Our cast iron tub is a Toto, which apparently isn't being sold residentially any longer (just their tubs). We do have a Kohler cast iron shower pan and it seems very well-made. It's in our guest bathroom, so normally does not see much use. However, DH and I used it from April of last year, until this past September while we were renovating our other two bathrooms, and it held up beautifully.

I would not give it up at this point. Ask the plumber to get his wholesaler into it again - they likely have more pull than a single person buying a single tub. They were willing to replace the entire tub for him, at the very least they should be willing to do what they said they'd do before. I would question the wholesaler as to whether or not this tub was actually brand new and not a return. The first thing I thought of when you said there were spider cracks around the drain is that someone had overtightened the drain (my shower base manufacturer warned me that if you get a "gorilla" for a plumber this can sometimes happen). If you're sure your plumber didn't inflict the damage, I would suspect that the tub had been installed somewhere before. Alternately the tub could have been damaged somewhere in transit - again this should be an issue the wholesaler should be able to take up with their shipper. I'm half wondering if the wholesaler didn't even take it up with kohler but rather was going to do the swap for you just like that because it's easier. Ultimately you will decide how much effort you want to want to expend to get whoever is responsible to pay for the fix. It could be the wholesaler, it could be the shipper, it could be a manufacturing defect. Everyone is going to want to pass the buck on it too, but I'd keep after the plumber and wholesaler because I think it is more likely damage than a defect. At the same time you might want to tell Kohler that you want someone out there to SEE the defect (be careful not to say the word "damage") and actually make a determination about whether it is a defect or not - because surely they can't do that over the phone. Ask to speak to a supervisor if necessary. It sucks that you are dealing with this with your brand new tub though :(.

I've finally convinced my husband to rid the bathroom in our new house of the blue tub and floor and the wall tile that has been reglazed from pink to white but I've been having second thoughts about the tub. The wall tile is dingy and now the finish is peeling in places. It just looks awful. Honestly the tub is in decent condition, but it's blue. I can't stand the color and we're only going to rip all this stuff out once, so I need to decide - do I replace it or would it be totally crazy to reglaze it? I *think* it has already been reglazed once from pink to blue. If so, the finish has lasted since 1985 and looks totally fine. I just can't imagine that they replaced the tub at that time and reglazed the existing tile so it would seem as though the tub was also reglazed. I hate the mysteries that come with buying a house like this! Anyway, we are doing this remodel on a budget, but with the goal of increasing the value of our house. I want a decent tub that's going to be used for bathing kids and for everyday showers at least until we get the master bath done (possibly 6 months or so). It will be the only tub in the house, so a deeper tub would be nice. I don't think we can really afford a deeper cast iron tub, but will we disappointed with a less expensive acrylic tub? What should we look for and how much do we reasonably need to spend. Installation is diy with a licensed plumber in our family who is helping us. To give you an idea of where we are headed and why I think the blue tub has to go, the vanity, mirror and wall cabinet will be white (Lowes Chesapeake that I found for less than 1/2 price on clearance) with a stock HD beige granite vanity with the already attached undermount sink. Floor tile will be neutral as will the tile on the tub surround. We will replace the tile on the walls outside the tub surround with white beadboard. New toilet will be white.

I had an acrylic pedestal tub in my last home, it was beautiful but it did not retain heat as long as I would like. Also it had to be reinstalled and I think they put some type of foam/cement in the base and then it did not budge at all. I also need to make a decision on a tub in the next two weeks and I will likely go with a pedestal acrastone tub ( American Bath Factory Nob Hill) . My first choice would be a victoria albert elwick if I had the space, I need 60" and I can not find a pedestal style I like in a 60" length with this company. Please post what you decide to go with.