Thinking of buying your new heater or other pool and spa equipment on the Internet? When you want to save money, it’s not a bad way to save a few bucks and as long as you are prepared, you won’t be too surprised or disappointed. With over 35 years in the industry selling, installing and servicing pool and spa equipment, we are local experts and our first hand experiences have enabled us to better prepare our more frugal customers shopping ecommerce for their next pool and spa equipment purchase. Consider these risk VS. rewards when considering where or how you purchase your new equipment.
Payment
Reward - Cheap
Risk - You will need to pay 100% up front, without seeing it,
inspecting it or verifying it is indeed what you ordered.
Local - Contrast paying up front with local companies who are primarily COD and who will also inspect, uncrate deliver, install and train you on your new equipment before you lay a nickel on the table. Imagine never seeing your car, your house or your new furniture and being told to cough up the cash. Look into the future and you will see the risk is tilted towards
you.
Reward - None
Risk - Be prepared to wait a little longer. Larger equipment can take up to 7-10 business days to arrive from wherever the online retailer ships from.
Local - Local companies can have your new equipment within a day or so and usually have it installed within 1-3 business days. If waiting isn’t in your schedule, consider purchasing from a local source.
Risk - Be prepared to wait a little longer. Larger equipment can take up to 7-10 business days to arrive from wherever the online retailer ships from.
Local - Local companies can have your new equipment within a day or so and usually have it installed within 1-3 business days. If waiting isn’t in your schedule, consider purchasing from a local source.
Delivery
Reward - None
Risk - Imagine a semi-truck pulling up in your front yard. If you purchased heavier equipment make
sure you request a lift gate. Then, ask the driver to wait while you uncrate the new equipment to inspect it for internal and external damage. Because, once you sign for it, all the problems become yours when he leaves. If there is damage you can refuse delivery and then call the Internet company and ask them to ship you another one of what you ordered.
Local - Local companies assume all responsibility for your new equipment and make sure BEFORE it’s on your property, they KNOW it is in factory specified condition. No waiting on hold, email ping pong, no return fees and no waiting for another 7-10 days to get a replacement.
Risk - Imagine a semi-truck pulling up in your front yard. If you purchased heavier equipment make
sure you request a lift gate. Then, ask the driver to wait while you uncrate the new equipment to inspect it for internal and external damage. Because, once you sign for it, all the problems become yours when he leaves. If there is damage you can refuse delivery and then call the Internet company and ask them to ship you another one of what you ordered.
Local - Local companies assume all responsibility for your new equipment and make sure BEFORE it’s on your property, they KNOW it is in factory specified condition. No waiting on hold, email ping pong, no return fees and no waiting for another 7-10 days to get a replacement.
Knowledge in the
Field/Serviceability of the equipment
Reward - None
Risk - Ecommerce sites use sales sheets and provide the features and benefits of the products they sell. They do not have the infield, real world experience to tell you the upside and downside of a particular piece of equipment. Imagine asking a car salesman about the challenges other purchasers have had with the same or like vehicle you are interested in.
Local - You can see we need not elaborate on this one.
Some customers have found success and saved money by buying cheap products online.
It really is a great way to save a buck. But, it is always important to weight
the benefits and the risk with any investment. Risk - Ecommerce sites use sales sheets and provide the features and benefits of the products they sell. They do not have the infield, real world experience to tell you the upside and downside of a particular piece of equipment. Imagine asking a car salesman about the challenges other purchasers have had with the same or like vehicle you are interested in.
Local - You can see we need not elaborate on this one.
