Caldera - Warranty Replacement Value Question

[yarttar5]

We have had our Caldera Utopia Niagara spa since July of 2002 and have enjoyed it for the most part. In the past couple years we have not used it much and were thinking of selling it. Recently we drained the tub to clean it and noticed that the spa shell's surface was 'bubbling' in several places. Our dealer came out to look at it and said it was definitely a warranty issue. A claim was submitted (2 weeks before the 7 year shell warranty expired!) and Caldera is replacing it with a brand new spa! The new spa will not come with a warranty however.

Here is our dilemma....we can no longer use the spa due to my husband's medical issues. We proposed to the dealer a possible settlement instead and they are very open to it. Our other option is to sell it ourselves, however again, it will not have a warranty. The dealer wants to know what we would want to sell it for so we can agree on a price. Our thought was about 30% less than retail, at least for a starting point.

Does anyone think that is a reasonable offer or that we can sell it for that -- brand new without warranty? I know that people can purchase home product warranties for household appliances, etc. so that may be an option for someone that would purchase it.

Any thoughts? Your feedback would be appreciated!

[JerimiahR]

This is one of the fantastic things about Watkins Manufacturing (who makes Hot Spring & Caldera). They don't fuss around with warranty stuff when folks have issues. It's to bad you guys won't get to enjoy having a brand spanking new hot tub to use. What a bummer.

Generally speaking, I'd suppose trying to sell it should be a relatively easy thing to do. Normally trying to sell it for 30% less than what your retailer would offer the same model for new (at their lowest price) wouldn't be to bad. That might compensate people for the fact it doesn't have it's normal 5 year warranty.

However, on the other hand, that still puts that spa at a pretty high price point. A lot of the time when someone considers buying from a private party, they aren't looking for new hot tubs, or higher price points. They generally want used, and very cheap.

[ps558]

We have had our Caldera Utopia Niagara spa since July of 2002 and have enjoyed it for the most part. In the past couple years we have not used it much and were thinking of selling it. Recently we drained the tub to clean it and noticed that the spa shell's surface was 'bubbling' in several places. Our dealer came out to look at it and said it was definitely a warranty issue. A claim was submitted (2 weeks before the 7 year shell warranty expired!) and Caldera is replacing it with a brand new spa! The new spa will not come with a warranty however.

Here is our dilemma....we can no longer use the spa due to my husband's medical issues. We proposed to the dealer a possible settlement instead and they are very open to it. Our other option is to sell it ourselves, however again, it will not have a warranty. The dealer wants to know what we would want to sell it for so we can agree on a price. Our thought was about 30% less than retail, at least for a starting point.

Does anyone think that is a reasonable offer or that we can sell it for that -- brand new without warranty? I know that people can purchase home product warranties for household appliances, etc. so that may be an option for someone that would purchase it.

Any thoughts? Your feedback would be appreciated!

Mo matter if the spa had a warrant or not, if you sell it the warranty in non transferable. It is only for the original purchaser

EXTENT OF WARRANTY

This warranty extends only to the original consumer purchaser of the Caldera

spa when purchased and originally installed within the boundaries of the United

States. This warranty begins on your delivery date of the spa. This warranty

terminates upon any transfer of ownership, or if the spa is installed or

relocated outside the boundaries of the United States by the original consumer