Choosing the Right Dealer
I’m Christian Staples with Arctic Spas. Many people focus on the product when they are shopping for a hot tub. This is obviously important but just as important is the dealer where you are buying your hot tub from. I want to challenge all you your spa shoppers to pause and do some investigation in to not only what you are buying but who you are buying it from.
You could buy a product that wasn’t so great, but the service was awesome and you will have a great experience and just the opposite is true, you can have a great product with not so good service, and you will not have a great experience.
Just recently my family and I completed a cross country RV trip. We stayed at a campground just for one night as we were driving through. We really just needed the electrical hookup so we could have air conditioning as it was over 100 degrees when we pulled in. The campground offered a BBQ dinner delivered to your RV. We thought this would be a great idea, so we did not have to cook as we were there for only one night. Then my wife read a review: RV park is fine. I’d pass on the BBQ. I ordered the ribs and I saw the cook nuke them and the squirt sauce on them. Let’s just say that how you cook ribs is just as important or maybe even more important than the ribs themselves. Needless to say, we passed on the BBQ.
This is no different with buying a hot tub. The dealer makes a big difference. So, what makes a great dealer offering great service to you versus a dealer that doesn’t offer great service and how can you know before buying your hot tub?
There are many signs that you can see when you are shopping. I am going to say, most of it deals with the focus of the company and the individuals. Here are a few tell-tail signs.
Focus being the lowest price – I know we all want a great deal. I am right there with you. I am sorry to say the obvious, but it is true, you only get price or service, you don’t get both. This doesn’t mean that you have to buy the most expensive spa out there but if you are looking a dealer where their focus is to be the lowest price, it is not going to work well for you.
Talk to more people than just the sales guy. Sales guys are super nice people who are fun to be around. They were created that way and it is so fun to buy a hot tub from them. Once the spa is delivered though, they are moving on to the next customer and typically turn you over to the service manager to help you from there. Take a minute to find out what happens when you need service. Meet the person who will be helping you after your hot tub is delivered. If you don’t feel comfortable with this person or cannot meet the person who will be helping you, I would say this is a sign to move on.
What is the focus of the store? Look around, who is their important customer? I am sorry to offend all those companies that sell hot tubs as a secondary product next to pools, patio furniture, landscaping, or whatever. I personally don’t want to be a secondary customer. I want their attention when I need it.
Finally, look at the reviews not just of the brand but of the store. Looking at the reviews is a natural but make sure you are looking at reviews of the local dealer not just the brand. They will make the difference on your experience.
So, if you want ribs that are cooked in a microwave, I cannot help you. But if you want a great experience when you spend a good amount of money on a product for your home, check out the Arctic Spa.
Visit us on the web at ArcticSpasUtah.com, stop by one of our stores in Salt Lake at 2368 S State Street, just north of I-80 on the west side of State Street or in St George at 1086 W Red Cliffs Drive just off of the Green Springs exit of I-15, or give us a call at 801-483-1001.
Arctic Spas, the Only Spa built for Utah’s Harsh Climate
