Spa rentals benefit dealers and end users
Roto-moulded portable spas have not only opened a new demographic within the spa industry, primarily due to lower price points; zero preparation before delivery; and expanded placement options, but they have also spawned an entirely new category for retailers—spa rentals.
The ability to offer a spa rental program serves a number of purposes, both for the dealer and end user. From popular party spas, where a unit is delivered to a residence for a celebration or special occasion and removed a week later, to practical applications, which allow potential spa owners to ‘wet test’ a spa in its intended environment—the customer’s home, under the conditions they intend to use it.
The portability factor of these spas has had a major impact on overall usage, as they fit into an evolving family and lifestyle and can be moved from the city to the cottage or from the back deck to the lawn. Many of these spas are round, so limited lifting is required. It is simply a matter of standing the spa up and rolling to its new location.
Today, some spas sell for more than $20,000, and there are a variety of styles and finishes to choose from. In many ways, purchasing a spa can be likened to buying a new car. Not many people would invest that kind of money in a new car without test driving it first. Therefore, offering customers the ability to rent a spa and take it home enables them to determine ideal placement, as well as make sure other family members will also enjoy it. For example, a customer may think the best spot for their hot tub is 9 m (30 ft) from the back door of the house. However, when winter arrives, not only does a path to the spa need to be shoveled, but in -20 C (68 F) temperatures, the trek from the spa to the back door can be further than imagined.
Renting a spa can also be beneficial to those who already own a larger spa and are thinking about repositioning it. By renting a spa, the homeowner can place the rental in the new space, try it out and reposition it further, if necessary, so when it is time to move the larger spa, the homeowner can make an informed decision.
All spas are not created equal
There are a number of portable spa manufacturers and each have a varied selection of sizes and colours to choose from. Although those looking to rent a spa cannot be too picky when it comes to colour, the spa’s size should be considered, especially when factoring in the number of people that will be using it. To prevent as much water displacement as possible, a customer should consider a six-person spa to be comfortable for four and a four-person spa suitable for two-to-three bathers before the water will reach its threshold.
Another important consideration, especially for customers who are renting a spa, is the length of time it will take to heat the water. Once plugged in, a portable spa will typically heat the water at a rate of 1.5 degrees per hour. For example, if the spa is filled with 15.5 C (42 F) water and the end user is looking for 38.8 C (102 F) water, then a temperature rise of 42 degrees is required. Factoring in the time it will take to heat the water, the spa should be ready by the next day (approximately 28 hours).
This is an important consideration as some models are only capable of raising the water’s temperature by half a degree per hour. Using the same water temperatures as above, it will take approximately 88 hours or just under four days to achieve the desired bathing temperature. Thus, the consumer is required to extend the rental period.
Further, spas with less than 1.5-horsepower pumps and one kilowatt heaters are often filled with hot water by the renter due to the time it would take to achieve the desired water temperature.
