Before You Buy
Where You Buy Matters More Than What You Buy
A hot tub is a 15- to 20-year investment. The purchase is just the beginning — what happens after the sale is what separates a good experience from a frustrating one. Costco can sell you a spa. A traveling show can sell you a spa. But neither one will be here when you need them.
Know Your Options
The 4 Ways to Buy a Hot Tub
Authorized Dealer
Full relationship — from wet test to warranty service and everything in between.
- Try before you buy (wet test)
- Professional delivery & install
- Local warranty service
- Water care support for life
- Parts in stock, no guesswork
- Trade-in program
Big Box Store
Low sticker price. But no service team, no wet tests, and limited selection.
- No wet test — buy sight unseen
- Curbside delivery only
- No local service technicians
- No water care guidance
- Limited brand selection
- Warranty claims? Good luck.
Traveling Show
Aggressive weekend pricing. But they leave town — and your service options leave with them.
- No local presence after the sale
- High-pressure, one-weekend sales tactics
- Service calls? Call an 800 number
- No showroom to visit afterward
- Off-brand models with short warranties
- No water testing or chemistry help
Online Retailer
Delivered on a freight truck. That's where the relationship ends.
- No installation — it sits in your driveway
- No orientation on how to use it
- Shipping damage — who's responsible?
- No local warranty service
- Aftermarket parts guesswork
- Zero ongoing support
Side-by-Side Comparison
Here's what you actually get with each buying option.
| What's Included | Dealer | Big Box | Show | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wet test before you buy | ||||
| White-glove delivery & installation | Varies | |||
| Electrical coordination | ||||
| New owner orientation | ||||
| Water care guidance | ||||
| Local warranty service | ||||
| Factory-certified technicians | ||||
| Parts in stock locally | ||||
| Trade-in program | ||||
| Service for ALL brands | ||||
| Ongoing relationship |
The Real Math
The Price Tag Doesn't Tell the Whole Story
That “great deal” from Costco or an online retailer looks different when you add up what's missing. The sticker price doesn't include the electrician, the delivery crew, the person who teaches you how to use it, or the technician who shows up when something goes wrong two years later.
A $500 savings upfront can easily cost $2,000+ over the life of the spa — in service calls from out-of-area technicians, wrong parts ordered online, and the headache of figuring everything out yourself.
Dealer Price Includes
- White-glove delivery to your backyard
- Professional installation and leveling
- Full new-owner orientation
- First-year water care guidance
- Local warranty service for life
- Parts availability from day one
Costco / Online — Add These Costs
- Electrician for 230v hookup$500–$1,500
- Delivery from driveway to backyard$200–$500
- Out-of-area service call (when it breaks)$250–$500+
- Wrong parts / trial and error$100–$300
- Your time figuring it all outPriceless
40 Years and Counting
We're Not Going Anywhere
When you buy from East Texas Hot Tub, you're not just buying a spa. You're joining a family that's been here since 1986 — and plans to be here for another 40 years.
1986
Founded in Tyler, Texas
2
Showrooms — Tyler & Longview
40+
Years of combined experience — Tony & Albert
~1,000
Service calls per year
All Brands
We service every make — not just what we sell
Factory
Certified by Hot Spring — the #1 brand worldwide
Brand Matters
The Brands We Carry Protect Your Investment
Hot Spring is the #1 selling hot tub brand in the world — and they don't sell through Costco, Sam's Club, or online retailers. That's a deliberate choice. They believe your dealer should be your service provider for the life of the spa, and they protect that relationship.
Other brands take a different approach. You'll find them at warehouse clubs and traveling shows because those brands prioritize volume over the customer experience. When something goes wrong, there's nobody local to call.
Hot Spring backs their spas with industry-leading warranties — including a lifetime shell warranty on the Highlife Collection. Most competitors max out at 5 to 10 years. That warranty is only as good as the dealer behind it, and we've been that dealer for 40 years.
Only Through Authorized Dealers
Hot Spring protects its dealers — and that means they protect you.
Lifetime Shell Warranty
Highlife Collection. Most competitors cap out at 5–10 years.
#1 Worldwide
More people choose Hot Spring than any other brand on the planet.
Your Dealer = Your Service Team
One relationship for the entire life of your spa.
Common Questions
Honest Answers to Fair Questions
Come See the Difference
Visit either showroom, take a test soak, and talk to someone who actually knows hot tubs. Just honest help finding the right fit for your family.