Hot Tub Forum
Original => Hot Tub Forum => Topic started by: jnsjr58 on February 16, 2006, 08:26:17 pm
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Does anyone have any more horror stories like the Costco spas one. I'm having a very hard time conveincing my wife that spending ~8k now for a quality tub is better in the long ( and maybe short) run then spending 4k on a el-cheap-o model. That Costco horror story has got her thinking.......... any others are welcome!! ;)
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Here is a story to tell your wife but it might convince her not buy a spa at all.
All filter systems are not created equal.....Everyone that gets into the spa add about a pint of sweat and oil to the spa. You turn on the jets and breath that stuff in as a vapor with your face in the heart of the steam. You get respitory problems or sinus infections and think that you are just having a tough time shaking a cold but it's really the spa.
How about this....Your spa uses a cheap after market filter housing that breaks due to vibration and floods your basement ruining all of the things in your storage under the steps.
Or how about this...your spa catches fire and you wake up to flames that water doesn't put out.
I can tell you that I seen all of this and more in my time in this industry and most of it was from people cutting corners.
When it comes to my familys health and enjoyment I want the best....
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How long do you plan to keep it? Here's a 20-year report from Stuart. The cheap tubs didn't survive but the good ones did. And these tubs were all at a resort, a place I'd expect would see some pretty heavy use and abuse.
http://www.whatsthebest-hottub.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?board=wtb-hottub;action=display;num=1140058563
Ask her who's going to service her Costco tub. Will she be a priority when a pump goes out and it's 20º F outside? Costco will deliver your tub in the driveway, not in the back yard. How's it going to get to where it needs to go?
If you want a good war story, go here http:// http://www.rhtubs.com/cgi-bin/bbs/config.pl?noframes;search and search for postings by footsiebianca (you'll have to change where it says "posted within the last..." to "posted between..."). She has lots of postings but look for one entitled "filed with BBB/rec parts." She bought her tub from Home Depot (I think) and has had an absolute nightmare getting it fixed, like months getting someone to do something.
And here's another one http://www.whatsthebest-hottub.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?board=wtb-hottub;action=display;num=1140036674
Yeah, forget Costco.
Jim
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Thats what I'm talking about !!
............. Thanks Stuart...............
Keep um coming..............
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Oh S%$#, Stuart, I was just getting ready to head out with hubby to listen to Andrea Bocelli on my soundsations and enjoy a nice glass of wine while soaking in my Epic. Instead, I guess I'll go sit in a pot of hot sweat and breath aromatic body odor. ??? guess I should pop a few antibiotics before I jump in..... :-/
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Thanks Jim,
Nightmare city............ :o
Some very good posts on that fourm
Thanks
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I will echo most of the postings and say that we get calls frequently from people who have bought a spa from costco or home depot looking for parts and asking if we service spa's, isay did you call home depot or costco. "yes we called the 800 number and have not been able to get anyone out to help us," and I have to say sorry we do not work on that type off spa, can't get parts for them. we have even gotten calls from the spa manufactuers looking for a local service company to fulfill their warranty. we won't go near it. too busy with what we sell. point is more often than not when you have a problem it is going to be like pulling teeth to get anything fixed or get help. and if something happens 18 months into it, now your paying for the repair.
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One other thought, a bit of reverse psychology. Have your wife sell you on all the benefits of why you should buy your tub at Costco. Yes, the price will be a consideration. But get her past that point and I think she'll convince herself there aren't a whole lot of other advantages.
Jim
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we get calls frequently from people who have bought a spa from costco or home depot looking for parts and asking if we service spa's, isay did you call home depot or costco.
Some of us rely heavily on this phone call. If I get a call as an independent service guy I always respond, you bet we can fix it we will be there as soon as we can, If you have a warranty that is fine but pay me after I do the work and the repair, and chase who ever you want for your money back for warranty. The one biggest problem these owners have.
Pay me first, and chase your warranty on your own. This is the only way I work.
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One other thought, a bit of reverse psychology. Have your wife sell you on all the benefits of why you should buy your tub at Costco. Yes, the price will be a consideration. But get her past that point and I think she'll convince herself there aren't a whole lot of other advantages.
Jim
I like that....Make a Ben Franklin list!
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Oh S%$#, Stuart, I was just getting ready to head out with hubby to listen to Andrea Bocelli on my soundsations and enjoy a nice glass of wine while soaking in my Epic. Instead, I guess I'll go sit in a pot of hot sweat and breath aromatic body odor. ??? guess I should pop a few antibiotics before I jump in..... :-/
Just to repeat...."When it comes to my familys health and enjoyment I want the best.... "
Bonibelle you bought an Epic so you fit into that statement well and have nothing to worry about. ;) ;D 8)
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Hot Tub Horror Stories
Once, while thier folks were out of town, a couple of teenagers decided to use the Costco tub out in the back yard of the deserted old house down the road. It was halloween night....
The kids went out to creepy dark back yard and got into the tub. The light didn't work, but they decided to get in anyhow. The sound system didn't work either. but they didn't care. they were young and foolish.
Just then, the hot tub's radio mysterioulsy turned on!
"this is a special report" the radio annoucer said.
"Mad Dog Arjuna, the deranged, murderous physco with a hook for one hand. has just broken out of the state mental ward. Everyone is advised to stay inside and lock thier doors."
The kids didn't heed the warning and soon, from the dark woods nearby they heard a strange sound....it sounded like a bloody hook scraping out foam from an old hot tub. They heard a derranged laugh.
bwahhhhhhhaaaaaaa
The kids ran out of the tub, as fast as they could! But the boy tripped and fell.
They never found his body......until years later when new owners of the house decided to buy a new, Hot Springs hot tub. As the delivery crew was removing the old Costco tub, the cheap flimsly bottem fell off and to everyone's horror THERE WAS THE BOYS BODY STUFFED INTO THE SHELL! There was a note stuck to his body "How's this for insualtion? The note said. And a bloody hook was stuck into his neck!
How's that for a cheap hot tub horror story? ;D
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Are you at work Drew?
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Are you at work Drew?
Define "work"
I'm a consultant. 8)
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Oh OK.I thought you were starting a new career, writing short stories.. ;D ;D ;D
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Oh OK.I thought you were starting a new career, writing short stories.. ;D ;D ;D
Consutlant, writing stories....same difference. ::)
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Hot Tub Horror Stories
"this is a special report" the radio annoucer said.
"Mad Dog Arjuna, the deranged, murderous physco with a hook for one hand. has just broken out of the state mental ward. Everyone is advised to stay inside and lock thier doors."
There was a note stuck to his body "How's this for insualtion? The note said. And a bloody hook was stuck into his neck!
How's that for a cheap hot tub horror story? ;D
That's classic!
Did he also patent the body automatic heat technology system? - also known as BAIT tm?
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That's classic!
Did he also patent the body automatic heat technology system? - also known as BAIT tm?
And to this day, if you listen hard enough, on cold nigths you can hear him cackle...."E.T. L. E.T.L ha ha ha ha ha ha"
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Bravo Drewstar , Bravo!!!! Riviting..... a real page turner..... three thumbs up ;D
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Jim,
We do not rely on that call simply because, we are not an independent service center, we retail two lines so between all the warranty work and no- waranty work for 20+ years of selling hot tubs we don't have the time or the desire to bother with a costco or home depot tub. all the more power to you.
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Many, many moons ago, before I came to work at East Texas Spa, my boss related this tale of horror to me. It is not for the faint-of-heart or weak constitutions....
Once upon a time in a neighborhood not too far from here, a happy little couple resided with their pride and joy: a HotSpring Sovereign.
The happy little couple loved to travel and when they did, their little 86 year-old whisp of a neighbor would use the occasion to partake of their pride and joy, unbeknownst to them.
Until the fateful day that little old whisp up and had himself a heart attack while trespassing in his neighbor's pride and joy. Poor little old whisp just sat right in that 102 degree crockpot and stewed for 5 or 6 days until he was soooooo tender that the meat fell right off the bone.
When the happy little couple returned from their holiday, a woeful sight met their eyes. Their pride and joy were filled with a terrible concoction of bone, hair, teeth, and a putrid amalgamation of broth, all at an appetizing temperature of 90 plus degrees.
My boss had the unenviable task of cleaning up the pride and joy after the coroner had performed his investigation and removed as much of the stew as he could. A fill, a shock of chlorine, a drain, a refill, a reshock, and a redrain were just the ticket to restore the pride and joy of the happy little couple. Oh, and a new set of filters.
The end.
Terminator
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I don't think I could soak in that tub again after the stew was done......ick.
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Well, now that I've finally gotten a little sleep (wide awake for 32 hours travelling home from Australia), I went back and re-read this thread and realized I missed the point. So here is my inexpensive spa horror story and it is true:
When my store opened 6 years ago, a young man came to our grand opening and visited for a spell. I was obviously pretty green at the time and failed to do my job of helping him to get the best value for his money. He left without buying here.
Fast forward 2 years. This same young fella comes into my store and buys some chlorine. Since I almost always remember people I've met, I asked him what brand of spa he purchased.
Young fella: "I bought a spa at Lowe's for $4000."
Terminator: "Oh. How do you like it?"
YF: "It's been great. I even got a discount on it. When it was delivered to my front door, the guys dropped it and broke off a corner of the fiberglass shell."
Term: "How much did they discount it?"
YF: "Well, they said they couldn't take it back so they would knock off $150."
Term: "Hmm."
YF: "By the way, how much is a new filter?"
Term: "Well, ours are $35 apiece but they won't fit your spa. They last 3-4 years on average."
YF: "Damn, I have to buy a new one every month at $40 apiece."
Term: "That stinks."
YF: "How do you keep the green globby stuff that looks like snot out of your spa?"
Term: "I have no idea. I have never seen anything like that in our spas. That's gross."
YF: "Yeah, it's pretty nasty. How much do your spas cost to operate?"
Term: "About $10-12 per month. How about yours?"
YF: "Shiite! My electric bill jumped $60 per month so I don't even keep it hot except when I use it."
Term: "That sucks."
YF: "Do ya'll take trade-ins?"
Term: "Yes sir. We'll give you a $400 discount off the price of a new spa and we'll haul your other one to the dump for free."
YF: "But it's a brand new spa. "
Term: "Yes, it is, but it is a poorly manufactured spa with absolutely no value. You might try putting an ad in the Thrifty Nickel and try to get $500 for it. Make sure whoever buys it will move it."
He lowered his head and looked like he was about to cry. I felt really sorry for him as he seemed like a good kid, but he was tasting the lasting bitterness of poor quality long after the sweet smell of low price had evaporated. He never came back.
Terminator
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It is not for the faint-of-heart or weak constitutions.... Poor little old whisp just sat right in that 102 degree crockpot and stewed for 5 or 6 days until he was soooooo tender that the meat fell right off the bone.
My boss had the unenviable task of cleaning up the pride and joy after the coroner had performed his investigation and removed as much of the stew as he could.
Term I'm thinkin' that you and Stephen King need to do lunch...I think he needs some fresh ideas...LMAO!!... ;D
(um...you DID make that up, right? :-[)
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Term I'm thinkin' that you and Stephen King need to do lunch...I think he needs some fresh ideas...LMAO!!... ;D
Remind me some time to tell ya'll "The Tale of Woe."
I had to tell it in front of the class at Top Gun in March and people were still asking me about it in Sydney. It's more of a visual story, though.
Terminator
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(um...you DID make that up, right? :-[)
100% true story. Do not die in the hot tub or you will turn into chili.
Happy little couple still use the spa to this day.
Terminator
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100% true story. Do not die in the hot tub or you will turn into chili.
Happy little couple still use the spa to this day.
Terminator
Hmmmm. Sounds like the makings for a CSI tv show plot. They are always comming up with uniques ways of people dying and then having to reconstruct the crime. :)
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Bought my hot tub off e-bay..Serenity Spa. Paid $2400 for it. Made by Sun Enterprises out of TN. The only issue I have had was one of the 5hp pumps was not working right..they sent me a new one and all is fine. Everything inside this spa is name brand..the pumps, the balboa pack, the ozonator, etc.
Sorry, but for my budget..I could not justify, not could I afford a $8K hot tub. I have no idea what the life expectancy is of some of the more expensive spa's...and I only plan on living in my house for another 5 - 7 years...and the spa will stay when I leave.
I do agree that service could be a problem, but so far I can not complain. Again, I just look at what I paid and the price of a coleman or a sundance and I understand what I have gotten myself into. Not the best by far, but hey...it's only hot water ;D
If I had to do it over again, I would most defintely go the same route again....but again, to me its based on budget and value. Over time (many years) it may be better to go for the higher priced model(if I wanted the same tub for 20 years)...but I could have bought 3 tubs and stored them away for the price of one of the name brands. What ever decision you make, enjoy it and have fun.
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richny..... that is certainly an interesting way of looking at it Pay $3,000, get 5 years out of it and buy a new tub every 5 years. I really can't see owning the same tub for more that maybe 7 years...... MAX....... kinda like buying a car ....... very interesting thought...... thanks for the reply
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richny
which model did you buy?....... and why post it under this heading? Does it have a horror story attached?
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I knew a couple of guys that did service for Gulf Coast. They were called to a spa that was less than 2 years old. The frame had collapsed, not really much anyone could do. I can't remember if that was covered or not.
Gulf Coast is made by HydroSpa. Hydrospa also makes the "Elite" from Costco.
BTW, Hydrospa was forced to stop branding those tubs as "Elite" as that brand name was already held by MAAX spas. They have been clearing them out at an extra discount.
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richny
which model did you buy?....... and why post it under this heading? Does it have a horror story attached?
Just giving you another perspective. You want horror stories to convince your wife to up-buy away from what you consider "cheap" stuff. All I am saying is that I am very happy spending thousands less...and still sit in "hot bubbly" water.
I bought a unit off e-bay, called serenity spa...and the only issue was a bad pump that was replaced....other than that all seems to be good.
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Just giving you another perspective. You want horror stories to convince your wife to up-buy away from what you consider "cheap" stuff. All I am saying is that I am very happy spending thousands less...and still sit in "hot bubbly" water.
I bought a unit off e-bay, called serenity spa...and the only issue was a bad pump that was replaced....other than that all seems to be good.
Rich,
One o f the biggest thing that turned me away from the lower priced tub was the apparent lack of proper insulation.
how is your tub insualted? are you in a cold climate and what have you seen for operating costs and use?
:)
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It's a partial foam unit that is wrapped inside with a reflective insulation. I live in a pretty cold area and have seen a $25 - 35/month jump in electric for the very cold months. It maintains its temp very nice and so far, so good.
Hey..what I am doing writing this message...I supposed to be in the tub right now with the kids...take care ;D