Buying a Hot Tub From a Home Show – Good or Bad Idea?

We have learned from many customers about the danger of buying a hot tub or swim spa from a Home Show. This piqued our interest as an important topic we felt worth exploring.

At Imagine Backyard Living, we are dedicated to understanding what’s important to our consumers so we can better communicate the pitfalls of buying a hot tub or swim spa at a Home Show.

Here Are Our 10 Top Reasons Why Buying a Hot Tub or Swim Spa From a Home Show Is Not a Good Idea

While these venues may be OK to visit for ideas, they are not a good place to make a purchase decision on a big-ticket item. Take time to investigate and research the dealer and the product before signing any contracts. Find out who is behind the company and what type of reputation they have.
Do not make any sort of major deposit as a down payment. If you do make a down payment, make the amount very small and use a credit card. Get in writing that the exhibitor will give you the right to cancel with a full refund if you change your mind. Do not buy if you don’t have this option.
Many companies hire professional sales teams that are accustomed to pressuring people to buy at Home Shows. Oftentimes these high-pressure tactics lead to impulse purchases and significant buyer’s remorse.
Make sure the brand is recognizable and has been around for a long time. Reputable brands like Jacuzzi® Hot Tubs, Sundance® Spas, and Hydropool Swim Spas won’t allow their products to be sold in this type of environment in many markets because of these high-pressure tactics.
Most Home Shows post warnings to attendees to be careful and cautious of making purchases while there and that the Home Show will not stand behind any claims made by exhibitors and the products they sell.
Feel the quality of the acrylic shell. Can you flex it with your fingers? Get in the tub and stand in the center. Do move and flex when you stand on it? If so, you are asking for trouble
Test soak before you buy. Taking a test soak is the most critical step in making a good decision. You are investing in a hot tub for the quality of the hydrotherapy experience and what it does for you. Don’t get caught up in all the talk about what’s under the cabinet-it’s a sales technique to confuse you.
Lots of jets and high horsepower pumps do not equal great hydrotherapy and will mean higher energy costs and costly repairs.
Search for reviews on the brand and the dealer.
Who will service your hot tub or swim spa? Are they certified by the factory? Products built by lesser-known or unreliable brands are known to have lots of service issues, and if you aren’t sure about the brand, or how it will be serviced, you are asking for headaches and expensive repair costs down the road.

As always, it’s important to be wary of deals that are “too good to be true” and high-pressure sales tactics. Many of these companies do almost all of their business at Home Shows, so they are in trouble if they don’t close sales. What’s most important is that you take your time to explore your options.

This is a long-term investment that can quickly turn bad if you make an impulsive buy by a high-pressure salesperson.