DjPiLL
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Posts posted by DjPiLL
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Thanks guys. My wife absolutely loves the lounger which kinda sucks for me since I love the lounger too. She said the other seats are "too deep" for her. Oh well.
Now if only my dealer would get me my real cover with cover lifter i'll be all set. Opening and closing the cover is a PITA without a cover lifter.
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Ok the eagle has landed.
Had my first soak last night at 99degrees. Was soooo nice.
Wife was especially happy which was nice considering she refused to wet test. She loves the lounger. It's just so nice to have this delivered in conjunction with the rest of my backyard projects being pretty much done.We have to wait for the cover lifter though. My dealer ordered the wrong matching cover, so he gave me his floor model cover for now and he said he would install the cover lifter when my new cover arrives that he just ordered.
Anyways so where do I go from here as far as maintenance and chemicals go? I know I have to test PH... daily right? Are there any electronic PH testers that I don't have to use disposable strips for?
I also filled my water sample bottle which the dealer instructed me to do. He said I should bring it in so they can test my water to see how hard or soft water I have. That way next time I drain and fill I know what PH I have to add.
My dealer had me insert the Spa Frog Bromine and Mineral cartridges in (Bromine at 2 and Mineral at 6 setting). He also said put two capfulls of the Bromine accelerant in before you take your first soak which I did.
Is there anything else I should be aware of? When do I need to throw shock in and how much do I put in? What about other maintenance? I have a whole ton of chemicals they gave me.
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Still looking...Thanks for all you input guys!
Did do some wet testing...
We tried:
HS Grandee (not bad, but had trouble staying put had to brace no convienient place to put my feet, moto massage was cool), going to try Vanguard
I did not like the Grandee for pretty much the same reason. Huge tub. Horrible leg and foot therapy. In fact I felt the same in a lot of the HS models. They only seem to concentrate on upper body therapy.
This is one of the reasons why I liked the Epic so much and I paid a premium for it. In the Epic there are TWO primary seats that give you excellent therapy for both your top and bottom. Both seats have perfect spots to place your feet, you don't have to struggle to find a comfortable spot.
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Not too popular in the Great White North. I would Pick the Great Lakes any day over the Sunrise even though they have improved. The 1/2 price ebay spas are not half price. They are full priced spas, cut that in half and that would be 1/2 off. As its repeated many a times Wet Test will be the only way you can tell what you really like. All the best in search!!
Ok good to know. No worries on the ebay spas..I can only imagine the nightmare if you needed service--plus awful hard to wet test them.
I have a Jacuzzi Dealer and Sundance dealer to visit...then I will make the short list to wet test.
Don't buy a spa unless you wet test. And if lets say a dealer only has a Hot Springs Vista filled with water and you wet test that, don't let them tell you "Well the Grandee will be exactly like the Vista without the lounge". Bull****!!!
I actually wet tested both and I actually prefered the Vista over the Grandee overall.
But I ended up with a Marquis Epic. It has a lounger, but my god the lounger is so comfortable. It has thigh, calf, and foot jets. Very nice.
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I was in the same position as you are. Looking to spend about 8k. But I wasn't interested in the stereo because I felt it was too pricey for what you get and I'd rather use that money to invest in a quality outdoor system.
Anyways your price for the Grandee is about right. The Flair's stereo option is expensive because I heard its a thumpin stereo.
I ended up upping my budget to 10k because I felt the spas in the 8k range were just "ok". They didn't blow me out of the water. (pun intended lol)
I almost bought a HS Vista but for some reason I never pulled the trigger. My wife kept saying she felt the HS, while being a nice tub, just wasn't worth the 10k price tag. She said they were a little "blah looking". Not sure what she meant by that. lol
I am glad I waited because I ended up going with a MArquis Epic. The jets in the Epic are so nice. Granted I paid just over 10 which included the cool Constellation LED Lighting, but I feel I got something "worth" 10k with the Epic. I didn't feel this way about the HS Vista which is probably why I never pulled the trigger.
I will add one thing, my Sundance dealer who just aquired Sundance was offering me a Cameo for 8000 which I felt was an EXCELLENT deal. I probably could have gotten the no lounge Optima for close to the same price. I would have bought from him as he was a good dealer, but my wet test experience of the Cameo was so less spectacular after sitting in the Epic.
So morale of the story: don't wet test a 10k tub unless you know that spending 10k is at least a distant possibility.
Good Luck.
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So I finally made a decision and bought a hot tub today.
A Marquis Epic!
I have to say I am just very happy with my choice. The jets in the Epic are so nice. Not too strong, just good stuff. I also liked the ease in the diverters. They all seemed to be laid out in the right spots. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure them out.
Got it in Signature with the constellation lighting. Silver swirl top with grey driftwood cabinet. They have it in stock too. I just need to get my backyard patio finished. Hopefully ill be soaking in 2-3 weeks. Maybe sooner.
Ironic thing my first post I said I didn't care for this dealer. I guess I should learn to think twice and at least do a wet test before I jump to conclusions. lol
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When I first started looking I think my Arctic dealer was including this in all the spas. Not sure though.
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Hi... Have you found what you're looking for yet? If not, try Hot Shots on 110. They have Caldera and Dynasty Spas. We didn't shop as much as you, but we did our research and felt very comfortable with the Dynasty spa and the dealer. We purchased a 2007 Camelot 4000 floor model for $6,500 - they're normally about $1000. more. If you haven't made your decision already it wouldn't hurt to check them out. Good Luck!
I forgot to mention two things. First off in regards to the above quote about Hot Shots, I called them asking what spas they had filled for wet testing. They said they don't wet test because their insurance doesn't allow it. Talk about an EPIC FAIL. haha Who is going to buy a spa that can't even see it filled and running, nevermind actually getting in and test soak.
Oh and I wet tested a Jacuzzi J-480 over the weekend, despite my reservations about the dealer. Boy was I unimpressed. For the price of a 480 it really wasn't that great. The rotating jets were ok. But very blah. I didn't "hate" it but I was definitely expecting better.
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Yes, see earlier posts in this section regarding the HS purchase. There was an energy graph in the dealer Ocean Spray but had it confirmed by a third party who has a separate meter on his vanguard tub. The winter months are higher than the summer (will probably balance out our summer a/c, now if I can only offset my oil drops I will be happy) but the figure is an average cost.
Yeah I saw that chart from the independent guy at the dealer. The only HS I was even considering was the Vista and that would be running more electric anyways than the Vanguard.
They wanted to sell me the Vista for $9995 (i'd get an extra $300 off if I paid cash). I was hoping they would have dropped their price some more but they refuse to budge on the price.
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I am awaiting my spa as we speak but how does the Marquis fare energy wise. $42 approx per month is what the dealer told me for envoy. LIPA told me and I got this from the "green" dept who said some are better than others but expect on average $48 - $54. So I am hopeful that it is on target but each user is different so it is hard to say.
The Marquis dealer is claiming that his spa is more energy efficient than the Hot Springs because his cover is better. Supposedly locks in more heat. I don't really buy it as I do think the HS is probably better energy wise. I don't think the Marquis is a slouch though either.
When I go there and mention the energy stuff vs. HS when he claims again that his spa is better, i'll ask him if he has a meter to back it up.
Are you from Long Island? Is it Ocean Spray that's telling you $42 a month for the Envoy?
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Ok just a little update.
Last weekend I finally went over to the Marquis dealer that has their showroom located in the middle of nowhere (off the main road where all the spa dealers are).
I wet tested the Epic and man I was impressed with the Jets. I liked the lounge. I also liked the seat on the other side of the filter from the lounge. I could sit in that seat and extend my legs out and get defined foot therapy as well without having to sit at an angle from a corner seat. The fact that these two seats face straight instead of an angle was a huge plus for me.
The only thing I didn't like about the Epic was the price. Dealer wanted 11k for a signature which I thought was unrealistic. The owner wasn't there when I went so the sales guy said to call the owner and see if he could work on the price. I did and he gave me a good price. Not bad. He said he had a few in stock too that had the constellation lighting that would add 600 to the price. Of course the only issue I had with the Epic was the hard headrests. But I bought a weighted spa pillow so that will probably help.
The day after I saw the Epic the Sundance dealer offered me a Cameo for 8000. He is hot for my business. Only problem is I sat in the Cameo again for the second time and I was very unimpressed with the jets after sitting in the Epic.
So I might be going back to the Marquis dealer tomorrow to try the Epic again and this time ill bring my spa pillow.
We'll see what happens.
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Well I continued my wet testing on Monday and the dealer I was at for a wet test had the weighted spa pillow that everyone was talking about. So I bought it from them so I can bring around to different dealers and I tried it out.
It was the really thick soft kind. I tried it on a Cameo. It definitely made a difference and I liked it over the hard headrests. It was just a little too thick, but I could probably find a thinner one.
Now I just have to pick a tub. Ugh this process is getting annoying. lol
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I am having such a difficult time picking out a spa because of this.
Why are most spa manufacturers headrests so hard? I feel like when I am sitting back, either in a lounge or even a regular seat and I want to put my head back to relax, the damm headrest is so rock hard I feel like the back of my skull is digging in to it.
Hot Springs seems to have hit the homerun when it comes to comfortable headrests. I love the Hot Springs headrests. I don't love their prices though.
I feel that I can get a much better deal with other brands due to negotiating with other dealers. But I am finding that I can't pull the trigger because of this headrest issue. And its not like I can just easily say... "well ok get the Hot Springs". The only HS I liked was the Vista and that is close to TWO GRAND more than the comparable other model I am looking at (from another dealer).
So I am stuck in a rut. My Sundance dealer who just aquired Sundance is trying to do whatever he can to get my deal. He is willing to go down to 8000 for an 08 Cameo which I think is lower than anybody has paid here. I like the Cameo. I like the cool down seat. I like the Lounge. But this headrest thing is annoying me. He also said he would throw in the pillow headrests that you wrap over the shell.
Are these pillow headrests any good?
Ugh I am having such a difficult time with this. The Cameo would be 2k cheaper than the Vista. Am I going to be stuck paying 2k more just for headrests?
Please help!
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Does anyone know what kind of headrests these Limelights have? Are they "cushiony" like the new Hot Springs models? Or are they more hard like the Sundace tubs?
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Thanks for the info.
I still haven't purchased the tub yet. I was on vacation last week so that held things up and I didn't have time to go this past weekend.
I wonder if the price for the tub changed at all. Does anyone know if Hot Springs is running any new June Specials? With my luck they probably raised their prices.
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In the end we decided upon the Envoy - you only live once and we are trying to do a good deed for the country and spend our stimulus check!!!! Since that was the difference between the Soverign and the Envoy we decided to bite the bullet.. The wet test was the deal breaker even between the Vanguard and the Envoy and we can't wait to start to bubble.
Hi there. Mind i ask how much the Envoy ran you at Ocean Spray?
Thanks.
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thank you all so far -
I am hoping we love Arctic Klondiker when wet test tomorrow. husband wants lounge & I seem to be too short ( 5'2") - Klondiker has 2: 1 big & 1 smaller.
Don't rule out the Vista just because you didn't like the Envoy. I didn't like the Envoy and I didn't even like the Grandee. But I really liked the Vista.
Also I think you will like the Cameo. I wet tested the Maxxus and it didn't "wow" me for 11k. The lounge was too long and I wasn't a fan of all the defined seating. The Cameo lounge is a little shorter and IMO much more comfortable.
The only thing that keeps leading me back to Hot Springs are the headrests which are very comfortable.
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You might be able to get a Hot Springs Vista for just under 10k. I really liked that tub after a wet test. I also wet tested the Cameo and that was nice too (although I prefer the headrests on the Hot Springs over the Sundance).
Wet test the Envoy. At first I thought I would like it but I ended up hating it. Did not like the "adirondeck seat" at all on the Envoy.
I'm still torn between a Cameo and a Vista. Ugh.
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I was rather surprised when I started this search a few weeks ago to find that business is so good they are able to let a person looking to spend around 10k walk out for the sake of a cover lifter. Doesn't make sense to me at all. There wasn't even an attempt to reduce the cost of the lifter. In addition, I had to make a few trips there since the sales force seems a bit thin and the chemical person was the only one there. I am debating if I will hold off and buy later in the year or just bite the bullet and buy the Sundance, even though I liked the HS a teeny bit better. I agree the headrests are nicer.
Will continue to ponder til after Memorial Day now for sure, and maybe til July 4th.
Have you made a decision.
Hey there. Good to see another Long Island guy looking.
I'll tell you one thing though, I got them to include a basic cover lifter at HS when we were negotiating. So push for that. Price was still $9995 and 3% off if I paid cash.
I am a little aggrevated because I feel that I did get good deals on two tubs ($8900 for an Envoy they said was new $500 off discount and $8500 for a Sundance Cameo which is a great deal from the Arctic dealer that is now selling Sundance as well). But the problem is I am not entirely happy with either of those two choices. I hated the Envoy. The Cameo was nice, but the headrests bothered me.
I haven't made a decision yet, although my electrician has started the process of running the electric so I am definitely getting something at some point. Maybe I have to show these people that I am really a "serious buyer". Maybe i'll take a picture of my electrical hookup and bring it in. ;-)
The Arctic dealer is really hot for my business. But I dunno. Are there any decent aftermarket headrest "pillows" out there?
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Hi... Have you found what you're looking for yet? If not, try Hot Shots on 110. They have Caldera and Dynasty Spas. We didn't shop as much as you, but we did our research and felt very comfortable with the Dynasty spa and the dealer. We purchased a 2007 Camelot 4000 floor model for $6,500 - they're normally about $1000. more. If you haven't made your decision already it wouldn't hurt to check them out. Good Luck!
I went to my Arctic dealer that is now selling Sundances as well today. I wet tested the Maxxus. It was "ok", but the thought of an enormous electric bill scares me. Dealer wanted 11k for it before haggling so that's probably not an option.
I told him I liked the Cameo that I wet tested in another dealer. He said 8500 plus tax cash or credit for the Cameo.
I have to admit that I think I still liked the Vista better, however there is now a $1500 price difference between the Cameo and the Vista and my wife is starting to get involved. She wants to know why we would pay $1500 more for a Hot Springs. Of course she doesn't feel the need to wet test regardless of my wishes but that's a battle I am not winning so I leave it alone.
I don't know if it's worth the difference. The one thing I love about the Hot Springs tubs are the headrests. I just find them very comfortable compared to the rock hard headrests every other dealer pretty much has. Can I get the Cameo and get different headrests or pillows? Are they comfortable?
Ugh now I don't know what to do. I wish the HS dealer would lower his price on the Vista.
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We have wet tested a few different brands of tubs... The HS Vista seems to be our choice. It's not cheap though... Our local dealer's best price seems to 14K plus taxes...
Package includes full spa stone & step, 240v sub panel, cover & cradle, water care package, spa vac, spaudiocast, and delivery...
What do you think, is this a fair price???
Jimmy,
This $$ seems very high. We were quoted $9995 for the same except the stereo and vac in Rochester NY. This was an inital quote with no haggling. We just bought a Grandee for 5% less - supposedly some factory discount that has been passed along due to low sales volume.
Greg.
Do you know what discount you were getting due to low sales volume? My dealer in Long Island is quoting the same, $9995 and a 3% discount if I pay with cash. I'm not thrilled with the price because they dropped their price of the Envoy $500 dollars (bringing the Envoy to 8900 I believe).
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Be careful regarding putting outdoor wiring just under the siding. To meet code in Canada and I am sure it is the same in the states it must be buried 18" below ground in an approved conduit or appropriate non conduit wire.
You can run your 1" conduit below ground before hand as cplarson suggests and bury it. Make sure that you have run a pull line through the conduit so your electician call pull the wires through. We did this for our tub install.
You can have your electrician come over and he will let you know what is required.
The electrician is coming tomorrow. Is there anything important i should ask him as well?
If you are going to run the conduit see what he wants you to do near the Main panel. He may want you to cap off just above grade and he will finish the conduit to the box. If it is being inspected he may not want the trench buried. The contractor can usualy give you a better deal on the conduit than the price from your local building store. He may even give you a free bottle of cement. If he is a good electrical contractor he will explain everything that is necessary for the run from panel to tub.
if you have any other questions after you have talked to your electrician post them as there is a lot of help here and the forum seems to be running at normal speed again.
Good luck
If it matters I really don't plan on getting a CO for this. I just finished a 325 sq/ft house extension and a 200amp service upgrade that I have COs for both of those. I am not going to bother with an inspection for the hot tub.
However I would like to run this as much to "code" as I can without having the town come in.
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Be careful regarding putting outdoor wiring just under the siding. To meet code in Canada and I am sure it is the same in the states it must be buried 18" below ground in an approved conduit or appropriate non conduit wire.
You can run your 1" conduit below ground before hand as cplarson suggests and bury it. Make sure that you have run a pull line through the conduit so your electician call pull the wires through. We did this for our tub install.
You can have your electrician come over and he will let you know what is required.
The electrician is coming tomorrow. Is there anything important i should ask him as well?
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Ok originally I was going to be putting my future hot tub pretty close to my service box (about 20 feet away), so running the electric was probably going to be easy.
But now I am thinking of putting the hot tub on the other side of the house. This 20 foot run is now going to turn into a 50-60 foot run.
Anyways, what did you guys do to "hide" the electrical wire outside? Did they tunnel it? I am having a concrete patio poured in the back yard. I wonder if there is a way to have the electrician run the wire underground, then my patio guy pours concerete over the electrical wire and does my patio, then my electrician somehow pulls the electrical wire through the concrete and onto the tub.
Of course my wife just found out that the disconnect has to be at least five feet away from the hot tub by code. She was planning on attaching the disconnect TO THE HOT TUB. LOL Can somebody here please post and tell her she is freakin' crazy for thinking this. I told her the disconnect has to be at MINIMUM 5 feet away from the tub and i think maximum 15 feet away.
The disconnect will probably have to be attached to the back of the house and she is pissed now that there will be what she calls "an ugly electrical box eyesore" attached to the back of the house next to the patio area.
Took Delivery Of My Marquis Epic Yesterday
in Portable Hot Tubs & Spas
Posted
I am owed a cover lifter. The dealer did not have my cover in stock (when he thought he did) so he had to order it and he loaned me his cover he had on his Epic display model. He wants to install the cover lifter when my new cover arrives (probably another week since coming directly from Oregon).