Watermom's New Pool Adventure

[Watermom]

I was grumbling about this to Ben, Janet, Carl and Al. Ben suggested I post it on the forum, so here is my saga.

What a pain it is to find and buy a new AG pool. I'm in the market to replace my pool this spring. Planning to buy a 27 ft with 54 inch walls this time. (Current one is 24 ft and 48 inch.) The local pool store that I usually frequent has what appears to be a very nice pool but only offers one liner pattern as "part of their package." I don't like the pattern and the lady says that is the only liner they will put with it. So, I guess they don't get my business. There aren't really too many pool stores locally. The other one close by that I know of is more into spas than pools and they don't always come across as too knowledgeable.

I guess one option is looking and buying online. The pool store gave me the name of the guy who does their installations. We talked with him the other evening and told him we probably weren't going to buy from the store due to no liner choices, but wondered if he would be interested in doing the installation anyways. His reply was that he only did their installations, so, no, not interested. So, now I also have to find an installer.

Gee. This is fun.

[kelemvor]

Sounds like an exciting time for you! What part of the country are you in?

[CarlD]

Watermom is in WV. I'm surprised the pool store didn't just say: "Sure we can do it, but we'll have to charge an extra fee." Around here you can't turn around without hitting SOME pool store. And where I used to work, along Rt 22 in the Greenbrook area there are about 6 pool stores, down from 8.

[Watermom]

So, I went back into that same store this afternoon. Told her that I was not interested in buying her pool package if I had no liner choice options. She came up with 2 others but I didn't like any of them either. There was a book of sample liners on the counter. I started looking through it. I found one I really liked.

Pool store lady: "No. That is only for inground pools."
Watermom: "Will they ever custom make one out of that liner for an AG pool."
PSL: "No. They never will. It is only for inground pools.
WM: "What difference does it make if it is custom ordered for a particular size whether it is going in an AG or IG pool? It is just a piece of vinyl."
PSL: "No. It is only for an inground pool."
WM: "Well, then I guess I am not interested. I don't want to spend this much buying a liner I don't like that I will have to live with for many years."

About that time, the pool store owner arrived. Says he, "Yes, they can custom make an AG liner for you in any size you want, but it will cost you more."
WM: "If I do a custom order, will you credit me for the 'package liner' that I will not be using?"
Owner: "Yes, I will buy it back from you and just charge you the difference."

WM: "Ok. Let me write you a check."

Problem solved. He says it will take about two weeks for the liner to come in. That gives me time to call the installer man back and say that we are buying a pool from that store after all so go ahead and put me on the schedule for an installation job. It will also give me time to take down my existing deck that goes around the perimeter of my pool. Since I am buying a 27ft and currently have a 24 ft, the arc of the curve of the deck will not line up. After the new pool in installed, we'll build a new deck.

Getting anxious for swim season!

[CarlD]

Way to horse-trade, WM! The clerk doesn't care about a lost sale, the owner does!

[UeckertRN]

Those kind of sales people make me soo mad.... The first pool I was going to buy only came with one liner. The pool I decided to buy had many choices and I got an upgraded liner for $100 more. I'm excited! I can't wait to see your pics!! I will post mine too! Our dilemma now that we have the pool chosen is decking material.... Staining & sealing it.

[BigTallGuy]

Hi Mom, The moral of this story that the pool store needs to learn is, NEVER UNDER ESTIMATE YOUR OPPONENT. They obviously didn't know who they were dealing with.

Good Job Mom!

[Watermom]

They obviously didn't know who they were dealing with.

That's right! Never mess with Mom!

[Watermom]

OK. So, today is a bright sunny day despite being a little cool this morning. Supposed to be mid-50s this afternoon, so should be a pleasant afternoon for working outside to dismantle the existing deck. My deck is built to curve with the pool, but since we are replacing the 24 ft AG with a 27 ft AG, the arc of the curve won't match up with the new pool. So, today the old deck comes down. My three little golden retriever girls wanted to help ........... but, apparently nobody else thought they would be good workers, so they got left behind on the main deck beside the house with the gate shut.

Now, if I could just get that pool installer to return my phone calls! Three phone messages left with no call-backs. Not getting the warm fuzzy ..........

[Watermom]

Called my pool store back yesterday afternoon to let them know that I still had not heard from the pool installer guy. (He is not a pool store employee, just an independent guy that they have referred many customers to in the past few years. They say he does really good work, though.) At any rate, after having called them mid-week to tell them I couldn't get a hold of this guy, they, too tried to reach him and left him a message saying either call me or call them back. He didn't return their call either. So, they gave me the name of somebody else that they use and that guy called me back about 15 minutes later and was at my house a half hour after that taking a look and giving me an estimate. So, if my pool and liner which were ordered a week ago arrive around Thurday of this week which they think will happen, then we are on the schedule for this guy to install the new pool next weekend. After working most of the day yesterday and out there again today, my old deck is almost totally dismantled.

(I'm glad they got me on the schedule so quickly. I normally get my equipment hooked up by now and start chlorinating as our weather gets warm pretty early and I don't want green water. Since I'm getting ready to dump the pool, it seems a waste to go to the trouble to hook up the equipment and start dumping bleach in but my pool is getting a slight green tinge. Hoping it doesn't get too bad by next weekend, but temps are supposed to be in upper 70s so I expect by next weekend, it will be pretty green and yucky! I have a feeling I'll end up throwing some bleach in there cuz I just can't stand to see it turn green!)