The following conversation was found posted on a public internet message board;
07/27/02 11:00:31 PM
Spa Tech
The factory is about eight miles from where I sit. It is a cluster of run-down buildings that were once part of a now defunct lumber mill.(Anyone care for pictures?)
Most of the spas in production are stored outside, unwrapped in various stages of completion.
Between 18 and 24 months ago (I forget the date.) a fire broke out in the factory late one night due to an uncontrolled chemical reaction- the fire was extinguished by sprinklers.
The staff that assemble the spas are not all permanent employees- Many are contracted out from a temporary employment agency and have not had prior spa industry experience.
07/30/02 09:27:50 PM
Jim Arjuna
I don't see any importance about the Phoenix facility being a rebuilt wood mill. Is there some problem with that??? What does that have to do with anything other than a sort of interesting side line note? The factory is expanding. Nearly every time I go there I see more growth and more and more organization and it is clean. I watch the employees working and see no errors in the work methods. That is all I need and want. Do you think that because the spas are made in a rebuilt wood mill that there is some problem?
Every time I have been to the factory all of the shells are covered that our outside. If they are working on it outside, which is rare now, they cover it when finished.
07/31/02 03:58:03 AM
Spa Tech
The issue of workplace organization, safety, and presentation is significant. It tells clients, visitors, and vendors much about the character of the company and the attention to detail. When a workplace is unkempt and run down in can be taken that other details may go unobserved or uncorrected. Ultimately if enough details are overlooked the product quality could suffer- Either by mistakes made in the unkempt environment or by details being overlooked as the environment is reorganized. What does it say of a doctors office when you go in for a check up and observe dirty cotton swabs, used gauze, and a trash can that is overdue for dumping? Certainly, we'd question the doctors technical abilities if he cant keep his workplace clean and his facilities up to date.
The fire at the Phoenix factory supports my position. If chemicals are being mishandled, it is pretty likely that less volatile things are being mishandled as well."Every time I have been to the factory all of the shells are covered that our outside. If they are working on it outside, which is rare now, they cover it when finished"
They must be covering the spas for your benefit alone- Every time Ive been by the spas have not been covered by anything. I'll have the photos internet ready sometime tommorrow.
07/31/02 09:32:13 PM
Spa Tech
The picture above was taken about two weeks ago. It is of the north end of the factory looking south east. About 80 yards to the right and out of frame would be the main gate. This is what anyone would see in passing as the picture was taken from a public road.
Subsequently the following two posting were found on a message board just hours apart;
Date: 09/6/02 11:15:04 AM
Name: Jim Arjuna
What sort of low life would go behind our factory and take photos the the rejected spas, then publish them as if those were production models. (reminder: as stated by the service technician that took these pictures, "This is what anyone would see in passing as the picture was taken from a public road.")
In production models, the cabinet is the last thing to be installed, then it is wrapped. So obviously those are not production spas.
Date: 09/6/02 08:26:20 PM
Name: Jim Arjuna
Some wounded ego young punk decides to publish photos of returned spas. You have to remember that they build about 6,000 spas a year. (note: look closely at the spas, especially on the next page. notice that there is no insulation on them. Gee, customers must have stolen all the insulation before returning them?)
Rejects? Returns? You make the call!
Update -
From Rob Hamilton, a customer currently waiting for delivery of a Haven spa.
Hey spa tech,
...I assure you I am not Jim, nor am I a willing shill. My name is Rob Hamilton, and I'm waiting for my Springville. I live in Palo Cedro, about 10 miles from the Phoenix factory in Anderson. I'm a physician and work in Redding and Red Bluff.
You're right, there are many spas sitting without panels around the factory. I walked amongst them with Norville, the gentleman who toured me. That is where they put them until they move into the finishing area. They are apparently not rejects or blems, or so Norville said. I'm not uncomfortable with that. What do you expect them to do? Build a building to house these devices meant to live outside? In the winter their production is about half that of summer, and they have probably have fewer sitting outside.
Regards,
Rob Hamilton
***** comment from Spa Tech - "Interesting a practicing physician doesn't have a listing in the Redding or Red Bluff Yellow pages, don't you think?" *****
Topic: Answer the question, James - Why the name change??
From: James Arjuna
Date: Saturday, November 02, 2002 04:34 AM
Thanks for asking. The original photo was of the spas that were being rebuilt. Go take a look. They already have the cabinets in place with doors missing and so on.
According to the factory, they have finished them and sold them as blems to the locals without a warranty. I also contacted my friend in Red Bluff to go take a look at these spas. He actually sold a bunch of these spas at a fair.
I called Norville at the factory and he states that the spas now sitting in those areas in front are actually there in the testing area prior to being shipped. According to the factory, many of those are European models and they have to "bleach" them out before sending them. It is a requirement for Europe. They are covered each day. During the day they are constantly being moved about as well.
Rejects? Returns? Now European models in production? You make the call!
well, Well, WELL........ The saga continues............ Right here on...........................-->PAGE TWO<--