Hot Tub Forum
Original => Hot Tub Forum => Topic started by: Chris_H on March 02, 2007, 11:02:16 am
-
http://www.hotspring.com/Spa_Showroom_Hot_Tub/spa_model_aria.html
-
Wow. Amazing.
8-)
-
Act like you didn't know...
-
Consumers Digest, a highly respected authority on value in the consumer marketplace, recently named the Aria™ spa a Best Buy. The maker of Hot Spring spas is the only spa manufacturer to have one of its spas named a Best Buy each of the six times Consumers Digest has rated spas. No other spa manufacturer can make this claim.
No wonder Hot Spring Spas is the world's number one selling brand.
:o
Terminator ;)
-
And here we go again. Nothing against Watkins here (aka Hot Spring Spas) however the consumer needs to be aware that "Consumers Digest" is an advertising vehicle and nothing more. For the price of a couple 10 thousands of dollars, any product can have the "Consumers Digest" "Best Buy" award. Granted it takes a solid company to be able to pony up the best buy fee, but it is what it is, a paid for endorsement pure and simple!
-
Oh lord, they're gonna start chanting soon, followed by a group hug and free koolaid. ;) :D
Congrats guys. :)
-
For the price of a couple 10 thousands of dollars, any product can have the "Consumers Digest" "Best Buy" award. Granted it takes a solid company to be able to pony up the best buy fee, but it is what it is, a paid for endorsement pure and simple!
Nope. Not correct. There is a charge to use the logo, but if it is not awarded, it cannot be purchased.
If it is awarded, and the company chooses not to pony up the cash, they cannot use the logo.
Also, CD does accept advertising dollars.
I know this is somewhat controversial, and many here think it is worthless information. I will note that if is was possible to just go 'buy' the rating, the larger companies would all have it. Notice that they don't.
8-)
-
I hate to disagree, but you just have to open a Consumer Digest and see all the advertising that is done in there. Consumer Reports does not accept advertising so they remain unbiased. my next door neighbor is a editor for a magazine and it is well known that Consumer Digest does not even purchase tubs to test them, where as Consumer Reports will purchase products from a retailer, not the manufacturer and test them. They have never done a test on hot tubs/portable spas. To independently test ever brand and model out there would take a long time.
-
I hate to disagree, but you just have to open a Consumer Digest and see all the advertising that is done in there.
I'm not sure who you are disagreeing with: I said that CD accepts advertising dollars. I know that make most folks suspicious.
8-)
-
Back in the 90's both Coleman and Sundance had spas that made Consumer's Digest Best Buy. I can't remember the years, but I think the Coleman models were the Spectrum 247 and the Horizon 411.
Hotsprings dealers should be proud, we used it in every sales pitch, shouted it from the rooftops, and displayed the award.
Just remember next year it may go to the competition down the road from you... ::)
-
Consumers Digest, a highly respected authority on value in the consumer marketplace,
I'd say this is the debatable part, then, but if nothing else, I'm sure HS dealers like having more "material" for their schpeals. Good for them.
-
Typically several spas are rated Best Buy each time they do a ratings. I know a Caldera made it this time also. In the past I have seen Artesian, Marquis, Sundance, Soft Tub and more.
As Term said, Hot Spring is the only brand to be rated Best Buy every time ratings have been done.
I don't know who else made the cut this time.
-
I'd say this is the debatable part, then, but if nothing else, I'm sure HS dealers like having more "material" for their schpeals. Good for them.
Everyone....EVERYONE...has a spiel (or schpeal if you prefer)...some just have a little more substance than others. :)
Termy (the unhostile or unhosteal if you prefer) ;)
-
So where can we access the test results, the tubs and brands tested, the criteria for being a best buy. How tubs tested in each category, what were they tested for,
OMG i just caught myself.... I think I need to stay away from Colorado. BTW if any manufacturer would like to donate a tub and $10,000 to me to do a independent test, non biased of course, I will test them equally.
The room is spinning
I don't think we're in Kansas anymore Toto
-
Everyone....EVERYONE...has a spiel (or schpeal if you prefer)...some just have a little more substance than others. :)
Termy (the unhostile or unhosteal if you prefer) ;)
I thought the work was just slang, and therefore was phonetically spelled. I think it is funny that it is a really word, though. Of course everyone has one- that was my point. I think that whether or not someone thinks that the Consumer digest is a "respected" source, or just paid advertisement is what determines the value of that spiel. I personally have lost respect for Consumer Reports, as their "report" on veterinary medicine a few years back was FULL of VERY bad advice. So I am not going to automatically trust Consumer Digest either. But since lots of people buy Consumer Digest and use it to shop, it must be good for any company to be in there.
-
I thought the work was just slang, and therefore was phonetically spelled. I think it is funny that it is a really word, though.
It's a derivative of the word "glockenspiel", which is a type of semi-automatic handgun used in the closing of a commissioned sales spiel, thus the confusion.
Termy
-
Marquis spas has had a consumer digest Best Buy spa every year I have been with them. Personally and perhaps mistakenly I do not use it as part of my sales presentation just a personal choice of mine. I guess I feel that way because for many, the credibility of the endorsement is questionable. And with no disrespect to any of the fine Hot Spring guys here but How long has the Aria been out ?. I would have thought they might have chosen another model for the endorsement since again going back to the credibility thing, since the Aria is so new it would be tough for me to think it is much more than marketing at this point. I am sure its a fine product as are all of the Hot Springs spas.
-
This may have to be in 2 poarts due to size :D
Some years back Consummers Digest called and talked to me about receiving their "award". As I recall, the basic gist of the conversation, or their "schpeal" (their words were very carrefully chosen) translated to, if I gave them something like $10k they would test our hot tubs and allow me to use their logo for a year (if so awarded). They had no interest in "testing" our hot tubs if I wouldn't commit first to paying to use their logo "if" it was awarded to us.
Consumers reports........... yes they accept no advertising. BUT, did you know they accept donations? Here's some interesting stuff I've aquired over the years..............;
This is the "educated opinion of someone who's post was found on a totally unrelated message board;
Consumer Reports results are more common sense or tainted.
Many years ago they published an early review of scientific calculators and downrated the HP's because of their reverse Polish computation method. A raft of letters from scientists convinced them that they had used the wrong criteria to rate the calculators and they changed their ratings.
They compare apples to oranges; a $299 drill versus a $29 drill. It does not take a mental giant to figure out the better made of the two. But is average Joe going to buy the $299 drill or is that for a professional?
A taller than wide vehicle is liable to roll over. Wow, earth shattering news. This would also be true for the old VW and army jeeps, based on poor wheel support rather then logical observation, but I never saw them report it.
Every time they judge glass cleaners, half the article boasts their home mixture is better and cheaper. I have tried it; it does not work as well as the Gunk glass cleaner I use on my windshield, not even close.
I have read that they have accepted six figure donations from Honda, and I have to wonder, do they always rank Honda the best car because of fact or .... Have you ever noticed how a new model Honda has a top mark in reliability based on manufacturer reputation, while others get a N/A or average mark?
I am not saying all they have to say is useless, it does give you some insight into products, but CR does not play fair ball with the ratings far too often. You cannot place a $100 item in the same category as a $1000 item and expect it to be better. They always decide one of the higher end items are better, but does average Joe need to spend or can afford to spend the money on the higher priced unit? Is a Miata going to compete on even ground versus the Aston Martin Vanquish? And which should average Joe buy?
But they fail to take that last question into consideration. Yet they rate products together that have extreme cost differences.
As for accuracy, obviously if they report that a specific model of car is going to be made, they know something no one else on the planet seems to know. Was this a scientific observation, inside information that BMW shared only with them, or just the misguided opinion of the writer? And how much of that flows over into their product ratings? Is that little circle ratings thing more opinion than fact?
I have purchased products they rated as one of the best and been woefully disappointed, and been delighted on products that they have downgraded for one reason or another, the reason never becoming apparent to me after years of use.
After a few years, I started wondering if the ratings had some hidden agenda to facilitate their conclusions and had to stop paying for their statements of the obvious, opinions, apples to oranges comparisons, and sometimes misguided speculation.
Just my humble opinion based on my observations and experience.
-
http://www.hotspring.com/Spa_Showroom_Hot_Tub/spa_model_aria.html
Congratulations!
-
OK. I have a way to finally put an end to this.
I have found a place where you can get a completely unbiased opinion of spas -
right here, right now.
Ready?
[size=14]"I think HotSpring makes a fine product. So do many other makers."
Chas[/size]
There you have it folks! That is my honest opinion, based on years of hands-on research, sales, service, ownership, and careful evalutaion. And not one thin dime of advertising money changed hands.
Now, was that so hard?
8-)
-
I just got through trying out the Aria and ejnoying some Shineer Bock whilst doing so.
What INCREDIBLE POWER! Jimmy the cricket, the corner seat nearly blowed me across the spa and I ain't a little fella like I'm portrayed on TV. I found that by putting my foots on the foot jet, I had two equalized forces propelling agin' one another and that was a pretty unique experienc3e.
The lounge wif the MojoMassage DX was extremely comfrotable and the little ol' heel diggums were fine and dandy for propping agin' the flow. The calf and kneee jets felt pretty good, but tinier folks would probally get tumped over tail unless they throttle the power back a might. There waws a little foot ridge to help keep the mighty Jetstream jet from pussing you out of the back seat.
It was Jimmi Hendrix hour on 96X that i listened to on the radio. They played Hey JMcD, Arey You Expenrinendced, Purply Haze, Allloonong the Watchtower, and Let me Stand with yoiur Fieere. It sounderd jgood but I hadve a headache (not fromt he soundysysem, I've have a busy day today gettine g vendours for our VIOP party, which has been changed to Aprile 28th because the 21st is prom night, so if any of you are plaining to come, mark the channege on you calendar.)
I give that little basteard spa a two thumb up!
Gotta go take Meaness and JEsee to Leon's Steakhouse (Savanna is spending night with Lindsey). Be good to ya'll!
Terrjimnator
-
Hopefully you have a designated driver ;)
-
Do your own research and you shouldn't/won't need Consumer's Digest.
-
Do your own research and you shouldn't/won't need Consumer's Digest.
Simplest and truest statement in the thread ;) ::)
-
Does the fact it's consumersdigest.[size=16]com[/size] not org give any indication what it's all about.
pbs.org ... nbc.com
local listener supported radio stations: wwfm.org, wxpn.org
Also the fact is that there is no real test that any manufacturer is that far superior than the rest. There are indications that there are a few manufacturers that are really inferior.
Every aspect of spa ownership or ownership of anything for that matter is subjective.
But what do I know, I own a Hyundai and my dog is not pure bred ... funny though her tail wags and she's happy to see me every time I walk through the door. I guess you don't need a brand to be happy!
-
my dog is not pure bred ... funny though her tail wags and she's happy to see me every time I walk through the door.
Yeah, but keep an eye on that thing. You never know. One day, it could be all tail wagging and drooling, the next day she's had her nose pierced, sportin' a tattoo and hangin' out with bikers.
8-)