Do Spas Have Msrps?

[Brulan1]

Well, I think what Chas is trying to say is not to believe everything you read. The last time I tried to get a car... I did the research and thought I had all the information down pretty well before I walked in. The dealership turned me all around and upside down and everything I asked for (trying to get a good deal of course) required the salesperson to "talk to the manager" again and again (2 hours of this and I was beginning to long for a spot by the fireplace at home with my kitty on my lap). I thought that what I found on the internet was good pricing only to find that the dealer couldn't come close to that because of "blah blah blah"- eloquent excuse after excuse. Or maybe they were just trying to wear me out... needless to say, I walked out without a car that day.

Even with the companies that are posting the prices on the spa... (if it wasn't a floor model priced as it sat) has ANYONE paid the price listed on the spa? MSRP... I'm sure there are a lot of MSRP's out there but what exactly does that mean? Manufacturer's suggested retail price- period. Does having this knowledge give you any leverage? How do you know that the price isn't just "made up" to make a deal look better by the folks who have the MSRP listed? How to you know the MSRP isn't inflated to make up for a dealers overhead? Ask the salesperson "Has anyone EVER paid that price?" Yes, there are going to be companies that overcharge no matter how much information you seek ahead of time... there are ways that they will make it "look like" a good deal to you by posting MSRP's and making the sale look incredible. I think it is important to keep this in mind. Sometimes having the price available to look at means nothing more than a starting point. If getting a starting point is important... it is easy to do. The FINISHING point is the bottom line in my opinion.

Your right because if you live in NY and there was a standard MSRP for every state and you decide that you are saving 500 dollars in NJ, you might be worse off for the service aspect and the lead times with more headaches. Sometimes it is better to buy from your local dealer rather than trying to save a couple of bucks.

[flibotte]

I can't think of another business except some used car dealerships were it is more difficult to find the prices for a product, short of going to the showroom and getting it from the sales person. I was so put off when I would walk into a spa show room or web site and there were no prices listed. I think it was about 50/50 for the dealers I visited. For me personally, I like to look around without being bothered by a sales person and when I have a question they are there for me to answer questions. I don't like having to ask the sales person how much is spa a is and how much is spa b.

[grahamtasia]

I can't think of another business except some used car dealerships were it is more difficult to find the prices for a product, short of going to the showroom and getting it from the sales person. I was so put off when I would walk into a spa show room or web site and there were no prices listed. I think it was about 50/50 for the dealers I visited. For me personally, I like to look around without being bothered by a sales person and when I have a question they are there for me to answer questions. I don't like having to ask the sales person how much is spa a is and how much is spa b.

Putting price tags on hot tubs is a terrible idea. Spa shopping for consumers is difficult enough. A price tag is a useless piece of information, if the consumer has no idea why certain spas are priced the way they are. Too many consumers today are foolishly afraid to deal with leisure consultants.

[flibotte]

"Putting price tags on hot tubs is a terrible idea"

For the consumer or the spa dealer?

"A price tag is a useless piece of information"

Are you kidding me?????

spa sales person="leisure consultants"

This I like....has a nice ring to it.

I'm not bashing spa sales people as most I've the ones I've seen have been very helpful, a few were a little over the top, but you can expect that with any thing. I just like to know how much things cost up front. I perfer to do my own research, and look on my own and the sales person is there to answer questions if I have any. I am sure I am not alone.

[poollady]

"Putting price tags on hot tubs is a terrible idea"

For the consumer or the spa dealer?

"A price tag is a useless piece of information"

Are you kidding me?????

spa sales person="leisure consultants"

This I like....has a nice ring to it.

I'm not bashing spa sales people as most I've the ones I've seen have been very helpful, a few were a little over the top, but you can expect that with any thing. I just like to know how much things cost up front. I perfer to do my own research, and look on my own and the sales person is there to answer questions if I have any. I am sure I am not alone.

The best spa (and car) salespeople are the ones who are genuinely interested in the customer and his needs, not the ones with the canned speech who are only interested in making a sale.

[Brulan1]

The best spa (and car) salespeople are the ones who are genuinely interested in the customer and his needs, not the ones with the canned speech who are only interested in making a sale.

absolutely

[susan]

I can't think of another business except some used car dealerships were it is more difficult to find the prices for a product, short of going to the showroom and getting it from the sales person. I was so put off when I would walk into a spa show room or web site and there were no prices listed. I think it was about 50/50 for the dealers I visited. For me personally, I like to look around without being bothered by a sales person and when I have a question they are there for me to answer questions. I don't like having to ask the sales person how much is spa a is and how much is spa b.

i agree with you 100%. I appreciated being able to talk to the consultant, but I think it might be a lot more 'user-friendly', shall we say, if the price was somewhere near the spa, at least. Maybe like a new car would have a sticker on the window, listing all the stuff it has, so could the spa. Just a thought. Or, a sales sheet with perhaps a base price, spa bare bones, and then you add on the things you want. You (the shopper) are in control of your budget and it makes you feel calmer already, I am so excited and apprehensive all at the same time, we just got home from our first browsing/talking experience at a spa dealer. I do agree with Filibotte, in that a consumer, a shopper feels much more comfortable if s/he knows whether they can even afford to be looking! Believe me, there are plenty of things I need to do IN my house, much less pour a patio and throw a spa out there, I'm nervous and would feel so much better if I knew how much I need to even make this dream a reality.

Can someone help? I registered in this forum just to respond to this comment. I hope somebody's out there who can help. Thanks!

susan

"Putting price tags on hot tubs is a terrible idea"

For the consumer or the spa dealer?

"A price tag is a useless piece of information"

Are you kidding me?????

spa sales person="leisure consultants"

This I like....has a nice ring to it.

I'm not bashing spa sales people as most I've the ones I've seen have been very helpful, a few were a little over the top, but you can expect that with any thing. I just like to know how much things cost up front. I perfer to do my own research, and look on my own and the sales person is there to answer questions if I have any. I am sure I am not alone.

If I can't afford it, why waste my time shopping? The price is mandatory. I agree, especially with the way things are in MI, every penny counts when it comes to fitting this thing in my budget.

[grahamtasia]

If I can't afford it, why waste my time shopping? The price is mandatory. I agree, especially with the way things are in MI, every penny counts when it comes to fitting this thing in my budget.

Unfortunately, most people have know idea why certain spas cost the way they do. Most people do not do their research. Putting a price tag on a spa would be great "IF" the consumer knew already why the spa would be priced the way it is and what they recieve with the spa. Unfortunately, that is not reality. I provide consumers a "free" education about spas. Most people that buy spas(HotSpring) off my showroom, initially state that it is out of there price range. After educating the consumer why they are priced the way they are, they realize they can't afford "NOT" to spend the initial upfront cost. Too many lousy spa manufacturers out there for a consumer to base there decision soley on price.

[Brulan1]

Unfortunately, most people have know idea why certain spas cost the way they do. Most people do not do their research. Putting a price tag on a spa would be great "IF" the consumer knew already why the spa would be priced the way it is and what they recieve with the spa. Unfortunately, that is not reality. I provide consumers a "free" education about spas. Most people that by spas(HotSpring) off my showroom, initially state that it is out of there price range. After educating the consumer why they are priced the way they are, they realize they can't afford "NOT" to spend the initial upfront cost. Too many lousy spa manufacturers out there for a consumer to base there decision soley on price.

praise to the holy spa god or higher power purchase on that one. Some people only value price initially and pay the concequences later and some people think about the savings and grief later and pay now. Some of the ones in the middle are called engineers and researchers and try them all and come to an educated decision.