Buying a Hot Tub: Why buying a Hot Tub from a Home Show Isn’t the Best Idea

While attending some recent home shows, we noticed a trend in individual’s comments about how their shopping experience for a hot tub from one of these shows was quite unsatisfactory. This piqued our interest as a topic we felt worth exploring. At Imagine Backyard Living, we are dedicated to the industry and long term satisfaction of hot tub owners so we investigated this scenario to better communicate the pitfalls of purchasing a spa or hot tub at a home show. Here’s what we found:

  • While these venues can be good places to visit to get ideas, they are not a good place to make a purchase decision on a big-ticket item. Take time to investigate the dealer and the product before signing any contracts. Certainly do not put any sort of major deposit as a down payment. If you do make a down payment, make it very small and use a credit card so you have cancellation privileges. If the exhibitor wants your business, the “deal” will be there after the show and they will give you the right to cancel with full refund if you change your mind. GET IT IN WRITING. Beware if they tell you anything different.
  • Many companies send professional sales teams to Home Shows that are accustomed to pressuring visitors to buy. Oftentimes, these high-pressure tactics lead to impulse purchases and significant buyer’s remorse.
  • Most home shows post warnings to attendees to be careful and cautious of making purchases while there and that the Home Show sponsor does not stand behind any claims made by exhibitors.
  • Another area of concern is contracts versus verbal promises. It’s easy to get wrapped up in what you think is a “good deal” when surrounded by the excitement and environment of a home show environment and sales pitch. One complaint we hear repeatedly is that the price and value of a perceived promise turns out later to be much different and even problematic when it comes to underlying dealers and contractual obligations. We have all seen recent stories of spa companies going out of business.
  • You can’t try the hot tub in privacy before you buy. We are huge believers that you should know everything there is about these type of products before investing in them. This includes taking a test soak as a critical step to ensuring a good decision. Long term hot tub enjoyment is not about how many jets and pumps it has, its about the research that goes into jet placement and hydro-therapy water flow through the jetting systems. Home shows don’t offer this essential component of test soaking. Would you buy a car without test-driving it?
  • Who will be there to service you after the product is delivered to your home. Hot tubs built by lesser known or unreliable brands are known to have service issues and if you aren’t sure who the brand is, or how it will be serviced, you could be asking for lots of headaches and out of pocket costs down the road.

Although there may be some good things about Home Shows, it’s important to be wary of deals that are too good to be true and high pressure sales tactics.  What’s most important is that you take your time and explore your options. This is a long term investment that can quickly turn bad if you make an impulsive choice. Visit our experiential showroom anytime for questions, a private test soak and a thorough tour of all that Imagine Backyard Living and the Jacuzzi® brands have to offer!

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