Fast Good Reasonable Liner?

[Poconos]

Pooldoc and Waterbear ranted yesterday in another thread, now it's my turn.

My thoughts have been festering for awhile now and this thread is the trigger to post.

Poolsupplies.com was recommended for a new AG liner a couple times in another thread. Buyer beware, and this probably applies to all online sources.

-- Order with Leisure was placed via phone and not on the web. 24' AG liner.

-- Be aware that on their website they use the term 'gauge' when referring to liner thicknesses. Guess I was just uneducated but gauge doesn't mean mils. I assumed it did since their use of the term 'gauge' is opposite to its use in defining metal thicknesses. In metals, lower gauge = thicker metal so I assumed since 25 gauge is thicker than 20 gauge...and more $$, that gauge = mils thickness. Talking to Leisure Living their 25 gauge equates to 21-22 mils. 20 gauge is around 16.

-- Shipping. They ship FedEx. Stinks. FedEx apparently uses contract drivers and in this one instance we think the driver didn't want to drive up a 1 lane road so just stated they couldn't find the address. Come on FedEx...this was a regular city street address, not an obscure rural route. My friend had to drive 50 miles to get the liner at the FedEx depot.

-- Because of this Leisure did refund the $25 heavy shipping charge that wasn't made clear at time of purchase.

-- Liner pattern chosen from the website was Leisure Tile. Box had a 'Leisure Tile' sticker placed over the manufacturers pattern which was really a Boulder Swirl. Close but not the same. Again, person on the phone never mentioned this. BTW...The LT pattern is still shown on the website.

-- Liner was picked up on a Thursday night because installation was scheduled for Friday. Next, installer said this isn't a 25 mil. That's when we find out 25 gauge is 21-22 mil. OK. Close enough.

-- Couple weeks later I get a sample of the liner. Put a mic on it...16 mils. Another phone call. I recorded the call, and informed the tech guy the call was being recorded, and received his approval. Box had a BS-025 code as part of the number. Assumed Boulder Swirl, 25 gauge. Now the excuse is the manufacturer packaged the wrong liner, a 20 gauge. They refunded another $30. I wonder how many other boxes have the wrong liners?

Lessons Learned:
Before buying liners online, or from anywhere, ask specific questions about thickness, patterns, shipping, substitutions, and anything else you may not be certain of. Never assume the person on the other end of the phone knows any details. Before installing or taking it fully out of the box, measure the thickness and verify it's what you expected. Read the companys substitution policy carefully, if there is one. This is their way out of these issues.

We made some mistakes on this liner replacement project but the bottom line is it looks good and the warranty on the liner will outlast the pool. Sick part is the same liner could have been purchased at a local poolstore for about the same price.

Gee...I feel better now.
Al
(ajs-1)