The local Master dealer just went out of business here. Everything I hear about Master is bad, from the rebate scams to things like this.Markee,
QuoteThe local Master dealer just went out of business here. Everything I hear about Master is bad, from the rebate scams to things like this.Markee,
You hearing seems to be pretty selective considering broad stroke statements like that. And please feel free to dredge up the rebate sh*t in the dead horse section. And aren't you somehow affiliated with Marquis anyway?
I was a Master Dealer for a little over 2 years but only really pushed the product in the first year.... We got into the rebate mess because the factory rep pushed it as a "Master Spa Backed" program. We also called everyone from the president of master to the founder of Cashable Vouchers in England to try and get answers on the program.Well, unless I canvass more MS owners and MS dealers, I can only go upon knowledge of those owners and current dealers that I know. I have specifically asked my local MS dealer if he is pleased to be carrying the MS line and he has told me that he is very pleased to be doing so. If he's blowing smoke up my *ss, so be it...otherwise, he is happy. I just don't think MS would be able to remain in business if their product and service were as horrible as depicted. MS is certainly not trying to capture market share by underselling spas based on price...their products are priced competitively with other manufacturers. That they choose to market their spas in a way that is seen as "unethical" by other spa dealers is probably more a problem for the other spa dealers that deem it so--and if we need to continue dredging up the tired, old rebate cr*p over and over, then I suggest we move this in with the other dead horses. And their product, at least the one I purchased, is not subpar, IMHO...but, then again, as I've said over and over again at this site, I'm but a single extremely pleased owner who knows at least 2 other extremely pleased owners. I just refuse to believe that global MS customer and dealer satisfaction is as abysmal as presented. I'm sorry, stuart, but I just won't buy your widespread gloom and doom picture...and I'm stating so just so other readers who may be contemplating an MS purchase will see that there is more than one side to this story. That said, I stand behind my first post in this thread...I hate it's happening to you and your customers and it just isn't right.
I feel that we sold it program for what it was...a marketing promotion. After telling every customer that it was a "chance" of getting money back, that we were selling spas not rebates and they should be happy with the product before buying regardless of the voucher. We even told them it was more like a lottery ticket then an investment. We sold a million dollars worth of Master in two sales over about a month and a half.
We stopped selling them because of their marketing practices and their lack of customer service. Everything was a battle to get the right parts for, know one at the factory seemed to understand the product, the first 2 spas we got in a filled on our showroom floor flooded the showroom, every stereo or TV spa we sold seemed to have a problem, their shell pulls were horrible and people at the factory were just not nice to anyone at our store.
To date I’m seeing the same patterns from the company, unethical marketing practices, slow warranty parts, poor customer service and unhappy people at the factory. The fact that Windy and maybe a few others have had a good experience over the last few years with a spa is great but in the long haul Master is a marketing machine with little quality or support IMO.
Shame too because they have the knowledge and tools to do it right….
QuoteI was a Master Dealer for a little over 2 years but only really pushed the product in the first year.... We got into the rebate mess because the factory rep pushed it as a "Master Spa Backed" program. We also called everyone from the president of master to the founder of Cashable Vouchers in England to try and get answers on the program.Well, unless I canvass more MS owners and MS dealers, I can only go upon knowledge of those owners and current dealers that I know. I have specifically asked my local MS dealer if he is pleased to be carrying the MS line and he has told me that he is very pleased to be doing so. If he's blowing smoke up my *ss, so be it...otherwise, he is happy. I just don't think MS would be able to remain in business if their product and service were as horrible as depicted. MS is certainly not trying to capture market share by underselling spas based on price...their products are priced competitively with other manufacturers. That they choose to market their spas in a way that is seen as "unethical" by other spa dealers is probably more a problem for the other spa dealers that deem it so--and if we need to continue dredging up the tired, old rebate cr*p over and over, then I suggest we move this in with the other dead horses. And their product, at least the one I purchased, is not subpar, IMHO...but, then again, as I've said over and over again at this site, I'm but a single extremely pleased owner who knows at least 2 other extremely pleased owners. I just refuse to believe that global MS customer and dealer satisfaction is as abysmal as presented. I'm sorry, stuart, but I just won't buy your widespread gloom and doom picture...and I'm stating so just so other readers who may be contemplating an MS purchase will see that there is more than one side to this story. That said, I stand behind my first post in this thread...I hate it's happening to you and your customers and it just isn't right.
I feel that we sold it program for what it was...a marketing promotion. After telling every customer that it was a "chance" of getting money back, that we were selling spas not rebates and they should be happy with the product before buying regardless of the voucher. We even told them it was more like a lottery ticket then an investment. We sold a million dollars worth of Master in two sales over about a month and a half.
We stopped selling them because of their marketing practices and their lack of customer service. Everything was a battle to get the right parts for, know one at the factory seemed to understand the product, the first 2 spas we got in a filled on our showroom floor flooded the showroom, every stereo or TV spa we sold seemed to have a problem, their shell pulls were horrible and people at the factory were just not nice to anyone at our store.
To date I’m seeing the same patterns from the company, unethical marketing practices, slow warranty parts, poor customer service and unhappy people at the factory. The fact that Windy and maybe a few others have had a good experience over the last few years with a spa is great but in the long haul Master is a marketing machine with little quality or support IMO.
Shame too because they have the knowledge and tools to do it right….
Sounds like someone has been drinking KoolAid. ;DActually, I prefer martinis...... :)
Windy buddy,
Anybody that is as old as you and still windsurfing needs martini's! ;)
Then again where you live windsurfing might be considered transportation to work some seasons...
BTW, I called the VP of Master yesterday morning and left him a message. So far no return call so I've decided to give it until tomorrow and then call my customers with all the forums that I can think of and give them an in-store credit to relate thier frustrations and stories...
ZZ, Buddy!!
Your still around!!?? How ya been?
Hey everybody....it's his fault I'm even on this forum!!
(sorry ZZ, I might have just gotten you banned... );) ;D 8-)
Well,customer experiences like this can destroy an honest man's business. You sell what you believe to be "a good choice" and the problems are not responded to by the manufacturer, because they are more interested in selling numbers than supporting the dealer and keeping the customer happy. Consequently, customer referrals drop dramatically and you try your best to help YOUR customer listening to their long list of complaints, as you take a beating ONLY because you sold what you "thought" was a good choice.
I did get a call from someone at Master on the Spa with cracks that needs replaced, we've already received an authorization but no one can tell me when he gets a new one. The guy that called us said that he could not answer us or call us back until Wed due to the fact that they close at noon on Friday and he was taking a long weekend. He must be the only one at Master to take care of these things....
So I'm tired of my customers getting the run around! I have a letter from the president of Master saying that they will honor warranty through us and sell us products to keep the spas we sold in service yet they are really doing a poor job of that.
I feel that my only recourse is to send a copy of the letter and a complaint to the BBB in Indiana and get as many of these customers on the forums as possible.
I will help them set up accounts but here are a few of the problems;
Ty, bought his spa on the voucher program, did everything correct but was rejected because they would not take his original contract marked $500 cash as a cash receipt for the down payment. Several of his jet heads popped out and some of his jet housings cracked (all in the same place, defect), then he sees micro crazing all over his shell. He has been almost 2 months without his spa.
Cal, could not mount the CM3 cover lift in his deck correctly due to lack of frame support in the spa. Replaced topside once and had to wait over a month. His circuit board has been out for around 4 months and backordered at Master.
Marci, LS700 that was running around $100 per month on power bills (3 years ago), we put a meter between the spa and the house to track it. Master told us it was impossible but we had records. We took the spa off of the deck, added insulation, put it on an insulated pad and it is down to an average of about $45 per month but the spa runs so loud they hate to turn the jets on. They are trying to sell it and buy a D1 from us.
Jody and Nancy, Bought an FST on the voucher program and were denied for mail receipt (which was in the packet when sent), TV has never worked, stereo is out, we've replaced 3 floating remotes and the spa run way to loud to hear anything anyway. Master sent them a remote to their house that we had on order and bypassed us... Still can't get the TV to operate and can't get a tech at Master to explain why, TV is now out of warranty.
ED, every motor leaked at bleed lines, plumbing joint leak at jet, took two months to get jets.
Bob, replaced 3 circuit boards with each one taking between 2 to 3 months to get in...
I have many more but some have just given up...if we run out of filters it takes almost 2 months to get more in (and they are proprietary). The large flat filter on top that Master used as such a selling tool swells up and won't fit correctly or the clips keep falling off and it floats. Master's answer to this is to take it out because "it's not necessary!!"
I'm going to continue these posts, encourage my customers to also in addition to filing the BBB claim until my customers are taken care of.
BTW, Master had a factory booth at the state fair putting more effort into selling new spas instead of taking care of the ones that are already out there.