia:
Is that price for the Escape or Escape premium?  If not the premium the price is high.  $4500 is about what I sell the Retreat for.  You can almost always negotiate things like the cover lift and I would think also on delivery depending on how far you are from the dealer.  I have no idea on the Hot Spot or Hot Spring pricing so I cannot comment on whether that is good or bad. 

Tman122:

--- Quote from: Scoobmaster on March 27, 2011, 12:33:34 am ---We have an appointment to go for our first wet test tomorrow.  The dealer has some of the Nordic Retreats in stock, but the one that is full and ready to go is the Escape, so that will be the first one I try out.  I would still like to try the Retreat as that is the model I am most interested in, but I won't rule out the escape if the price is right and it feels good to us (who knows - after a soak I may find we like that layout better).

I also stopped at the other reputable dealer in our area and scoped out two models in/around our budget there.  The HotSpot Relay and the HotSpring Prodigy.  The Prodigy concerns me as it looks shallower (only 33" tall) - is that a legitimate concern, or not a big deal?  Based on size/shape/configuration/ and of course price, I have it narrowed down to these four.  Wet testing will help me pick the right model for us I am sure. 

I was also curious as to whether the pricing I am being quoted are fairly standard or if i am looking at a good deal (it always comes down to price - we consumers want the most tub for the least, dealers need to turn a decent profit to stay in business - I appreciate and understand this).  The Nordic dealer is asking $4500 for the Retreat and I believe $5500 or $6000 for the Escape.   Those include covers and chemicals, but NOT the cover lift arm, tax, or delivery ($200, 8%, and $250 respectively).  The HotSpring dealer prices "all-inclusive" and offered me the HotSpot Relay for $5300 and the HotSpring Prodigy for $6600.  Those two prices INCLUDE everything including tax,cover,lift arm, delivery, chemicals, and steps.
When I add the tax, cover lift (a must-have I am told by spa owners), and delivery to the $4500 Nordic - it puts it right close to the HotSpot Relay, which is a larger tub.

Comparing "apples to apples": Nordic Retreat vs. HotSpot Relay for around the $5000 mark.  Nordic Escape vs. HotSpring Prodigy for around $6000-6500 (HotSpring dealer said ne MIGHT be able to wiggle a bit on that $6600 quote).  I plan to test all four before making my decision, but I would love to hear any opinions based on these four options at this price range (My budget going into this was around $5000 max  - but I *could* spend a tad more if it were truly justified)

--- End quote ---

IMHO you are going into this with a perfect plan. I would add that the insulation package on the Nordics is not quiet as good as the HS products unless you get the upgrade on the Nordics then IMO you are comparing them properly.

Scoobmaster:
Well - we made it through our FIRST wet test.  It was a pretty easy and enjoyable experience actually.  While all three of us (me, wife and son) were in the tub we asked questions and played "musical chairs" to try each try out all the different seats.  When the timer shut the jets off and the dealer told me we had been in there for about 20 minutes I couldn't believe it (seemed like only 10 minutes had gone by). 

The model we soaked in was the Nordic Escape PREMIUM (castletonia: that puts the price in the right range, right?) since that was already full and operating in the showroom.  It is bigger than the one I wanted to try (the Retreat) but after we all discussed it, maybe a little larger would be better.  As we were in there, we tried to envision another person getting in (making a fourth) and it seems like that would be the limit without getting too intimate.  Maybe the Retreat would be perfect for three but too small for a fourth guest?  I still want to wet test the Retreat (sat in it dry twice now) but the dealer seems to act like it would be an inconvenience to get that spa full and hot (having to move it to where power is, yada yada).  I would have thought he would have offered since that is the model I SPECIFICALLY expressed interest in on both visits.  At least I have a baseline now to compare and judge others by.

I still am going to schedule a visit with the other dealer (HotSpring).   I want to try one of the HotSpot Relay/Tempo models as well as the HotSpring Prodigy.  They also carry the Limelight line (HotSprings "middle" tier) - any comparable models there I should possibly look at?

Tman122:  Thanks for the compliment.  I am trying to be the best informed consumer I can be to make the right decision for me and my family. 

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[#] Next page

[*] Previous page