Ghostlight Posted February 19, 2012 Report Share Posted February 19, 2012 Thanks for the chance to join the forum and benefit from all of your knowledge ! We are in the Phoenix area and looking to purchase our first hot tub / spa. I seem to have myself settled into a choice of 2 ways to go. We have been shown a floor model '11 "la-z-boy" premier series tub, shown with an original list of around $12,000 on sale for $5995, and my 'lust' tub of a Limelight (hot springs) Pulse, new '12 unit, for $8500. Both units are all inclusive, (steps, cover, delivery, etc), and the pulse unit is offered "upgraded" with the easy lift cover unit vs. the standard lift. So beyond the $2500 price difference, I need some opinions on these tubs. I'm a bit concerned about the la-z-boy based on simply having never heard of them, love the Pulse, but do I need to spend the extra $$ ? Which tub will I potentially be happier with in 5 years ? 10 ? Thanks in advance, I could use some quick educating ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Posted February 19, 2012 Report Share Posted February 19, 2012 Thanks for the chance to join the forum and benefit from all of your knowledge ! We are in the Phoenix area and looking to purchase our first hot tub / spa. I seem to have myself settled into a choice of 2 ways to go. We have been shown a floor model '11 "la-z-boy" premier series tub, shown with an original list of around $12,000 on sale for $5995, and my 'lust' tub of a Limelight (hot springs) Pulse, new '12 unit, for $8500. Both units are all inclusive, (steps, cover, delivery, etc), and the pulse unit is offered "upgraded" with the easy lift cover unit vs. the standard lift. So beyond the $2500 price difference, I need some opinions on these tubs. I'm a bit concerned about the la-z-boy based on simply having never heard of them, love the Pulse, but do I need to spend the extra $$ ? Which tub will I potentially be happier with in 5 years ? 10 ? Thanks in advance, I could use some quick educating ! First off let me say that the La-z-boy tub is a 3 thousand dollar tub on sale for 5995. The Limelight is a 6 thousand dollar tub on sale for 8500. What you get for the extra 2500 is a brand with a long standing reputation for reliability and longevity backed by one of the best manufacturers in the industry. What you get with the La-Z-boy is...........................sorry not sure. I guess the name has been around a long time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spa_Guru Posted February 20, 2012 Report Share Posted February 20, 2012 I am in 100% agreement with Roger on this, the LaZBoy isn't at all made by the company who makes great high end recliners, they are just liscenced to use the name, the LZB is just another low end Canadian spa. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpaParty Posted February 24, 2012 Report Share Posted February 24, 2012 First in defence of Canadian Spa Manufacturers........ why is it a low end tub? This is a statement that has no facts based to it. LZB is a top 10 world brand. Ask yourself the question.." why would they liscence there brand to a manufacturer that would harm it ? LZB is made by Hydropool Industries out Mississauga and is known and respected for there quality and warranty world wide.....just ask the other manufacturers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spatech (the unreal one) Posted February 24, 2012 Report Share Posted February 24, 2012 LZB is a top 10 world brand. Ask yourself the question.." why would they liscence there brand to a manufacturer that would harm it ? FOR THE MONEY and because they didn't care enough to look closer as they wanted the highest bid probably!!!! They previously sold their name to Tatum who had a bad reputation so please don't assume that the product must be good because it has their old time name. Coleman is another brand who sold their name. The had an agreement with one company and when it came to an end they basically put it up on the auction block and in the end Cal gave the highest bid and is using it. That showed that Coleman only cared about who would pay the most because you wouldn't sell your name to Cal because of their quality. I know you want to think that those old time names that have a long history tied to a quality product outside teh spa industry means the spas must be quality also but its just a money grab. I'm not knocking them, I wish someone who pay me to use my name too and I'd probably sell to the highest bidder too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
new2me Posted February 24, 2012 Report Share Posted February 24, 2012 LZB is a top 10 world brand. Ask yourself the question.." why would they liscence there brand to a manufacturer that would harm it ? FOR THE MONEY and because they didn't care enough to look closer as they wanted the highest bid probably!!!! They previously sold their name to Tatum who had a bad reputation so please don't assume that the product must be good because it has their old time name. Coleman is another brand who sold their name. The had an agreement with one company and when it came to an end they basically put it up on the auction block and in the end Cal gave the highest bid and is using it. That showed that Coleman only cared about who would pay the most because you wouldn't sell your name to Cal because of their quality. I know you want to think that those old time names that have a long history tied to a quality product outside teh spa industry means the spas must be quality also but its just a money grab. I'm not knocking them, I wish someone who pay me to use my name too and I'd probably sell to the highest bidder too. i believe they also asked for proof that canadian tubs are low end..tatum was good until they hired the wrong guy that drove them into the ground Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpaParty Posted February 24, 2012 Report Share Posted February 24, 2012 Thanks new2me , at least you can read the question. Looks like spatech has all the inside information ! You are correct in the main point was why are Canadian manufacturers consider bad in his opnion when he has just name a few bad US ones ..strange...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PreservedSwine Posted February 24, 2012 Report Share Posted February 24, 2012 Thanks new2me , at least you can read the question. Looks like spatech has all the inside information ! You are correct in the main point was why are Canadian manufacturers consider bad in his opnion when he has just name a few bad US ones ..strange...... There are plenty of low-end American spa companies as well, if that makes you feel better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spatech (the unreal one) Posted February 24, 2012 Report Share Posted February 24, 2012 Thanks new2me , at least you can read the question. Looks like spatech has all the inside information ! You are correct in the main point was why are Canadian manufacturers consider bad in his opnion when he has just name a few bad US ones ..strange...... I read just fine as well. You had more than one question and I only chose to answer the one relative to you believing the LayZBoy spas were good due to their tie in to that name that has a long history with comfy chairs. The information I mentioned is what many spa professionals know, I'm not sure how "inside" it is. You'll notice I never commented on Hydropool as I have little opinion of them either way. I just knocked any notion that the 2 well-known brands names I mentioned from outside the spa industry licensed to be used on spas have ZERO correlation to the quality of the spas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Spa Posted February 25, 2012 Report Share Posted February 25, 2012 FOR THE MONEY !!!! ^5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hjames710 Posted February 25, 2012 Report Share Posted February 25, 2012 Watkins is a great manufacturer. They've been in business a long time, stand behind their product, and can back up the warranty, unlike other fly by night spa manufacturers (*cough* *cough* Thermospas *cough* *cough*). Cal Spas has also had a reputation for being a bad company. There are just as many, if not more bad American manufacturers than Canadian, he was just adding one to the list. If it were me, I would go for the Watkins. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GTATubber Posted February 25, 2012 Report Share Posted February 25, 2012 Yeah, what's up with Thermospas, they were doing the hard sell push their way into your home thing and then really overpricing their stuff, but their guarantees were outrageous I recall, now did they go under? I am not sure but their website was starting to miss some pages, so will avoid that - You are right about buying from long term companies, Watkins has been around a long time. But I also disagree about Canadian spa manufacturers as a whole being any better or worse than U.S. manufacturers. T he guys at Beachcomber put out a pretty good spa and there are several other ones that do better work than many of the U.S. ones - like some Florida companies that reflag their fallen brand and resurface time and time again. There is alot of good in this industry, but there is also alot of shadiness it seems. But I would not categorize Canadian made tubs as worse, they also use quality components. Some quality components like Gecko are actually made in Canada as well, eh? Just look at places like Canada's TheHotTubSuperstore for spa parts available in Canada and you will see they are mostly American made. I wouldn't go as far as saying that Canada is the U.S. 51st state, 'cause that makes them really perturbed, but Canada puts out some great stuff. Let the buyer beware though, some "Canadian hot tubs" are actually made in China Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walleye Posted February 26, 2012 Report Share Posted February 26, 2012 Amway just came out with a Kick Butt Tub, and its American. I would buy it. If you buy one I will make a buck as well! In reality, stick with a company that makes Hot Tubs, not sell their name to profit. Get real. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TubOguts Posted March 2, 2012 Report Share Posted March 2, 2012 Greetings Ghostlight: The tub I have is called a Solana. Made by Watkins. The tub does everything it is supposed to and does it well. Smooth, sturdy, quiet and strong, It really is just plain rock solid. Were a good friend to ask me what to buy, I would steer them in the direction of Hot Springs. Some money was knocked off the price as I let the dealer keep the stairs and purchased a $300 store credit (kind of a gift certificate for myself) that was taken off the final price of the tub. Good luck and let this forum help you as it has helped me and many others. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spa God Posted March 3, 2012 Report Share Posted March 3, 2012 Lazyboys first name endorsement went bankrupt... who knows what Hydropool will do with it. The Hydropools have never been bad spas but never great either... At least their component list is strong, Balboa controls and heating systems, waterways jets and pumps, frankly that's a great start, but last I saw they were still using old style pressure filter systems which means all the crap and hair and debris goes through your heater and pump before being filtered... the last company i know of to still use this technology. As for the Watkins stuff... hard to say. they are now made in mexico... there have always been service issues esp heater relay boards, and spa side controllers (the remote panel to control the jets). the component list has always been mid but the backup and support always made up for it. Now that they are Mexican its hard to say, it is an unknown factor that was done to cut costs so who knows... IMHO they are part of the group of manufacturers whose marketing outshines the reality of the product.... don't get me wrong, they are not a bad tub or company but certainly not to the standard of the hype... And as for the Canadian spa manufacturers, it the same as the US stuff, and yes the "Canadian Spa Company" is now building their spas in China... too funny... But then the other Canadian one (Arctic spas) who harp about their "Canadian built spas" are using a real high Chinese made component list too so go figure... Go with the local dealer man... Its always your real issue. a bad spa from a great dealer is better than a great spa from a bad dealer :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hot Spring Ace Posted March 4, 2012 Report Share Posted March 4, 2012 Actually Watkins has 2 plants, you make it sound like everything was moved to Mexico which is untrue (maybe you're confusing us with someone else?). We have a state of the art plant in Mexico (built from the ground up about 6 years ago) where high quality Calderas and Hot Spots are made and run by the same management team since the plants are less than an hour from each other. Meanwhile, we still have the larger original plant in San Diego where Hot Spring are made and they're not going anywhere anytime soon. Yes we have fixed the heater relay boards and aux panel long ago so you won't see the issue with spas built the last couple years. The component list has hardly been "min" but your'e welcome to your opinions and personal likes/dislikes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Spa Posted March 4, 2012 Report Share Posted March 4, 2012 Why would something made in Mexico be of any less quality than that being made anywhere else in the world? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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