Hot Tub Forum
Original => Hot Tub Forum => Topic started by: mzinga on September 04, 2015, 05:53:07 pm
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Been out and about, and tired of looking at tubs, but I think we are finally at a decision point.
Our finalists are:
Bullfrog R6@$6500
Clearwater XS84 @$6000
HotSpring Flair @$7300
I think we are leaing the Hostpring way, just want to see your more expert opinions rather than mine. Was interesting to see the wide disparity in prices. We had a Jacuzzi two years ago and hated the worthless clear-ray unit/chemical situation. We sold it when we built a new house. Was also interesting to see what some claim to be lesser tubs like a Maax/Vita line to be more expensive than something like the Flair.
Any opinions would be valuable before we take the plunge.
Thanks in advance!
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Have you wet tested them?
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Only wet tested the hot spring and loved it. We haven't had the ability to wet test the other two.
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Unless you wet test there isn't much to say. They're all good brands. The dealer is more important. Bullfrog has a very unique and IMO more modern design/engineering.
Good luck.
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To this day I've never seen a clearwater spa. Are they more of a regional spa company? The other two are very good brands. Wet test and figure out which one you like the best
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They are built about 70 miles south of me and North of Seattle. Some rumor is they are struggling internally but not sure how true that is. I believe they are sold across the country though.
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They are built about 70 miles south of me and North of Seattle. Some rumor is they are struggling internally but not sure how true that is. I believe they are sold across the country though.
They absolutely are struggling big time for the last 2 years or so. They brought in an investment company that then decided to clear house and got rid of a bunch of long term employees. The company culture was bad for awhile. Hopefully they right the ship. They can make pretty decent spas.
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They are built about 70 miles south of me and North of Seattle. Some rumor is they are struggling internally but not sure how true that is. I believe they are sold across the country though.
They absolutely are struggling big time for the last 2 years or so. They brought in an investment company that then decided to clear house and got rid of a bunch of long term employees. The company culture was bad for awhile. Hopefully they right the ship. They can make pretty decent spas.
They sell on Costco.com as Divine.
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They are built about 70 miles south of me and North of Seattle. Some rumor is they are struggling internally but not sure how true that is. I believe they are sold across the country though.
They absolutely are struggling big time for the last 2 years or so. They brought in an investment company that then decided to clear house and got rid of a bunch of long term employees. The company culture was bad for awhile. Hopefully they right the ship. They can make pretty decent spas.
They sell on Costco.com as Divine.
Yeah, but the divine are not the same as their dealer line. They are actually pretty shoddy. The full clearwater line was pretty good but their quality control went to shit a couple of years ago.
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hmmmmmmmmmm, something like 8 different manufacturers that sold through costco have gone bankrupt over the years.
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I have had constant problems with my Hotspring Grandee.
In my opinion they're way overpriced junk.
I don't even use it anymore - it's just too depressing. I just maintain it for friends.
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What have the problems been? Is your dealer not taking care of the problems? Many thousands of happy HS owners have helped them build one of the, if not the best track record for reliability and longevity. I find it surprising your that unhappy. That's to bad.
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What have the problems been? Is your dealer not taking care of the problems? Many thousands of happy HS owners have helped them build one of the, if not the best track record for reliability and longevity. I find it surprising your that unhappy. That's to bad.
Search his post, on second thought, never mind. ;)
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Search his post, on second thought, never mind. ;)
8)
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So should I be wary of the Clearwater? They were setting up a wet test but in the birch bay similar tub and I told him to forget it. Should wet test the bullfrog today. The bullfrog seemed very cheap after we looked at the hot springs.
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So should I be wary of the Clearwater? They were setting up a wet test but in the birch bay similar tub and I told him to forget it. Should wet test the bullfrog today. The bullfrog seemed very cheap after we looked at the hot springs.
Watch the video on youtube of how the BF spas are designed, made and tested. Then let me know if you still think they're "cheap"
https://youtu.be/MldHtAStjA0
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You are also not comparing apples to apples. The R6 is a smaller one pump spa. The flair is larger with 2 pumps and a circ system. So for me at 800 dollars more, I would probably take the Flair. Unless I was going to look at the R7 with 2 pumps. As far as Bullfrog being a cheaply built spa it is not. Either way pick what feels best to you, but don't expect the R6 to compete with the flair.
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2013 Grandee owner here> I can recommend Hot Springs and I'm sure the majority of HS owners will agree. Best investment- easy maintenance, beautiful tub and a solid company that stands behind its product !! 8)
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So should I be wary of the Clearwater? They were setting up a wet test but in the birch bay similar tub and I told him to forget it. Should wet test the bullfrog today. The bullfrog seemed very cheap after we looked at the hot springs.
Birch bay is a cheaper line with lower quality materials, fyi
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He had sold out of clearwaters to wet test, but was trying to demo the same interior in the birch. I think I wrote off the Clearwater based on feedback here that it wasn't comparable to the bullfrog or hot springs.
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2013 Grandee owner here> I can recommend Hot Springs and I'm sure the majority of HS owners will agree. Best investment- easy maintenance, beautiful tub and a solid company that stands behind its product !! 8)
From your posting history, you've had a leak, your heater is underpowered, and you had a worrying sound from the jets.
I understand the issue now - you've never actually owned a *good* spa for comparison.
My previous spa gave me absolutely no problems over the four years I owned it (before selling my house and moving).
The Hotspring Grandee was overpriced, underpowered, unreliable, and the dealer was useless, in my experience.
I regret buying it - it is the antithesis of something to relax with. It has caused me stress since I owned it.
Just because they have a great marketing machine doesn't mean they have a great spa. All those vast sums you paid them didn't go toward making a good spa, they went to marketing a bad one.
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Son, I won't even lower myself to your level! Instead of trolling, you should re-read your negative diatribe and then review the responses from other forum members. 45 posts and you are not well liked. But then again, you are not on here to add any value anyway. Cya.. ;)
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That's a strong statement to say he isn't well liked. There may be some who may not like him, but there were quiet a few posts from people empathizing with him as well. The issues he had were real and from his posts, he did end up contacting hotsprings directly as some suggested with his issues being unresolved. And others did chime in to say they had similar issues. Me myself, I have nothing against hotsprings(I almost bought one) or any other brand, but we shouldn't have a problem with someone who haven't had the same success as many others with their hotspring. There are going to be a few of bad apples from time to time within each brand, so don't take it personal.
With that said, given how much clearwater hot tubs cost, I would go with a more tried an true brand. There are just too many better options than clearwater imo.