Choosehottubsdirect.com review: Fraud & Rip-off! 8

While in Afghanistan, my wife purchased a hot tub from Choose Direct on January 7th. The company told me the product would arrive in 14 weeks. The company's website had listed on their website that the were BBB accredited. They also told us that the Upon my return home, I called the company and asked them where my item was in shipping status. They told me June, which was way out of the shipping time. I called a week later and the services department told me July 31st, as the product was being shipped from China.

This prompted me to do more research. There are several listings on the internet stating that the company is not BBB accreditted and they use parts that are not in code with the CPSC (sometimes being dangerous or faulty). I called the company to cancel my order and I was informed that they would not cancel my order.

I have contacted the BBB and they stated that the company was not accredited and had a rating of "F". They have since removed their BBB seal from their website. I have contacted the SF DA's office. The NC DA's office, the NC CPO, the BBB, the Federal Trade Commissionand the CPSC. It seems that this company is fully aware of how to get by all obstacles. It amazes me how people like this are not in Jail, and allowed to walk around free. I would like to know what are my options.

On 7/17/08 I purchased a nirvana island escape hot tub online from choosedirect.com, invoice number 1155.for the amount of 4, 748.00 which I had to pay $500 by credit card and the remainder 4, 248.00 by check which I mailed direct to them.I was emailed and they told me they would follow up with me when it arrived in their warehouse. 8/18/08 I was called and said my hottub arrived but they had one slight problem, the cabinet I upgraded wasn't what they recieved also the wrong color, and wanted me to take it, said they would paint it, which I informed them I would not accept this one, I wanted the one I ordered, or they could refund my money, or reorder me another one, he said it would take another 7 weeks to get it shipped across seas, I told him that if that what it takes to get what I ordered then do that, I wasn't going to have something pushed off on me that I didn't order, he spoke with my husband and agreed to sent me $300 for my trouble, on 9/2 I still never recieved the check like he promised, so I emailed steve, the head man and he told me to be patient the check was in the mail, did not recieve the check until 9/10 . I recieved my hottub on 10/9 which upon filling it, the tub would not heat, the heater did not work, I called Steve and his associates and Steve told me it was no big deal, it was a minor thing, that I need to take the filter out and wash it and that it would heat, which I done like he said and still no heat, also the lines were leaking and I informed them of this as well, on 10/21 they were notified again that my spa is still not heating and if I didn't hear from him soon I was going to take it on myself to have it repaired and send him the bill, and that it was getting cold here and I was afraid that more lines would become damaged, if the heater wasn't soon repaired, they later did send a spa tech out, after several calls and the tech put a new heater in and still nothing, he said he thought it was the control panel that was the problem, I called back and talked to charles, steves trouble shooter spa tech and he informed me he would have to do some research and get back to me, still on hold I called steve again, and he told me again be patient and to clean the filter, by this time I know I'm getting the run around, no results.wanted me to get a plumber, which no one here would come out, said they would not touch the spa I informed him if something wasn't done soon I was going to report him I just want to be able to enjoy what I paid for thats all steve told me had a control panel he would mail it out, a week later still has not arrived, my son had called numerous times as well and he has got the same ole line.I called Charles again he told me to get a electrican to come and check it out they would stand good for the bill the electican spoke with charles and informed him it to was the control panel box, so Charles was going to order one and send it direct to me and have my electrican to repair it, on12/21 I emailed Steve to see what the status was on the box he said he would get with charles and review either him or charles would contact me the next day which didn't happen. 1/3/09 I emailed him again what was the status .My son spoke to charles and he said that they were having trouble getting the parts from Asia and didn't know when they would get them.Steve emailed me on the 4th of JAN, only because Sameer his associate called him and told him how upset we were and Steve told me he was going to put pressure on them I did later recieve parts from Charles, which is the only person who seem to really care about getting my hottub reapaired, but these parts failed as well, I have continueously gotten the run around, I have turned Choose Direct over to BBB and Steve would lie and tell them that my tub was under warranty and he would get ontop of it but as always another lie and as of today, it has been 17 months and still not able to use my hot tub It is a piece of junk using up my electricty The jet rings fall off and the the upgraded cabinet I ordered also one of the panels fall off it it and the spa cover threads have came unsewed and he said that this happens with wear and tear, but the problem is my family has never got to use it, so I dont know where he is comming from making this statement you have to be able to use something to have wear and tear. I CAN TYPE ON AND ON, BUT IT WOULD BE MUCH EASIER TO FORWARD YOU ALL CORESPONDENCE, WHICH I HAVE KEPT EVERYTHING AND CAN ALSO SEND A COPY OF WHAT HAS BEEN FILED WITH BBB FILE NUMBER [protected]...I WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A FULL REFUND OF MY MONEY WHICH I PAID FOR THE HOT TUB, and also my husband just recently passed away in Sept 09 and never got to sit in once and enjoy what we thought would be good therapy for his hip replacement that he had to have and for family recreation...HOW DARE STEVE BE ABLE TO SCAM PEOPLE LIKE US...

Same story differsnt customer. It took me an extra five weeks to get my tub and when it came the cover was the wrong color and broke, the steps are the wrong color, the TV remote was the wrong remote the cabinet was cracked, and on and on. Seven months later they still have not replaced my cover or steps. A few months after I received the tub one of the computer boards fried. I had to install the new one myself (what a pain)! This past Sunday the control panel broke which made the two breakers in the tub shut down. I live in Maryland; who new 50"+ snow this year with freezing temperatures, the heat is off. I stillhave not gotten a good answer as to when the new control panel will show up! They do not use many of the components in their brocheure (examples being the Spa Genie controal system and synthetic framing) The so called Spa Genie is nothing but an Asian nock off peice of crap! COMMUNICATION SUCKS! DO NOT GET TAKEN BY THIS COMPANY! Lisa their service representative is a nightmare, alway's has an excuse for everything! I dare for someone at Choose Direct to deny anything in this post! I have all of the back up e-mails to support all of my claims. Please push the issue so that I can make you look even worse! In my opinion you are scam artest praying on the public!

When I used Choose Direct it was the worst choice I could have made. I have read many other posts and thought that's my situation exactly. I don't need to add another. I think I will though. I paid for a tub and was promised an 8 week delivery. 14 weeks later I received a broken tub that did not have all the features I ordered. Now its been 23 weeks. Since shipment its been nothing but unanswered, unreturned calls, emails, passing the buck, etc. Local service techs won't touch the tub with a 10 foot pole because it came from a fly-by-night web site that deals in Chinese junk. The best thing that could happen is that these ratings will shut them down soon. Thanks Choose Direct. Usually I get a kiss first.

My 79 year old Grandmother ordered and paid in full for a hot tub back on April 21, 2009. Five months later and she still didn't have a hot tub. When she called to request a refund she was told she would receive by one of the customer service representatives. She was even given a check number and was told she would receive the check the following week. This was in August of 2009. When she didn't receive the refund check she called back to inquire what was happening. The hot tub still had not arrived and this time the rep told my Grandmother that the owner had decided my Grandmother was not going to get a refund. They said the hot tub would be delivered Sept 29. That date came and went and no hot tub, no refund and no phone calls or contact from the company. What is this company trying to pull? After months of trying to track their physical business location she was able to serve them and take them to court. She won her case in December but still has not received her money back. This company is run by scam artists.

I have under gone the same ordeal with Choose Direct.com. Your story sounds as if I wrote it myself.
I am now filing complaints with the Better Business Bureau, as well as American Express. They are both perusing this matter on my behalf. I am so fed up with this company and its crap I am fighting for a refund.
I was not aware that the tubs are from China when I bought mine, I did check with the BBB prior to purchase and saw it rated at an A- … seemed safe.
I want to also say, I buy hundreds of products for home and work use on the internet each year. I have never had any issues with any of the companies I’ve dealt with. Items that cost $4 to $6000 made no difference.
To the lady who said: "Spend a bit more and you'd have a good product" you’re wrong. Locally price is on par or slightly less actually in a few cases, I’ve done my homework. Choose direct makes their website seem top notch. You don’t suspect a thing and online sales help is so nice and informed. Everything is custom ordered to your specifications. They certainly don’t tell you their products are made in China or that they relabel them with new U.S. friendly name like Island Escape” Trust me, I fell for their crap and I am no dummy!

how can you expect something more from a company that does business like that with large ticket items? There's no way i'd spend thousands on an unseen product made in China. Be smart spend a bit more and you'd have a good (homegrown) product with good warranty support that would have a life expectancy over 5 years and you can soak all your stress away. you have my symapthy though, sell it and buy a Beachcomber, Sundance or Jacuzzi (in that order)

Seems bad service !