This is crazy. I have been a factory rep. for Coleman, Emerald, LA, Dimension One Spas. So let me shake down the numbers....
Hot Springs- # of complaints is relative to HOW MANY SPAS they sell- go look up their numbers and you will see that their ratio would be the lowest. Now if we are going to measure the industry, lets look at some other product that involves the same type of manufacturing process. I am open for suggestions.
This industry is not going to attract a rocket scientist, electrical engineers, etc. You will not find anyone from companies like Lockheed or Microsoft looking for a job in the "spa" industry. Sad thing is, if you took a company like Hot Springs or Jacuzzi and looked at the books, they are probably the most profitable division in their whole portfolio. Go look around at a company like MAAX and see what spas have done for their portion of the overall picture.
Be wary of the BBB or Consumer Digest. Many manufacturers that I have worked for said "membership" has its advantages.
So if you took the # of spas sold yearly by each manufacturer, vs, the number of complaints and equated that formula, the results could suprise you.
So in all fairness here is my prediction for the future of the spa industry
- Imports will come from China
- Quality will be better
- Market share could increase
Profits contunue to decline in the US auto industry and imports will finish it off. The final ax will swing and be ready to say goodbye to Ford, Chrysler and GM because the imports are here to stay.
I am not slamming the US but here is what happens- we get lazy and then someone else with a better work ethic, better product etc, comes in and does well. That is why this is a free country. How many "eat your foreign car" stickers did you see on broken down US cars in gas lines in the 70's?
Joe American has a big reality to face soon. The spa industry will probably no longer be able to survive once the imports come and trust me, they are coming.
