Caught In The Web... How much have you really saved??! (
December 10, 2009)
Caught In The Web
-By Whatspa Magazine
Buying your Hot tub online may seem like the ideal way to grab yourself a bargain, but you could end up paying dearly!
It is a recognised fact that more of us are buying online. Everything from Cds and weekly groceries to cars and caravans can be purchased with the click of a mouse. The Internet has become a bargain hunters’ paradise, particularly with the emergence of online auction sites.
The Lure of a bargain is something we can all relate to. Unfortunately, the old age of “if it looks too good to be true, then it probably is” has become more relevant than ever in this digital age.
What may seem like the ‘Deal of the century’ and a water - tight way of saving thousands may end up costing you just as much plus untold grief. You may end up with a sub-standard tub or, worse still, nothing at all to show for your outlay.
The Case Against
When making a large purchase like a hot tub, it is common sense to shop around for the best deal. However, would you buy a car without taking it for a test drive and checking all of the documents are in order? Common sense dictates, no. So why take any risks when buying a hot tub?
The Internet is a valuable tool when it comes to doing your research and narrowing down a selection of Spas. When it comes to buying, however, there is absolutely no substitute for visiting a reputable dealer. This will not only give you the opportunity to see a range of tub ‘in the flesh’, it is also a chance to make the most of your dealers expertise. Any Hot tub retailer worth their salt will be happy to arrange a Wet test, so you can experience your chosen tubs before making a decision. Try doing that via a modem!
More often than not a dealer will offer an installation service and they may even provide a site survey before hand. Vitally, a reputable retailer will also provide sound after-sales support, just in case you have any problems with your hot tub.
It’s important to remember as well that even though a website may have a UK domain and address, that’s not to say the company is registered or based in this country. This has implications when it comes to the quality of your product, financial stability and accountability of the company, as well as after sales care.
Chinese burned
If you are shelling out your hard earned cash then there is a lot to be said for knowing that you are acquiring a piece of quality kit from a major manufacturer, rather than some poor quality facsimile.
Unfortunately that is the problem facing a growing number of people in the UK, who have unknowingly bought cheap imports online that have left them feeling less than buoyant. The imports –a great proportion of which are from China –are cheap for a reason. Many disgruntled buyers have reported flimsy fabrication and fittings that are at best poor, and at worst downright dangerous.
Darren waters, who runs the independent hot tub service engineering firm Spafix, has first hand experience of how costly buying cheap hot tubs online can be. He has been called out to more than a dozen clients who have fallen victim to inferior Chinese imports. In each case Darren has had to carry out equipment pack changes in order to get the hot tubs working reliably.
Protection and the lack of it
Although there is no denying the disappointment of discovering the hot tub you have ordered is substandard, imagine how much worse it would be if you had nothing at all to show for your money.
-By Whatspa Magazine
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