Welcome to the first edition of Into the Water, a seasonal newsletter for folks who go into the water.

Let me guess, your 2006 resolution included phrases like “more time for me,” “more relaxation time,” and “more quality time.” Sounds like you want a new hot tub!

Shopping for a new hot tub/spa can be daunting. You see idyllic demos at home shows, carnival-like hawkers offer ‘Once-in-a-lifetime DEAL!,’ discount retailers seem to have the best price, and your local mom and pop dealers seem to have the better product. Of course, internet sales have just added to your quandary: How do I know what to buy for me?

Price is usually the #1 consideration, but doesn’t always give you the biggest bang for the buck. For instance, we sell three entirely different makes of hot tubs and spas. In our showroom, we display several 2-4 person spas. One spa sells around $3400, and the other sells around $6300. Our shoppers immediately go to the $3400 spa — which is a perfectly fine unit. They look over their shoulder and see the similar, but more pricey unit and ask, “What’s up with that?”

I like to compare the difference to cars — one is a reliable Chevy, and the other is a luxurious, highly engineered BMW-like machine. The affordable spa has limited options, but is designed to do the job you want a hot tub to do, at a price everyone can afford. The luxury model offers upgraded features, may cost less to operate, and offers a larger warranty. Of course, we offer another option, a line of spas that are right down the middle.

Other shoppers have limited landscape options, or limited electrical supply availability. These 2 elements can narrow down what is available to them.

Also, as you begin your quest for a new spa, consider the foundation needs for your unit. And if you can, be able to provide a dedicated 220V, 50-amp electrical line. Most spa manufacturers require, as part of their warranty, that your spa be hooked up to its electrical source by a licensed electrician.

How about that warranty? Warranties are your first clue as to how well the manufacturer believes its product will perform. So, if the bargain spa you have your eye on offers a 1-year manufacturer’s warranty, you might want to consider some additional shopping.

Find out who will service that warranty and how long it will take. We service all the warranty work for all three spa manufacturers that we represent. That’s a plus for our customers. We also provide warranty work for manufacturers that we do not represent. However, those jobs usually take longer to set up because of endless paperwork and part resupplying, and, those calls are taken after we service the customers who purchased directly from us.

After sale support is something that may not strike you as important as price and quality, until you have had that spa for 2 weeks, the entire neighborhood has had a good long soak, and your spa’s water has turned into a cesspool.

Every single day we hear, “Gee, I wish we had bought from you.” You see, we’re a mom and pop kind of operation. So we get to know our customers and their environment. We don’t have the slickest sales staff, and we tend to be a bit casual. But knowledge and customer service, is our strength. One too many bargain spa purchasers come through our door frustrated, confused and disappointed with their after sale support. This is not a slam on discounters because we know they cannot offer bargain prices and hire full time spa-know-it-alls like us. Actually, several large box discounters automatically send their customers to our store for chemical sales and advice.

Hope this helps you make a good choice for your new spa. Email us with any questions you might have. We are happy to help.