Original > Hot Tub Forum

First time buyer, frustrated by pricing

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bud16415:
I don’t know how it is around the country, but here the main places people shop for tubs at are large buildings with a good selection of tubs filled and running maybe an above ground pool and also patio furniture and a big room full of supplies. My point is lots of overhead and inventory sitting. Then there is normally two or more people working, and I’m the only one in the store or if there are more they don’t look like serious buyers just dreamers.

A lot of the profits from selling a tub seem to me to go back into the business cost of operations.

Mine is 30 miles away so I normally buy my supplies on line as it is cheaper and easier.

I saw a change in my store shortly after I bought mine and they moved away from the high end lines and are selling cheaper models mostly. They look great and I can see how they appeal to those first time buyers with hundreds of little jets rather than fewer large ones. Fancy colors and light but lacking insulation and large pumps.

We have another small pool store that used to sell tubs and they had just one tub in there and it had been there for 10 years. They had a lower overhead but couldn’t show you anything in person. They got out of the tub business and now just do pools. 

Spatech_tuo:

--- Quote from: MPSoaker on November 28, 2020, 03:41:31 am ---
Am I being too critical?  It's possible... I'm generally untrusting of people. LOL I don't think I'm being too cautious when it comes to spending that much money (cash purchase, FYI).

Any advice from those of you who've gone through this?

--- End quote ---

Better too critical than too trusting but your point of view is actually pretty normal.

Keep one thing in mind, no matter how they frame it everything is negotiable. One way to know if you're getting a good deal is to firmly yet politely counter back. They can say "no" (if so ask them to counter your counter though they shouldn't need to be prompted) or they can simply say yes (often more like "yes but"...) or very likely they'll just recounter on the spot.

Have you ever watched Pawn Stars or one of those type shows where you see the person just accept the store's offer that they're given without haggling back. My first thought is "How do you say yes without asking first for a better deal regardless of whether they hold firm or not". Same rule of thumb applies and them simply saying the "$xxxx is firm" doesn't necessarily mean its rock solid firm until they say "no thats really our best offer"!

icenogle:
Did you end up buying a tub.  I bought the J-345 about 5 years ago in Federal Way.  So far no problems.

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