Doughboy or Esther Williams????

Hello again,
This site states right on the pool page, what the different pirces are for each pool and the size. No surprises w/ this company. Remember this is internetsales, there is NO INSTALL. http://www.sunenterprises.com/abovegroundpools.htm
Now, I called them and told them that I really like the 2 "top of the line" pools that they sell BUT that I also am in contact w/ another company who sells the Artesian pools that are 36' round. SOOOO.. the lady said that last season they sold those exact same pools and that she would see if she could special order me one!

Here is the link to the *other* pool site that sells Artesian. This seems like a nice site/company to buy a pool from- if you can get past the busy signal on the phone. http://www.poolplaceonline.com/pools.aspTHEY DO NOT HAVE prices on their site, you have to click the link to ask for a quote or call them.
They did email me a quote for their 2 most expensive pools-
The Diamond Crest 36'Round = $5299.00
The Emerald Isle is sold out of the 36' round so, they quoted me for a 30' round = $3799.00.
Both of those quotes included their package deals- you know, cheapie ladder, filter/pump combo and a cheapie cleaning kit ect. ( can't remember if shipping was included on those or not).
I didn't get a quote from them on thier Echo Canyon. But I will call them- Againn on Monday and hopefully talk to a real person and get some prices- right from someone's mouth instead of thru email.

Now like I said these are internet sales - no leveling no install.

We are lucking out on the leveling. We are very good friends w/ the owner of and excavating business and he has done allot of work for us.

I did go to the local pool dealer here- Topeka, Kansas. They sell Doughboys!
Whoo hooo I was excited. I have Nooooo problems getting a Doughboy.
I ran in to get some CYA reagent ( they didn't know what i was talking about so they gave me some tablets . I wanted the drops) anyways I chatted w/ the head sales guy and he gave me a broucher and I went home. His prices are as follows:
Desert Spring:
24'round = $4575.00 pool&kit + $1850.00 install = $6425.00
28'round = $5145.00 pool&kit + $2100.00 install = $7245.00
32'round = $5820.00 pool&kit + $2300.00 install = $8120.00

There is another pool dealer here that only sells Cornelius Pools. Don't know anything about that manufacturer.

So that is why we are buying online.

http://www.sunenterprises.com/platinumpools.htm
Can sell us a Wil-bar 33'round for 3649.00 pool&kit. And they will toss that kit out the door and work w/ me on a kit i like better.
And they are looking into getting me a quote on an Artesian 36'round.
We will end up paying very little for the leveling (friend of the family doing it).
And we will be assembling the pool our selves.

Your quote of $7118.00- what brand and size pool is that for?

Now, I don't know if I am supposed to be talking about prices/quotes. If that is a *no-no* please someone tell me.......
If i broke some rule i apologize, please don't throw me into purgatory.:(

i am just a newbie here too. So it's not like i really know what i am talkign about when it comes to serious pool talk. We are just on the hunt for the perfect pool for our family.

~Hoffmans

I have a 24' round Desert Spring that I put on layaway last year and had installed this year. We are very happy with it. The 7K price you mentioned seems high to me - you mentioned 30 feet but from the brochure, the rounds are either 28' or 32'. You might want to go to the Doughboy website and see if there is another dealer in your area so you can call and get a price comparison.

The installation fee quote from the previous post was almost double what it cost me. The installation included site leveling (to a max of 12" off) blocks and sand. They were in and out in 3 hours.

Peter

Hoffmans, Prices are an important part of the buying process. I think your research is a great value for many others that are in the market.

I agree with the pp that the Doughboy prices are very steep. I charge $500.00 to install a 24' pool. This does not include sand or electrical but does include all the ground prep.

I could buy that pool from a local store here, wholesale, for about 3000.00. If I added my 500.00 install fee and a couple thousand travel charge, I could come do it and still save you money. Kidding of course.:)

Thanks for posting all of you usefull findings. I am sure they are helping many.

Dennis

ok, went to another pool co. today. Now I am leaning more towards the 27' esther williams pool. The price is better, and the walls are aluminum not steel as is w/ the doughboy. I am still tinkering with which one, but I am now REALLY confused, although leaning towards the EW. It is the "classic" pool w/ gray decor on the side.
Anyone have any input? I would greatly appreciate it.

ok.......here's what I have to decide between:
The 28" doughboy w/ 52" walls......the desert spring w/ steel walls/resin caps
$7110.49 + pool krete ($1400) = $8510.40 OR
$7110.49 + heavy plastic over sand ($6-700) = $7710.49 or 47810.49
W/ this the barracuda, maint kit., solar and winter covers, 1.5HS pump,filter,skimmer,light,install,ladder,$30 worth of "start up" chemicals.....to get me going

The Es. Will.'s pool is 27" w/ 52" walls made of aluminum..it's the "CLASSIC" pool
$6711.69 includes instal,pool, 1.5 hs "jacuzzi" pump,225 sand filter w/ sand, sand bottom w/ PPB 400 (hard plastic w/ styrofoam coves to round out the bottom where the wall meets the floor., installed light,baracuda w/ xtra hose, winter cover only .....solar cover $139.99 extra. and no start up chemicals......so in addition to the 6K cost above the 4-6 wk start up package is $149.99.............I don't think I need to list all that is in that, but there are 7 different items w/many of each.
Give me some votes please?
the e/w folks can have it in they SAY about 2 wks if not much rain and the Dough. folks say about 4-5 weeks from now.
My original intent was to wait,buy this fall , install next spring.

tracyb
Are those quotes from your local dealer?

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i2...re/consbar.gif
Dennis!
ahhhh.. don't be a pool tease!

You must have read my mind because I had thought about how much it would cost me to fly you and your wife up here, put you guys up in the Residence Inn for 2 nights and have you two do our install...... But I decided my husband would think i had finally fallen off my rocker. He is all man and would have taken it personally - as though I thought he wasn't capable enough to put our pool up. But I am sure we can pull it off by ourselves.


Anyways looks like tracyb is close to deciding which pool to get.

Meanwhile, I am going to go to the doughboy website and drool over the decks.
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i2.../emotwave1.gif

~Hoffmans

Tracey,

Both prices seem high to me - I don't know if that is related to where you live or not but in the northeast, the 24' round Desert Spring was less than 4500.00 for pool, pump, ladder, manual vac, hand skimmer and installation (not including water or electrical work). I would figure about another 500.00 for the 28' size so I would think you should be closer to 5K rather than 7K. Dennis seems to have the same thoughts as well.

There have been a few people on the forum who have the Artesian echo canyon pool and seem very happy with them. You might want to check out their website and find the local dealer to you. Get a price and find out if there is an installer in your area that is familiar with these pools and see if you can get a quote from them also. You can either use that information to try to negotiate a better deal with the EW or Doughboy dealer or go with the Artesian if they won't.

Peter

I don't have either one but could recommend the Artesian brand. We chose this brand because of the 54" pool wall and lifetime non-prorated pool warranty. We liked the Echo Canyon as it was a hybrid steel and resin pool. Seemed to have the best of both worlds.

Newbie here. Had to chime in.
I just had an 18' EW installed this past weekend. Classic series like you're looking at. I looked at DB and thought the steel idea was a bad idea. So far the pool is filling, but I'm happy with the overall pool. It's nice looking and seems steeeerrty.

Good luck.

gpshemi