Hot Tub Forum

Original => Hot Tub Forum => Topic started by: Cuddlebug on August 23, 2018, 05:01:46 pm

Title: Buyer needs advice
Post by: Cuddlebug on August 23, 2018, 05:01:46 pm
Looking for 4 to 6 person hot tub. Narrowed down to aresian,master,or marquis. Live in spokane wa and would like therapy tub with insulation, no lounge and foot blaster. Any recommended models,dealers etc.also went to that hot tub university site thought it had. Good info but master spas with no dealer around makes me leary.also 1 dealer has signature spas and not sure about them except they are the cheapest.  Thanks
Title: Re: Buyer needs advice
Post by: castletonia on August 23, 2018, 06:40:57 pm
Of the 3 you listed, Marquis and Artesian are quality.  Avoid Master Spas.  I would visit the website of the following manufacturer's (Hot Spring, Caldera, Jacuzzi, Sundance, D1, Arctic, and Bullfrog) and use the dealer locator to see what options you have.  If nothing else, then concentrate on Marquis and Artesian.

Never heard of Signature Spas, but if they are the cheapest price, there is probably a reason.
Title: Re: Buyer needs advice
Post by: d00nut on August 23, 2018, 06:41:31 pm
Stick with Artesian or Marquis with a local dealer, and you'll be fine.  Master is okay, but with no local dealer you will eventually be pissed.  Signature is literal garbage.  I just hauled one to the dump not even 2 years old.  I can't believe dealers carry that crap...
Title: Re: Buyer needs advice
Post by: Sam on August 23, 2018, 06:45:02 pm
Artesian and Marquis are great brands.  Most here would not put Master in the same category and consider them a lesser brand.  The guy at hot tub university raves about them but doesn't explain that he is a retail store that sells master spas only.  Some of his info is good, but some is kind of b.s..  The problem is that the guy talks a good game and sounds like he really knows his stuff, but again, some of things on that site are just silly. 

There are certainly worse options out there but I personally feel that Marquis and Artesian are much better spas from much better companies.
Title: Re: Buyer needs advice
Post by: Sam on August 23, 2018, 06:45:54 pm
2 people posted while I was typing.  Looks like we all agree.  I forgot to mention that signature is indeed garbage.
Title: Re: Buyer needs advice
Post by: The Wizard of Spas on August 23, 2018, 06:52:31 pm
I concur with all above points.

Signature is LPI if i recall correctly.  Definitely not on same level as Marquis or Artesian.  If you're looking at Signature Series (Marquis) or Island/Platinum Elite (Artesian), its tough find flaws in anything you pick out.

Good luck moving forward.
Title: Re: Buyer needs advice
Post by: Cuddlebug on August 23, 2018, 07:16:29 pm
Thanks all.artesian 748b is 6600 with cover,lift,steps delivery but it's polar pack not full foam.marquis Hollywood elite 6800 with same,v84 is 8100 an 1200 for microsilk, bullfrog r7 is 7500, and lastly twilight b
I concur with all above points.

Signature is LPI if i recall correctly.  Definitely not on same level as Marquis or Artesian.  If you're looking at Signature Series (Marquis) or Island/Platinum Elite (Artesian), its tough find flaws in anything you pick out.

Good luck moving forward.
Title: Re: Buyer needs advice
Post by: Cuddlebug on August 23, 2018, 07:17:48 pm
Sorry got cut off but master ts 7.25 with everything is 7995 but no service
Title: Re: Buyer needs advice
Post by: Hottubguy on August 23, 2018, 07:34:09 pm
Thanks all.artesian 748b is 6600 with cover,lift,steps delivery but it's polar pack not full foam.marquis Hollywood elite 6800 with same,v84 is 8100 an 1200 for microsilk, bullfrog r7 is 7500, and lastly twilight b
I concur with all above points.

Signature is LPI if i recall correctly.  Definitely not on same level as Marquis or Artesian.  If you're looking at Signature Series (Marquis) or Island/Platinum Elite (Artesian), its tough find flaws in anything you pick out.

Good luck moving forward.

Those all seem like real low prices. I’m a Marquis dealer and he is about $1000 lower then me on that tub
Title: Re: Buyer needs advice
Post by: Cuddlebug on August 23, 2018, 09:43:16 pm
Interstate fair prices even offering Hollywood 6000,cover,lift,stairs,chems and delivery 6000 after tax. But petty stripped down
Title: Re: Buyer needs advice
Post by: Hottubguy on August 23, 2018, 11:44:55 pm
Interstate fair prices even offering Hollywood 6000,cover,lift,stairs,chems and delivery 6000 after tax. But petty stripped down

You sure that’s not the regular Hollywood?  No way it can be that low on a Elite. Big difference between the 2
Title: Re: Buyer needs advice
Post by: Cuddlebug on August 24, 2018, 09:32:01 am
You are correct it is only on the Hollywood. The elite is 6800 plus tax. Been quoted 6000,6100,6200 by 3 different salesman on just Hollywood and can't even pin them down on whether it's a 17,or 18.they also up sell their own service but when I called and asked about service on costco tub was told they don't have service dept.contract it out to some guy named Ivan.country homes power by the way. Any reviews on them
Title: Re: Buyer needs advice
Post by: Hottubguy on August 24, 2018, 10:24:04 am
You are correct it is only on the Hollywood. The elite is 6800 plus tax. Been quoted 6000,6100,6200 by 3 different salesman on just Hollywood and can't even pin them down on whether it's a 17,or 18.they also up sell their own service but when I called and asked about service on costco tub was told they don't have service dept.contract it out to some guy named Ivan.country homes power by the way. Any reviews on them

Ivan is a good tech. I thought he was a Marquis dealer out in Spokane. A lot of dealers only do service on tubs they sell or on tubs they are familiar with. With a Costco tub you never know what you are getting when you go to service it. They have gone through tons of manufacturers over the years. I service them but when people hear my rates on them they usually choose someone else or try to fix on there own. I try to take care of people who bought there tubs through me versus people who bought on Costco. The Elite line was the big change to Celebrity for 2018. Don’t think much changed on the standard one. The Elite is a Tub I feel comfortable selling. The standard celebrity is poorly insulated in my mind and isn’t a tub for cold weather use. Being in Washington state that’s not a tub I would recommend
Title: Re: Buyer needs advice
Post by: The Wizard of Spas on August 24, 2018, 01:18:50 pm
My only beef with the South Seas model you're interested in is that they're loud.  If you haven't seen a unit run, see if you can wet test.  It is loud, in my opinion.  Other than that- Love Artesian and Marquis.  Never sold Bullfrog so I refrain from opining on that brand.
Title: Re: Buyer needs advice
Post by: Cuddlebug on August 24, 2018, 02:08:17 pm
Thanks the dealer seems good he has u bring water in for testing to see what chemicals u need then runs for 24 hrs and has u come in to teach all about hot tub. The 748b only has polar pac insulation vs full foam and can't really find any info on artesians site. The antigua or elite I believe do but the are 8400 and 9600 respectively.
Title: Re: Buyer needs advice
Post by: Cuddlebug on August 24, 2018, 02:10:31 pm
On the marquis would you step up to Hollywood elite at 7000 or a v84 for 8100. And microsilk for 1200 more
Title: Re: Buyer needs advice
Post by: Hottubguy on August 24, 2018, 09:36:47 pm
On the marquis would you step up to Hollywood elite at 7000 or a v84 for 8100. And microsilk for 1200 more

Elite. But that is just me. Try them both and see what you like. What options for the 7k. That price is real low. Then again a lot of the prices I see on here are crazy low
Title: Re: Buyer needs advice
Post by: Cuddlebug on August 25, 2018, 11:08:22 pm
The 6800 to 7000 quote depending on which salesman ur talking to is just as is, no options. Is it full foam and also is artesian artic pac insulation any good?
Title: Re: Buyer needs advice
Post by: Hottubguy on August 25, 2018, 11:24:02 pm
The 6800 to 7000 quote depending on which salesman ur talking to is just as is, no options. Is it full foam and also is artesian artic pac insulation any good?

That makes more sense then. I include full foam, spa frog, lighting package, step and lifter. Not sure exact price but I know it’s somewhere in the $8300-$8500 range. No idea on Arctic pac insulation
Title: Re: Buyer needs advice
Post by: Sam on August 26, 2018, 04:04:23 pm
The 6800 to 7000 quote depending on which salesman ur talking to is just as is, no options. Is it full foam and also is artesian artic pac insulation any good?

That's just full foam for the artesian.  It's definitely worth having.
Title: Re: Buyer needs advice
Post by: Cuddlebug on August 26, 2018, 09:12:47 pm
I believe the dealer said arcticpac wasn't full foam just some foam on the bottom and some insulation inside the walls. Their brochure says arcticpac is standard and full foam is an upgrade. I've also been known to be wrong. A lot. Thanks again all
Title: Re: Buyer needs advice
Post by: MarKee on August 27, 2018, 01:58:33 am
I would jump on the Hollywood Elite at that price, they’re giving it away.  Most parts of the country that spa is $8995+ depending on what it comes with. Country Homes is a very reputable, long time Marquis dealer.
Title: Re: Buyer needs advice
Post by: Sam on August 27, 2018, 02:15:00 pm
I believe the dealer said arcticpac wasn't full foam just some foam on the bottom and some insulation inside the walls. Their brochure says arcticpac is standard and full foam is an upgrade. I've also been known to be wrong. A lot. Thanks again all

I gave you bad information.  I apologize.  You are correct.  I didn't realize they had a name for their non-full foam.  We always do full foam so I was unaware.  I think it's important to go full foam, but that model it should be standard as stated above.

Sorry for the mixup.
Title: Re: Buyer needs advice
Post by: Cuddlebug on August 31, 2018, 04:58:01 am
Looked at bullfrog r6 at 6999 thru costco now and wondering if 1 2.5 pump is enough. Did not seem very powerful to the touch also no real feet jets.also wondering if the dome jets in the bottom of some tubs are a tripping hazard? Thanks again
Title: Re: Buyer needs advice
Post by: Cuddlebug on August 31, 2018, 04:59:35 am
Last item is putting 2" open cell foam pad under tub, over patio slab worth it? That's all folks
Title: Re: Buyer needs advice
Post by: Sam on August 31, 2018, 06:29:50 pm
The R6L has plenty of power for most people with one pump, but there is a new option to add a second jet pump which makes it crazy powerful.  Most people don't need it but I like as much power as I can get.

As for the foam, I don't have any hard data but I suspect it's definitely worth it on a raised deck.  Not sure what it would do on a concrete pad but it's not expensive stuff so why not.