Chris M.
06/03/2019 12:00:00 SA
What started out as a great experience turned in to a perfect example of how to not run a company.
My wife and I had multiple companies quote us to replace our removable pool fence. JP, from A Safe Pool ultimately won our business after highlighting the fact that they can manufacturer exactly to the spacing of our existing holes - and, that they can drill new holes on one side to extend the fence out. He also sold us on the upgraded posts which will be firmer and more stable.
We moved forward with a project of a couple thousand dollars - no small amount.
After the installation I found that the fence had a LOT of movement. In fact, more than the previous fence that was being replaced.
After not getting much help from Jason (the owner) initially I decided to review security cameras we happened to have and was blown away by what I found. Essentially the crew part way through the installation acknowledged:
- The sales person had made mistakes (either in measuring, or in promising they could install in the existing holes)
- The fence was loose and was not how it should be
There would have been a few acceptable ways for them to handle this. Let me know as a home owner and review options, call the owner and discuss how to make it right, etc. Instead they said the following (word-for-word from the video):
Installer 1 - Look at that dude. I don't know. It is what it is dude.
Installer 2 - Why is that loose?
Installer 1 - Who cares...he obviously didn't...it's all loose. it is what it is man we don't have any other stuff.
Installer 2 - That guys a f**** dumb *** dude.
Installer 1 - Check out the molding on the outside here (chuckles). Well, I'm not looking at it.
Installer 2 - (chuckles)
Installer 2 - Can't make miracles happen dude
Installer 1 - You know what my response is going to be...the guy that sold it to you, call him...he'll fix it
Installer 2 - He's Mr. fix it
Time passes...one sees me through the blinds
Installer 2 - Carful, you've got eyes
Installer 1 - Can't nobody hear anything with eyes.
You would think that an actual video documenting this would make an owner quick to take accountability and resolve the issue. Not the case. Jason still hasn't taken ownership over the mistakes his company made, or the awful customer experience. After asking him to come out to resolve it he said he would send the original sales person. When I pointed out this made no sense because that person is part of who made the mistake and incentives to self preserve, not to admit to the mistake, he still wouldn't come out. Jason's (owner) final email to me said -
No one on our end made a mistake. The holes that were drilled by a different company aren't our fault. I am willing to see what we can do. Not sure what else I can do but make a time to get by there. JP has been with me for 15 years. He is quite capable of coming up with a solution.
At it's core this is simple. I wanted to replace a fence without drilling new holes if possible. We chose this company because they said they could do that. The installation was poor, and video shows the crew knew there were problems while installing. Despite video the owner refuses to take any ownership and won't even enter into the situation.
I'm left with no choice but legal action, BBB, Registrar of Contractors, etc.
I called A Safe Pool because they had good reviews. And maybe on more simple jobs they do really good work - the reviews would seem to indicate that. But, the reality is the character of a person (or company) is revealed when something goes wrong. Jason has revealed his companies character.
There are lots of other pool fence companies with good reviews - I'd recommend working with one of them vs. rolling the dice and hoping you don't have an issue needing resolution with A Safe Pool.
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A response to Jason's yelp response:
- He is correct, this was installed last year. I asked him to come out many times to resolve the issue. My family went through a serious medical situation and this took a back seat until I reached out to him again.
- It is loose, it is poorly installed (this is acknowledged by his own installers), and the customer service has been atrocious - especially his own. How much of a safety issue it is? How much a loose fence wares compared to a properly installed fence? I can't say. But I can say is $1,700 is a lot to pay for something done so poorly and his response says a lot.
- He is correct, I have emailed him many times. His most recent reply prior to today defended the crew, didn't take ownership and offered to charge me $500 to come out and drill new holes. This wasn't acceptable. As a courtesy I told him I was going to proceed with posting a review, contacting the BBB, Registrar of Contractors etc. It's not a threat, its a consequence to awful customer service.
drive.google.com/file/d/…