Buying
Costco or a hot tub store? What the price includes
A fair look at buying a hot tub from a warehouse or home store versus a local hot tub store, and the questions to ask either one before you pay.
A hot tub from Costco, Canadian Tire or another big-box store can cost less up front, and for some buyers it's the right choice. The real difference is usually in what the price covers: where the tub is delivered, who sets it on its base and connects it, and who comes out when something needs fixing.
So the useful comparison isn't sticker price against sticker price. It's the total cost of a working hot tub in your backyard, plus what happens over the years you own it.
Why big-box hot tubs can cost less
Large retailers buy in volume, carry a short list of models and sell the tub mostly as a product in a box. Delivery, installation and service arrangements vary by store and by model, and some of those costs may sit outside the price you see.
The tubs themselves also differ, at every kind of store. Insulation, the number of pumps, jets, the control system, the cabinet and the shell construction all vary between models and price levels. Two tubs that look alike in photos can be quite different to own, so compare specifications rather than pictures.
What the price may or may not include
Whoever you buy from, go through this list and get the answers in writing.
| Item | Question to ask |
|---|---|
| Delivery | Is it delivered to the curb or driveway, or right into the backyard? |
| Access | Who moves it from the truck to the spot, and is a crane included if it won't fit through? |
| Placement | Who sets it on the base, levels it and checks the drain and access panels can be reached? |
| Base | Does the price include a pad, pavers or any deck work, or is that up to you? |
| Electrical | Who runs the circuit and the GFCI disconnect, and who takes out the permit? |
| Start-up | Who fills it, balances the water and shows you how it works? |
| Cover and steps | Are a cover, steps and a cover lifter included? |
| Old tub | Is removal of your old hot tub included? |
When we quote, delivery, placement, the base and the electrical connection can all be included, and removal of your old tub comes with the installation. Our installation page shows how that works.
Warranty: who actually comes out?
A warranty is only as useful as the service behind it. Hot tub warranties usually come from the manufacturer, and the person who fixes the tub may be the store, the manufacturer or a local service company. Before you buy anywhere, ask:
- Who do I call when something stops working?
- Who comes to my home in the Fraser Valley, and how quickly?
- Who pays for the technician's travel and labour under warranty?
- How are parts ordered, and how long do they usually take?
- What voids the warranty? Many warranties exclude damage from incorrect installation or poor water chemistry, so it matters who does the electrical and how the tub is set up.
Read the manufacturer's warranty document itself, not just the summary on the product page.
Parts and repairs down the road
Over the life of a tub you can expect to replace things like the cover, filters, and sooner or later a pump, heater or control part. Ask whether the tub uses common parts that local service companies can get, or parts that only come through one channel. A tub that's hard to get parts for can sit unused for weeks waiting on a single component.
We work on most common makes, wherever the tub was bought. If you ever need us, send the make, model and any error code and we'll tell you up front whether parts are available. See repair and service.
Trying before you buy
Hot tubs fit people differently. A lounger that suits one person can leave a taller or shorter person floating off the seat, the step in can be higher than it looks, and some tubs are noticeably louder than others. Sitting in a few tubs, dry or wet, is the best way to choose. That's the main reason to visit a showroom even if you're leaning toward a big-box model. Browse our hot tubs and come in to try the seats.
When a big-box hot tub makes sense
Buying from a warehouse or home store can work well if:
- Delivery is simple: a flat driveway straight to a ready pad, with no tight gates, stairs or slopes.
- You already have a licensed electrician you trust to run the circuit and take out the permit.
- You're happy to arrange the base, start-up and water care yourself.
- You want a smaller or plug-and-play model and you're comfortable with the store's service arrangements.
A local hot tub store tends to make more sense when access is tricky, you want one quote covering the tub and everything it needs, you'd like to try models in person, or you want someone nearby who knows your tub when it needs service.
Questions to ask any seller
- What exactly does the price include, item by item?
- Where will the tub be delivered, and what happens if it doesn't fit through my gate?
- Who installs the electrical, and is the permit included?
- What base does this model need, and who prepares it?
- Who fills and starts the tub and shows me how to use it?
- Who handles warranty repairs in my area, and who pays for travel and labour?
- Are parts for this model easy to get locally?
- What does the cover look like, and how thick is it?
- Will you take away my old tub?
- Can I sit in this model, or one like it, before I buy?
Compare the installed cost, not the sticker price
Put the quotes side by side and add up the full picture: the tub, delivery to the spot (including a crane if needed), the base, the electrical work and permit, cover, steps and lifter, start-up chemicals, and removal of the old tub. Our hot tub prices page goes through each part, and the permit guide explains the electrical permit in BC. Once everything is on the same page, the right choice for your yard is usually clear.