Pool stores, devils and anti-christs.

[chem geek]

OTOH, Pool CHEMICAL companies ARE all those things!

Not all pool chemical companies behave the same either. The chlorinated cyanurate (e.g. trichlor, dichlor) manufacturers seem to "intentionally withhold materially important information consumers need to know to make informed purchase decisions" while the makers of PolyQuat and the makers of non-chlorine shock tend to be more straightforward. Then there are your alternative sanitizer folks...

[Poconos]

Richard you're absolutely right about makers of trichlor not being straightforward. I use the stuff when necessary and usually every few years I'll get a bucket, usually at Sams Club. There are two flavors, one is plain, the other is labelled as multi-purpose or something like that. The ingredient labels are virtually the same. Does one have copper or other junk in it? Would never know from the label. I would think they would HAVE to tell you but guess not. I always opt for the plain vanilla variety. Thought it worth mentioning again.
Al

[PoolDoc]

Even with pool chemical companies, the reality is more complex than many users here seem to believe.

As far as I know, only Olin (now, Arch), Monsanto and Biolab had true research departments. Arch was spun off, is not independent, and is not doing research any more. Monsanto has been out of the business for years. Biolab is doing research, but I think it has more to do with marketing, than pool chemistry.

Apart from these guys, the labels are "me-too" affairs.

Some of you'd be amazed at how utterly ignorant of pool chemistry some of the pool product process engineers really are. Their focus is all on MAKING and/or PACKAGING the product in a way that complies with all the regulators and makes the marketing department happy. They don't have the time or interest to do more.

At the base level, I don't think anyone is doing research into new or better ways. The pool industry is just not big enough, and the barriers to entry (thanks to the EPA and others) are so high, pool product research is a genuinely dumb investment.

So, most of the pool product makers are just packaging someone else's idea.

PoolDoc

[PBLsQuad450]

Have 3 pool stores in striking distance (I'm in Jersey, we do chemicals). One, I have not dealt with in any way for 10 years. Not a chem issue, a costly construction/repair issue gone bad. Of the other 2, one is criminal. I have written this in another post, but I actually had a guy swearing up and down that I really didn't know what I was talking about and Trichlor did NOT have CYA in it. "It is nothing more than slow dissolving chlorine." Said it 10 times. Sad thing is, he won. I gave in. That was well before PF but after a lot of other reading. Just killed my confidence. The third? A local Leslie. They drop test. They are generally accurate and honest. I have, many times, had them say, "everything is good, great, enjoy!" Had weird issues with them 2 times but odd, not an attempt to sell me things I don't need. Anyway, everything in perspective right. Thanks PF. Again, like I said in other posts, still need them for parts.