Thursday, March 24, 2011

Tips for Buying Hot Tubs on eBay

Yes, it's true. You can find hot tubs cheaper than we sell them for on eBay, and you can probably get a bargain. But, you can equally get ripped off and find yourself dumped with an absolutely rubbish hot tub.

So whats wrong with buying on eBay? Well, the problem is not eBay itself, its the 'type' of people who sell hot tubs on eBay. Most of the so called 'companies' that offer tubs are not hot tub dealers in the traditional sense. What does this mean for you? Well, you will get no guidance on how to use your spa, your instructions will probably be in 'chinglish', and most importantly (and this is really important) you probably will not get any cover at all if things go wrong – and trust me, things do go wrong with hot tubs!

Most of the folks selling spas on ebay are individuals who have managed to find a cheap supplier, and are simply selling the hot tubs to make a buck or two. This means that even if they do offer a grand warranty/after sales plan, there is nothing stopping them from simply shutting down their ebay shop – and since they are not likely to be a registered company any warranty they offer is meaningless anyway!

That said, we have to be fair and there are one or two spa companies who have decided to set themselves up on eBay to widen their market and give there sales a boost. There is nothing wrong with buying from these guys.

If you are set on buying on eBay, here are a few simple steps you can take to make sure you do not end up disappointed:

• Make sure the seller is a real hot tub company. Check out their website, give them a call. Do not bid without talking to them first!

• Ask to view their warranty agreement before you bid. Take a good read through. Ensure that they are willing to cover you for both parts and onsite labour. Believe me when I say, things do go wrong with hot tubs.

• Even if you get to see the spa before you buy, ask to speak to some of their existing customers. Most dealers will keep a list of satisfied customers who are willing to take questions from guys like yourself.