flibotte

if you live in a cold climate you would spend about $50+ more on your electrical costs a month. I would think that would be something.

Those darn monthly electric bills will not be the same either. Multiple posts on here about $100+ a month bills from the lower end tubs. I have 2 friends with the Hydro tubs and they are both in the 75-100 a month for electric costs. Mine (Keys) is close to 70 a month in winter and my friends Gulf Coast is in the same range. What do these tubs all have in common. They were all around 4-5K and if you look inside the cabinet they all have the same insulation.

"Ok, what exactly is a 10k tub??" You are the one that is comparing yours to a 10K tub. Are you saying that all tubs are pretty much the same? "I was actually generalizing when I said spank that A$$ but somehow someone who paid less than I did was insulted by it." Who said I was insulted by it? I only said it was typical of the posts on here. I've seen it before dozens of times. It's the same over and over. Both cost about $25-$30 a month operate in winter nope You can wet test nope I don't disagree with you that there will be more markup at a dealer but if you think there is 5K markup you are crazy.

Amen.

MD Hot Tub I have the same tub. I've had ot for about a year and a half. I think you will enjoy it but I would suggest that you consider adding insulation to it as the insulation they put in it isn't the greatest. There are several posts on here about adding insulation and it doesn't seem to cost too much to do. If you have any questions about the Keys I would be happy to answer it if I can.

I was joking....give me a break. govikings1 If you read my post and think I am serious. I am sorry. It was in jest. I was obviosly not serious that hydro should make the space shuttle. If I was serious I would've said Haven Spas.

look another costco post bumped to the top. yahoo! why post in one of the 8 or 9 new costco topics right on top when you can go back 5 months and post to a old one. maybe we should have hydro spa build the new space shuttle. They are able to make 10 k tubs for 5 k so maybe they could save 3 or 4 billion on the new shuttle and then they could sell them through costco and if we had any problems, uncle sam could just return it for a full refund. I also think because hydro doesn't use much foam on the tubs for insulation, maybe they wouldn't use much on the shuttle so we wouldn't have to worry about foam falling off and hitting the shuttle during takeoff.

"You know whats funny to me...that there are "people" who have problems with "people" who bought their spa at Costco. "The Costco Gang".....nice ring to it! So what gang colors do you wear??? Red, for that spanking they gave you when you paid 10k for a tub" I call you guys the Costco gang not because you got your tub at Costco and I have a problem with it but becuase of the way most of you post over and over again about how your costco tubs are just as good as 10K tubs blah blah blah and that you saved 5 k on a tub blah blah blah. Anyone who says anything remotely negitive about the tub is an industry insider and they are just bashing your tub or they don't know what they are talking about. It's basicly the same 4 or 5 posts over and over again worded a little different. You get you tub for 2 months and you are an expert. It's actually all quite comical to me. You have experienced techs that I think are very fair and give an honest opinion and they are shot down as not knowing what they talking about. But I wonder what makes the costco gang know so much about the 10 k spas and service they get from the dealers they compare to the costco tub. "Red, for that spanking they gave you when you paid 10k for a tub" This is a good example of the stuff on this board from the Costco gang. I say something not 100% pro costco tub and I am the man or I bought a hot tub from the man. For the record I paid even less than you did for your tub, got it at a box store, have had it for a year and a half and I'm very happy with it. I actually recommended to costco tub to one of my friends who just bought his first house and didn't have a lot of cash but wanted a tub. I think they are a great tub for the right kinda person who doesn't mind doing some work on it themselves. But I do think they have a down side, not being able to wet test and the poor insulation are a reality. Having said that, I think it is a good tub as long as you go into it with your eyes open. It's not a 10k tub. P.S. And for the record anyone that has an MCSA is a tool.

"Never did quantify your experience Soaker? Couple months, year? I have been servicing pools, spas and anything plumbing for 25 years and am a fully licensed plumber that has seen the insides of 100's of manufacturers and thousands of spas. Yes I have a full time desk job but my experience quantifys my opinion." It's funny, I've seen a lot of posts where the Costco gang is coming at people with the you don't own one, you don't know what you are talking about, ours are just as good. But if you were to flip that logic, as far as I can tell they've never owned a dealer owned spa or had a tub go bad and had to place a service call. They're saying the service is just as good but never placed a service call. The fact is the service is farmed out. Maybe a local dealer will be servicing your tub but I lets say you place a service request with this dealer and there are three service requests from people who bought tubs from this dealer, who's tubs you think are getting fixed first?

"Costco will, no questions asked and that is better then any dealer support as most of that is lipservice in the firstplace." I am curious, have you ever had your tub serviced? I see a lot of posts on here about how over rated dealer support is and it mostly comes from people who have brand new tubs for like 3 months. I can tell you from experience that when your tub stops working in the dead of winter and you have to worry about it freezing local dealer support becomes a very big deal. It's like one of those things you never think about until you need it but some night in the winter when you go out to your tub and it isn't working and you water is getting warm you'll change your tune. I'm not saying I don't think the costco is a great tub for certain people, but lack of local dealer support is something that IMO is very good to have.

"If Chas or Andy erase this it is the same as putting a curse on yourself." LOL. How could anyone not take Jim seriously and buy a spa from him? Good Stuff Jim.

"returning it was always the most difficult option." Paying $2,400 a year for electricity for this defective tub would be the most difficult option for me.

I got 5 of my friends to help me move it from the driveway to my deck in the backyard. I personally wouldn't try to do it with just 2 or 3 guys. It was fairly easy for the 6 of us to move it (took maybe 20 min). I probably could've moved it with 3 or 4 but why kill yourself or possible drop or damage the thing. If you have some friends that can help you it will save some cash, it only cost me some beers and a few pizza's. I called around to see how much it would cost and I got so many different prices, so I think it pays to shop around. Good Luck.

jmendoza17, I'm curious, where are you now with your spa? what are you doing with it? $200 a month is a lot of cash.

"only thing they are tasting is their own blood when the bone slivers cut their mouth." LOL This is my new favorite Jim quote.

"They think they have a meaty bone to chew on, but it is a dry one and the only thing they are tasting is their own blood when the bone slivers cut their mouth." HUH? What are you talking about? Bone slivers cut their mouth? When I think....HMMMMMM who do I want to buy a hot tub from?????? Do you really think any one is going to take you seriously?

I was just thinking yesterday, wow, almost a week without a ridiculous back and forth post about Costco tubs. I find these posts quite interesting, the names change (well most of them) but it’s the same argument over and over again. Each side has obviously made up their mind and thinks the other side is obviously working some evil angle and either works for Costco/Hydro or The Man (hot tub establishment). As for why there are so many posts/hits on these topics I think the reason is two fold: a: the people who get consumed by it and go back and forth b: the people who find it comical and enjoy reading them (I’ve fallen into both categories.) Hopefully, any one seriously looking for hot tubs doesn’t put too much weight into these. I personally don’t see what the point is any more, but the need to get the last word in usually reigns supreme and is quite entertaining.

Agree with the others. Your tub should be able to maintain. My tub will maintain temp with the cover off in cold weather, unless it is really windy.

I have 2 friends with GC spas and they both pay about 100 bucks a month in winter for electricity. Did you say you only keep yours at 72? 4 hours for 1 degree is pretty high. I also have a poorly insulated tub (keys backyard and mine heats about 6-7 degrees and hour. Adding insulation would help you. If you are keeping it at 72 it doesn't sound like you are even using it.

I don't think a buck a day is the norm for the PEII. I think 200 a month is unusually high but 30 a month isn't the norm either from my experience. I have 2 friends with them and they are about 80-100 a month in winter time. All the lower end tubs I've seen look exactly the same underneath. Some foam blowed in underneath. I've seen the Gulf Coast, PEII, and my Keys tub and they all have almost the exact same insulation and each tub is about 80-100 bucks a month in winter. What are you going to do about your tub? Are you going to try and add insulation?

or return it and get a spa that fits his needs.

With all this talk about the Costco return policy I decided to email customer service and ask the direct question of can I return a hot tub 5-10 years later for any reason, no questions asked for a full refund. WIll post what they say. Looks like they have a hot tub line on the website. It looks the the Keys spas are starting to go up in price as well as the Hydro lines. Infinity Sun Valley Spa 59 Stainless Jets, Ozone, LED Lighting $3,999.99

If the cost is unnacceptable than why not return the spa? I just read another post where the guy ended up getting a spa from a dealer and the dealer returned his costco tub for free when they installed a new one, why not try do that? Replying to every Hydro/Costco post (and there sure are plenty of them) that you are upset with how much it costs you to run yours isn't really going to help you.

jmendoza17, I'm not bashing you but i think at some point you need to either fix your spa (I think it is fixed now) and add insulation to it so you get the electrical costs to a point you are happy and can live with or just return it. I understand you are angry for how it went down and you have every right to be but at some point you need to get passed it. The spa is supposed to relax you and it doesn't seem to be.

"You know...as I was sitting in it last night learning and enjoying it I in my honest opinion feel "good" about my purchase. To me that’s all that really matters....if you feel like you got a good deal that what counts. I can honestly say I feel like I did!" Amen. At the end of the day as long as you are happy, that is really all that matters.