Before Buying Your Next Hot Deal On-Line, Read This!
Where can you get a really hot deal on pool and spa products? Maybe eBay, Craigslist or what seems to be a reputable on-line resource with a really nice website? Perhaps, but sometimes it helps to understand some of the risk before diving into what may be shallow water.
Just today, we had a customer upset with us because of a delay with installing his new equipment. His frustration came because in his opinion he opted last week to use our local company over one he could have purchased on-line "cheaper" for a new salt system. He felt it would have been faster using our company. Under normal conditions, he would have been right. But, when we received the salt system from our distributor, we noticed the serial number was from 2008! We knew, because of our experience and expertise on the product, there had been numerous updates to correct minor glitches over the years. With that knowledge, we chose to refuse the system and ordered another one with a newer serial number. Once we explained the problem and why we chose to delay the installation, he was appreciative.
What would have happened had he decided to not use us? The likelihood of another company dumping older product is pretty high and no one, not even he would have noticed until the first problem. Then, he would have been left trying to figure out on his own, because unlike us, no one would have cared enough or even bothered to make sure he was getting the most current revision and serial number of his new product.
We share this true story with you so you might have the ammunition you need in advance to make sure you are getting what you pay for. The best analogy would be for us to show you how deep the water is before you dive in. In doing so, you can take the time to hold the company you are purchasing from with their feet to the fire. Before making that next really hot deal purchase, remember the following:
What is the Warranty
Verify with the manufacturer what the warranty will be for your Internet purchase and contrast that with what warranty you can get from a local company. Local companies will always list what the warranty is for your new product on their estimate and they will stand behind it, even if the manufacturer may not.
When was it Manufactured
Try to get the company you are purchasing from to promise, with a take back guarantee the product you will get is recently manufactured, within 1-2 years is fine. Anything beyond that and you may be losing out on important changes or upgrades to the equipment that have since been implemented on the newer products. Do not accept the line that the manufacturer will stand behind the warranty no matter how old it is. They likely will, but those little headaches and issues that you may experience with older manufactured equipment are NOT warrantied.
Who will Install it and Service it
Have the company you are purchasing from provide you a list of KNOWN reputable, licensed and trained service companies in your area that will work on your new equipment or install it. More and more service companies are refusing to work on or install equipment that has not been purchased from them. They are more focused on their loyal customers and keeping them happy with their service and have less time for someone else's customers. You may get a great deal, but if you can't get it serviced, the deal is a dud.
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