AZ Pool Stuff
07/08/22 6:49 PM
On the fifth of July, I called AZ Pool Stuff and got a quote from Randy the owner f,or the past 2 years, what he would charge to install a spider gasket on my Pool multi-port valve and have a valve/union/part installed for a leak in the top of my pump. The price was agreed.
At noon today, Sal came do the repair. I took him to my pool house. I then proceeded to watch Sal work on the gasket. He told me he didn't like people looking over his shoulder and he didn't like people watching him work. I backed off and walked outside for about 10 minutes and then walked back inside the pool house and sat on the opposite side of him working. After he finished screwing the top of the valve, I asked him which direction the gasket went into the valve, smooth side up or down. He did not answer.
After finishing the gasket, he went back to his truck to get a Sawzall to cut the pipe to repair the pipe leak from the threads above the pump. I again asked how he handled the gasket. He mentioned silicon and I asked him how long should I wait before using the pool equipment; did it need to dry for a day or could I start it now. He did not answer. I then asked him where the valve (hi-temp valve) would go on the down-pipe to the pump that Paul at the store (AZ Pool Stuff) said would be needed for the repair.
Sal told me he would repair the leak. I asked him how. He told me he was not there to answer questions, just to fix the problem. I again asked him how he was going to fix it so I could dismantle the pipe to add Teflon tape to the threads should it ever leak again. He told me he didn't answer questions, and he would not be teaching a class. I again told him that I wanted to make sure that what I envisioned was what he intended to do to fix the leak. He told me he was not there to answer questions, but to make the repair. I again told him I wanted us both to be on the same page and he said he was not there to make any decisions, just to make the repair.
I rephrased my question and ask what was he going to be doing to fix the leak, to help me understand prior to him doing something that would not meet my desire in the future to add Teflon tape to the threads should they ever leak going inside the pump.
I told him I wanted us to be in agreement before he started the repair so both of us would be on the "same page". Sal told me he couldn't work in "these conditions". He would not answer my two questions and asked me to leave the pool house. I told him, it's my pool equipment, it's my money and it's on my property.
He refused to explain how he intended to fix the leak, so I told him to get off my property and I was going to call the store about him. He said he didn't care. He picked up his tools and left.
I then called Paul at AZ Pool Stuff and told Paul what happened, how I needed to know when I could start the equipment. Paul said he would contact Sal, to find out when I could start my pump and call me back. I didn't receive a call back so I decided to go to the store to talk to him in person about how I was treated.
I explained in detail to Paul in the store about what happened, and how I was surprised they would use someone (Sal) who was so disrespectful to me, a faithful customer for years. Paul then got Randy, the owner for me to talk to.
Randy told me right off that he supported his employees. He also said he too refused to have any customer watch him work on their equipment; that he tells customers right off that he would walk off the job if they continued to watch and that Sal's demand is normal in the pool equipment repair business. He also told me he did the same thing on a repair job this morning to an owner who wanted to watch him work. Randy said that this is normal, that no one is allowed into a surgery room to watch, and neither are customers allowed to watch a mechanic fix their car. I told him I was well aware of OSHA standards, and a surgery room is not a pool house.
Randy said having a customer present during repairs is unsafe for the person making the repair as it distracts him. I told Randy my questions were prior and after Sal replaced the first gasket and I felt my questions were respectful and reasonable. I told Randy I've done business in his store for years. Randy again said that he stood by how Sal treated me. I told him I was not feeling comfortable with his comments and that he was making it very difficult to retain me being a customer at his store. As I walked out, I asked Paul to call me about when I can start the pump... but he never called. I hope Randy contacts me later to make this a "win-win" solution to retain me as a customer and I can continue to get all my pool stuff from him. If not, it will reflect the lack of respect and character of Randy and his staff. I hope to post at a later date that this was resolved amicably. read more