Hot Tub Forum

Original => Hot Tub Forum => Topic started by: terps19 on October 11, 2019, 03:24:16 pm

Title: New to Hot Tubs, looking to buy, need advice
Post by: terps19 on October 11, 2019, 03:24:16 pm
Hello all,

Excited to be in the market for a hot tub.  Finally getting my insurance payout for an accident I was in almost 20 months ago.  I was rear ended while at a complete stop; the guy who hit me was going at least 55 mph.  Luckily nothing too serious, but I did have some bad whiplash, strained muscles in neck and back etc.
 
So my main objective with a hot tub is the therapeutic relief as well as the relaxation aspect. 

The hot tub will go on a paver patio in the back yard just off the deck.  I am looking for about a 6 person tub because we have two kids, and don’t want to be too cramped.
 
My budget can range from $5,000 to $10,000 but probably would like to stay at or below $7,500 and would like that price to cover steps, cover, cover lifter, and chemicals for a few months.  I also like the idea of the ozone filtration systems that, from what I read, help you use less chemicals.   
Lounge seat is a must. 

Dealers in a 50 mile radius include:

Caldera
Freeflow
Nordic
Jacuzzi

From the backyard store:
Dreammaker
Artesian
South Seas
Garden Spas
Bullfrog
TidalFit
Covana

Are there any brands, not listed above, that I should seek out? 

I know wet testing is a good idea, but given my price point, and desire for good hydrotherapy what are some of the brands I should focus on?

Thanks for taking the time to respond.       
Title: Re: New to Hot Tubs, looking to buy, need advice
Post by: Hottubguy on October 12, 2019, 08:32:12 pm
At $7500 price point I would skip Freeflow and dreammaker for sure. Tidal fit I think is the artesian swim spa. Covana is a cover only. Garden Spas is entry level Artesian. Look at vacanza line from Caldera, 200 series from Jacuzzi, LS series Nordic and artesian.  Think the south seas falls roughly in that price point. All good tubs
Title: Re: New to Hot Tubs, looking to buy, need advice
Post by: swilly1000 on October 13, 2019, 10:06:12 am
If jetting/hydrotherapy are priorities to you do yourself a favour and wet test the Master Twilight Series 8.2.  It has a lounger and lots of big powerful jets. 

It may be a little beyond your price point (I paid $15K CDN all in, approximately $11K US) but if it's your health and you really like it......

Master is not a popular brand here and there will likely be some posts telling you to stay from them but if you like the superior jet power that will be a tipping point.

Good luck!
Title: Re: New to Hot Tubs, looking to buy, need advice
Post by: terps19 on October 16, 2019, 11:15:44 am
Finally got some pricing today which may or may not be negotiable:

The J355 with a complete basic package (normal delivery, cover, steps, start up water care kit) regular price $13,090, sale price $10,390.
The J335, Regular price $12,270, sale price $9,570.
The J235, regular price $9,440, sale price $7,140.

Hopefully will be stopping by the local hot tub store with the Nordic tubs.
Title: Re: New to Hot Tubs, looking to buy, need advice
Post by: NBonugli on October 16, 2019, 02:43:54 pm
Check out Master as well. I agree with Swilly look at the Twilight series. The have great therapy jets and they are well made. I personally had a bit larger budget and went with the master legend series. Check out my setup on the "Show us your tub" section of this forum.

Nick B
Middleton, MA
Title: Re: New to Hot Tubs, looking to buy, need advice
Post by: The Wizard of Spas on October 17, 2019, 11:48:35 am
Of the list you provided, Jacuzzi, Caldera, Artesian, and Bullfrog are the brands that are going to be able to go to the next level in terms of quality.  They will provide mid-tier ranges as well, and I have many dealers that speak highly of Nordic as a price point spa. Freeflow and Dreammaker are roto-mold brands that are simply an entirely different animal.

Wet test, research the dealer, and trust your instincts.  Get the list narrowed down to a few units and let us know where you stand.  We can help you really comb through the differences from there!

I hope this helps, good luck moving forward.
Title: Re: New to Hot Tubs, looking to buy, need advice
Post by: terps19 on October 17, 2019, 12:31:32 pm
We tested a barefoot spa ML7 series my FIL just got.  That was pretty dang nice, and he got it at a tent show for $6500.  MSRP on the barefoot spa says it is $17k- that is QUITE the difference. 

The jacuzzi dealer is getting the J-335 ready for a wet test this Sunday.

I am thinking $10k all in on everything is our max and of course we will want the steps, cover lifter, etc.     
Title: Re: New to Hot Tubs, looking to buy, need advice
Post by: d00nut on October 17, 2019, 01:31:59 pm
We tested a barefoot spa ML7 series my FIL just got.  That was pretty dang nice, and he got it at a tent show for $6500.  MSRP on the barefoot spa says it is $17k- that is QUITE the difference. 

The MSRP here is complete crap.  Normally I think, based on what I see from the manufacturers.  Their MSRPs are generally private and only to the dealers... some publish it to the customers through their website forms.  But I see a lot of manufacturers publish an MSRP generally $1000-$2500 more than it sells for...

To publish something $17k and sell it for $6.5k... either they are way overvaluing something that didn't cost that much to make at all... or they are lying
Title: Re: New to Hot Tubs, looking to buy, need advice
Post by: Spatech_tuo on October 17, 2019, 02:31:00 pm
We tested a barefoot spa ML7 series my FIL just got.  That was pretty dang nice, and he got it at a tent show for $6500.  MSRP on the barefoot spa says it is $17k- that is QUITE the difference. 

The MSRP here is complete crap.  Normally I think, based on what I see from the manufacturers.  Their MSRPs are generally private and only to the dealers... some publish it to the customers through their website forms.  But I see a lot of manufacturers publish an MSRP generally $1000-$2500 more than it sells for...

To publish something $17k and sell it for $6.5k... either they are way overvaluing something that didn't cost that much to make at all... or they are lying


Showing an MSRP is about as irrelevant and misleading as using a 10 year old picture on your dating app!

Lets just skip to the reality of the situation, what is the "sale" price (plus all the other real info regarding the spa)!
Title: Re: New to Hot Tubs, looking to buy, need advice
Post by: terps19 on October 17, 2019, 03:34:40 pm
We tested a barefoot spa ML7 series my FIL just got.  That was pretty dang nice, and he got it at a tent show for $6500.  MSRP on the barefoot spa says it is $17k- that is QUITE the difference. 

The MSRP here is complete crap.  Normally I think, based on what I see from the manufacturers.  Their MSRPs are generally private and only to the dealers... some publish it to the customers through their website forms.  But I see a lot of manufacturers publish an MSRP generally $1000-$2500 more than it sells for...

To publish something $17k and sell it for $6.5k... either they are way overvaluing something that didn't cost that much to make at all... or they are lying


Showing an MSRP is about as irrelevant and misleading as using a 10 year old picture on your dating app!

Lets just skip to the reality of the situation, what is the "sale" price (plus all the other real info regarding the spa)!

It is more frustrating than shopping for a car...   
Title: Re: New to Hot Tubs, looking to buy, need advice
Post by: d00nut on October 17, 2019, 05:50:44 pm
It doesn't have to be. 
Priorities:
1) Budget - Tell the dealer(s) what your budget is and see what they have that fits your budget
2) wet test - to determine what is important
3) Dealer - determine what dealer will best serve you long term. 

Those in order should be how you decide. 
Title: Re: New to Hot Tubs, looking to buy, need advice
Post by: Hottubtime on October 17, 2019, 09:34:13 pm
I agree this business is full of secrets and it’s really frustrating. 
Title: Re: New to Hot Tubs, looking to buy, need advice
Post by: swilly1000 on October 18, 2019, 08:59:56 am
Check out Master as well. I agree with Swilly look at the Twilight series. The have great therapy jets and they are well made. I personally had a bit larger budget and went with the master legend series. Check out my setup on the "Show us your tub" section of this forum.

Nick B
Middleton, MA

I didn't realize you were going Master with that setup until that post.   SSSWWWEEETTTT!!!!

How do you like those jets????
Title: Re: New to Hot Tubs, looking to buy, need advice
Post by: terps19 on October 21, 2019, 10:34:13 am
Went on a wet test for the Jacuzzi J-335.  Dealer seemed nice and all... with the "special" year end savings we could get the J-335 for $9,900 with delivery, cover, cover lifter, steps, start up chemicals etc. 

Im not sure how much of a deal that is really.  Later that day, dealer said they had one on "red tag" with a discount of $1,000 but this one had the surround sound so it would end up being the same cost $9,900.  He mentioned that it was the same color scheme as we were in, which immediately in my mind I thought "we are getting the floor model" since they may want to clear out whats on the floor?  If that's the case, then I would surely expect more than a $1,000 discount right? 

I asked about the filtration system, and he indicated that the UV set up was better than what others offered in the OZone set up.  He indicated that the OZone tubs had issues with "gas off" which shortened the lifespan of a cover.  Is there any truth to that? 

My wife is 5-3 and she was not all that comfortable in the tub at first, so we lowered the water to just above the highest jet which helped.  I am wondering how comfortable those weighted cushions are? 

I am trying to have other dealers contact us back regarding wet tests but we really haven't had much luck there. 
Title: Re: New to Hot Tubs, looking to buy, need advice
Post by: NBonugli on October 21, 2019, 01:03:49 pm
Swilly,
Haven't fired it up yet. Elec comes tonight for final hookup. Water filled last night. I'm thinking Wed or Thurs night I'll be giving it the inaugural test run.

Nick B
Middleton
Title: Re: New to Hot Tubs, looking to buy, need advice
Post by: terps19 on October 21, 2019, 02:28:06 pm
Jacuzzi just emailed me back.  Yes it does appear the "red tag" one is the floor model we tested out.  So not sure about only $1,000 off the "end of year model" sale discount on that one.  I would expect a floor model (that we wet tested) used would be at least $2,000 off but maybe that's just me uninformed opinion. 

He did mention PDC spas specifically the Catalina model that he could get everything all in for $8,300. 

I cant really find much on PDC spas review wise... anyone have any opinions or experience with them? 

Edit- just read PDC warranty is misleading... so nevermind on that I guess
Title: Re: New to Hot Tubs, looking to buy, need advice
Post by: Hottubguy on October 21, 2019, 06:48:02 pm
Jacuzzi just emailed me back.  Yes it does appear the "red tag" one is the floor model we tested out.  So not sure about only $1,000 off the "end of year model" sale discount on that one.  I would expect a floor model (that we wet tested) used would be at least $2,000 off but maybe that's just me uninformed opinion. 

He did mention PDC spas specifically the Catalina model that he could get everything all in for $8,300. 

I cant really find much on PDC spas review wise... anyone have any opinions or experience with them? 

Edit- just read PDC warranty is misleading... so nevermind on that I guess

No different then test driving a car. I don’t really give huge discounts on my wet floor models. We sell them quick enough that at most they were filled for a month or two. Plus you know if it’s been running at the store there aren’t any issues with it. Jacuzzi warranty starts when it’s delivered so it’s not like you are getting less of a warranty or anything like that. Which model was the wet tub?
Title: Re: New to Hot Tubs, looking to buy, need advice
Post by: terps19 on October 21, 2019, 07:41:27 pm
Hey thanks for the reply.

The one we tested was the j-335.  It was nice but my wife was not very comfortable until we lowered the water to just above the tallest jet.  Granted this is more of a purchase for me, I of course want my wife to be able to enjoy it with me as well.  The kids don't care one way or another since they cant sit anyways in any of the seats really. 
Title: Re: New to Hot Tubs, looking to buy, need advice
Post by: Hottubguy on October 21, 2019, 09:00:53 pm
Try some others then. Only makes sense to buy something if everybody can use it. When I got my tub (all 4 different models I’ve had) I picked one and was overruled each time by my wife on what we ended up with. A brand that’s good for people that have varied heights is Marquis. Good tubs for shorter woman. Not sure if you have a local dealer of that brand to yoh
Title: Re: New to Hot Tubs, looking to buy, need advice
Post by: terps19 on October 22, 2019, 07:03:09 pm
Does anyone know how barefoot spas models stack up against the popular ones on this board (jacuzzi, marquis, bull frog etc)? 
Title: Re: New to Hot Tubs, looking to buy, need advice
Post by: Hottubguy on October 22, 2019, 07:18:47 pm
They are Junk. Besides signature, LPI, Dr wellness or can’t think of a worse brand out there. Better off with a Costco tub
Title: Re: New to Hot Tubs, looking to buy, need advice
Post by: terps19 on October 22, 2019, 08:13:45 pm
Well good to know!
Title: Re: New to Hot Tubs, looking to buy, need advice
Post by: terps19 on October 23, 2019, 04:50:44 pm
Just heard a local dealer has a used 2012 Marquis Epic for $4,000 in stock so we are going go check it out this weekend.  Im not sure how I feel about a 6 year old hot tub but maybe worth going in to look at it and ask about.

Anything in particular we should ask about? 

Thanks
Title: Re: New to Hot Tubs, looking to buy, need advice
Post by: Spatech_tuo on October 23, 2019, 04:54:05 pm
Just heard a local dealer has a used 2012 Marquis Epic for $4,000 in stock so we are going go check it out this weekend.  Im not sure how I feel about a 6 year old hot tub but maybe worth going in to look at it and ask about.

Anything in particular we should ask about? 

Thanks

I assume you'll see it full and operating but Id ask if I can wet test it and what is the store warranty on it (you probably CAN negotiate this, just pocket the answer for now and go back to it late in negotiations to ask for an extra year, 6 months...).