ABOVE: The Trade Price Group and its associated businesses run a number of highly ranked websites.
Internet spa and hot tub sellers, Trade Price also known as Spa Serve, have hit back against claims they are trading unprofessionally.
The company operates a number of websites promoting ‘discount’ and ‘trade price’ spas and hot tubs. Customers buy on-line and do not get the opportunity to try or even see the hot tubs before they buy. They pay a deposit on order and are currently given a 12 week delivery time.
“There are a lot of dealers out there who have struggled to compete with us,” Jonathan Husselbee, Trade Price’s sales manager, talking exclusively to Pool & Spa Scene editor, Christina Connor. It is very easy to write a lot of untruths about us on the Internet. They are just stirring up a hornet’s nest that is not really there.”
“We are not in the business of ripping people off. We have had delays,” he acknowledged. “We are struggling to meet delivery times but we are working hard with the manufacturer to get back on to that timeline.”
Mr Husselbee was unable to confirm current delivery performances but acknowledged he was talking to a lot of customers about products not arriving on time and offering compensation.
RISKY BUSINESS
“As a business if we shipped everything straight away, with the economy as it is, we would be putting our business at risk and people could lose their money.
“I would rather somebody have a delay on getting their product than risk them not getting it at all.
“We are asking for people’s patience but I don’t think that is unreasonable.”
He said the company had a water treatment advice policy; supplying starter packs free with every delivery. He said several members of staff were appropriately qualified to give water treatment advice including one of the partners, Simon Foster. He could not confirm what certificate of qualification they held.
The company, based in Staffordshire, from its ‘distribution centre’ holds no UK stock and imports directly to customers from its Chinese manufacturers.
Mr Husselbee said there were a high number of county court claims against the company because people have taken that route rather than talking to them.
Featured in the last issue of Pool & Spa Scene, Paula Blane has received a full refund on her swim spa at the end of a year-long rancorous battle with the company.
Even at the last minute, it looked as though a final settlement meeting would not end well. The police had to be called in as a stand-off between the furious swim spa owner and representatives of the Trade Price Group threatened to escalate when they arrived to pick up the swim spa from Ms Blane’s Lincolnshire home.
“It was completely over the top to call the police, I am not an aggressive man, but it is very much her attention seeking behaviour and I am glad to be rid of her as a customer,” said Mr Husselbee who went on to say there was nothing wrong with her spa that would be sold on as second-hand.
Although a Facebook group has been taken down, in case it prejudices any further action, Ms Blane and other consumers and Trading Standards offices all over the country are now actively sharing information.
Indeed the Pool &Spa Scene website has received a number of similar complaints. Other comments have come from hot tub retailers who have been called out to problem hot tubs from the supplier.
Ms Blane has used the money from her refund to purchase a replacement swim spa from nearby retailer, Mark Anthony of Spas and Landscapes (Lincolnshire).
ABOVE: With the police standing by in a dramatic last minute twist, Paula Blane has received a full refund from her Internet spa suppliers.
