Hayward Pool Products Best Buy Pool Supply Hayward Phantom is Junk Internet

I recently purchased the Hayward Phantom Turbo, which is technically listed as a robotic type pool cleaner. After the fact, I found out that there are numerous complaints as well as lawsuits regarding Hayward products. The numerous complaints about this particular pool cleaner all state that it is junk, breaks down frequently, and the repairs are expensive.

Best Buy Pool Supply (www.bestbuypoolsupply.com) is the merchant I purchased this unit from, as well as a booster pump, valve, and a DE filter from. They require signature on all deliveries, and use FedEx. FedEx ignored the delivery requirement, and left all of the boxes on my front porch, with the exception of the DE filter. Unfortunately, the water sprinklers kicked in, and the box that the pool cleaner was in got soaked. It tore when I picked it up, and ended up with some leaves in the box.

I contact them (Shanna Graham), and she told me (I have proof in emails) that I would have to get a replacement box from Hayward. Hayward told me they could not provide me with a box, under any circumstances. I again contacted Shanna Graham, and she gave me an RMA #, and at the bottom of the email there is "canned verbiage" that states that if they have to get a replacement box from the manufacturer, I would be charged a fee for that. That means she lied to me when she said I would have to get a box. I paid $42 to ship it back, and they determined I had used it, since there were leaves in the box. Yet the guys at 'Year Round Pool & Spa in Wylie can attest that I did not use it, and in fact got my old Polaris to working better than it ever has. They even stated they would not sell any Hayward products, because of their bad reputation.

Yes, I should have checked more thoroughly on this unit, and usually I would have. This is the first house I have ever had with a pool, and was not knowledgeable about pool maintenance, products, etc. I did make the comment to Shanna that I thought it was criminal that they would sell customers products that they know are bad, and apparently did not care about their customers. Shanna told me they were going to send the unit back to me, and not give me the refund. I am now going to file a complaint with the BBB and the attorney general's office. DO NOT BUY THIS PRODUCT, AND DO NOT BUY FROM THIS BUSINESS! Is it my fault that FedEx did what they did? Is it my fault that this company knowingly sells defective products? This pool cleaner cost $750.00!