Complaint Review: The Pool Depot - Atlanta Georgia

The entire time I worked for The Pool Depot of Georgia and The Pool Depot of Texas (really one company operating in one building, separated on paper for what I was told were "legal" reasons) they not only encouraged the bait and switch tatic, they demanded that their sales men use it. It was the key practice that all sales pitches were to center around. And it did not stop there. They began recording all phone calls at one point due to a lawsuit that ended unfavorably for them.  They instructed their sales tem and installers to only use certain key phrases, if any deviation that could be legally unfavorable to the company was made, that call was erased. They routinely instructed employees to lie to customers and to throw away or post date cancellation notices that arrived within the three day window that federal law demands. When salesmen made changes in writing to contracts, they refused to honor the chnges, saying the salesman was not authorized and if the customer would not sign a new contract, they simply ignored the file and refused to return any down payments. The contract gave the company a lien interest in customer's property; if payments got behind or were not made (regardless of reason, even when in legal dispute not yet settled) they would file a lien against the home and refer the file to collections, never offering service to correct customer complaints or attempting to resolve without lien action. There re so many more examples... I witnessed numerous fraudulent and illegal practices in my time there. Had I not been new to the workforce, I would have realized sooner and quit in my first year. As if these things weren't enough...the "Value" pool for $395 and the "Elite" pool for anywhere from 4 to 12 thousand dollars? Same. Exact. Pool. The size and "extras" (pool cover, heater, light, etc) were the ONLY differences. The materials were the same, ordered from the same manufacturer. I am shocked they are still in business; not surprised in the least that they haven't changed.

I have heard this or similar stories before. This is first for reading it on internet. I am a business owner, pool builderand would like to ascertain that this is not my company, thugh names are very similar. I have never been associated with this company, nor do I build above ground pools. I definitely do not condone this situation or similar siyuations where the consumer is deceived.

I would hope you can update yopur files and make certain there is understanding by consumers, that this situation described herein and others on your website, are not the responsibility of Pool Depot Inc. in Marietta, Ga. 30060-1224. My phone numbers are 770-231-9383 and 770-429-9010  ,if you need further clarification. In one place in this article the company is referred to as the Pool Depot and later simply pool depot.

This is the similarity that creates problems for a thirty -two year old company like mine, that has lived on my name and good reputation..  "THE", pool depot is the company here . My reputable company is Pool Depot Inc., without "THE" word.

I try to not make any unsolicited, uncomplimentary, or unfavorable remarks about competitors, but I do also try to answer any, and all questions when asked about other businesses, if I have specific knowledge. I answer these questions truthfully as best I can.

Ed Burdett

Pool Depot INC. 

This email is a rebuttal to RipOff #3232.
It was sent by Jim Harris at [email protected].

BAD BUSINESS: The Pool Depot (#3232)

They filed the following rebuttal to the above Rip-Off Report:

Their email: [email protected]
Their name: Jim Harris
Their phone number: 770/951/1831 ext 3033
Their relationship to the company: Devotee

Rebuttal:
In response to this unhappy customer. I cannot answer as to what went wrong if I do not know the customers name. As you may have noticed, there is no name nor e-mail address. The Pool Depot service department was open 6 days a week from 8am to 9pm until the end of September when the hours were changed from 10am to 6pm 5 days per week. After October 15th I was on call all winter for any and all service problems with any pools that had
been installed by Pool Depot.

If someone would like to give me the customer name, or some way to contact them, I would be able to answer as to why they had not or feel they have not received service.

You may call me at 770-951-1831 ext 3033 or e-mail at [email protected].
Jim Harris.
Pool Depot Service Manager.

EDITORS NOTE: Address was sent to Pool Depot