Hot Tub Forum
Original => Hot Tub Forum => Topic started by: SpaTime on March 31, 2005, 01:04:36 pm
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I just got off the phone with a (CalSpa, Caldera and Baja) dealer who advised me when I asked about tubs available for wet testing. "I don't allow wet testing" Is this anywhere near common?
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Yes it is very common for those dealers who do not care about customer service....or providing much service at all.....Now those dealers who do care will always try to accommodate a wet test whenever possible .....
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I just got off the phone with a (CalSpa, Caldera and Baja) dealer who advised me when I asked about tubs available for wet testing. "I don't allow wet testing" Is this anywhere near common?
My unscientific opinion is that it is not uncommon. I can't rationalize that in numbers. From memory of my shopping experience here in Columbus, Ohio two years ago was.
Dynasty Dealer - offered Wet test after hours
Master Spa - offered Wet test after hours
Sundance - Jacuzzi dealer - offered wet test and had the most private well designed seperate room to do so.
There was one dealer who mainly sold Windows, sunrooms type of things who sold one brand of hot tub (I don't think they do any more) I don't remember what it was, but he told me wet testing was illegal. Since I already knew that wasn't the case, I wasn't going to believe anything he said, so we were out the door quick. I never got around to asking the Hot Spring dealer, but now he has a new showroom which may be more conducive to it, so checking it out is on my list of things to do.
Wet testing seems to be a popular subject here, so we will welcome hearing about your experiences.
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Should I name the dealer who advised me on his policy? Also, if there are any reps from calspa, caldera or baja here, I would be interested in your thoughts on this matter. Thanks
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I just got off the phone with a (CalSpa, Caldera and Baja) dealer who advised me when I asked about tubs available for wet testing. "I don't allow wet testing" Is this anywhere near common?
Sometimes people will criticize a dealer because they can't wet test a specific model and I've always thought that to be unfair as its difficult to make EVERY model available (often they'll have a model similarly setup). However, if he's saying you can't wet test ANY models then I think that's a lack of service and if he's not providing service before the sale I'd wonder how I'd be treated afterwards.
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That was my point, spatech. Sorry if I wasn't clear. He said that his policy was "I don't ALLOW any wet testing" I have been on the phone alot today as I have a cold, and understand that it is likely that a given dealer would offer only a few models for wet testing. What blew me away was that he allows no wet testing of anything. Even the way he said it seemed condescending. It was the quickest call I had all day.
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I have an issue with this as well. Many times it is extremely difficult to allow wet-testing for a specific larger units. For example, for a Sundance dealer it is extremely difficult to allow testing of the Maxxus or for the D1 dealer it might be difficult to allow you to test the Serena/Lotus Bay because they are such large units and the majority of the time they aren’t filled with water or even in stock. Most dealers will allow you test their units that have water in them. I would be leary if a dealer didn’t allow it at all.
My opinion is that as long as you can get into one of their units you will get a general feel of the spa that you are looking to purchase.
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Bill....
Did you mean to say in your post that it is uncommon not to allow wet testing....from the dealers you mentioned all but one allowed for it..
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Bill....
Did you mean to say in your post that it is uncommon not to allow wet testing....from the dealers you mentioned all but one allowed for it..
I was trying to say that it is non uncommon to find a dealer who doesn't allow it. That is based partially on my experiences, which memory has faded, and hearing from others here. If the majority of dealers do allow it, the continued posts of our members in this thread will give us a better idea. I did say Unscientific" ;D
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Sometimes people will criticize a dealer because they can't wet test a specific model and I've always thought that to be unfair as its difficult to make EVERY model available (often they'll have a model similarly setup). However, if he's saying you can't wet test ANY models then I think that's a lack of service and if he's not providing service before the sale I'd wonder how I'd be treated afterwards.
A good relevant twist on the topic. It has been discussed here in the past, I would encourage reading the archives. A great thing about this forum is after a wet test, no matter how limited, or unlimited you can come here and discuss it and get opionions of others.
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definitely find a better dealer... we wet tested many brands in a total of 8 dealers. most were accomodating, in fact the jaccuzzi, HS, caldera, and d-1 dealers encouraged us to come in early or late(outside normal hours) so we would feel more comfy than having other customers walk around while we were in a tub. HS and D1 even had small private rooms built in the store with a tub in it.
only one that did no wet test was a local manufacturer, who said they have not allowed wet testing for several years, after the outbreak of legionaires disease that came from a hot tub dealer. he just wasnt exactly sure where or when this had happened. " a few years ago, north of here, i believe...." were his exact words...... :o :o :o
anyone ever heard of such a thing ??? ???
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Should I name the dealer who advised me on his policy? Also, if there are any reps from calspa, caldera or baja here, I would be interested in your thoughts on this matter. Thanks
Thats up to you. Since you named the brand, what is your city/state? As far as I remember from asking dealers here, its a dealer descion and not mandated by a manufacturer. If I'm wrong, someone will let us know.
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I went to four different hot tub dealers when we were looking. All four dealers encouraged us to wet test
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Wmmcall, I am in Pittsburgh, and after seeing the responces, I think I will pass on namimg the dealer, as it seems (from some of the responces) not too uncommon for a dealer to take that position. He just won't have any of my cash to pay his bills. Se La Guere.
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Tell you what I would do , definetly DO NOT Buy a spa from that dealer. Id stay away from Cal spa anyway. But a dealer that does not allow wet testing is a STUPID dealer and as said doesn't care much about what he sells or his customer.
Thats like buying a car with out test driving it.
For fun I'd call him back in a few days and tell him how you bought a tub from another dealer who allowed you to wet test. Sorry pal you just lost a sale.
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For what it's worth... every dealer in our area allows and encourages wet testing. ALL of them would prepare a specific tub for us if we asked them to. The only exception to that was the REC Warehouse that sold Caldera. They had 4 or 5 at the front that you could test. The others were all propped up on display and could not hold water.
Every dealer had a sump pump that they could use to just move water from one spa to another if someone wanted to test. They basically all just wanted a day or so notice.
We tested some after hours and some during the day. Most were during the day as we took an afternoon off work and went from dealer to dealer to test them all out. (we were very waterlogged by the end of the day...)
The only time that I can see it being reasonable for a dealer to say that they won't wet test is if they don't have a show room. We have a local PDC dealer that will custom order but they will only order and deliver. There's nothing on display in their store.
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We have a local PDC dealer that will custom order but they will only order and deliver. There's nothing on display in their store.
If there is nothing on display, they are not a "dealer," they are a "broker."
And the longer they do it that way, the broker they will be.
;)
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I talked to my sundance dealer about wet testing & he told me any time I would feel comfortable, he would be there to let me in. He also told me less than 10% actually wet test a tub before they buy one. I told family & friends that I had wet tested some tubs & they thought I was crazy. Some people just dont realize that its the right thing to do. Before I read this forum I would probably have thought the same. The dealer had an optima to wet test (since its the #1 seller) they also had a maxxus (dry). I inquired about a wet test ,They said give us a day to fill it & heat it & come on down needless to say I ordered one & they now keep it on display in the showroom. Going out of your way can only make you more profitable & a better dealer.
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If there is nothing on display, they are not a "dealer," they are a "broker."
And the longer they do it that way, the broker they will be.
;)
Very true. ;) They didn't get our buisness...
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A local dealer (D1) also did not allow wet testing.
We are buying an Artesian, a brand we did not even consider as a contender prior to wet testing it.
We really should call the D1 dealer and advise them that they didn't even make the short list since they didn't allow us to wet test, but as my DH just said "why bother?"
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Well....you could always toss the reciept in the dealer's face and laugh all the way out...LOL...but that would be mean.
In all seriousness....every dealer we talked to (HS, Caldera, Artesian, Sundance, D1) all encouraged wet testing and were VERY ACCOMODATING.
Hell I put the Artesian guy on the spot....we got off work early Good Friday. I was out of the office by 2pm. I called the dealer in Austin (over 100 miles away) and asked him if he could have a Dove Canyon and the lesser series ready for wet testing. He said he would do his best.
What did he do? He started transferring water from two other spa's to put them in the ones we wet tested. Hmm well we were a bit late getting up there...I guess every business in San Antonio and Austin let out early and we were trapped in traffic.
What did the dealer do? He stayed open. He spoke with us at length about the features, pros/consj, blah blah blah...great info....we then started the wet test that lasted well over an hour.
Now this is Good Friday...Easter weekend is upon us....and this guy is staying open to cater to my "Whim" of coming up on a 3 hour notice.
Thats the way a dealer should work!!!!!!!
If you cant wet test a spa with similar features then walk away. (unless of course you could test elsewhere and you absolutely knew thats what you wanted). (Some dealers dont carry all the models or the top of the line spa's). :)
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I hope you bought the Spa. If not you must be the most unconsiderate Jackass I've ever heard of. I would of drowned you and your boyfriend!! :o
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Moon are you talking to me?
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Well, I wouldn't buy anything I couldn't wet test. I'd never heard (or thought of) such a thing, until I read this forum. We had our minds pretty much made up, until we wet tested....and that changed everything.
Spas cost a lot of money and if this dealer isn't willing to accomodate you, I'd go elsewhere.
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Moon are you talking to me?
Guttboy,
Ignore him. You don't want to get into a battle of wits with an unarmed man ;D
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;D ;D ;D
I agree with Mowgli!!!