Hot Tub Forum
Original => Hot Tub Forum => Topic started by: BIG_PAPA on October 09, 2004, 01:58:36 pm
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Pick only one manufacturer.who in you opinion offers the best warranty out there and really does stand by there product? only pick one.
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The warranty is only as good as the company that sells you the hot tub.
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Talking to sales their salespeople, CalSpa has the best.....
Taking to their customers.......
About the best out there is 5 years parts and labour on equipment. Acrylic 7 seems to be about the best. As far a shells, well you'll replace everything else first so....
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Is that an 8oz or 10oz can of worms?
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That is the super size can of worms....I think what separates warranty's are the items that are excluded and and those that are NOT PRO RATED....
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I would agree that this can be a real can o' worms. But if you take time to read the warranties, you will know what you have before you buy.
For example, there are a couple of companies offering lifetime warranty coverage on the shell. Fine. Trouble is, after five years or so you have to ship the tub to the factory. Still fine. But it gets better: they prorate the coverage so that it is entirely possible that you could have a problem, think you are 'covered,' and end up shipping a spa across country at your own expense only to have the factory fix the tub and then bill you for 80% of the cost of the repair.
Not that I'm bitter... ;)
I like the simpler approach: 5 years on this, 7 years on that, 5 years no-fault on the heater or whatever.
I also agree that the company behind the warranty gives you confidence in the warranty - or not.
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A little bit off topic, but forgetting the warrantee issues what is the average life of a spa? for example, do any members of this forum own (or know someone who owns) a spa which is over ten years old?
Steve
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A little bit off topic, but forgetting the warrantee issues what is the average life of a spa? for example, do any members of this forum own (or know someone who owns) a spa which is over ten years old?
Steve
Oh yeas oh yeas oh yeas....
I have two neighbors who own HotSpring tubs which are older than 15 years - and still goin' strong.
I have a lead salesman who owns a HS Sovereign which is about 16 years old. I have owned Classic models which were well into the teens.
Here is a customer's tub which was produced in 1994 - still going strong:
(http://www.hotspringspasofventura.com/pics/old_em.jpg) Keep in mind that I started selling HotSpring tubs in 1986 - and that I keep in touch with my customers. There are many hundreds of tubs which I have sold out there - and some of them are getting down-right old!
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Followup to my previous post:
Many name-brand tubs will last this long or longer. I didn't want to imply that ONLY HS tubs will do this.... ;)
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I have a friend who bought a Jacuzzi tub (used) about 15-20 years ago! It is still going strong. In fact, her tub was a deciding factor for me to get my own!
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I would pick Watkins manufacturing, but I own a hot springs. Hot Springs had some problems in the 90s with subcontractor parts. I believe heaters that could cause a fire and shells which could develop ugly micro-cracks in them. From everything I have read Watkin's response to these was incredible, even helping tub customers who were out of warranty.
I would do a search for these two incidents (maybe more?) but I have always had the impression that Watkins stood by their product very well. I have also heard they watch over their subcontractors more, too. ;)
-Ed
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Most manufacturers have one or two "oopses" in their history.
Things can go wrong despite anyones best intentions.
It's how the problems are deal with that matter.
Watkins did the right thing to resolve their problems, and look where they are today.
Brewman
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Brewman......doing the most basic of thngs...like honoring their warrtanty.....has been a huge pay off to Watkins....I understand that it caused them some hardship to do it....but it was the right thing to do....and todays benefit of being known as a manufacture who stood and still stands behind their product...(the contrast between them and Cal Spas)...has severed them very well....there seems to be only a handful of manufactures out there share in that commitmentt....Hot Springs.....Marquis....Beachcomber..I am guessing Sundance/Jacuzzi as well....How is Master with regards to claims....
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For my Artestian Platinum Class:
5 year bumper-to-bumper on EVERYTHING, non-prorated, no expenses except water.
7 year shell "surface" warranty, no blisters, cracks, defects, etc.
LIFETIME shell structural warranty against leaks caused by defects in shell.
Probably not the BEST, but it's working well for me...
Drewski
;)
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You might want to check with a lawyer regarding the definition of "LIFETIME" in your state. Pennsylvania defines lifetime as 7 years in the context of warranties.
Kinda sheds a different light on some of these "superior" warranties, don't it! ;D
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Same in California....with 7 years being defined as life time....and also as Chas mentions....they become pro rated very quickly.....
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California is also 7 years.
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A little bit off topic, but forgetting the warrantee issues what is the average life of a spa? for example, do any members of this forum own (or know someone who owns) a spa which is over ten years old?
Steve
Yes indeed Steve. I have friends who have had Beachcomber spas for over 15 years, Trouble free. No Leaks.
It was one of my deciding factors to buy Beachcomber.
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....How is Master with regards to claims....
Mendocino,
Personally, I haven't had to find out yet but I hope they will stand behind it just as I would hope any manufacturer would. I'll be sure to post as circumstances dictate.....so far, though, so good.
8)
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Hey BobRex:
Yeah, that may be the case, although Virginia has some pretty strict consumer protection laws. I did a code search but haven't found a reference yet.
I will say this, however. Artesian Spas (built by May Manufacturing, who I know NOTHING about) has been VERY helpful in terms of direct contact. The dealer I bought the spa from a few years back went out of business. Artesian helped me by putting me in contact with the next nearest dealer (who has been excellent) and also helped by answering any of my questions or issues directly by e-mail from their tech people. Responses from Artesian have always been under 12 hours.
In my previous career, I was in charge of procurement for a municipal government and am now on the other end of the process. Compared to vendors I've bought from and current vendors I compete with, I'd rank Artesian in the upper 10% of companies I've dealt with in terms of product and service quality (only MY experience to date).
If you read my posts on this forum, you WON'T see me say "buy an Artesian, it's the best" or anything close to that, I don't sell tubs so I won't recommend a brand. However, I will tell you I'm HAPPY and that I like their product.
Food for thought...
Drewski
:)
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Hi All,
As I have said in previous posts it is important that a manufacturer actually covers their warranty (I phrased it "the spirit of how they cover the warranty" or something like that. What Watkins has done with their customers has really cemented their reputation as a company that stands behind their spas. Beachcomber seems to do well in this repsect as well. Any commments on the longevity and warranty coverage of the Jacuzzi, D1, and Marquis spas? Any really happy owners of these spas out there that had these companies go the extra mile for them? Any older Marquis, D1, Jacuzzi premiums still relaxing you?
Still wondering....
Zoo
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Geez Drew, I wasn't trying to slam Artesian. All I was trying to do was get everyone to understand that "LIFETIME" warranties are a sales gimmick and are limited to how the state interprets the term. Look at it this way, PDC offers a 35 year warranty on structure and 15 on Finish. Gee, for all intent and purpose, that's actually better than "LIFETIME" here in PA :o
Artesian makes good product, (not sure about PDC ;D), and they may provide fantastic warranty service,but given the laws, they are in no way obligated to support any warranty after 7 years (in PA and CA at least.) So from what I can see, when it comes to the supposed superiorority of their warranty, the actual terms are pretty much typical of the higher end spas.
Now I'm not saying that's bad, just please recognize the sales gimmick.
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Very good point Bob Rex, I've mirrored your thoughts previously on the Spahelp.com site relative to D1 and their "Lifetime" warranty.
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Sorry guys, I wasn't trying to come across negative. BobRex, I appreciate your info.
I'm working on a deadline today, while doing this at the same time... Sometimes I get a little TOO direct! Just IGNORE me...
Sorry again..
Drewski
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I believe most states have that 7 year limitation on "life time" warranties. It's the same here in Indiana. Royal spa mfg. P.O.S. glued together here in Indiana offers a 40 year structural. Big joke around here because every one knows the 7 year legal limit.
Geez Drew, I wasn't trying to slam Artesian. All I was trying to do was get everyone to understand that "LIFETIME" warranties are a sales gimmick and are limited to how the state interprets the term. Look at it this way, PDC offers a 35 year warranty on structure and 15 on Finish. Gee, for all intent and purpose, that's actually better than "LIFETIME" here in PA :o
Artesian makes good product, (not sure about PDC ;D), and they may provide fantastic warranty service,but given the laws, they are in no way obligated to support any warranty after 7 years (in PA and CA at least.) So from what I can see, when it comes to the supposed superiorority of their warranty, the actual terms are pretty much typical of the higher end spas.
Now I'm not saying that's bad, just please recognize the sales gimmick.