Hot tub purchase?

jenna8984 · July 2015

We really want one for our new house- an outdoor jacuzzi, not a bathroom jet tub. Just wondering if anyone has any experience or recommendations?

I know generally the retail pool stores sell them starting around $6,000. This is over our budget. We don't need a top of the line with waterfalls and super capacity, and we also don't want the barebones cheapest/ inflatable. Ideally, our budget is $3,000. Just wondering if or where this might be feasible. Or is Craigslist the only option here (which I'd rather not)?

CMGragain · July 2015

We bought one last October. We spent about $7400 on the full size tub, and another $1000 to upgrade the wiring in the house to support the electrical load. You also need to budget for your electrical bills.

Many dealers will have used, refurbished models that they will guarantee. Some people get tired of the maintenance issues and sell them. Check with your local dealers first.

There are also online options like this one: http://www.spadepot.com/?gclid=Cj0KEQjww42tBRCO-sfEiO3DvYMBEiQAHeqMKNxkcagPFQsb8GaSo3VanteN0XEFxF9Cj6MWbC2FIsoaAi-Y8P8HAQ

My husband wanted to buy from them, but I put my foot down and insisted on a local dealer who could give us service if we needed it. So far, we haven't, but I know a lot of people with hot tubs that rely on their supplier to service their water.

jenna8984 · July 2015

Thanks! My FIL has one that his friend was giving away for free and FIL has replaced some parts on it himself. So hopefully between him and handy H, they would rarely need outside service calls. But you never know!

Last year we went to the largest Fall Faire in New England and I remember one spa company having a huge display with discounts. I wonder if they are negotiable if we go back this year.

CMGragain · July 2015

DH tests the water every three days. You need a chemical water testing kit to balance the ph. DH is obsessive about it.

What surface are you planning to put it on? You can't just plop it on a deck and expect it to support that heavy load when it is filled.

WinstonsGirl · July 2015

Ours was well over your budget, and it's a little 4 person one. I'd look for smaller ones (3 people ones), or check out the Spaberry. They're for 2 people and plug and play so no need to upgrade your wiring, etc. I know nothing about the inflatables, though there was a thread on here last week about them

ETA - check out previous year models too, to save some cash

jenna8984 · July 2015

CMGragain said:

DH tests the water every three days. You need a chemical water testing kit to balance the ph. DH is obsessive about it.

What surface are you planning to put it on? You can't just plop it on a deck and expect it to support that heavy load when it is filled.

Yes definitely. My parents owned one when I was growing up but it was actually in the basement instead of outside. And they only ran it in the winter. Ours will be outside, under the deck on pavers and will likely run year round.

@winstonsgirl thanks. Guess we will have to go to some stores and see what they offer and possibly up the budget if we feel like the ones in our range are total pieces of crap lol.

luckya23 · July 2015

When dh and I were looking at "real" hot tubs (to put god knows where) last year, we were looking at homedepot.Com and lowes.com. I think I remember them being in the high 4000-low 5000 range.

jenna8984 · July 2015

@luckya23 I never thought to look at Home Depot! Their website has some in budget actually with some decent reviews hmmmm. Are you the one that just got the inflatable one? Who the hell was that lol

WinstonsGirl · July 2015

jenna8984 said:

@luckya23 I never thought to look at Home Depot! Their website has some in budget actually with some decent reviews hmmmm. Are you the one that just got the inflatable one? Who the hell was that lol

Luckya23, in the FWP thread.

STARMOON44 · July 2015

Oh I missed the you found a house! So exciting congrats!

luckya23 · July 2015

Yup, we just got the inflatable! We unfortunately ignored the chemical situation when we first set it up so now we are trying to get it all straightened out after it turned a bit green! I think it will be good practice in case we get a full size one, but overall bc DH is a big guy we can't put the bubbles on when he's in there so it's more like a giant bathtub! Lol

jenna8984 · July 2015

@starmoon44 Thanks!! We're under contract, don't move in for another month which feels like FOREVER.

Kahlyla · July 2015

We're actually looking at Costco for ours (probably out of the budget until winter at least, maybe even until next year) for many reasons, like their amazing return policy, and they run periodic sales of upwards of $3000 off. So we would probably look at the $9-10K 6-person models but would not actually pay that much for it. We want the extra space because we really enjoy socializing with close friends and family in hot tubs - we find it leads to some amazing conversation, lol. I think you can find 4-5 person models for under $5K regular price, though.

jenna8984 · July 2015

@kahlyla Thanks! I think the nearest Costco is like an hour away so I don't shop there and never think of them. But I'll have to look into it!!

Kahlyla · July 2015

If you have a membership you can order from them online and they deliver for free! I've never even seen a hot tub in the actual store, but we probably buy more from them online than we actually do in store.

And if you ever need to return, they'll actually come pick it up and take it away, then send you a new one or whatever (I mean, possibly some different rules apply to hot tubs, but we've actually had to return our mattress before).

CMGragain · July 2015

In our community, they have hot tub vendor conventions about twice a year. All the vendors bring their samples and set them up in the convention center. It is a good place to get information, or to make a deal. We bought a floor sample and saved some money, but I don't think your budget would extend to a new one.

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