Hot Tub Forum
Original => Hot Tub Forum => Topic started by: loosenupspas on December 12, 2006, 10:59:37 am
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Hot Springs knock offs at Costco, with MotoMassage. The Hot Springs association at Costco is ok but to include the MotoMassage seems harmful to dealers.
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Old topic. Most dealers have embraced it. Some have not. I would not be surprised if it goes away. I don't believe (having no facts) that Costco or Hot Spring have done the volume either forecasted.
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I'm actually happier to be a Jacuzzi seller, and NOT a Sundance guy. Jacuzzi '07 price increase, standard 2-3%, Sundance LMAO, get this.....12%!
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Might want to check your sources on the Sundance prices.
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Much ado about nothing. Haven't even had a sniff of one in these parts and it's been close to a year.
BTW, I'm tickled pink to be a HotSpring dealer:
(http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b206/EastTexasSpa/DSC02676.jpg)
Another day, another 4 spa deliveries to happy customers! :)
Terminator
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While I am glad Jacuzzi quit selling to costco, it really didnt hurt our sales here that much,as far as price you cant beat the big box stores but you can beat there customer service/sales people. Most of the big box stores dont have sales people that know chit about spas nor how to do chemicals or sevice them for that matter.
Did I lose some sales to them yes but most of those people were btm feeders looking for a low price for what they think is the same spa I was selling, sorry to say but they were mistaken.
Correct me if I am wrong here but I would think the hot springs you can get at costco is not the same spa you would buy from the Terminator nor the same service one would expect from a dealer. ;D
One question to the Hot springs dealers are you required to service them?? We were asked by Jacuzzi but I always made the customer pay an $80.00 dollar trip charge enev if they lived across the street and only for a period of 1 year even though they were quoted a 5 year warrantee, hey buddy read the fine print. they also had to have proof of purchase not more than 1 year from that.
The one thing I did gain from costco selling Jacuzzi brand spas is chemical sales if I found out they had a costco spa and didnt get any chems well I would sell them a whole shelf full of stuff and give the advice on how to use the spa. ;D
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But Terminator thats easy to say when there are
no Costcos within 50 miles of you!
I know I wouldn't be pleased to be in direct competition
selling anything against with Sams, Costco, or Walmart.
Those guys can be brutal.
You may feel different if you had a giant Costco sitting
across the street selling HotSprings knockoff spas alot cheaper
than you can. Yeah you'd survive and prosper, but it's probably
not something you would cheer about.
But I can tell you without a doubt if Terminator Spas and Costco were
on the same corner I would purchase from you because I want the
"hand-holding" delivery, set-up, expert advice, repair, and long term
relationship even if it costs a few extra dollars.....but alot of fools
don't think that way....they look for the cheapest humanly possible way.
There is no doubt that there is still a huge nitch for independent dealers,
but I would assume most dealers would prefer that Costco selling spas
would "just go away".
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But Terminator thats easy to say when there are
no Costcos within 50 miles of you!
I have 4 or 5 Costcos within 50 miles of me, and I haven't felt them one bit either way. And remember, the Watkins spa available at Costco is only available "Online". ;)
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re: I have 4 or 5 Costcos within 50 miles of me, and I haven't felt them one bit either way. And remember, the Watkins spa available at Costco is only available "Online".
And how is it you know that every single spa sale Costco has made in your
area that the same customer would not have possibly bought from you if
Costco did not exist?
I have seen spas inside Costco and whether they are Wakins or not,
I know if I was selling spas I would prefer they not be across the street.
Of course I wouldn't "fold up my tent and cry".....I would find a way to survive
....but if my choice was "they are across the street or not across the street"....
it's pretty obvious what the answer would be.
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You guys would have hated being me then. When I sold HS in Idaho our store was in a Home Depot parking lot. Granted they don't sell a watkins spa. Sometimes they would even set up a tent in the parking lot with their junk under it. Now that's not cool.
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re: I have 4 or 5 Costcos within 50 miles of me, and I haven't felt them one bit either way. And remember, the Watkins spa available at Costco is only available "Online".
And how is it you know that every single spa sale Costco has made in your
area that the same customer would not have possibly bought from you if
Costco did not exist?
I have seen spas inside Costco and whether they are Wakins or not,
I know if I was selling spas I would prefer they not be across the street.
Of course I wouldn't "fold up my tent and cry".....I would find a way to survive
....but if my choice was "they are across the street or not across the street"....
it's pretty obvious what the answer would be.
We know if Costco.com is selling any Watkins spas because we have contracted to deliver and service the ones in our area. We have delivered 1. We have sold spas to people who were comparing our Sovereign to the Costco/Watkins Highlife.
The equipment warranty for the online spa is only 1 year. Should we do service on that spa, we would charge a trip fee.
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And how is it you know that every single spa sale Costco has made in your area that the same customer would not have possibly bought from you if Costco did not exist?
This board and Doc's are about the only ones I frequent when I have time, so I'm not real up on "netiquette", but I always assume the bold fonts or all caps are the equivalent of shouting, or at the least imply "this is important". Neither seems appropriate here. What am I missing?
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I checked, same story.
Might want to check your sources on the Sundance prices.
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I don't think the Hot Spring/Costco tub is hurting my dealer either. When the truck pulled in the driveway, the first thing out of my mouth was "Hey, I only ordered ONE spa!"
(BTW, Term, you really need to get some of them fancy HS trucks like HotSpring of DC uses rather than using that little cart dohicky in your photo. I bet you could load up 10 spas on one of those trucks!)
(http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q37/richs10/HotTubDamage2120.jpg)
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I would have bought a HS or Jacuzzi spa from a big box store in a heartbeat, that is if they were offered in my area, and I liked the configuration of the spa.
Can't beat their prices. And after all you are getting a quality spa from a reputable retailer.
As far as hand holding, service, and expert advice that you wouldn't be getting from your honest friendly spa dealer... Well.. you all know my feeling on that load of #@$%
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re: We know if Costco.com is selling any Watkins spas because we have contracted to deliver and service the ones in our area. We have delivered 1
Wow...sounds like that Watkins spa is not very popular then.
I wonder if Costco will be dropping Watkins spas?
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In regards to the price increases on Sundance
and Jacuzzi the percentage of increase for
Sundance Spas range from 2.6 to 12.6.
For Jacuzzi the range is 3.3 to 11.3 %.
These numbers are for all spas with and
without stereos.
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re: We know if Costco.com is selling any Watkins spas because we have contracted to deliver and service the ones in our area. We have delivered 1
Wow...sounds like that Watkins spa is not very popular then.
I wonder if Costco will be dropping Watkins spas?
They only carry one model and it is online only. Costco and Costco.com are seperate businesses under the same umbrella.
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re: I always assume the bold fonts or all caps are the equivalent of shouting,
I use either colors or sometimes bold to more
profoundly differentiate the quote and my response.
I have not seen bold font as being equivalent of "shouting".
I think some do equate ALL CAPS as shouting and I do not
like using all caps anyway.
or at the least imply "this is important".
I do view "display" as important....but thats
just my personal preference/writing style.
Neither seems appropriate here.
Thats your opinion as to what is "appropriate"
and you most certainly are entitled to it.
However I kind of believe in letting people "be who
they are" and the way they express themselves....
as long as it is not abusive or hurtful to others.
What am I missing?
A world of everybody not being a robot!
LOL
Just kidding.... ;)
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I have not seen bold font as being equivalent of "shouting"...
Thanks for clearing that up. The font, combined with the tone of your posts, made it seem (to me :)) that you were talking down to the dealers who said their experiences with Costco sales didn't match your opinion. Glad to hear it was just your personal style, much like your big-boy Michael Jordan jammies, complete with footies. No robots in your house! :)
Just Kidding! ;)
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Thanks for clearing that up. The font, combined with the tone of your posts, made it seem (to me ) that you were talking down to the dealers who said their experiences with Costco sales didn't match your opinion.
WRONG!
I was not "talking down" to them at all.
Most of them are patient with us rookies
and very helpful on a variety of subjects.
I just don't agree with them on this one topic,
but hey thats what makes the world go round.
Glad to hear it was just your personal style
Glad you understand now.
much like your big-boy Michael Jordan jammies, complete with footies.
No robots in your house!
Big Boy?..... Footies?.....LOL....OK
Yeah it's kinda hard to invent new clothing styles
unless you are in the fashion design industry.
I just buy whats offered on the shelves and
try to create some personal style as best as
one can...buying what others produce.
Just Kidding!
Copy Cat! 8-)
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Again, let me say, I'm sure glad I AM a HotSpring dealer...two more spas going out today...one a Grandee w/ SpAudio II. :)
(http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b206/EastTexasSpa/DSC02690.jpg)
(http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b206/EastTexasSpa/DSC02696.jpg)
Terminator
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Look at these guys on December 12th in shorts, tee shirts and flip flops. Must be spa season in East Texas.
:D
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Get 'em Term!
See those spa a movin'
Yeeeehawww, Rawhide!
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The tub isn't selling very well, as I believe was already stated. I can't imagine, looking back now, having a truck "drop off" an 800lb tub at the curb and say, "here you go!!". I'm sure people do it and get through it, but I wouldn't want to. You get what you pay for and you pay for what you get.
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5 guys to deliver a spa, guess the labors cheap down there. Our 2 delivery guys would either crack up, or want us to hire another guy if they saw that photo.
They have been delivering 2 a day or so for the last couple of weeks now and one of them is my service tech and he's still under 40 hours a week. Hey if you got em use em.
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5 guys to deliver a spa, guess the labors cheap down there. Our 2 delivery guys would either crack up, or want us to hire another guy if they saw that photo.
(http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b206/EastTexasSpa/haha.jpg)
Actually, this was a rare instance of our 2 service crews crossing paths and the first time I ever had the chance to photograph them all together.
You see, the 3 Mexicans lead by Senor Tony delivered 6 spas yesterday. The 2 Whiteboys (actually, the one in flip flops is an African-American) are our service guys. Ronnie is training Stefan on how to install SpAudios. Since Tony and his helpers were there, they were all pitching in to get the job done quicker, as time is money. Senor Tony has been delivering our spas for almost 20 years. I imagine he would laugh in derision at your crew's delivery-fu. ;D
(http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b206/EastTexasSpa/hottub-move3.jpg)
Terminator
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I originally came to this forum for spa information, however Term's humor is the main reason I log in every day. ;D 8-) ::)
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re: I can't imagine, looking back now, having a truck "drop off" an 800lb tub at the curb and say, "here you go!!".
Spiderman....I can't either.
Of course some will endure nightmare to save a few bucks.
Not me....
Last year I could have saved some change buying a piano from Costco
but I went with a traditional piano store for some of the exact
same reasons.
This guy even beat Costco's price!
(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y273/ItsZep/Hot%20Tub/6f5641b85384750b099e66eafcb5fdc7.jpg)
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It's not as hard as you think to move around a spa. Simple actually. Unless of course you need to lift it up high on a deck.
It saved me $400 at the dealer I bought from.
It all adds up people!!!!
$$$$
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Terminator.....I think there were 4 guys that delivered /set mine up.
It was real tight getting it through one area.
I was very happy that there were 4 of them there.
Extra hands....extra eyes....extra muscle....
Sure you can do it with two and probably cheaper....
but Term don't apologize for sending more than two.
(http://tigerriver.hotspring.com/Easy/gifs/delivery.gif)