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Although we have been established over 26 years
we are constantly learning. This list includes
problems found on old designs of spas, that can
now be avoided with the use of the much better
materials and technology now available. One notable
point is all major US manufacturers avoid softwood
cedar cabinets, quality companies now fit rot
and animal proof polymer panels that need no maintenance
what so ever. Additionally, spas that are supported
by foam, pallet timber and glue have been exposed
against newly engineered galvanised steel frames
now fitted to advanced spas.
• Confusing Warranties. What seem to be
long warranties on the shell (will they be here
to help if there is a problem in 10 years) that
they no doubt hope will make you overlook the
small print that reveals what can only be described
as vague One Year Warranties on what really matters,
the working equipment. Some shell warranties only
cover the ability of the spa to hold water!! Not
delaminating and cracking.
• Contract delivery men just dropping a
spa off at the end of the drive and offering no
help expecting the customer to do the rest.
• Customers in frustration trying to fix
pumps themselves and finding no one has parts
for obscure makes of pumps from Down Under.
• Phoney “Site Surveys” just
so a pushy salesman can get in the door.
• Rotten, bowed or swelled wood cabinets
from poor storage. These cabinets are not designed
for Britain’s damp weather but more the
heat of Florida or the crisp cold of Canada. Always
note that few cabinets carry a warranty of more
than a year
• Companies going bust, at least 4 companies
claiming a high profile (although actually quite
new set ups) have gone out of business, one actually
trading while insolvent.
• No Cooling Off Period for orders placed.
• Huge delivery vehicles with tail lifts
turning up that just can not get near the house
and just leave spas some way a way on the street.
• Out of Date Models being unloaded on
an unsuspecting and ignorant public. Always check
when the spa was manufactured and the serial numbers,
then e mail this to the manufacturer for verification.
• Last Chance offers - what are claimed
to be the best offers ever in December becoming
even better in January and February.
• Cash Deals - we are horrified by the
number of customers who tell us they have been
offered “cash” prices by dodgy dealers
to avoid the VAT. This is illegal and should immediately
alert customers to the types of operation they
are dealing with. Plus you will have no come back
what so ever as most of these types of set ups
are companies that disappear over night.
• Trailer park Spas usually from Florida.
People find they have bought a spa of the lowest
common denominator with little or no insulation
and out of date features and shapes. Remember
it does not freeze in Florida and few Floridian
companies sell much out of Florida for this reason.
• Pressure Doorstep Salesmen turning up
to do a phoney survey and then trying to crowbar
customers into buying a low specification spa
at a ludicrous price, usually with an unbelievably
expensive finance deal? This is very much like
notorious vacuum cleaner sales people.
• New companies offering long warranties
without any tangible way of how they will be able
to support them. Typically companies have only
been established 10 months but are offering 10
years shell warranties and parts and labour without
stock or technicians
• All quality US & Canadian manufacturers
are experienced in the creation of quality shells,
so we only hear of high warranties for delamination
from markets where this is a big issue, in particular
in Europe. Several European manufacturers have
had huge problems with shells delaminating or
bubbling and have a need to restore customer confidence.
You will find the majority of companies for this,
and many other reasons, have dropped low tech
local manufacturers products from their portfolios.
• Nothing to pay for a year “deals”
where they also try and force you to buy insurance
(quite illegally) and you can end up paying nearly
£9,000 for a basic spa that only costs around
£2,500 to £3,000 in American shops.
• Sales people running off with cash deposits
or denying they ever had one, there has been at
least one high court action over this.
• Old Fashioned “Pressure”
Filters that most companies dropped years ago
in favour of more expensive and better top access
surface skimmers that still use “pressure”
not gravity as claimed. We had clamp top (to use
their correct name) filters on our cheaper spas
6 years ago when we phased them out as did all
other leading US manufacturers.
• 1 Year Warranties starting from day of
manufacture. This is a real problem if your spa
has been tossing about on the Ocean for months
coming from Down Under.
• False Pump Horse Power – with some
companies claiming 2 HP pumps are 5 HP pumps.
The only correct measure of pump power is KW output.
• Straight forward price list with no one
being able to send out but wanting to know what
your “budget” is, so they know how
much they can Rip You Off for.
• Wooden Cabinets Rotting swelling and
falling apart as they are not really suitable
for our long wet winters
• Companies not listing what you are actually
getting, in particular the number of pumps and
jets so you end up with just a big tub of water.
• Polystyrene or Blow Up Paddling Pools
sold as spas that are really just air bubble units
without any hydro jets, with some companies asking
over a £1000 and others less than £500
all for the same spa. We have heard of 40 % returns
on one make!
• Rip Off Boys or ROBs as they are known
in the trade, are working together at dealer and
sales level in many areas and shows to restrict
choice and keep prices high .This is quite obvious
when you phone around in many areas where companies
all have the same story to justify their high
prices. “You Get What You Pay For”
….” We are the Mercedes” etc
etc all from quite new operations and sales staff.
• Price fixing try phoning around along
the South Coast for a well known brand that is
typically £4,000 to £6,000 more in
Britain than it is in Canada. All the dealers
know each other!
• Companies claiming products are Made
in Britain or Wales when in fact they are just
assembling imported parts, (usually badly). Even
the glue is imported.
• One of the strangest aspects of the British
spa market is the amount of “authoritive”
new spas dealers who have actually never sold
a spa but see it as an easy market to get into.
They just copy information from other sites in
the USA , but not the prices !, even if the spas
they are offering don’t have these features,
• Always visit a company’s service
and distribution centre
• Always check a company’s account
on line at companies’ house
• Always get them to put in writing any
claims over pump size and water treatment
Warranty work and back up - the company who actually
sell to you is responsible for this.
• Portable Spas, Garden Spas, Hot Tubs
and Italian sounding names are much the same type
of product and use the same venturi hydrotherapy
jet principle.
• See if all positions in the spa can deliver
decent massage at the same time. Ask for all the
jets in spas to be turned on, and then check the
power of each without power being diverted to
it from another set of jets. Diverted power is
fine if explained and suits your typical spa use.
• Ask for a printed copy of the current
price list
• Don’t be fooled by expressions
like “you get what you pay for” we
are the “Rolls Royce of Spas” etc
– all to justify high prices on standard
North American Spas.
• Ask how long they have been trading
at the address they are at
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