Consumer's Experience and Opinion on a Really EZ Pool Product

2006-10-22T10:29:00.000-07:00

(Click onto any image for a larger version.)

We recently purchased a pool from Really EZ Pools. http://reallyezpools.com /

This is a 7' x 12' x 54" therapy pool. See this page:

http://www.therapypools4less.com/buynow.html

This therapy pool has an outside and an inside liner, with insulation between the liners.

We started setup of the pool, and found that the outside liner did not correctly fit the pool frame.

It did not lay flat, it bunched up, and overlapped in areas.

The outside liner had to be taken back to the manufacturer (Really EZ Pools), and replaced with a new liner. The new liner did not have the white material on it; it was all blue. We were told that the white material was new to them and had been giving them some problems. It seems that it didn't stretch the same way as the blue material.

The new all blue outside liner fit the pool frame. The insulation was put in, and then the inner liner, which was blue with white edging, similar to the original outer liner.

We tried to pull the inside liner over the corners of the pool frame, but it would not fit. We got three corners on, but not the fourth. We tried on several different occasions, waiting for the hottest part of the days, hoping the heat would help us.

We contacted Really EZ Pools, and here is the exchange:

He suggested that we work the material all the way around, and suggested that some customers also have used soapy water on the last corner. He states that it needs to be tight to secure the entrapping of the insulation.

We soaped up the corner, but it still would not fit. We had some helpers and soaped both the top of the outside liner and the underside of the inside liner, all the way around. We tried working the outside liner from the furthest corner, on each side, all the way around, to the fourth corner. Still the inside liner would not fit around the frame of the pool.

We contacted Really EZ Pools again:

It took a few emails to get a response, which was as follows:

He suggested to cut the small white strip that fits around the corner, and that he would send a strip of white material with velcro to rebind it. He states that the inner liner bears no load.

It took about ten days or so to receive the strip and velcro. At that time, we cut the corner as he suggested, and applied the strip and velco at the corner. There was quite a large space between the ends of the corner; so much so that it does not appear that it would have stretched to fit.

We added some water to the pool, and the velcro strips pulled away from the white strip, under the load of the water.

Without the proper tension, the water pressure pulled the liner down away from the frame and the corner, so that it no longer has the proper ability to over lap the frame.

Of course, this was not satisfactory, so we contacted Really EZ Pools again:

We did not hear from Really EZ Pools again.

On October 11, 2006, we sent a Letter of Demand to two addresses of Really EZ Pools:

Date: October 11, 2006

To: Ted Gillebaard
Really EZ Pools
1305 East Saint Gertrude Place, Unit G
Santa Ana, CA 92705

Enid Storlee
Really EZ Pools
28241 Crown Valley Parkway Unit F212
Laguna Niguel, CA 92677

Fr: MJD / JRD

Re: Two-Person Therapy Pool

Re: Letter of Demand

Amount Paid: $3550.72

Dates: Ordered 7/14/06 with half of full price paid. Paid in Full 7/17/06

Registered Letter, Return Receipt Requested

On July 14, 2006, we ordered a two-person therapy pool, paying 1/2 down, and paid in full
on July 17, 2006, total amount $3550.72.

This is a Letter of Demand to rectify the problem with the pool.

As you are aware, we had problems with the outer liner which had to be replaced.

You are also aware, per our email correspondence and pictures, that the inner liner does
not fit the frame of the pool.

Please replace the inner liner with a new liner that properly fits the frame of the pool, within ten
days of receipt of this letter. If the liner is not replaced with a new liner that properly fits the pool, we will take further legal action.

Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter. We will appreciate it.

Without prejudice,

MJD / JRD

_______________________

The following are copies of the Certified Receipts, and Return Receipt, as well as USPS tracking confirmations for the Letter of Demand:

Other than the confirmations that Really EZ Pools received the Letter of Demand, we have not heard from them again.

We wanted them to make this right and provide us with a new inner liner that properly fits the pool frame.

The company's name, Really EZ Pools suggests that the pools are easy to put up. Their website page also indicates the same: http://reallyezpools.com/assembly.html

Each one of the emails from Really EZ Pools was signed with the "Buy With Confidence" website address: http://www.reallyezpools.com/confidence.html

"SWIM with CONFIDENCE:

All the things you are looking for can be found with Really EZ Pools. We sell only quality American Made Products and everything we sell is backed by a Five Year Warranty. All our products are EZ to Assemble, and are designed to help you make the most our of your swimming pool experience. And we have The Right Experience."

It is our opinion that there are three problematic areas in the situation with our purchase:

[] Asthetics: this is a new pool and should look new, neat, and clean; and not be a patch job.

[] Functional: the pool should be able to be used without the sidewall flopping down, availing water to get between the liners into the insulation.

[] Structural: the structural integrity of the pool has been compromised by not having a properly fitting inner liner.

______________________________________

October 30, 2006

We received a "buckle" from Really EZ Pools on October 28th. This is their answer to making the inner liner "fit". Here is a picture.

We went thru the process of following their directions to attach the "buckle", which included cutting the liner (not again.... jeez!). At this point, it keeps the corner of the pool from flopping into the water, but has no affect on bringing the liner up and over the frame. It does not retain any tension without water.

We drained the pool, to start from scratch, to see if anything else would help the buckle work better. As you can see from the video, the buckle strap works itself loose after being tightened. :-(

Of course, draining the pool means throwing out a couple thousand gallons of water, not to mention heated water, both of which cost several hundred dollars.

Tomorrow we will fill the pool, again, and see if the sidewall of the inner liner will stay up and over the frame, or if it will still be pulled down by the weight of the water.

Curiously, one of their directions in regard to the buckle is: Do Not Over Pull. Since the original instructions from the company to cut the corner, there is not enough tension to keep the liner up over the frame, to support the weight of the water.

If the sidewall pulls down again, which we suspect it will, what then?

At this point, we are quite unhappy (that's an understatement). Besides restricted use of the pool, this whole situation and dealing with the company has cost us time, money, frustration.

___________________________________

October 31

We applied soft-sided vice grips to the middle of the pool liner on the long side (the floppy side), to stabilize the liner since the original structural integrity has been compromised, and one to the buckle to stop it from loosening up.

Marks were made on the buckle strap to show the starting position, and to let us know if it loosens.

The pool is now refilled, and except for the corner being held up by the buckle, basically looks the same. The sidewall is loose; without tension over the top of the frame.

What do we have now? A patched product. It can be seen in the picture above, that the ends (flaps) of the inside liner are still inches apart. They won't even meet up under the frame, so there is no way the liner, originally intact, would have stretched over the frame. That is clearly plain to see.

Not what we expected to get at a price of $3550.

It might be similar to buying a fiberglass hot tub, the type that sits down into a wooden frame... say the tub doesn't quite fit the frame... and the manufacturer says to crack the fiberglass and fill it in with some epoxy so that it fits.

We have several concerns with this product and the company.

For the product: the structural integrity; the asthetics; and function.

For the company: unable to buy with confidence as they suggest; unwilling to support their product guarantee.

We feel as though we may have been guinea pigs for this product and the use of the new material.

And what does that say about getting future service from them? What happens when we need to replace the liner? Will we have to go to another company and get a special order?

______________________________________

November 2, 2006

We have found another owner, in Atlanta, who has had the same problem with the inner liner not fitting the frame.

Note the right hand corner of the pool, which they had to cut to get it over the frame, which appears to be held together by rope:

Really EZ Therapy Pool, Atlanta

This negates their claim that no one else has had a problem with the liner fitting the frame.

___________________________________

Additional information can be found at this consumer alert:

http://www.arthurspools.com/pools/consumeralert.htm

Consumer Experience and Opinion on Really EZ Pool

Consumer's Experience and Opinion on a Really EZ Pool Product