I am looking to buy a used Hot Springs Jetsetter and the owner said it came with the house and only has the original brocure and price quote from 2001. Only thing is, it does not look like the tub in the brocure.... how do i know that its actually a 2001? I'm thinking that the original owner may have gotten a quote and then bought a used one in 2001.

The main differences that i noticed from the picture from the actual is that the footwell wasn't as well defined... it was more flat on the bottom. Also, the controls on the outside were manual instead of digital. There was also no padded headrest. Also, the motomassage for the back was a solid opening instead of a series of elliptical openings. One last thing is the borcure describes the lighting as LED while this had a clear cover where you could replace the light (a typical corner house light) from the inside where the pumps are located. Any idea what year tub this is??

I dont think this guy is trying to trick me, i just think he really doesnt know and i want to know before i buy.

Oh, just to add to this... i saw a couple patch repairs with what looked to be plumbers putty, but he said that it didn't leak at all. Could this be a warning sign? Thanks for any input!

Beginining in 1999, Hot springs nomenclature changed...

Up until 1999, a serial number 1st had the model, a letter, possibly followed by a second letter if the tub had a quarite shell...

So a sovereign, model I, would carry the seral number: I281723 or, if it was quarite, IQ281723.

Where I is the model number, "Q" if applicable, the type of shell, 2 is the quarter, 8 is the year (1998), 1723 means the 723rd sovereigh off the assembly line that quarter.

This changes, albeit slightly in 1999, as the nomenclature would lead to duplicate serial numbers...as Hot springs could only use this system for a maximum of ten years.... (would the second 8 mean 1998 or 2008???)

So, instead of using a number to establish a year, they began using letters, and added several models that contained several; letters, so it became a little more difficult to tell.

The serial numbers today still begin with the model ( a letter, or several letters) followed by the quarter (either 1,2,3, or 4, duh!) and then the year in letter form, A=1999, B=2000, C=2001, D=2002, etc etc,) followed by the number off the assembly line that quarter (they add one thousand for no apparent reason to this number)

So, a 2001 Soverign would have a serial # similair to : IQ3C1027 (3rd Q 2001) or IQ2C2317(2nd Q 2001, made of quarite)

Hope this helps!

~Swine

i tried looking for a serial number and didn't see one... where is it located? Thanks so much for the help!

I was able find the dealer that sold the spa to the original owner and verified that is was a 1994 tub.... NOT a 2001.... He read off the serial number and you were right on! Thanks a bunch!

now, whether to buy or not... he was asking $500 and the sales rep said it was still worth that if it wasn't leaking... What are the chances that a pump will break soon (after 11 years) or that it will require a major repair??

If it's working now, no reason to think it won't be soon. Just check for leaks, be sure is has ZERO leaks, and make sure it's heating properly

Thanks for your help.... The guy agreed to come down a little, so i think i'll go for it... I dont think i can go wrong for $250 even if there are some repairs to be had... [hopefully not famous last words ]