• 1.Buy the dealer before you buy the spa. Do business only with a dealer who will give you service as good after the sale as before your purchase.  Choosing a spa dealer is the most important choice you have to make in the buying process.  Pick a business that is trustworthy and can offer the service and water care advice that will make owing your spa a joy not a hassle. HINT: Think you can pick a trustworthy business at a fair or carnival? High pressure sales tactics should be your first clue that the business is not as trustworthy as  you’d like.
  
• 2.Ask for references. A reputable dealer will put you in touch with customers in your neighborhood so you can ask them about the brand of spa and the customer service provided by the dealer.  A major part of a top quality dealer’s business is based  on referrals from satisfied customers.  At Olympic Hot Tub Company our referral rate is 43%: that is 43% of our sales are from satisfied customers who refer their friends. And, we have a zip code book with names of all purchasers. We know you’ll find someone you know who owns a hot tub from Olympic. HINT: Your chance of getting references from an online hot tub seller or a big box store are slim to none.

• 3. “Add-ons” add up. Beware of “add ons” not included in the purchase price like an insulating cover, delivery to your prepared site, leveling, water care products, and on-site instruction and operation – all of which are vital and should not  incur additional charges.  Avoid purchasing from a company that plans to drop the spa off in your driveway for you and your neighbors to wrestle in place and attempt to level.  The day your spa is delivered should be one of the happiest days of your life.  Olympic Hot Tub Company’s full service delivery is legendary. Don’t risk injuring yourself or friends.  Professional spa installers should be sent to do the job. HINT: Online sellers are not the worst offenders as far as add ons or driveway drop-offs. That’s a typical practice for spas sold at fairs & carnivals.

• 4. Don’t buy a spa at a carnival or fair or in a parking lot. Most spa exhibitors at carnivals, fairs and parking lots do not have a local showroom or local service.  They set up, use high-pressure sales tactics on you (!), and pack up the tent once the fair has ended. Many unwary spa buyers lose cash deposits and never receive their spa after succumbing to a slick salesperson at a fair especially the Puyallup Fair.  If you do shop at a fair, look but do not buy even if you are threatened with losing the “deal.”  A reputable dealer will hold the offer so take time to think it over.  You won’t find Olympic Hot Tub Company or Hot Spring Spas at the Puyallup Fair. We decided many years ago that the Fair was not the right atmosphere for selling hot tubs. HINT: Washington State has a 3-day right of refusal period for items bought at a fair. If you did purchase on impulse, act quickly to get your money back or suffer real buyers’ remorse. Make sure there is a local showroom where you can try the spa wet and be assured of ongoing service and a personal connection with a salesperson who works for the company – not one hired for the days of the fair.

• 5. On the Internet. Researching your major purchase on the Internet is a good way to get the education you need to make a wise buying decision.  Do not consider buying a spa from an out of state seller or one out of your local area.  Beware of companies that do “in-home sales” exclusively.  You’ll have no opportunity to see the product, evaluate its quality, take a test soak, or check references.

• 6. Want a hot tub with those frozen chicken wings? “Big box” retailers typically carry off brands or stripped down versions of brands by larger manufacturers.  Most of these spas have limited insulation and most likely very noisy pumps. If you’re buying on line you have no way of evaluating the fit, noise level or ease of maintenance. Choices are limited and the wait for service can be very long.  The low price you think you’re paying initially will cost you far more down the road.  HINT: Evaluate the total cost including energy costs for the time you expect to own your spa. You will pay more in the end when you purchase online, guaranteed.
• 7. A hot deal on Craig’s List? Sure, you could get lucky. You could win the lottery, too. Chances are the reason people are selling their hot tubs on Craig’s list is because they cost the earth to heat AND they’ve never been able to get the water clean and clear.

Most Olympic Hot Tub owners say that their spa purchase was one of the best investments they’ve made.  Follow these tips and choose a credible, qualified, and expert hot tub retailer to ensure that you get the right hot tub the first time. You want the ultimate in relaxation, not years of problems. Be a smart shopper. Do your research before you buy and relax happily ever after.

RES EST SERVAS VOLUPTAS. Pleasure is Serious Business.

Thanks for reading Hot Tub Bliss. We hope you went from “Ahhhh” to “A-Ha”! Be sure to ‘Like’ our Facebook Page and follow  Olympic Hot Tub Company and Hot Tub Bliss on Twitter.