Ask 'Dr. Spa' Q & A Message Board

I'd suggest being very, very careful about where you source hot tub parts from. The internet is loaded with fly-by-night outfits, especially when it comes to electronics and motors. Caveat Emptor. I just had a job last week where the customer was "fleeced" big time by one of these internet motor shops. He, too, found a similar company (maybe the same company) that promised in this case a 3 HP, 2 speed, 230 volt motor. He even showed me multiple emails where the company claimed that the motor was indeed brand new and at a killer price. Well, he bought it and installed it himself, but called me in because he could not figure out how to wire it up. I immediately recognized it as a rebuilt motor (and a fairly shoddy rebuild at that). The motor shaft was so badly corroded that it's diameter was half as much as it was originally. They sanded it down in order to hide the corrosion. In addition, black motor paint was over-sprayed on everything. It even coated everything down inside the motor. They didn't even bother taking it apart to paint it. Pitiful!!! Once the motor was wired up properly, it ran, but did not sound very good. Obviously, the customer was not happy with this motor, but he reports that he cannot get responses to his repeated emails (surprise, surprise).

I've got nothing against rebuilt motors per se, as long as they are marketed as such.

John

: ya know, I kinda expect that to happen...any idea of what they are going
: to ask for to verify that A) I do have a GENUINE CATALINA spa and not
: a foreign knockoff of one...(like a Luis Vuitton purse...say???) and
: it was made by them in May of 2004 as I had to wait for it to show up
: on June 4,2004? Or will they acknowledge that with my
: invoice...(hopefully, it is still somewheres in the file cabinet I
: placed it a few years ago...)

: Any feedback on an internet company named Pool Deals.Com would be
: appreciated. They have emailed me this morning they can furnish the
: complete product I need for replacement for $181 and this is the
: cheapest I have seen it anywhere's. Doc doesn't seem to carry it and
: the rest range up to $395 for the same thing...(have emailed them to
: make sure it is not a rebuilt but new...they don't offer a phone
: number on their website which throws me off from the gitgo...)

: Thanks for your input.

: Where do I buy Jet Clean? It sounds like something for a dishwasher...I
: have a dishwasher product which removes rust from that but it doesn't
: kick in to work until the water temp is 125...my spa just doesn't go
: that high unfortunately....