If you’re keen to add a hot tub to your Sydney property, one of the first decisions you’ll face is whether to buy new or used.
Used hot tubs in Sydney will often have dramatically lower sticker prices than brand new models, so they can make for a great investment. But buying used also brings risks: you’ll have limited choice, you won’t enjoy a new product warranty, and it’s hard to know how well the previous owner took care of the machine.
Before committing to buying a used hot tub in Sydney, you should think carefully about whether this is the right move for you. In this guide we’ll break down the key considerations of buying new vs old hot tubs in Sydney, to find out if and how you should make such a purchase.
The benefits of buying used spa pools
Why buy a used hot tub in Sydney? There are a few compelling reasons, including:
Pay less for quality
The main benefit of buying a used hot tub is the opportunity to potentially pay far less for a quality machine. If you know what you’re looking for, if you shop patiently and negotiate well, you can secure a high quality hot tub that has been barely used and maintained well, for a fraction of the cost of buying new.
Avoid instant depreciation
Like new cars, new spa pools lose value the moment that they leave the dealership, as this transforms them from brand new to secondhand. Buying used allows you to avoid this depreciation. (If you do ultimately choose to buy new, depreciation can be minimised by buying from a brand like Hot Spring, as proven, high quality machines retain more value for longer.)
Get your hot tub sooner
If you want to get soaking sooner rather than later, and you can’t find the precise machine you want in a dealership, you might get lucky on the secondhand market (although this is admittedly a longshot). At Hot Spring we’d also advise a little bit of patience: the slight inconvenience of waiting a few weeks for a brand new, custom-ordered hot tub will pale in comparison to the years of health, wellness and fun you’ll enjoy once it arrives!
The risks with buying a used hot tub
There are inherent risks that come with buying anything secondhand, which may mean that buying a new hot tub represents a wiser choice. At the very least, if you’re aware of the risks, you put yourself in a better situation to minimise them. Risks include:
- Hidden costs: The sticker price of a new or used hot tub will only tell part of the story. Consider delivery, installation and setup costs; running costs like electricity, water and chemicals; and potential repair and replacement part costs.
- Warranty: Unless you buy a genuine used hot tub from a dealer, you probably won’t enjoy a warranty on a secondhand purchase.
- Diagnosing issues: Buying a used hot tub is a bit trickier than, say, buying a used car, because specialist knowledge is required to identify potential spa issues. (Again, buying a genuine used hot tub from a dealer is a safer bet.) At the very least, you should always ask for a test soak before buying a second-hand machine.
- Less choice: The Sydney used spa market just has what it has. A hot tub dealer, meanwhile, will offer a wealth of models that you can order in your choice of colours and finishes, and with any number of features and accessories that allow you to customise the machine to your needs.
- A lack of support: Hot tub dealers offer ongoing support to ensure you enjoy a positive ownership experience, and to quickly fix any issues that might arise. If you buy used, you’re more or less on your own.
Questions to ask when buying a used hot tub
You’ve weighed up the pros and cons of buying a new vs old hot tub in Sydney and decided that you’re open to a used model. You’ve even found a potential secondhand purchase. Before money changes hands, there are a few key questions that can help you to understand whether this is the right machine for you:
- How old is the hot tub?
- Do I trust that the seller took care of the machine?
- Are maintenance records available?
- What maintenance will the hot tub require?
- Who will deliver and install this spa pool, and what will that cost?
- What will I do if the machine breaks down?
- Are spare parts still available for this machine?
If you’re satisfied with the answers that you come up with, a used hot tub might be the right choice for you. If your answers reveal some potential issues, whether now or into the future, it might be better, easier, and perhaps even cheaper to buy new.
Hot Spring refurbished hot tubs
Want all the confidence and support that comes with buying a hot tub through a specialist hot tub dealer, but with the savings that come from buying used? When you choose a refurbished hot tub from a Hot Spring dealer, you can enjoy the best of both worlds.
Our high quality secondhand units open up the opportunity to own a Hot Spring hot tub to more people than ever before. They have been meticulously refurbished, and come with a one-year warranty for that extra peace of mind. We offer servicing plans and repairs on every used hot tub that we sell, and we hold spare parts for a minimum 20 years (and alternate parts after that).
As Australasia’s oldest and most trusted hot tub brand, at Hot Spring we’ve been offering high-end hot tubs to happy customers for over 40 years.
No matter whether you buy new or used, you’ll enjoy the same quality and support from our dedicated team, who will ensure you enjoy the finest hot tub soaking and ownership experience possible.
Ready to soak? Get in touch with your local dealer today.