Usually I go to Yelp to write a great review because the provider or business goes above and beyond, and others should know about it. Today, however, I feel an obligation to let others know about a bad experience I had with Cherry Blossom Pools so others can decide what to do. (I'll use first names only.) In short, I was one of Zach's first clients since he started the business several years ago. I was impressed, too, that his dad had worked in pool supply and maintenance for many years, so I knew Zach had depth. He proved it within a few weeks -- personally changing out our motor, filtration system, and plumbing. He did a fantastic job. Months go by and he introduces us to the new guy who will be handling our pool. No problem. Like Zach, Hayden was professional and conscientious. My wife and I were so impressed how well he had been cleaning our pool the past two years that I gave him a large cash bonus at Christmas. I was hoping he might have said 'Thank you' after New Year's, but he didn't. No worries. A few weeks ago I asked Hayden if he might have time to check our neighbor's pool where the light had burnt out. He said he did and went over and turned off the breaker and gave our neighbor a rough estimate of what it might cost to replace it. My neighbor is 93, and after she hadn't heard back on how to proceed from Cherry Blossom Pools, I tried to call Zach because I'd had a longstanding relationship with him to see about solving the problem. Zach's old number now rolls over to someone I've never met, Elliot, who now handles customer service for Cherry Blossom Pools and who acts as route manager. Because I knew nothing of Elliot's credentials to handle an underwater electrical problem, I asked to speak to Zach. That's where Elliot and later Hayden got VERY defensive of Zach. All of a sudden this small, customer-centric company was acting like a big AT&T. So I wrote an email to Zach asking what was going on and as a courtesy showed it to Hayden when he came over that day to service my pool. In the email I said, "If you're in the middle of a big repair or pool drain (or doing metalworking?), I understand if you can't speak much. Still, a 30-second courtesy call to explain what you (Cherry Blossom Pools) can and cannot do (for my elderly neighbor) would be appreciated." I thought what I wrote was reasonable. The reference to metalworking had to do with photos on the Cherry Blossom Pools website that had nothing to do with pool maintenance. [I get concerned when small businesses start to spread themselves too thin.] At this point in my attempt to refer more business to Cherry Blossom Pools, Hayden returns the copy of the email I showed him and states, "If you wrote directly to Zach, I'm sure he'll write you back." (Zach didn't write back.) Then Hayden accused me of interfering with their business, even though I was simply trying to follow up on the referral I'd given them. The next think I know is Elliot calling me to say, without notice, I had been dropped as a client. For what? Always paying on time, never complaining, paying compliments, extra fees when asked, and even tips for good performance? When people go on your personal property, you want to know who they are and what company they represent, and be comfortable enough to refer more business to that company. I feel that until Cherry Blossom Pools sorts these things out for itself, I personally cannot recommend them. read more