NoVA Spa Novice

Thanks, John (and sorry, Matt, for getting off-topic here)...we started out looking at models in the J-300 series, but at the end of the day, after some haggling, additional discounts and "throw-ins" we upgraded to the J-470 (I really liked the lounger in the J-480 - for me, it was the most comfortable that I wet-tested - but I just could not justify the extra $600 the dealer wanted for that model, plus the rest of the family could care less about a lounger)...anyway, we're all happy the decision-making process is over!

Hang in there, Matt! I'm sure once you're completely up and running, this minor blip will all be a distant memory (easy for me to say, right???) Anyway, not that this will help your situation, but it might be helpful for any dealers who frequent this board...both of the local dealers I considered (i.e., Jacuzzi and Caldera) offer regularly scheduled, in-store, chemical orientation classes - while this may not seem like "customized, to your door service" it certainly does set an expectation...anyway, we ordered the Jacuzzi last Friday, and will take the last orientation class, immediately before it is delivered, so that once it is on-site and installed we will be ready to go! So, this is something you might want to suggest to your dealer for future consideration (again, not that it will help with you current situation)... Good luck, and let us know how it all works out!

Todd, We just went through the exact same exercise, with the exact same tubs, so I definitely feel your pain! In the end we had narrowed it down to the Caldera Niagara and Jacuzzi J-365 (which we felt was comparable to the Niagara for about $1,500 less - the lowest price we could get the Caldera dealer to offer the Niagara was $9800, so I would say at the price point you've been offered on the Niagara, you would be doing very well)...however at the end of the day, we ended up upgrading the Jacuzzi to the J-470 and placed the order last Friday night...for us it came down to 1) the tub everyone (entire family) was most comfortable with, 2) friend's reference (bought a Jacuzzi from the same dealer), and 3) Jacuzzi name recognition (this was the least of the preceeding 2 factors, but there is definitely something to say for a company that was the founder of hydrotherapy jets, and has been a leader in the industry for 50 years)...anyway, you should definitely (if possible) "wet-test" the Jacuzzi before making the final decision...then, as stated earlier, let you "gut" and personal experience guide you with the decision...good luck!

Any of the lighter colors should reflect the lights nicely...I personally would say either sterling marble or pearl...good luck!

Having just gone through the "torturous" shopping process, the best advice I can give you it WET-TEST as many tubs within your price range that you can! (We found there are numerous quality brands out there, and each one is a little different in its configuration, standard features, etc. - you will see those brands repeated throughout this, and other forums) Then, after you have wet-tested, narrow your choices down to 2 or 3 of your favorites and start "dealing" from there...we initially narrowed down to Caldera Niagara and Jacuzzi J-365, but in the end decided to upgrade to the Jacuzzi J-470, which we just ordered earlier this evening! Anyway, just read through these forums, and then base you decision on your own experience(s)...once the decision is made, you will find a great deal of relief (even before the tub arrives!)...hope this helps...good luck!

Thanks to all who took the time to respond! After all of the research and "back and forth" on which manufacturer, which model, etc. we ended up ordering (this evening) the Jacuzzi J-470! When all was said and done, I believe we received a "reasonable" price, which included the following: tub, delivery/installation, Covermate 3, lifter, steps, the ProClear Ozonator, ProTemp in-house thermometer, and 2 chemical start-up kits (which I am told is approx. a 6-mo. supply)...all for $10,484.00 (before sales tax)...we've been told that it should take no more then 4 weeks to arrive from CA (possibly as early as 3), and construction on our deck/patio is scheduled to begin on Monday, and be completed by Labor Day weekend, so if everything comes together as planned, we'll be soaking within the next month or so! Anyway, again, thanks to everyone who responded to my initial post, and good luck if you're searching for a tub yourself...

Rob, I believe if you download the (.pdf format) brochure for the series you are interested in (e.g., 400 series, 300 series, etc.) you will get all of the tech specs and jet info you need from the Jacuzzi website...also, I believe you are correct in the fact that ozone system is an optional feature on the Jacuzzi's, but the dealer I am talking to is throwing it in, along w/the cover, lifter, steps, chem start-up kit, etc. since all the other local dealers either have it standard on their tubs, or are including it as a "gimme"...anyway, hope this helps, and good luck in your search...

I can't compare them feature for feature or comment on the pricing but they are two good manufacturers. Let the wet tests be your guide along with your confidence in the dealers, comparison of warranties and the deals they're offereing. Let them each know they're in the final running and you'd be satisfied with either spa (so they know you're willing to buy the other) and then be up front, ask them what their best offer is. Thanks spatech...this approach is exactly what I am planning to do...

After much online research, store visits to many of the "major" mfg dealer's showrooms (i.e., Caldera, Jacuzzi, Hot Spring, Sundance, Marquis, D1, and CalSpa) and multiple "wet-tests" we have narrowed our final decision down to the following two choices: 1) Caldera Niagara, and 2) Jacuzzi J-365 (we also considered the J-355 for the lounger, but do not like the fact that Jacuzzi took away one of the corner seats for placement of the skimmer in that particular configuration)... Also, until we wet-tested the Jacuzzi, the Sundance Optima was also in the running. However, the initial pricing point for the Sundance was a little above the Niagara, and we were comfortable in all three tubs). I realize the two Caldera and Sundance tubs are in their respective "top of the line" series' and the Jacuzzi is in the 2nd tier (behind their J-400 tubs), but feature-for-feature, we feel the J-365 either meets or exceeds the features of Caldera's and Sundance's top tubs. Having said that, we also like the pricing point on the Jacuzzi as the "offered price" before any negotiation is about $1,500 less than both the Niagara and Optima - I got the feeling from the Sundance dealer that they would do anything to either meet, or beat the local Caldera dealer's pricing, but in the whole scheme of things, we liked the Caldera a little better than the Optima - although the quoted pricing for both the Caldera and Sundance tubs included the GFCI panel and Jacuzzi did not. They all included the following: delivery/installation, cover and lifter, steps, ozonator (standard on the Niagara, but also included as a "gimme" on the Sundance and Jacuzzi tubs), and chemical start-up kit. Having said all of that, I wanted to solicit additional comments on the reliability, service, technical specs (e.g., jet placement and types, circulation systems, etc.) and any other general information anyone can provide regarding the Caldera and Jacuzzi models we are reasearching. Thanks in advance for your assistance.

My sister lives in Fairfax are and No Va certainly can be an expensive area (assuming you're talking about a similar area) to do busisness in and maybe his costs of operation are higher than in Richmond so you can't always expect the same pricing but... Go ahead and let the No Va dealer know what you've found and ask if he'll meet it or at lesat maybe he'll budge some. Tell me about it (i.e., the cost of living in the NoVA/DC area)!...yes, Fairfax is right down the street from me - your sister and I are probably neighbors! And, yes, that is exactly what I intend to do - tell the NoVA dealer that I've found the same tub/package for $800 less (that is assuming I don't fall in love with one of the HS, Marquis, or D1 tubs I plan to wet-test this weekend!)

Matt, I've just started the shopping process, but from what I've learned so far, it seems like you negotiated a fantastic deal...it just goes to show how much mark-up there really is on these tubs! I've been talking to a Caldera dealer in the DC metro area, and he wouldn't budge off the retail price of a Niagara, but I've since located a dealer in Richmond who quoted me over the phone, a price that is $800 less for the exact same package (e.g., delivery, cover, lifter, gfci panel, etc.). From what I understand Caldera (and probably most other mfgs are very territorial, and frown upon dealers crossing territories, but I say let there be competition (can only help the consumer, right?)! Anyway, congrats and good luck with your purchase!

Question #2 is a tough one to answer because it's all about what's best for you . You're decision seems to boil down to getting the spa you truly prefer (clearly the Niagara from what I read) vs spending $2k less on another spa that you think would work but maybe not as well. Often you'll hear advice like "you only do this every 10 years or so, get what you really want" but at the same time, spending $2k less is enticing. If there are only 2 or 3 people in the spa at a time (meaning how many use it 90% of the time), I wouldn't worry about the space the lounge takes up. If there are 4 or 5 people regularly then having a lounge that works for mostly just you may not be the better option. Thanks for the response, Spatech...I guess you're right (and that's what I've found the general consensus around here to be)...choose the brand/model that is "right for you" and "wet test, wet test, wet test!"...anyway, I've also found a local Marquis dealer and we'll go check them out this weekend...as for the Caldera Niagara, I called a dealer this afternoon in Richmond (about 90 miles from where I am) and his "over the phone quote" for the exact same Niagara package was about $800 less than the quote I received here in Northern VA... I didn't realize this was going to be such a stressful experience!!! At least with car shopping nowadays, you have a wealth of pricing information available at your fingertips via the internet...can't say that much for spa shopping at this juncture...

I too, am in the DC area and began spa shopping this past weekend...after visiting 4 dealers on Saturday (HS, SunDance, Caldera and CalSpa) and getting information overload, we went back for a wet test of the Caldera Utopia/Niagara and C-45 (probably same dealer as Goodie visited)...we liked the Niagara spa better, but the price difference between the 2 is about $2K (Niagara right under $10K and C-45 just under $8K)!...pricing for both includes the typical "extras" identified in the first post(e.g., delivery/set-up, cover, lifter, gfc box, chemical starter kit, etc.)... Anyway, to make this long story even longer, I'm wondering 1) if the pricing we've received is competitive (at least in the NoVA/DC/MD area), and 2) if the additional $2K for the Niagara tub is worth it? (one of the features of the Niagara is the "half-lounge" seat, which fit my family very well - the C-45 has a full lounge seat and at 6'0" I would be the only one who could really use that feature, plus when not using the half-lounge feature of the Niagara, it can be used as a "7th" seat, if necessary). I just found this forum today, and have surfed through several of the threads, but any information on the pricing of the Caldera Utopia/Niagara vs. C-45 is much appreciated! Thanks.