DENVER, CO – With the rapidly growing population of seniors and mobility challenged Americans, making your existing bathroom safe and accessible is essential to living at home as long as possible. To fill this demand, several large profit driven national companies are spending millions on mass media marketing, celebrity endorsements, and national advertising in order to generate sales leads. These companies are not local, and can create a great risk to seniors who desperately need to invest in a walk-in bathtub.
The result is a very profitable business model, “reminiscent of the door-to-door aluminum siding sales techniques of the 1960’s” according to George Bentley, attorney and author of the book Killer Bathrooms. Seniors who respond to these ads are usually routed through an out-of-state call center and turned over to sub-contracted in-home “closers” who make the sale and get the contract. Installation is also most likely to be performed by sub-contracted handymen. “In my research, I discovered that high profits are generated by using lower quality products and accessories, charging the highest price the salesman can get, and then doing the very minimum work required to install the new tub”, says Bentley. Some even tell seniors they are local, when they are not, and use many of the high pressure sales tactics and tricks consumer laws were passed to prevent. This approach means these large national companies can put much more of their revenue back into expensive advertising campaigns.
“If the business goal is to make as much profit as you possibly can, it is a smart model,” he continues. “However, if your company is concerned about quality and customer satisfaction, it simply doesn’t work,” according to Bentley.
After experiencing first hand the costly results of these sales tactics, and helping many other seniors and their adult children trying to make a wise buying decision for a walk-in tub, Bentley decided there was a real need for someone to offer expertise and options to help meet this growing need. The result was the formation of Bentley Baths – Walk-in Therapy Tubs, based in Denver, Colorado. That was eight years ago.
Bentley Baths offers a different approach for seniors and their loved ones. A local, family owned and operated company with a huge showroom and hundreds of local satisfied customers, Bentley Baths is committed to education and providing the very best solutions to its customers.
This all started in 2006, when Bentley received a call from a widow who had bought a walk-in tub from one of the largest companies in this segment – Premier Bathrooms.
After seeing full-page print ads and a series of TV commercials, 83 year old Phyllis Bennett of Aurora, Colorado, thought a walk-in tub could help her bathe. “So I called them” she says. According to her, that’s when her troubles really started. “When the tub was finally installed, it was cracked and the door wouldn’t close properly. I never even bathed in it… it was a piece of junk!” Bennett says.
After seeing full-page print ads and a series of TV commercials, 83 year old Phyllis Bennett of Aurora, Colorado, thought a walk-in tub could help her bathe. “So I called them” she says. According to her, that’s when her troubles really started. “When the tub was finally installed, it was cracked and the door wouldn’t close properly. I never even bathed in it… it was a piece of junk!” Bennett says.
Ms. Bennett wanted her money back from Premier. After calling the city for apparent code violations, she was given a refund. But, they left her with no bathtub at all. By the time she had convinced George to locate and install a high quality walk-in bathtub that he purchased for her from Europe…Bentley Baths Walk-in Therapy Tubs was in the making.
What is the difference? First, Bentley put his name on everything he does. “It is not about my ego,” the nationally recognized expert explains, “these national companies and fly-by-night local companies hide behind corporations. I want my customers to know, they are getting my word and the very best for the price. I personally guarantee everything we do.”
“I really appreciated the Bentley Bath® certification…the construction is excellent!” boasts happy Bentley Baths customer John LaPorte. “If George puts his name on it, I know I am getting the best product and solution in the market,” says LaPorte.
Next, Bentley invested years researching the best products and installation processes. He earned his professional designations as a Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist, and as a Certified Environmental Accessibility Consultant. Bentley then added specially trained and company certified sales and installation procedures, and finally, a huge local showroom to display not only their products, but those of other companies in the market, as well.
Then Bentley added the unique distinction of which he is most proud. He researched the various manufacturing techniques, the American’s with Disabilities Act (ADA), universal design concepts and accessible living data. He then created a unique and exclusive line of accessible bathing products (not just walk-in bathtubs) that meet the ADA, as well as the customers’ unique needs. “Our products are unique, so much so that we were awarded a registered trademark for Bentley Baths®,” he explains. In order for any walk-in tub or other product to be considered a Bentley Bath® it must meet or exceed the stringent guidelines for safety and quality established by Bentley
“These national companies spend millions on advertising and are very hard for us to compete with” says Chuck Mueller, Financial Director of Bentley Baths. He decided they had to be different. “George’s mom always told him the best advertising comes from satisfied customers, so he followed her advice, and we focus on word-of-mouth advertising from satisfied customers” Mueller explains. “Of course we advertise, but nowhere near the level of these national competitors.” When the money a consumer spends is invested into the highest quality products and services available, “we can warranty everything we do, and we can always provide a much higher quality outcome, very often at a lower price. We just have to cut out much of the marketing budget” he says.
From what we can see, it seems to be working.
For more information, contact Bentley Baths at (800) 688-0055 or by email at info@BentleyBaths.com. The company website is www.BentleyBaths.com and contains extensive information and videos.