itsallgood

Yes, you're exactly right (go ahead and speak for me, you're doing a fine job ). Now that I have a little more time, let me post a photo of what I was talking about (the Costco Discovery Oasis): You'll notice that all the seat on the right, and most of the jets in the seat on the left, are the very small jets I was talking about. They're similar to what Sundance calls "Pulsator jets", and they're used for wrist jets. Hot Spring has something similar, & they call them "directional precision" jets. Jacuzzi calls them "Classic Pulsator" jets - the Jacuzzi ones are the closest to the Costco ones. I'm sure they're standard from Waterway or some other company. However, most of the big brands use them in small quantities, and usually for wrists or calves. I don't think I've ever seen them used as the main jet in the tub. Bullet jets are very small, unadjustable, low-flow, high pressure jets. Many companies used to "up" their jet counts by using large quantities of bullet jets in their spas. Eventually, people came to realize that large, rotating jets were better on most muscle groups than bullet jets. So, I would guess that companies like Keys started using these instead - you get the marketing benefit of touting "spinning jets", while still having the higher jet counts that lead to more sales. This flies in the face of what most national manufacturers do - they use larger jets on larger muscle groups. Pulsator jets may be marginally better than bullet jets, but you'd still be better off with a handful of higher flow, spinning jets. Take a look at this Thermospa: I can't zoom in enough to be sure, but it looks like Thermospa is using this pulsator jet in large quantities. For example, look at the lounger on the left. It looks like you've got twelve pulsator jets on your butt. Do you really need twelve pulsator jets on your butt, or is this a blatant attempt to increase jet count at the expense of common sense? Wow. This is is like watching a illusionist. How did we transform this post about a discovery spa into a picture of a Thermospa?

In my humble opinion, more jets simply afford the user more ways to customize their soaking environment. Since you are able to turn on and off each jet, or group of jets, depending on the tub you own, you can select pretty much any configuration that you desire. If you change your mind, you can simply switch the active jets to a different configuration.

I is my understanding that some of the tubs with a greater number of jets employ the use of a diverter valve. The valve allows the user to divert the water between one group of jets and another. (Switch on or off active positions in the spa.) In effect, the spa is only servicing the lesser number of jets at any given time, but the pressure, etc. is the same as a spa with less jets.

What happens now?

The cost for the wire and conduit is about $6.00 per foot. Add the cost for the GFI breaker box. ($80-$120) + Labor (which is about double of materials.) and you should come close to the cost.

additional information

http://investing.businessweek.com/business...ivcapId=6817204Biz Week Article

Hydro spa new info.

I Got the number from Costco.com and I spoke directly with a manager that overseas the purchaseing and sales dept. Please share the Phone number. I can't seem to get a response from Costco regarding the status of these tubs.

$2500.00

For the record, I purchased a Caldera "Hawaiian" from Costco in 1996. It's still running fine. I sold it to a friend when I replaced it this year. The only things I needed to address during my ownership were to replace the cover, replace the ozonator, and replace the high/low pump switch.

Maybe you should check this out. http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11226939&whse=BC&topnav=&browse=〈=en-US

http://www.ocala.com/article/20071005/BUSINESS/210050338

more news http://www.starbanner.com/article/20071004/NEWS/71004010/1340/NEWS

did you return the tub to costco? i am considering doing the same.

itsallgood, That's another company that sells their acrylics to many major tub builders. To be told that the "low End " tubs are some kind of junk products is a slap in the face to the companies that build them and the parts vendors that supply their material. Not to mention the American workers that do the hands on work. I don't think it's a stretch to think that the "High End" tubs aren't better. I haven't read many if any post except NW where the poster debated a tub from the Big Box to be as good if not better then one purchased from a dealer. I've read several post of people like you and me who post their purchase or a question regarding their tub only to be shot down by some dealer, salesman or even a repairman That's wrong, that some would willingly rain on another mans parade. I agree with you. I follow this forum to try to get factual information regarding how various spas compare to one another. If a "high end" spa is superior to a "low end" spa thats OK with me. I just want to know why.

GE has all great products as well as awful products. They own NBC, which produces Jay Leno and Conan O'Brien... and Carson Daly. I thought we were talking about spas?? We are. Did you know that some of the so called "low End" tubs cabinet's are made by "EON Cabinets"? I also read that some of "Low End" tubs use acrylics from "Aristech Acrylics" who also supply major builders like Jacuzzi and Thermospa to name a few. No I didn't know that. However my spa has small logo badge near the control panel that says "Lucite with microban" Sorry, after rereading, I didn't realize you were referring to the "skirting" when you replied. I thought you were referring to the shell.

GE has all great products as well as awful products. They own NBC, which produces Jay Leno and Conan O'Brien... and Carson Daly. I thought we were talking about spas?? We are. Did you know that some of the so called "low End" tubs cabinet's are made by "EON Cabinets"? I also read that some of "Low End" tubs use acrylics from "Aristech Acrylics" who also supply major builders like Jacuzzi and Thermospa to name a few. No I didn't know that. However my spa has small logo badge near the control panel that says "Lucite with microban"

GE has all great products as well as awful products. They own NBC, which produces Jay Leno and Conan O'Brien... and Carson Daly. I thought we were talking about spas??

It Doesn't make sense to me that any reputable national manufacturer would distribute sub-standard parts to anyone. Companies like Lucite, GE, Balboa, etc. spend way too much money building up their reputations for making durable and reliabiliable products. I find it hard to believe that they would risk tarnishing that reputation by producing an inferior product. Just my 2 cents.

Some additional information regarding the Hydro Spa bankruptcy filings. http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=con...id=a612g6FW_hsk

I think I get where he's coming from. Let's say you have a budget of $12,000 to build a home theater. You buy some couches, and some drapes, and a DVD player, and a new satellite system, and a whole lot of speakers- say $6,000 for all that stuff, leaving you $6,000 for a TV. You could get a 60" SONY or some other reputable brand, but you decide to get an 80" from a brand you've never heard of. You decide to get the 80 incher. Unfortunately, the big but cheap TV explodes after a few months. You're left with a lot of fancy furniture facing a blank wall, and some speakers that sound nice but don't do much without a screen. In other words, you need to consider the spa itself as only one component of your expenses. If you cut corners here, and something goes wrong with your "inexpensive" spa, you've essentially let the whole project go down the drain - at least until you can afford to replace it.

Sorry, you are spending so much. You are right that preparing for and installing the hot tub can be very expensive. Here is the tale of two tubs. Tub #1 Friends of ours bought a Costco spa with all the bells and whistles for $6000, and then had to pay $400 for delivery. They had a contractor put in a reinforced concrete pad, at about $1000, and they are building a deck around the tub, that will cost a few thousand dollars - their yard is not fenced, and by code they need a "fenced" deck to provide a safe enclosure. Their hot tub did not come with an outside switch box, or the GFI breaker, and there electrical panel is at the extreme opposite corner of the house. They had to pay the electrician for the switch box and GFI breaker. I heard the figure $1800 for the electrical, but I think he did some of the work himself and brought it down to around $900. Their deal tub, did not come with chemicals either, so they had to buy those too. By the time they are finished, they wll be over $12000. They will have no ongoing dealer support, and the company that made their tub is bankrupt, so they have no warranty. Then they will also be dealing with Ottawa winters, using a tub without full foam insulation. I have read complaints of over $100/month increase in hyrdo bills, for those specific tubs. Tub #2 We bought a Sundance Optima, with all the bells and whistles, from a dealer, and it is going on the existing interlock patio, that surrounds our inground pool, which already has a pool fence. Our main electrical panel is right beside the hole in the corner of the spa, where the power line goes in. Our spa also came with the outside electrical switch box and GFI breaker, that was included in the price. Also included in the price were stairs, cover lifter, spa wand, delivery, and chemicals. Our total cost will also be over $12000. We will have a warranty, ongoing dealer support, and a full foam spa tub, better suited to severe Canadian winters. Moral of the story. We had a very good spot to put our tub, that left us with minimal cost to install the tub, and our dealer included just about everything needed to get up and running. It makes a big difference. old guy WOW, I am confused by this post. Apples to oranges comes to mind. Spa #1 Actual comparison cost for this spa is $6,000.00 + $400.00 for delivery + the GFCI box and breaker. (about $80.00 at home depot.)+ chemicals $100.00 (estimated.) for a total of about $6600.00. The remaining costs would vary depending on the location of the spa, (I/E, the length of the electrical run, the need for a deck or concrete pad, the need for a fence, etc. The warranty could be an issue, however that remains to be seen. The operational costs seem to be Questionable at best. Spa #2 Was delivered and installed on an existing site that required almost no modifications. (other than electrical.) for a price of +$12,000.00. How are the two related

I went to the dandb website( Dunn and Bradstreeet) to verify the bankruprtcy filing. I don't see any reference to it.

Just curious, is this the first tub you have owned?