Sauna Review

I had a bad experience with this company, Saunakits.com in Ontario, Canada. The salesman I talked to hardly let me get a word in edgewise and his 'know it all' attitude, I found offensive.

I ordered a 10' barrel sauna kit (a 4' changing room + 6' sauna room) with a rear window installed. But they neglected to install it and I didn't know it until after they had shipped it and had my money. They said it was a 'misunderstnding' and I could get a local carpenter to put one in. They said they did not charge me but I had no way of knowing that because their pieces are not listed with the costs, I had to take their 'word' that I was not charged ($180).

Their website said I would get (of course the prices are not given) a metal bucket and ladle. I got a small wooden bucket with a plastic bottom and a wooden ladle. The temperature gauge was a cheap wooden thing with Centigrade degrees marked on it. The sand timer was a cheap twirling thing with 15 minutes of sand. No pictured were shown of these items. The wooden floor board cracked when my wife stepped on the end of it (she's only 5'2", 120#). I could have bought better accessories locally and probably cheaper.

The heater was a Tylo from Sweden which was back-ordered but I didn't know that until they got my money. It was delivered to my house with broken pieces. When I emailed the company with questions, they never answered me (they already had my money before they would ship the sauna kit). Note that you will need an electrician to install 220V wiring before you can use the heater. Note that the interior lights also need an electrician to wire them with 110V. I could have bought better lights locally and probably cheaper.

Delivery was late by 1 week. They didn't know how it was going to be delivered to my house. They told me I would have to go pick it up because the carrier they chose to ship it with did not provide home delivery (it weighs 1400# and is 4'x4'x10'). Later when I personally talked with the local carrier they said 'oh sure, we deliver it to your house'. When I told the salesman he said I would have to have 3-4 people there to take the crate apart and unload the pieces. But when the truck got here it had a lift gate on it and they just sat it on the ground in front of my house.

The instructions were 5 copied pictures stapled together, of another sauna. Little actual instruction was included. The sauna came with 2 1" holes predrilled into the floor. I emailed to ask what they were used for and I never got an answer. I presumed they were drains but could have been used for wiring so that's what I used them for. Their actual use was not shown in the instructions.

So be careful. You don't know what you are getting until it is delivered and they have your money. Prior to this company, I had ordered a sauna kit from another company, Callaway Woodworks in Houston, TX. This company took half of the money up front (same as Sauna Kits above) $3500, notified me by email it was ready to ship, then I never heard from them again. The phones were disconnected and email was not answered. I had to go to my VISA company and get their help to recover my funds. So be careful about sending thousands of dollars to another country like Canada.

I regret doing business with both of these companies. That's my story.
Garron Woodruff
Denver, CO