We’ve all heard those impressive TV and radio ads promoting the coming “Spas! Spas! Spas!” event. We’ve also been conditioned that the best time to buy a hot tub is at the fair. Based on this content I am going to fairly add Costco to this list. Although these methods sell many products, any knowledgeable stand-up sales pro would concur the best overall consumer experience starts and continues in a specialty hot tub store. Here are 5 important reasons you should purchase from a specialty hot tub store and avoid traveling hot tub shows.
Specialty Hot Tub Stores Offers Higher Quality Product
20 years ago there were close to 200 spa manufacturers. In contrast, today in 2018, that number has shrunk to a little over 50. Of that 50, there are 4-5 world class manufacturers which sell 90% of all hot tubs today. So the approximately 45 other hot tub manufactures fill the void of incremental tubs sold in various regions. So why is this important? In an area that has specialty stores, one will usually find one or more of the top world class brands. World class manufactures produce a product that lasts longer, performs better, and is easy on the energy bill. You may find a specialty hot tub dealer at a local fair but I will address that later.
Personalized Attention not Found at a Spa Event, or Costco
A local hot tub specialty store offers service, care products, and a level of personalized attention not found at a spa event, or Costco. However, a local dealer at a fair may be the exception. I’ll boldly state that every hot tub owner from the experienced, to the first time buyer runs into an issue at some point. This could range from water care issues, to warranty repair. Furthermore, your chances of resolve decrease greatly when a tub purchase is made outside of your local spa dealer who carries a world-class brand.
Important Reasons to Buy at a Speciality Hot Tub Store
World class manufactures build their products with the total consumer experience in mind. This includes the availability of repair parts or retrofittable repair parts as the hot tub gets up in age. It’s common for smaller manufacturers to use limited availability off the shelf parts, or discontinued parts to minimize production costs. Consequently, the downside of this practice is it’s common for one of these spas to need a repair part and it’s either discontinued, or the new part is not retrofittable.
Hot Tub Owner and Hot Tub Speciality Store Share an Important Long-Term Relationship
The hot tub industry is unique in that a long-term relationship between the consumer and the local hot tub storeusually yields a positive long-term experience. Consumers commonly complain that after a traveling spa show or fair (exception-local spa store at the fair), the company wants no further interaction on common questions (they are told read your manual), do not return phone calls, and do not offer warranty service as promised. Additionally, consumers describe the Costco experience as similar to a standard register transaction without backend support.
Perceived Deal is not Always a Deal
So what about the perceived deals if one does not decide to purchase from the local hot tub store? If it sounds too good to pass at an event or fair, its ok to pass. Based on consumer feedback on the event and fair pricing, the structure is similar to the local specialty spa store pricing, or sometimes higher. Special financing offers cost money and hiding this cost in the spa price is common. Let’s then ask the question “if it’s a deal on the front end, with no backend support, is it really a deal?”
In conclusion, every specialty store has countless stories of “orphaned owners” who bought outside of specialty. Additionally, specialty retailer shares that frustration when an additional disappointing story is told. Based on today’s growing trend in how consumers shop, simply throw in a few traditional marketing techniques and there is a reason to believe these purchases will continue to happen. The goal of this blog is to give a peek behind the curtain of the retail hot tub world. If only a few more consumers are spared the agony, it’s considered a success.
With over 40 years experience, Blackthorne Spas is your wellness expert and Central California’s largest hot tub superstore. Specializing in hot tubs, billiards, darts, pools, associated supplies, service, and maintenance. We also supply the largest for sale rubber duck collection in California.
