When shoppers are looking at purchasing bathtubs for seniors, Tub King doesn't often find ourselves having to consider price matching other companies as our biggest competitors (Safe Step, Premier, and American Standard) are significantly higher priced. In most cases our walk in bath products come from the same manufacturers but many of our competitors have a much higher overhead than Tub King does, which allows us to buy in large quantities to keep our costs to the consumer low. Recently, however, we found ourselves facing the realization that there is another walk-in bathtub competitor out there who is offering "below wholesale pricing" and is advertising "the lowest price in the world". I'm about to give them some free advertising. Call it comparative industry analysis.
The phone rings......
Potential customer states: "Yeah, I see you sell bathtubs for elderly persons and I'm looking at your Seaspray 202 Dual System on your website that you are selling with fixtures for $2894.95. I can get it from your competitor for $1995.00 but have to wait 3 weeks, can you price match?"
Price Match That?
Needless to say, following the call, research ensued and I present to you our comparative analysis.
Yes, their price is in fact $1995 for the Model 202 Dual System Walk In Tub. We were stunned a company would sell at such a low price point, their margins would have to be very, VERY thin. Tub King, Inc. takes pride in our price point to the consumer for it being a fraction of the cost of our previously mentioned major competitors but there are significant factors which push their prices so high and it is explainable. To have a competitor be a fraction of OUR cost, though, is perplexing from an outright "how does that business survive?" mentality; until we searched for their reviews and ratings.
Luxury Spas, Inc. has an "F" rating with the Better Business Bureau and it certainly does not stop there; ripoffreport.com and scambook.com are just a couple of sites filled with livid customer reviews.
To continue with our comparative analysis, here is what you will learn about Tub King, Inc.
As you can see, our customers love our products and it's not just about the walk in tub price. If you were to read each and every review you would find most of the compliments come from the beauty and quality of the tubs along with our phenomenal customer service. In full disclosure, we do have 1 negative complaint on Yelp which we responded to reminding the customer we had immediately addressed and resolved her issue despite the fact it was damage done by the freight carrier and not related to our product or services (we have since stopped using that freight carrier).
In comparing the senior bathtub prices in an "apples to apples" scenario; at the time the call came in to our sales office our Model 202 was $2894.95 with fixtures. Currently we do have a sale in which that model can be purchased, with fixtures, for $2460 (sale ends 3/31/16).
As the saying goes, "if its too good to be true, then it usually is". If you are getting a STEEP discount for something, beyond what is logical, there is a reason. We sell the same quality walk-in tub and ours not only comes with a wonderful warranty but also the personalized customer service experience and shipping expertise to ensure you are getting the item in a timely and undamaged condition. We all know things can go wrong from time to time but our staff is immediately responsive and customer-centric in our steps towards resolving whatever issues they may have, hence no complaints on the BBB and consistent 5 star reviews.
Don't be fooled by bargain basement walk-in tub pricing from competitors or you may be leaving negative reviews on rippoffreport.com!
Here at Tub King, we’ve been creating happy customers for
over 14 years. What makes our customers
so satisfied with their Walk-in Tubs? They
really help people ... oftentimes in ways that can sometimes be easily take for
granted. But when you’re older, giving
up freedom and dignity takes its toll emotionally and can be a challenge
physically. Conversely, gaining freedom
and dignity is liberating. Here’s a
true success story about JoAnne, one of our highly satisfied Walk-In tub
customers.
JoAnne purchased a Walk-in Tub from us at the suggestion of her adult children (one of whom is a physician), because they were very
concerned about her safety.
As we’ve discussed before on our
blog, there are well-documented statistics about accidental slips and falls
occurring in the bathroom, particularly among older adults. In fact, the CDC once mentioned in its report
entitled, “Nonfatal Bathroom Injuries Among Persons Aged ≥15 Years ―
United States, 2008”: “Approximately 80% of all bathroom injuries were caused by
falls, with the highest injury rates in the oldest age groups …
bathrooms commonly are believed to be a particularly hazardous location …
All persons, but especially older adults, should be aware of bathroom
activities that are associated with a high risk of injury and of environmental
modifications that might reduce that risk.”
The report’s findings were unequivocal: "For all ages,
the most hazardous activities were bathing, showering, or getting out of
the tub or shower. Approximately two thirds of all injuries occurred in
the tub or shower, and approximately half were precipitated by bathing or
showering, slipping, or getting out of the tub or shower.” (See our previous
blog, “Shocking
CDC Statistics About Bathroom Injuries – and What You Can Do to Prevent Them.”)
Back to our happy customer. JoAnne, probably in her late
60s to early 70s, had purchased a Walk-in Tub from us because she and her children were very concerned
about her well-being in-general and safety in the bathroom in particular. “I’ve
been extremely happy with it,” she says, while sitting on the sturdy ledge of
her handsome Walk-in Tub, which we installed to fit in with her pre-existing,
gray textured-tile, cozy bathtub “nook.”
JoAnne says she loves to take baths, and especially
enjoys relaxing in a deep-soaking bathtub. Her Walk-in Tub provides very easy
access and egress into and out of the bath due to its very low threshold and
water-tight door, which she very much appreciates.
Another reason she’s very happy with her Walk-in Tub is
because of its optional hydrotherapeutic features, such as bubble jets, air
jets and inline heater, of which her tub has all three. “I have arthritis all
through my body, and it’s incredibly soothing to anybody who has arthritis,”
she states matter-of-factly.
Several research studies reiterate our customer’s relief of
pain from her condition via hydrotherapy. As stated in an article entitled “Hydrotherapy
for Arthritis”:“Hydrotherapy can be a beneficial form of treatment for
individuals with arthritic conditions. During hydrotherapy, a person is
submersed in water, either to soak or to exercise. A hydrotherapist can
instruct a patient on the types of movements appropriate for his or her
condition. Hydrotherapy can be especially useful to treat the joint pain and
stiffness associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The painful swelling in
the joints that occurs with rheumatoid arthritis has been shown to decrease
with hydrotherapy… Hydrotherapy can also be effective in helping those
individuals with osteoarthritis (OA).”
After having her Walk-in Tub installed, Joanne had to undergo a total hip replacement. This is an in-patient surgical procedure,
whereby the diseased cartilage and bone of the hip joint is surgically replaced
with artificial materials. Total hip joint replacement involves surgical
removal of the diseased ball and socket and replacing them with a metal (or
ceramic) ball and stem inserted into the femur (upper leg) bone and an
artificial plastic (or ceramic) cup socket. As you may imagine, this
can be a very challenging and sometimes painful procedure to recover from,
especially for elderly adults who live alone.
Again, here’s where the low-threshold door of the Walk-in
Tub proved invaluable. “It saved me probably six hours of painful physical
therapy, learning how to get into a regular tub,” she says.
And depending upon her insurance plan, it may have saved her
hundreds, if not thousands of dollars in co-pay for that physical therapy, not
to mention the time, hassle and perhaps additional costs (gas, parking, etc.)
of having someone drive her to and fro the physical therapy sessions.
Furthermore, the Walk-in Tub’s non-slip floor and seat
functionally provide an additional element of safety while also contributing
to our customer’s peace of mind. “I feel totally safe standing up,” she states.
But don’t just take my word about it. See for yourself why Joanne is totally
satisfied with her Walk-in Tub.
JoAnne's Walk-in Tub Testimonial About Her Tub King Walk-in Tub, Part 1
JoAnne's Testimonial About Her Walk-in Tub from Tub King, Part 2
In this success story about Walk-in Tubs, I shared with you
highlights from one of the many testimonials we’ve received from our customers
about them. I included some key findings from a CDC study about injuries
sustained from falling in the bathroom, particularly for adults, the benefits
of hydrotherapy for people suffering from arthritis, and more.
If you have a comment, please type it in the Comment section
below. Of course, I encourage you to share this article with your
family, friends, and colleagues.
If you'd like to receive a FREE Walk-in Tub Buyers' Guide, simply fill out the form below.
Have a question? Feel free to contact me at the
number or email listed below and I’ll personally get back to you. Thanks
for reading; it’s been my pleasure to share this information with you.
Alan Knight is the owner of Tub King, Inc., and SeniorBathtub.com in Jacksonville,
Florida. He has many years of experience in the antique and senior bathtub
industries. His companies not only provide superior products, they are also
award winners, receiving the “Best of Jacksonville Chamber Award” four years
running. To contact Tub King directly, call (800)843-4231 or
email alan@tubking.com.
We here at Tub King have attended
many special events, such as annual Home & Patio shows, where we can show a
large audience the specialty tubs and showers we carry. Invariably, upon entering our booth, most
people are drawn to our Walk-in Tubs that offer hydro- or water therapy, such
as the Air-Jetted System or the Water-Jetted System.
We receive all sorts of inquiries
about our Walk-in Tubs such as: “Who is it for?” “What does it do?” “What’s the
difference between the various models?” “What are the different features?”
“Can you ship these outside of Jacksonville?” And a range of other questions.
Invariably, someone will ask, “How
much do they cost?” We pride ourselves in having the very best prices
available. This is usually followed up
with questions that pertain to the installation procedure and costs,
Let’s look at each one in
turn.First, who does the
installation?We recommend you have a licensed
plumber or contractor to do the work as it requires plumbing and possibly
electrical work.In several cases, the
customer has the skill and expertise to do it themselves, or they have family
or friends who can do the installation for them.If their bathroom doorway is too narrow to
get the Walk-in tub through, it could require widening the opening, so a
carpenter or contractor might also be needed.A one-stop handyman service is ideal because they usually offer all the
different skills in a single package price.
The second question arises about the
installation price.Installations are
solely dependent upon the amount of work that must be done and if there is any
special work that must be undertaken outside of the basic installation.A basic installation would involve taking out
the old bathtub (if there is one) and replacing it with the Walk-in Tub.The Walk-in Tub typically comes with an
extension or filler panel. That means if you have a 60-inch opening and your
new Walk-in Tub is 54 inches, it will fill in the entire space, making a shelf
behind the seat for soap, shampoo and towel.A basic installation would involve doing the electrical and the plumbing
work, and should in most cases cost less than $3,000.It could be as low as $1,800, if you shop
around. If the entire area around the tub has to be tiled, for example, then
that would be an additional charge.If a
new floor is required, that would be another charge as well.
The third installation question
involves the procedure itself.Let’s
take a look at each step.
Demolition.The first day is devoted to removing the old tub and making a clean
space for the new Walk-in Tub. If the old
tub is cast iron it will weigh approximately 400 pounds.If it is a garden tub, it will weigh even
more. After removal from the walls and
floor, the tub can be placed on furniture dollies and moved out of the
house.The tub is usually turned on its
side to get it through the doorways and hallways.
If the tub is a fiberglass shower
surround, it will be too large to go through a doorway.It will have to be cut into pieces using a
special saw and removed.The floor will
then be cleaned and checked for any necessary repairs.The next step would be water proofing the
walls around the tub, unless ceramic tile is already there.Some tile repair might be needed.
Arrival and
Pre-Testing/Pre-Measuring. The Walk-in Tub will be delivered by freight line in
a box with a skid.The larger ones will
weigh approximately 200 pounds, but two men can typically manage it.It will be important to inspect the box for
any damage (it is insured for shipping, incidentally).A necessary step is to measure all doorways
going into the house and into each room the Walk-in Tub must pass through
before it gets to its new “home” in the bathroom. Ditto with hallways, if you think they may be narrow. The Walk-in Tub is normally
30 inches wide or slightly smaller on some models.If the doorway is too narrow, door jams can
be removed to gain another couple of inches.Before entering the house, the tub should be water tested in a garage or
outside, if it is possible, for any leaks.Fittings can sometimes work loose during cross-country travel in a big
truck.Once everything is checked and
tightened, the tub can be set in place, and the drain and water lines can be
attached to existing plumbing in the bathroom.The good thing about the Walk-in Tub is that it stands on six steel legs
with levelers so it can be made perfectly level.
Electrical System. There are three possible
electrical components:An air pump, a
water pump and an inline heater. Each comes with a cord and plug and/or can be hard-wired. They require a dedicated circuit and a Ground
Fault Interrupter or GFI (GFI devices protect us from receiving electric shocks
from faults in the electrical devices used home. It works by comparing the
input current on the hot side to the output current on the neutral side.)All Walk-in Tubs run on 110 volts.The heater requires a 20 amp circuit and the
two pumps (air and water) can run off another 20 amp circuit.There are two panels on the front of the tub,
on either side of the door, that are magnetic and removable.This allows you to access the underneath area
of the tub even after installation.As
already stated, an extension or filler panel is available if you’re trying to
fill in a 60-inch opening.Once the tub
is installed, many will simply install a shower curtain, if needed, to keep
water off the floor while using the handheld shower sprayer.
If you’re not replacing a
bathtub, end panels are available that will cover either end of the tub.There are any number of ways to design your
bathroom around a Walk-in Tub, but the one described above is the most common.
Pre-Use. Make sure you or your contractor cleans
the rubber seal around the door when it is installed using warm,soapy
water. This will remove any debris that
might collect and interfere with the proper seal of the door.
Once the tub is installed, it
should be tested to make sure everything is working properly.
Now that your Walk-in Tub has
been installed, it’s time to enjoy it.You
can test the water temperature before you get in the tub and start to fill
it.There are about two inches of
threshold at the door that will allow you to get it started.Enter the tub at the door, sit down and
enjoy.The tub will fill quickly and you
can engage the air jets right away.When
the water jets are over the ports you can engage those too.The heater will work along with the water
pump to maintain a comfortable temperature.
As far as cleaning goes, we
recommend that use a non-abrasive cleaner such as Simple Green, which can be
found in most stores.Wipe the tub down
after each use.You should enjoy many
years of service out of your Walk-in Tub thus ensuring yourself a better
quality of life, especially every time you bathe.
In this article, I shared and
answered some of the most common questions we receive about the installation of
Walk-in Tubs. I discussed the details of pre-installation and current tub
removal (and/or demolition), preparing the pathway to move the Walk-in Tub, key
installation steps, recommended cleaning procedures and more.
If you found this article useful,
please share it with your family, friends and co-workers. If you have a comment
related to this article, leave it in the Comment section of this blog.
Thanks again for visiting with
us.
How Much Should it Cost to Have a Walk-in Tub Installed?
If you’d like to receive
a FREE Walk-In Tub Buyers’
Guide, click here. Have a question? Feel free to contact me at
the number or email listed at the end of this article and I’ll personally get
back to you.
Alan and Kerry Knight are the
owners of Tub King, Inc., and SeniorBathtub.com in Jacksonville,
Florida. Together they have many years of experience in the antique and
senior bathtub industries. Their companies not only provide superior products,
they are also award winners, receiving the “Best of Jacksonville Chamber Award”
four years running. If you’d like to contact them, call (800) 409-3375 or (800)
843-4231; or send an email to Alan@tubking.com.
Many are in the
market today for a Walk-in Tub. Seniors
especially, are becoming aware of the advantages of replacing the old, outdated
bathtub with something safer and more therapeutic. They look at the Walk-in Tub as the best
solution. After all, it eliminates the
danger of falling while stepping into a traditional bathtub. Regular tubs typically requires lifting
one's leg up 12 inches or more, and then placing a bare foot onto a slippery surface inside the old
tub. The Walk-in Tub, by contrast, has a
short, six-inch threshold and provides a sturdy rail to hold on to while going in
and sitting down. The floor of the Walk-in Tub is also slip-resistant. Once
a decision to purchase the Walk-in Tub has been made, the customer begins to look into its pricing.
In addition to the cost of the Walk-in Tub itself, there is another cost
that has to be considered, installation. Some people have the skills to do their own installation. Many of our customers were contractors
before retiring. If they have the energy and the ability to do the installation themselves, it can certainly
cost them less money. Oftentimes, there
is someone in their family, an uncle, cousin, brother-in-law or maybe just a good
friend who will help with the project. This can create considerable savings on
installation fees.
Customer Testimonial of Installed Walk-in Tub
But let’s say the
customer has to search for a professional to install their Walk-in Tub. Where to start? By calling a qualified plumber. They can certainly hook up the plumbing for
you and water test it. They may even
have an electrician on their staff that can do any electrical work. Most customers have a plumber they have
worked with before, one they trust and can count on.
Another choice would
be a general contractor. Many are
purchasing Walk-in Tubs for new construction.
They are having a house built, and find this the perfect occasion for
installing the Walk-in Tub. Usually the
contractor will give them a credit for the tub allowance, and will have his
subcontractors install it for new homeowners.
Some customers have
used a handyman service to install their Walk-in Tub. Check the phone book or go online, and
you’ll see several professionals who offer many different services, such as
carpentry, plumbing, electrical, tile, etc.
It is like finding a one-stop service to do it all.
Now we come to
pricing the job. How much does it cost
to have a Walk-in Tub installed? There isn't a one set price because every situtation is different. What is the actual work that
must be done? Let me mention some
variations that will alter the pricing of an installation.
Is there an old
bathtub that must be taken out? In most
cases there is. One complete day is
usually devoted to demolition. This
requires separating the plumbing, ripping out the tub, clean up and prep work, and
disposing of the old tub. If it is a
complete shower surround, it becomes a little more complex.
What Size Walk-in Tub Do I Need?
Will the installer
have to widen any doors? Most Walk-in Tubs
rest on a steel frame so they can’t be broken down into smaller pieces. If the tub is 30 inches wide, which most are,
then the doorway to the bathroom must accommodate that.
Usually, the technician can remove the door jamb to give them a little
extra room, but the width of the doorway is a consideration and could add to the cost to
the installation, especially if the entrance way must be widened even further.
Another consideration
when pricing an installation is how the Walk-in Tub will be trimmed out. Is there ceramic tile in the tub area
already? What exactly is left on the
wall around the old tub? The walls must
be protected against water. The
technician may choose acrylic panels, ceramic tile or some other waterproof
material to surround the new tub.
If the old tub was 60
inches long and the new Walk-in Tub is 54 inches long, what's to be done with the extra six inches? Most Walk-in Tubs will
come with a filler or extension panel that will complete this space. If not, the contractor will need to provide a
knee wall or shelf that can be constructed on the spot.
Have the installer
come to your home and review your situation.
He can take measurements and determine if there are any challenges out
of the norm. He should be able to give
you a price at that point. What could the installation
cost? The national average for installing
a Walk-in Tub without any surprises or extended labor or material costs, is
$2,500. The geographic region you live in can affect the price as well. Do your homework. Get a couple of estimates and you should be
fine. In this article, I
provided a number of things to consider when you're having a new Walk-in Tub installed. Many seniors are upgrading their bathrooms to take advantage of the safety
features of the Walk-in Tub. Especially since it addresses the number one
reason seniors end up needing 24-hour care, (i.e., falling in the bathroom). By
upgrading to a Walk-in tub, seniors have a much safer bathroom, allowing them to remain more independent,
and to retain their privacy and dignity.
Get our Free Walk-in Tub Buyers' Guide Today
If you found this article useful, please share it with your
friends and co-workers. If you have a comment related to this article, leave it
in the Comment section of this blog. If you’d like to receive
a FREE
Walk-In Tub Buyers’ Guide, click here. Have
a question? Feel free to contact me at the number or email listed at the end of
this article and I’ll personally get back to you. It’s been my pleasure sharing
this information with you.
Thanks again for visiting with us.
Alan and
Kerry Knight are the owners of Tub King, Inc., andSeniorBathtub.com in Jacksonville, Florida.
Together they have many years of experience in the antique and senior bathtub
industries. Their companies not only provide superior products, they are also
award winners, receiving the “Best of Jacksonville Chamber Award” three years
running. If you’d like to contact them, call (800) 409-3375 or (800) 843-4231;
or send an email to alan@tubking.com. Related articles
