Pinch A Penny

This is the review I am posting about your company:

REFINISHING A POOL-Pinch a Penny should be called Pinch a Crook. For anyone trying to refinish their pool, look elsewhere.

Last year Pinch a Penny in Clermont did mine and it was a nightmare. We started in March 2022 and got a quote. We liked it and wanted to proceed. We bugged the store constantly and finally around August 2022 they told us they had never returned any of our calls or visits because they did not have anyone who could refinish pools that year as their people left and try them next season.

Thanks for wasting 5 months before telling us. Fast forward to March 2023 and new quote for the same standard work- nothing premium, had gone up by $6,000. While discussing this with the manager and trying to get the price lowered, they came out to the pool several times to decide to decrease the tile from $42/ ft to $34/foot- and yes- this is for the 4 inch tiles around the top of the pool. They also promised the job could be started in beginning of May.

They started the job over a month after the start date they stated claiming sick call issues. Then they started tacking on more charges. They stated we needed a new light bulb because they saw water in our light housing unit. They charged us $699 for ONLY a light bulb.

We asked them to change the wire attached to the light since I heard they are usually done together with the housing unit but they stated they couldn't (for less than an additional $2000 extra). They said we had to pay extra because it took the grout guy longer to do his job so we had to pay. They should have just watched the hours of video that showed the guy sitting down talking on the phone or leaving after 2 hours of work. They saw the pool before and gave a quote- I shouldn't pay more because the guy wants to talk to family and friends rather than work.

Then we had to pay for the granite spill over between the spa and pool. $300 for the granite and $80 to get installed. Why wasn't that part of the original quote? They were the ones who removed it stating it was part of the work.

I also have an in-floor cleaning system that had two heads that occasionally get dirt trapped and then don't rise so you have to remove and clean. The first pool guy told us he checked them and the heads were good and system good, just needed debris cleaning, then the manager called and said the employee was wrong and we needed a new system- and then charges us for a Rebuild Kit and new Drive and $95 to repair and would not answer our questions regarding why two kits and why replacing 3 heads. And the finish we picked was not a roll on paint but what we saw on the home video was a roll on job whose color does not match what we ordered. We complained and they told us it would get darker with time.

It is a year later and we do not have the color we requested. Also we paid for them to brush the pool every day for 2 weeks because they said if we did not brush it properly we would develop mineral deposits that will appear as white marks on the finish. We gave them the remote to our gate so they could come and brush without us having to be there. Home video shows they only came 3 times in 2 weeks but charged us anyway and we do have mineral deposits.

If they had told us they weren't going to do the job they were paid for, I would have arranged for someone else to brush my pool. The spill over took a few weeks for them to get in but when they did place it, they never bothered using grout around the sides to complete the look.

I've attached the invoices and a picture of what we ordered and what we got (the blue paint Lowe's sells for pools). Overall a waste of money and a lot of aggravation.

The guy who owns this store in Oldsmar FL is a joke and will try to take advantage of you. Case in point, last month while I was getting my water tested, I asked if they had a couple of plastic screws for either a Jandy or Hayward ball valve.

The young girl came back with two of them, packaged individually. When I went to pay for them, I was asked for over $50.00. I was in disbelief and said no thanks.

Fast forward two weeks later, I was in once again and showed the owner the package below from Amazon, that had three pieces for $7.00. He tried to justify the price difference, and I walked out because of this woke mentality.

Now, I have been going to this store for a decade, where I usually get salt, acid, filters, etc. So today, he starts another conversation, actually arguing and still trying to justify the cost. At this point, I looked at him and told him the conversation was finished. Guess he didn't like that and now he's shouting at me and telling me to get out of the store.

Do not ever use this store as they are a total rip-off joint and the owner is a total woke moron. Look at the pictures below and please remember they wanted $25 each.

The guy that owns this store is a joke and will try and take advantage of you, case in point, last month while i was getting my water tested i asked if they had a couple of screws plastic for either a Jandy / hayward ball valve, they young girl came back with 2 of them packaged individually , when i went to pay for them i was asked for over $50.00 i was in disbelief and said no thanks.

Fast forward 2 wks later i was in once again and showed the owner the package below from Amazon, that had 3 pcs for $7.00, and he tried to justify the price difference, and i walked out because of this Woke mentality now i have been going to this store for a decade i get salt, acid, filters etc, so today he starts another conversation actually arguing and still trying to justify the cost, at this point i look at him and told him the conversation is finished, guess he didn't like that and now shouting at me and telling me to get out of thew store, do not ever use this store as they are total RIP off joint and the owner is a total Woke MORON, look at the pics below and please remember they wanted $25 ea.t to my Roku TV or my Samsung phone

I used the store in Cape Coral on Hancock. I live out of state.

They called me to tell me my pump needed to be replaced. I am in Ohio. Tristan told me it needed replacement. I had used their weekly pool maintenance for several years.

When I asked for someone who was a equipment tech to go to the house and verify the problem Tristan told me it was not necessary. He recommended A Pentair pump. I agreed to the replacement. One of the owners JOHN of the store that I knew and trusted would do the installation.

When I arrived JOHN had installed the pump knowing it was incompatible with my Hayward automation. I did not have a smart phone and no internet at the home because it is only used two months a year. This pump was only control with a smartphone and wifi. I had no way to control any aspect of the pump.

JOHN never called me to tell me the Pentair was not going to work with my Hayward equipment. I needed a Hayward compatible pump. Yet he installed the wrong equipment anyway knowing I would not have any way to control the new pump. Actually there is a Pentair pump with a control panel mounted on the top of the pump but JOHN never called to recommend that model.

I went to the store and spoke to the salesperson Tristan who set this whole disaster up. He acted like he had no idea about the difference between Pentair and Hayward automation. In fact I asked him to call JOHN to ask him what I should do. JOHN refused to talk to me as Tristan was speaking to him in front of me on the phone.

He said he would call me. It has been over a month and I never heard from JOHN. I had to go to another company who came out to the house imediately and explained the screwup to me. Even this tech could not explain why pinch a penny would do this to someone that was a regular customer for years.

I have never had a company like pinch a penny treat me so bad. I would not let them change a light bulb if I needed any service.

In essence, for many months, I have used Pinch-a-Penny as my pool cleaning company to obtain weekly cleaning, chemicals, and monthly filter cleaning. I thought all was well until I went into my pool and there was a thick layer of algae on the stairs.

I then learned that my pool filter was horribly dirty and required me to clean that myself. So, I decided to check my surveillance videos and found that my pool was not being cleaned in a manner consistent with my payments and understanding. As per the door hanger where the technician states what was performed, every week since January 2024 has the same things checked off: Brush Walls, Clean Tiles, Clean Strainer Baskets, Skim Surface, Leaf Rake, Test Water. The service was also supposed to include monthly filter cleanings, though this was NOT checked off the door hanger on any visit in January, February, March, or April.

I thought this might be an error, but after realizing the pool had not been brushed correctly and the filter not cleaned for months, I reached out to the store.

When called about this issue, the Pinch-A-Penny service manager (Paul) did not return the call and I called back the following week. On 04/30/2024, the owner (Bo) stated that I was entitled to my opinion about the pool services and that he would not return any amount related to the pool services that were not provided as contracted. He also stated that, even though the pool services were canceled in mid-April, he would not return the past charged amount for April because there is a handshake agreement that he would be provided at least 30 days notice for any cancellation of services. He was the rudest and most unprofessional person I have ever spoken with at any business, let alone one that should be focused on customer service and returning business.

The dates and times below are only the most recent examples of the service provided since February 22, 2024.

These are actual time stamps obtained from my surveillance cameras at the front driveway and overseeing the pool equipment. Note that the pool technician was at the house for between 4 minutes and 9 minutes each week this is not enough time to perform all the services noted and definitely implies the filter was never cleaned (which takes more time than that to remove it from the housing and hose it off). Even with this information, the owner stated that he would not refund any potion of the past charges.

I asked only for one month to be refunded, as it was clear the pool technician did not do his job for at least the past four months. Bo refused and said that he would not refund anything and then welcomed me to do your best to spread the word about their unprofessionalism and poor service.

DATE AND TIMES:

April 18, 2024 -- In Driveway: 1:00pm 1:12pm and At Pool: 1:02pm 1:11pm (Pool Cleaning Time: 9 Minutes)

April 11, 2024 -- In Driveway: 12:37pm 12:44pm and At Pool: 12:38pm 12:43pm (Pool Cleaning Time: 5 Minutes)

April 04, 2024 -- In Driveway: 2:07pm 2:23pm and At Pool: 2:13pm 2:22pm (Pool Cleaning Time: 9 Minutes)

March 28, 2024 -- In Driveway: 2:14pm 2:23pm and At Pool: 2:16pm 2:22pm (Pool Cleaning Time: 6 Minutes)

March 21, 2024 -- In Driveway: 1:42pm 1:50pm and At Pool: 1:43pm 1:49pm (Pool Cleaning Time: 6 Minutes)

March 14, 2024 -- In Driveway: 1:58pm 2:09pm and At Pool: 1:59pm 2:05pm (Pool Cleaning Time: 6 Minutes)

March 7, 2024 -- In Driveway: 1:46pm 1:58pm and At Pool: 1:50pm 1:54pm (Pool Cleaning Time: 4 Minutes)

February 29, 2024 -- In Driveway: 1:31pm 1:39pm and At Pool: 1:34pm 1:38pm (Pool Cleaning Time: 4 Minutes)

February 22, 2024 -- In Driveway: 2:00pm 2:08pm and At Pool: 2:02pm 2:07pm (Pool Cleaning Time: 5 Minutes

I have an Anthony pool sweep, and the motor died on me this weekend. I went to my local Pinch-a-Penny store, with a new motor and old motor in hand, hoping for assistance in taking the impeller off of the old motor and putting it on the new one, having called the store before I brought both motors in.

My new motor was not the same as the old motor, so they would not do it. But they would sell me a new motor for $339. I really wanted to get the pool up and running, so I reluctantly agreed, even though I could get the same motor from Amazon for $100 less, I did not want to wait a week for it to arrive in the mail, so I decided to pay the extra money. The tech did not think he had a seal for the impeller, as it was not a ps-200.

When I told him the last time I was here years ago for the same issue, the tech eventually found one on the shelf that fit. So, I felt he didn't really want to, he eventually found one that fit. I needed a gasket, but he said they didn't have one for such an old system as mine. I said I would go back home and bring the old gasket back with me.

The old gasket, unfortunately, was in no condition to bring to the store as it practically disintegrated when I attempted to take it off of the old wet end. But, I looked up on line, and eventually discovered a parts list for Anthony AJ booster pumps. The gasket was a g-54, 6" flat o-ring type of seal. I went back to the store, and asked for the gasket, and that same tech told me they didn't have one for it.

I told him it was a 6" gasket, and he said they didn't have time to check all the gaskets for me. So, after I drop over $300 for a new pump, what am I supposed to do? I now have a non-functioning pool, which I did not want, while I have to try on my own to find a gasket for it. Needless to say, I am very frustrated with the service I received from the store.

So much so, that I am very close to disconnecting the pump and bringing it back to the store, and order it from Amazon! I expect the local Pinch-A-Penny to be helpful, after all, pools are their job. Not mine. You go to an expert for assistance, and when they don't help, what are supposed to do?

What did the tech think...that he got all the money out of me that he was going to, now go away?

That he didn't want to really work at helping me. What really upsets me, is that I have a non functioning pool and I have no idea what I am supposed to do next?

Been with the Palm City, FL store for 10 years.

Concerned about the lack of customer service and spin I receive after four times at the same location within the previous months.

Attempting to get rid of Alge. Reports consistently say to add Chlorine.

Org correspondence was alge problem in Sept.

The store doesnt have any reports of the previous prints, but they do have my transactions. I find it very odd.

I am asking for credit on the four jugs of chlorine I just purchased.

Beyond frustrated over $150 later and the current employees take absolutely no ownership. Didnt even ask how was it going.

Just went through the motions. Blaming it on all on the customer.

Based on the previous 10 years experience, there has been a change for the worse recently.

Just asking for help here.

Thank you!