Purchase Guide for new spa buyers

Shop for a Retailer as much as for a Spa!
You're thinking about buying a portable spa - the one-stop answer to today's stressful lifestyles.

So you walk into the store or home show booth of your local spa retailer, and here you get an eyeful of these multi-jetted marvels - and an earful of technical terminology such as horsepower, insulation and ozone.
Don't let yourself be dazzled by the brilliant sheen of today's acrylic marvels. Take a deep breath and ask yourself another question, "How do I feel about this company?"

You may not realise it, but the day you buy your spa may be far from the last time you see your spa retailer. Like a washing machine, a spa requires specialised delivery and installation. Like cars, a spa must be maintained by its owner. (The amount of maintenance and time involved in looking after a spa varies greatly depending on the spa brand and model), and may require specialised service attention and repairs and replacement parts over time. To keep your investment in tip-top condition for years to come, you will need help. So while you shop for a spa, it is crucial that you shop for a retailer as well.

Don't just let them come to you - go to them too.
Taking spas on the road to home shows, trade fairs, garden shows and even putting on spa displays at hotels, empty factories etc. is an accepted business practice within the spa industry in New Zealand. But if you decide to take advantage of show specials, make sure the company you choose is easily available to help you with your maintenance needs in the future.

If you can, check out a firm's retail showroom. A clean, attractively decorated store indicates a retailer who is serious about selling spas. Many retailers lock in their home-show discount prices for the week following the show to allow in-store buying, enabling you to better check them out, if you have any doubts.

Never let the salesperson rush you into buying a spa
If you have questions, keep asking them. Don't be embarrassed to take your time. Shop around. The best retailers are eager for you to shop elsewhere as well, because they are confident you will return.

Ask to have a test soak
Different spas have different feels. You may prefer one set of jets or type of seating over another, but you may never know until you get wet. Spas are much like cars, you definitely want to test drive one before you buy. Better spa retailers will allow prospective buyers to test their spas - often in private, either in a special 'mood room' or after the store closes.

Find out who will service your spa
Some retailers have their own Service Technicians with the appropriate factory training, and will have an entire service department stocked with your spa's parts, ready and willing to serve you.

Some retailers sub-contract out their service work to electricians, or plumbers etc. To learn more about these sub-contractors takes you more time, and will take extra leg work.

Either way, get in touch with those who will be working on your spa, and ask about the professional training of their technicians, the stock of their parts department, and get a feeling for their professionalism, knowledge and a general feeling about the person themselves. Also clarify with them, their relationship with the retailer. Ascertain who will bill you, if the repair is carried out, after the warranty has expired.

Does the retailer offer a home site inspection for measuring up?
For seeing the level of difficulty in installing your new spa, does the retailer do this for free, or do they charge.
Is delivery included in the price of the spa, or is it extra - and what does it cost?

Some retailer's "delivery" is only to your driveway. A professional retailer will deliver your spa direct to your site, fill it up and get it operational for you, as well as running through the instructions for your new spa at the same time.

Adding a spa to a deck or backyard is the perfect way many families increase the enjoyment of staying at home. More and more families consider their backyard as another room for family fun, togetherness and entertaining with a spa as the focal point. The fitness minded install a spa for the double health benefits of relaxation and muscle and mind 'stress' relief.

As you shop around for a spa, you'll find that, just as all spas are not created equal, not all spa warranties are either. Buying a spa is a big decision, and one you shouldn't rush (or be pressured) into. If you ask the right questions and shop accurately, you can be confident that the spa you choose will be low maintenance, energy efficient and will give you years of enjoyment.