just saw an interesting guarantee...

[PoolDoc]

Actually, Carl, that's not true.

I'm better at figuring things out, than I am at following through with them. And, I've been a pretty poor manager in the past. My ex-customers locally could point out quite a few failings I'm afraid.

What would be good is a pool service with my knowledge, and someone else's skills at follow-through and management.

Oh, yeah, you also need someone to keep selling your customers on what they've got -- I lost numerous customers who had come to think it was completely normal for large commercial pools to be completely clear all summer long, and who believed that the salesman promising them "sparkley water" for less could actually deliver. The board members (I worked for LARGE commercial pools, which are usually supervised by a board or committee) who had sold the board on the "sparkely water", after being sold by the salesman, didn't come back in the fall, after the pool turned green 3x, and say, "Oops, we were wrong. We'd better call Ben back, even if he is kinda annoying!". That was a SERIOUS mistake I didn't even understand till it was mostly all over.

[CarlD]

I guess when the magic becomes familiar it breeds contempt. And the fast-talking "drummer" (to use a very old slang term) moves in like a hyena after a weakened wildebeast.....
I've seen slick sales people con people (including) me away from the best alternative, to their own product. Our current alarm service is worthless...and we were fools to sign up with them. At the end of 3 years, when the contract expires, they are GONE whether they like it or not--and they are a major "reputable" company. I've seen condo associations where people sweet-talked their way onto the board promising to protect the 400 homes in the association...and then concentrate on protecting their own, to the detriment of the 399 others. (We swore we'd never buy again where there was a mandatory home-owners' association of any kind, other than the town itself.

Carl

[BigDave]

CarlD;
There is a house across the street from me for sale. The property's not big (R75) and the local construction office is a bit of a PITA (they are protecting our town, I do understand) but...I'd like to have you as a neightbor - They've dropped their asking price more than 15%. Would you like to come by? We'll arrange a showing. We have no "Homeowner's Association" ( but we do like our town ). Nobody will hassle you if your grass is too long - but - if it's worse than mine, I might say something.

[BigDave]

PoolDoc,
You humble me.
I've read through countless incidents of you helping new posters ( who could have figured it out themselves if they'd only read the stickies ).
You help people who are otherwise helpless.
You do it with out the least bit of self-rightousnessness ( sp? ).
You have Mad SKillz ( that few see ).

Thank you

My 2 cents;
We all have clients that can / will never appreciate the gifts thery're given. You, more than many. I say: Thank You; for all of us.

BTW
If I could hire a pool service like Ben. I wouldn't even think about doing it my self.

[CarlD]

CarlD;
There is a house across the street from me for sale. The property's not big (R75) and the local construction office is a bit of a PITA (they are protecting our town, I do understand) but...I'd like to have you as a neightbor - They've dropped their asking price more than 15%. Would you like to come by? We'll arrange a showing. We have no "Homeowner's Association" ( but we do like our town ). Nobody will hassle you if your grass is too long - but - if it's worse than mine, I might say something.

What is this, a gag? I have not expressed any desire to move or buy another house. I've never managed to make money buying or selling a house. And I'm not moving my pool!

Carl

[Watermom]

Now that would be cool to see --- a pool being moved down the highway! I've seen houses moved, but never a pool. Carl --- you might even make the news!

[PoolDoc]

Happens all the time with fiberglass pools!

[waterbear]

Happens all the time with fiberglass pools!

Even more fun to see them being lifted over a house to the back yard by crane!

[Watermom]

Happens all the time with fiberglass pools!

Yeah, well ................. if Carl's AG pool gets moved down the highway, I want it to be still full of water with him and his boys swimming in it!

(I don't even think Carl has seen this thread since we starting planning his 15 minutes of fame!)