Comments on: Weekend pool frolics: Soda ash edition

By: Mrs. Accountability

Mrs. Accountability — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 02:58:38 +0000

It sounds like a lot of work, but I sure wish we had one. Or at least lived nearby to one, I love being in the water. Last week went to conference for my job, the Hilton hotel’s only route to the pool was through the middle of the lobby… not fun for a plus sized gal. When I tried to make an early pool run on Friday morning at 5:30am, was told they couldn’t possibly open the pool until the scheduled 6am (the pool gate sign said 7am) due to some kind of insurance rules (they have signs posted that they have no lifeguards so couldn’t be that). I will be complaining, just to let them know it wouldn’t have been THAT difficult to bend the rules so they could keep their promise that “Everyone on the Embassy Suites team has the power to ensure your satisfaction.” Right. Did read your update, glad the problem has been resolved.

By: Revanche

Revanche — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 21:10:21 +0000

oops. There’s a fragmented sentence in there: “It should be obvious that Phil gave you bad advice and the subsequent lack of help was a bit of a fail.”

By: Revanche

Revanche — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 21:08:16 +0000

Hm, p’rhaps you ought to get those Leslie’s employees to email you their statement that you don’t have to pay to try and save yourself the grief of small claims court when fighting with corporate.

It should be obvious that Phil’s bad advice and the subsequent lack of help. I should think that if he screwed it up, he should at least have been there helping you fix it. But then again, I have some odd ideas of what defines customer service …

By: funny

funny — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 11:45:30 +0000

This isn’t the first time an alleged pool professional has suggested doing something that differs from the label instructions, and so it didn’t seem extremely odd to me. Also, every time I’ve spoken to any other Leslie’s employee about this and said “20 pounds of soda ash,” the person has said, “Yes…,” as though that were perfectly normal. They don’t seem at all surprised by the idea that you should apply 20 or 30 pounds in one swell foop. Tho’ the package instructions suggest 1 pound per 10,000 gallons (and say nothing about the total amount), they do say it’s OK to apply it without mixing in water.

As an aging woman, I don’t have the physical strength to clean the filter myself. It’s large and heavy, and it has to be dragged out to the alley to wash out the spent DE. Temperatures are hovering upwards of 110 degrees here, every day. If I didn’t hurt myself, I’d give myself a heat stroke trying to do a big job like that. Besides, Bob the WLG dispenses some very useful advice, he being a fellow who apparently does know what he’s talking about. He also repaired Harvey the Hayward Pool Cleaner after the in-store guys failed to fix him in three separate trips.

Leslie’s needs to train its in-store staff adequately, and not expect them to work unholy numbers of hours — which is what happens in this right-to-work-for-nothing state and which no doubt explains the store’s high turnover.

Two Leslie’s employees have now stated that I should not have to pay for whatever work needs to be done on the filter. However, the denizens of the corporate office have yet to agree to this. One way or the other, something will have to be done about it. They’re trying to fit a trip into tomorrow’s schedule. If they try to charge me, I’ll take them to small claims court.

By: Jesse

Jesse — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 05:45:26 +0000

Boy that’s a shame that Phil gave you bad advice. I would suggest in the future to read the directions on the back of every product, no matter what someone says. 4lb/10,000 gallons is the maximum recommended dose within 4 hours for Soda Ash. It is also to be premixed in a bucket of water, instead of administered directly to the pool. Also if you contact Leslie’s for a “Pool School” they will teach you how to clean your own filter, that way you don’t have to keep having them come out.