Buying A Walk-in Bathtub - Words Of Caution

Walk-in Bathtubs have been extremely popular inwarranty is only ONE year. Unfortunately, if you
Great Britain, Europe and the Far East for almosthave a problem, the manufacturer will NOT honor
three decades. Bathtubs with doors werethe retail merchant's guarantee. Also, in most
introduced in the US 6 or 7 years ago, and publiccases, if you need parts or have other issues
demand has increased exponentially since then.that need to be addressed during the actual
Nonetheless, in this country the Walk In Bathtubmanufacturer's guarantee time frame and that
industry still caters to what most would call amanufacturer is in China or England, it can take a
"niche" market - the elderly and the physicallyvery long time, sometimes months, to get
challenged.satisfaction from overseas.
Primarily because of this very specific potentialBuying products made in North America where
client base and still limited market awarenessmanufacturers are compelled to adhere to certain
Walk-In Bathtubs are generally not available instandards and can be legally held accountable is
stores or showrooms, but must instead bemuch more prudent than purchasing imports and
purchased by visiting a website such as this one,supports the U.S. Economy.
or having a "representative" come to your house.Inaccurate and Misleading Walk-In Bathtub
Unfortunately, this creates opportunity for theMeasurements:
unscrupulous to take advantage of those whoMake absolutely sure you question the accuracy
might have no valid frame of referenceof the dimensions advertised for the Walk-In
comparison and therefore be gullible and often,Bathtubs you are discussing!The seller of the
vulnerable.bathtubs mentioned above which misrepresents
If you call a Walk In Bathtub Company and theymanufacturer's guarantees also uses great license
refuse to give you any price information on thein describing tub height, door width and other
phone, hang up!dimensions. This company indicates 42.5'' & 38.5"
Predator versus Prey:in height for their "best" models. In actuality, the
Prices for most big-ticket items sold by mosttubs are 41" & 37" high with a very small
in-home salespeople are arbitrary. Whatever they"headrest" on the seat that is 1.5" taller than the
think they can get, they ask for. If that doesn'trest of the tub. Their website proclaims the door
work, they have a whole repertoire of reasons itis 18" wide. Again, not true. Only the top of the
just so happens they can actually offer you adoor where there is a wider notch is 18", the
better price/deep discount i.e. models left overbottom of the door is only 14" in width. Worst of
from a trade/home show, uncrated, never used;all, the step-up into the tub (threshold) is
another customer ordered the wrong bathtubadvertised as being "...as low as 6"..." but is actually
door model; you live out of the way, buy todayEIGHT inches high!!! There is nothing wrong with
so a return trip is not necessary...etc. All rehearsedthe real dimensions of these Walk-In Bathtubs,
lies. The price tag for a Walk-In tub at the end ofbut in our opinion, definitely something wrong with
this sales pitch can be up to $15,000 to $30,000.misrepresentation.Unfortunately, many on-line
There are, of course, exceptions to every rule,Walk In Bathtub companies engage in these
and we assume there are some Walk-In Bathtubdeceptive sales tactics. Be careful.Make sure that
companies that do employ ethical representativesbefore you spend thousands of dollars you have
who care as much about your needs as they dothe facts!
about their own bank account....Quality Control/Getting your Walk-In Bathtub with
The Walk In Bathtub Store has a strict one priceall of the correct parts and in working condition!
for all policy.We sell the best products for theMany distributors warehouse the products they
best price, and we do not play dishonest games.carry that are manufactured overseas. Many
Warranties and Guarantees:distributors never open the crates upon arrival
It is extremely important that you ask thefrom thousands of miles away, or prior to
company from which you are considering buying ashipment to the retail customer. In other words,
Walk-In Bathtub who actually issues the guaranteethere is a good chance the company from whom
warranty!! Some distributors and retailers imply oryou buy your Walk In Bathtub may have
actually state they are the manufacturer of theneveropened the crate the the Walk-In Bathtub
bathtub when they are not. Verify thiswas shipped in, never seen the contents of the
information. Ask lots of questions. Additionally,crate, and may have no idea whether the tub
many on-line vendors advertise long guaranteesyou are buying is in good working condition, , is
on Walk In Bathtubs that are the retailer/vendor'sdamaged, or is equipped with all of it's parts.Ask
own guarantees NOT the manufacturer's. Thethe salesman if your Walk-In Bathtub will be
actual manufacturer's guarantee is usuallyopened, inspected and filled with water prior to
substantially shorter in duration than that beingshipment, and if so, by whom.
advertised by the retailer. For example, one ofWalk-In Bathtubs afford the eldery and the
the best known websites selling Walk-In Bathtubshandicapped to bathe without assistance and
advertises a "Standard 5 Year Manufacturer'smaintain their independence and are invaluable. Just
Warranty on the Tub" on three of the models itmake sure you are getting the best product, and
carries, when in reality, the manufacturer'sbest price available.