NEWS SPECIAL


RIGHT OF REPLY ON USA VS CHINESE SPAS


F


ollowing Rob Carlin’s interesting piece, in the last issue of Hot Tub & Swim Spa Scene, I wanted to add my own take on things,


writes Richard Hart of the Aqua Warehouse Group. The article centred round the rise of the Chinese spa manufacturers versus American producers. Now Rob was very polite and careful with his words and I agree with most of what he said. But in my right of reply, I plan to be a little more blunt and to the point!


I don’t have a problem where a spa is made. Rob is correct that the Chinese have vastly improved their quality and production methods. Some spas made in the USA are also


dreadful, flimsy and sold as top of the range. We sell a product called Covana which is an electric roof for spas and swimspas. Our engineers are often called out to a Covana fault which turns out to result from the fact that the swimspa has bowed out with the water pressure which in turn causes the roof to go up crooked! Yet, the customers have paid top dollar for what they thought was high quality spa that is so weak it is flexing under the weight of water.


So, irrelevant of where the spa is


made, I do have three issues that really bug me.


GOLDEN RULES


Firstly, I object to pulling the wool over customers’ eyes to make them think a spa is USA made when it clearly is made elsewhere.


“THE CHINESE HAVE VASTLY IMPROVED THEIR QUALITY AND PRODUCTION METHODS. SOME SPAS MADE IN THE USA ARE ALSO DREADFUL, FLIMSY AND SOLD AS TOP OF


THE RANGE. ” - Richard Hart, Aqua Warehouse


I’ve seen USA logos over websites, SUPERIOR WELLNESS’ ROB CARLIN


praised the Chinese investment in hot tub manufacturing in the last issue of Hot Tub & Swim Spa Scene.


prominent mentions of the term USA just because the spa has USA controls or acrylic but no mention of the true location of the factory of origin being China. This is bad practice verging on illegal. If you are proud of your spa and its build quality then say it. In fact shout it from the rooftops but call a spade a spade. Reveal where it is actually made. Secondly, we should ensure every spa has a serial number plate and also that it has relevant and useful information. I’ve seen spas with no markings whatsoever and I’ve seen spas with


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AUTUMN 2020


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