A Different Kind of Hot Tub Qfuestion

February 20, 2025, 12:13 PM

Powers77

So, I'm 99% sure I want another hot tub at our new residence. The issue is there's only one option in town and while I like the guy and have a good recommendation for him the price seems way high.
They sell Jacuzzi, Hot Springs and Cal Spa.
For a 4 person tub in the 7' x 7' range we are probably talking $16,000 all in.
I just started looking so I go on the Costco sight and see that I can get something very similar and be all in for probably abouut $8,000.

But I'm probably going to have to hire a mover to get it from the curb to the spot in the back yard. Seem like kind of a no brainer to me but am I missing something?

I'm going to have to arrange the electrical etc... regardless of which route I go.

Has anyone actually gone the Costco route?
TIA

February 20, 2025, 01:21 PM

ugeesta

Haven’t seen or researched the Costco offerings, but I’ve heard they are Chinese manufactured and are of a lesser quality than CalSpa and others mentioned.

7k is a big number and you can almost buy 2 units for the price of a quality spa.

Are the features and warranties the same?

I’m always weary of that much of a price delta and tend to side for better quality.

February 20, 2025, 01:31 PM

smlsig

I went through this same question about a year ago and after posing the same question here on SF I decided to buy a Hot Springs Spa. All in we were close to 24K with a new paver patio and electrical work although we got one of the larger units available (Limelight Pulse with the salt system).

My wife absolutely loves it and uses it weekly, not to mention our granddaughter who asks when she can come over to go swimming with Mimi…

What ever you decide I would strongly suggest getting the salt system versus using chlorine. It is much easier on your skin and requires less maintenance.

February 20, 2025, 01:47 PM

architect

Not an expert on spas, but the first thing that came to mind is that the need to move the curb drop tub to the backyard would certainly require buying a tractor!

February 20, 2025, 03:19 PM

Powers77

To answer a couple of the questions.
Looking at the Aquaterra Spas at Costco. They have a 5 year warranty, just like the Jacuzzi's. Search indicates that they are made by Watkins Mfg. in Vista, CA.
The mover I've used can move it from the curb to the pad for about $300.
The costs I've quoted are independent of the pad it will sit on and other infrastructure.

February 20, 2025, 03:26 PM

Powers77

quote:
Originally posted by smlsig:
I went through this same question about a year ago and after posing the same question here on SF I decided to buy a Hot Springs Spa. All in we were close to 24K with a new paver patio and electrical work although we got one of the larger units available (Limelight Pulse with the salt system).

My wife absolutely loves it and uses it weekly, not to mention our granddaughter who asks when she can come over to go swimming with Mimi…

What ever you decide I would strongly suggest getting the salt system versus using chlorine. It is much easier on your skin and requires less maintenance.

Ironically the Costco Spa is Aquaterra. Same company that owns them owns Hot Spring Spas.

February 20, 2025, 03:29 PM

Powers77

quote:
Originally posted by architect:
Not an expert on spas, but the first thing that came to mind is that the need to move the curb drop tub to the backyard would certainly require buying a tractor!

Hey Architect, I'm Not a Sigforum Billionaire so I won't be buying a tractor to move the spa and maintain my 1/8 acre rockscape yard. :-)

February 20, 2025, 05:56 PM

HRK

Costco is pretty good at service and customer satisfaction, checked out some reviews online almost all were positive.

If you have someone that will move and set it up for $300 that you can trust then that's about as good as it gets.

February 20, 2025, 06:44 PM

peter41692

Have you looked at Sundance Spas? I'm of the believe that it's all about filtration. The more sq inches/sq ft the better. I've owned 2.

February 20, 2025, 07:16 PM

ugeesta

quote:
Originally posted by Powers77:
quote:
Originally posted by smlsig:
I went through this same question about a year ago and after posing the same question here on SF I decided to buy a Hot Springs Spa. All in we were close to 24K with a new paver patio and electrical work although we got one of the larger units available (Limelight Pulse with the salt system).

My wife absolutely loves it and uses it weekly, not to mention our granddaughter who asks when she can come over to go swimming with Mimi…

What ever you decide I would strongly suggest getting the salt system versus using chlorine. It is much easier on your skin and requires less maintenance.

Ironically the Costco Spa is Aquaterra. Same company that owns them owns Hot Spring Spas.

Didn’t know that. Thanks for sharing

February 20, 2025, 07:59 PM

Stlhead

The Costco delivery may include setting it on the pad, mine did. I am happy with my Costco unit.

February 20, 2025, 08:13 PM

armored

The most important part of the tub is how it was built and how it is insulated.
Many tubs look great but are made like a POS.
Watch for inside parts made of wood or plywood especially the frame and bottom that meet the concrete slab its on.These wood parts WILL rot out leaving you with a big turd on your patio that can't be fixed, like the frame and structure of your car rusting out.
The insulation should be sprayed close cell insulation. If it has fiberglass batting it will get wet and fail. Also check to see how the tub can be serviced. Will the insulation allow service without ripping it all out to get to the problems?
I found when I shopped most all sellers would tell me little to nothing about what was behind the outside panels and how the tub was actually constructed. Many company's will support the seats in the tub with lumber for support, the fiberglass on the outside can't take weight without the support of the wood underneath. If the wood rots the fiberglass cracks and there goes your tub.
Do your homework and make the seller remove panels so you can actually see how its made.
With HotTubs many are "All Show,No Go"
I chose a Endless Pools Swim Spa.

February 20, 2025, 09:31 PM

ubelongoutside

Check out Nordic.

Made in Grand Rapids Michigan. We were told they do a lot of overseas sales, but are lesser known here. Back in 2018 they were significantly less than the big name brands you mentioned.

We had one at our previous home and had zero issues with it.

You can add extra insulation for cold climates which was important to us being in Michigan and running it year round.

We also liked the inside better as it's not the slick, shiny acrylic, more of a matte grippy plastic.

February 20, 2025, 10:43 PM

Prefontaine

Damn these things have gone up in price. I was planning to buy one for my rural residence but I’m not spending that. I have a pool/spa combo now, in ground, and I would like to have another spa, don’t need or ever want another pool in my life. But at these prices I’m out. I’ll put in one of the tubs that has bubbles and a heater core. Everything has gotten so expensive.

February 21, 2025, 07:50 AM

Powers77

quote:
Originally posted by peter41692:
Have you looked at Sundance Spas? I'm of the believe that it's all about filtration. The more sq inches/sq ft the better. I've owned 2.

According to my local guy who sells the Jacuzzi's, Sundance is now owned by Jacuzzi. Looks like there has been some consolidation in the overall market.

February 21, 2025, 07:53 AM

Powers77

quote:
Originally posted by Prefontaine:
Damn these things have gone up in price. I was planning to buy one for my rural residence but I’m not spending that. I have a pool/spa combo now, in ground, and I would like to have another spa, don’t need or ever want another pool in my life. But at these prices I’m out. I’ll put in one of the tubs that has bubbles and a heater core. Everything has gotten so expensive.

Yes they have. The last time I bought was in about 2011. Think I was all in with it delivered and set up for about $5,000. Similar size and set up from the similar shop is now close to $20,000. I was expecting a jump due to it being several years later but Damn.

February 21, 2025, 08:24 AM

FLKev

I went through this process about 3yrs ago. I decided on the Masterspas Twilight 8.25. Big 8x8 tub, with excellent therapy jets and great insulation. I have not had a single issue with it in the 3yrs of ownership. I did check the Costco tubs. The pricing was good, the return policy is awesome and yes they had a few tub options that were supposedly built by big brand names. I decided to deal directly with the manufacturer and go with the Masterspas brand. My research showed that the tubs I was looking at were still inferior to the brand names that they were supposedly made by. They stripped some of the biggest reasons to buy from them away when they built the model for Costco and renamed it. They also were going to warrantee it much differently in terms of service charges. It just didn't look the same in terms of quality parts and building procedures when I saw them both in person and compared the actual brand name vs the Costco knock-off. Too much money to get the fake one. Buying cheap always seems to end up costing so much more in the end.

TIPS: Check out EZ Pads - these are connecting bases that allow you to setup the tub quickly and easily. I chose this option because I didn't want a permanent concrete pad. I can move the tub if I ever want to or whenever the tub wears out I can just remove the pads and go back to using the space without busting up concrete. I put a pea gravel base and leveled it before laying the EZ Pads down. The electrical can easily be run through the ground and cut into the EZ Pad so your connection is underground and not a tripping hazard running outside of the tub enclosure.

Get a doctor to sign off on the tub being needed for your treatment. You will not have to pay taxes on the purchase.

Make sure you get all the "freebies" these hot tubs folks will not give you anything you don't specifically ask for AND if it isn't on the contract it won't take place. The steps, the chemicals for one year, the delivery into the property NOT just curbside. ANYTHING they say must be on the contract.

Get the electrical connection ran and the disconnect ASAP. You'll get the call and sure enough you won't be ready to accept the delivery. You want the tub setup and running asap so you can get them involved if there are any issues.

I love mine! I was in it this morning not even 2hrs ago.

February 21, 2025, 05:40 PM

Powers77

quote:
Originally posted by FLKev:
I went through this process about 3yrs ago. I decided on the Masterspas Twilight 8.25. Big 8x8 tub, with excellent therapy jets and great insulation. I have not had a single issue with it in the 3yrs of ownership. I did check the Costco tubs. The pricing was good, the return policy is awesome and yes they had a few tub options that were supposedly built by big brand names. I decided to deal directly with the manufacturer and go with the Masterspas brand. My research showed that the tubs I was looking at were still inferior to the brand names that they were supposedly made by. They stripped some of the biggest reasons to buy from them away when they built the model for Costco and renamed it. They also were going to warrantee it much differently in terms of service charges. It just didn't look the same in terms of quality parts and building procedures when I saw them both in person and compared the actual brand name vs the Costco knock-off. Too much money to get the fake one. Buying cheap always seems to end up costing so much more in the end.

TIPS: Check out EZ Pads - these are connecting bases that allow you to setup the tub quickly and easily. I chose this option because I didn't want a permanent concrete pad. I can move the tub if I ever want to or whenever the tub wears out I can just remove the pads and go back to using the space without busting up concrete. I put a pea gravel base and leveled it before laying the EZ Pads down. The electrical can easily be run through the ground and cut into the EZ Pad so your connection is underground and not a tripping hazard running outside of the tub enclosure.

Get a doctor to sign off on the tub being needed for your treatment. You will not have to pay taxes on the purchase.

Make sure you get all the "freebies" these hot tubs folks will not give you anything you don't specifically ask for AND if it isn't on the contract it won't take place. The steps, the chemicals for one year, the delivery into the property NOT just curbside. ANYTHING they say must be on the contract.

Get the electrical connection ran and the disconnect ASAP. You'll get the call and sure enough you won't be ready to accept the delivery. You want the tub setup and running asap so you can get them involved if there are any issues.

I love mine! I was in it this morning not even 2hrs ago.

Thanks for the input on the EZ Pad. I was unaware of that option.