SAN FRANCISCO, Ca., May 22 – So you fell head-over-heels for that cute hot tub at that ski lodge last month, but your budget’s warning you against a long-term relationship. Hot tubs are for the jet set, right? Wrong… Mercantila Does Affordable Hot Tubs!
How did Reaganomics help that achin’ back? In the Beginning Okay, in the way beginning, you needed to scald your rear on a hot spring or volcanic vent to find yourself on hydrotherapy’s cutting edge. Then you had to be 8-year-old Ken Jacuzzi, whose rheumatoid arthritis inspired his dad, Candido – one in a family of immigrants chasing the American Dream – to invent a pump in 1958 that propelled a curative mixture of air and water. As hot tubs caught on in the 1960s and 1970s, you needed to be loaded to buy one, friends with a hotel manager to steal a dip in one, or a handy boat-maker with excess fiberglass on hand to make one yourself.
The New Wave of Change The consumer frenzy of the 1980s, with its Bacchanalian lust for the finer things, needed a symbol. And that symbol was the hot tub – flashy lights, soft-core charisma, and all. Everyone wanted one, which meant the market had to adjust by offering prices and models accessible to a much wider audience. Suddenly hot tubs were affordable – and the sneaky little bonus was that the hedonists were getting health benefits too.
What’s In It For You? Price. Portability. Pre-assembly. Plug-in power. Today’s hot-tub market has products to fit almost any budget and setting. You don’t need an electrician, a tool kit, or a spare mutual fund to address physical issues ranging from tension headaches to stubborn cellulite to diabetes. Trust us. We’ve done our homework on this one. You really can improve your life without remodeling your home or destroying your budget. Meet your match: We’re not saying every hot tub is for you – you have your standards, and we have ours – but we make it our business to use our expertise to find you a perfect match. See which of our recommendations strikes your fancy:
| Top gun: Dream Maker X-Spa-Dition; $2,499 |  | We save our most enthusiastic recommendation for this perfect blend of value and indulgence that seats four, features 10 full-strength jets, come fully pre-assembled, and plugs into any standard outlet. | | Top saver: Smartub 170-2; $1,298.99 |  | One of the market’s unsung heroes, this clever little package provides supreme durability and convenience, full-strength jets, and computer-controlled precision. | | Top shelf: Diamante Swim-Spa Grand Canyon II; $14,999 |  | Winning lottery ticket to burn? Set your sights on this massive aquatic paradise, a 10-seat, 2,000-gallon spectacle with a sound system and built-in mister for post-soak cooling. | | Topsy-turvy: 6-Foot Spa-N-A-Box; $1,199 |  | The crazy uncle of the hot tub family is the easy-up, easy-down wood-like wonder from Comfort Line. Readily distinguished by its redwood façade, floor seating, micro-jet system, and ultra-quick assembly, the Spa-N-A-Box ($1,199) has built a large and dedicated following. | |  | Save & Share |  | Hot prices on Hot Tubs! $75.00 off any Hot Tub over $1,000. Enter Coupon code S8KS3J at checkout. Coupon valid through 4/28/2006 at | | | | | Clearance |  | Smart price, SmarTub! Save nearly $700 and get free shipping. Navy Blue and Walnut Brown colors only while supplies last. Offer subject to change at any time. | | | Top Brand | DreamMaker Based in Pensacola, FL - the hotbed of hot tubs! Dream Maker redefined the market for casual home-use hot tubs. Every model in the line has a standard 110-volt power cord and one-piece construction. No assembly. No wiring. Made in the USA. Winner of Pool & Spa awards. What a dream. Make your dreams come true at… The Dream Maker Store | | | Penny For Your Thoughts? | We sell a lot of stuff. Is there any particular line of products that's always mystified / fascinated you? (Go on, admit it. We're retail freaks. We're into this.)
Tell us why you're so curious -- give us a good enough story, and we'll give you the inside scoop. (Nobody wants pennies these days anyway.) Send your reply to readers@mercantila.com | | |