Here is our story:
In November 2004 I started seriously shopping for a hot tub. I had seen all the local hot tub dealers at the Honolulu home shows. I had asked many questions. On the internet, I discovered that one brand was the largest seller in the world. "Can't go wrong buying from the largest manufacturer!", I told myself. Another company had a recognizable brand name that was almost synonymous with hot tub spas. "Brand names equal quality, right?"... And, I wanted a good reliable product.
Then I learned about "full foam" design. I thought to myself, "yeah!, that's it! ! Pack that thing full of foam insulation and you have got to be saving energy". Pure genius! What could be better than that. A 24 hour circulation pump for continuous filtering. That has to be good. The designers have really got this figured out. I was sold...for a brief period. Until, I started doing some product research on my own. I had to change my mind regarding these concepts as I began to learn about hot tubs.
I found a website which sold the plans for a masonry do-it-yourself hot tub at "Custom Built Spas". I actually bought the books from Gene Trumbull and read them cover to cover. Not only did I learn how to make my own hot tub, more importantly, I learned how spas should be made. Gene Trumbull's information told me how they worked and what was good design and what was not. I learned about filtering, circ pumps and air blowers etc. Gene had no ulterior motive in writing his books. He just wrote what he knew and sold information to people who wanted to build their own properly designed spa. I felt his information was accurate and objective.
The main thing I learned was that the portable hot tubs that I had seen here in Hawaii did not measure up to Gene Trumbull's basic standards. Why were the major hot tub companies ignoring good design practices? I was really happy that I bought the package from Custom Built Spas because I really felt I learned something about hot tubs. I was becoming an informed consumer. I looked at portable hot tubs from a completely different view.
On the Custom Built Spa's website was a link to the Spa Specialist website. There I found lots of interesting information about fiberglass portable hot tubs. Jim Arjuna's (Jim is the Spa Specialist) information closely matched what Gene Trumbull was saying. The Spa Specialist web site has lots of articles covering with even more information about hot tubs and spas. Jim was another industry insider who knew how hot tubs should be made. I looked at the Haven Spas models on the Spa Specialist website.
Jim's opinion was this: Most popular, heavily marketed hot tubs and spas are cheaply made and over priced. Based on what I had learned, I had to agree with him. As a consumer I could not buy a cheaply made high profit margin hot tub. I now knew what I was looking for. I was looking for a well made spa that was a good value.
Once I discovered that Jim had sold a couple of spas to people in Hawaii previously, I asked him for a quote on shipping to Hawaii. He said about $2000 or so probably. I found the model that I liked (a Shorewood Silver SE model). Even with the shipping the price was less than what the major hot tub brands were charging here locally. I thought about it for a few months and called in my order. About the same time several other Hawaii residents were making inquiries to Jim about buying Haven Spas and bringing them to Hawaii. Jim gave the names to me since I asked him if I could be his Hawaii Rep. and work with the Hawaii customers. Hawaii is a unique location with special circumstances. It just made sense to have a local Haven Rep.
In November 2005 3 Haven Spas came to Hawaii packed in crates. Two for Oahu and one for the Big Island. This was our beginning.
Using some creativity I figured out how to ship the spas for about $1300 each. Shipping was not a problem.
After I received and set up my own spa, I put up the Pacific Spa Sales website. I handle all the requests that come from Hawaii residents. Jim Arjuna has always been straight forward and honest in my dealings with him. His loyal customers always come first. His advice has proven to be priceless and he really is the ultimate spa resource. I depend on and trust his advice.
My goal now is to simply help Hawaii consumers who are looking for a high quality hot tub. I am not a salesman. I don't want to be a salesman. It doesn't matter if we sell one spa a year or one a month. Our customers are those shoppers who have found our website while doing their own research. This kind of intelligent consumer draws their own conclusions.
This is how Pacific Spa Sales got started. Over time we may try some small promotional activities to let people know this alternative exists. But, our real purpose is to simply help educate and support spa shoppers and our Hawaii Haven Spa customers with Aloha.
Vince Bergan/Pacific Spa
Sales
Hot Tubs
Oahu
808-247-4114
Call 808-247-4114
email:
vince@pacificspasales.com 