Leslie's Pool Supplies ripped me off and it seemed like it was set up, Planned Phoenix Arizona

I purchased some underwater pool epoxy and an O ring some chlorine and various other parts and needed materials for my pool which had pretty much failed to go another day without some serious work. The total of these items was about $175.00. to make a long story short the pool needed a new sand filter, sand, backwash valve, the return line was leaking the in ground pool valet had just gotten worn out after 30 years and one of the parts was no longer made so I would have had to replace the entire system with something more modern and I didn't feel the cost was worth it.

So I was ready to fill it in and no more headaches. I had used most of the parts I had purchased from Leslie's except the underwater pool epoxy and an O ring some chlorine, a float regulator and a test kit totaling about $115. The packages had never been opened, damaged and definitely were never used. I didn't need the test kit or the chlorine as I started working on the pool equipment first and once that was running I would add water and get the chlorine up and so on. The other parts were just useless to me now.

So I throw the unused parts into the bag they gave me when I bought the supplies which, by the way broke as I was exiting my home to go to work. I would stop by Leslie's for a refund on the way home. That evening I get to Leslies and park right in front of their huge glass window and front door and start unloading the cases of chlorine I purchased. One, two, three and four cases totaling 8 gallons of chlorine onto the sidewalk in front of the store.

I glace in and see the store employee looking at me and he does a slight hand wave to acknowledge my presence. I grab the bag of parts and supplies and move all the chlorine to the door one by one and enter the store with just the bag and I'm looking through the bag as I approach the counter and it appears that some of the parts I had we're missing from the bag. Anyway I placed the bag on the counter with the receipt and said to the counter person I'll be right back I have a whole bunch of chlorine I won't need to bring in.

So I make two trips with the chlorine getting all 8 gallons to the counter and he says we don't take chlorine back. I asked why and repeatedly all he would say is company policy. Three times he said that. I then asked if you know you're not going to take it back why on earth did you let me lug all that chlorine into your store. I told you I was bringing it back in. You watched me unload it and get it in here. You saw me struggling with the door holding these dangerous chemicals and didn't life a finger to help me and you couldn't even stop me from going to all that trouble.

I was quite winded from dragging all that chlorine around (serious asthma borderline emphysema) makes any minor chore a serious labor intensive struggle but, I realize he didn't know that but come on to just watch me. Did he help me to load it back up? By now I am sweating profusely just standing there. Breathing heavily bent slightly over taking the stress off my back which is aching terribly now from the strain on my lungs. No offer of a chair, water or anything.

It was approx 110 degrees that day. September 18,, 2008 in Phoenix AZ. So I asked then for the money back for the items I purchased there on 8-22-2008 minus the chlorine he refused to take back. Guess what he didn't even blink. He looked at the receipt and totaled what was brought back and gave me a ful;l refund back for the test kit and float regulator total $74.70. So all I wanted was to get home.

The AC in my truck was a welcomed relief when I finally got all those 8 gallons loaded back up in the truck. I sat there for over 15 minutes trying to cool down so it would easier to relax which is required to regain control over my inability to breath. I arrive home and enter the house and there on the floor under a desk were the parts I had noticed were missing earlier.

Next day I decide to call Leslie's this time and make sure they will take back the other parts after having to deal with the customer service representative that I started to feel that I may have offended him in some way and that was the reason for not accepting the chlorine. He was indifferent and although not rude he was not pleasant nor customer friendly either. Well, I was informed that Leslie's under no circumstances will give a refund on any purchases after 15 days. This was not the same man I dealt with the day before.

I explained that I had just returned parts yesterday and was given a $74.70 refund and those parts were purchased 26 days ago. I commented that the other gentleman very very through when he examined the receipt yesterday. He went through it line by line included tax and didn't hesitate. I was adamantly refused my $35 refund. Here I now have underwater pool epoxy and an O ring that I will never be able to use or even give to a neighbor.

This Leslie's operation, this scam, this con their running on the unsuspecting consumer, these cheats who practice to deceive and intentionally mislead you me the innocent consumerI don't know what to call them but, I do know that I felt right then that I could not trust anyone at that store. I called another location and they said no refunds but, under extenuating circumstances they have refunded money after 15 days.

I explained my position and the pool was on it's way to the pool graveyard and hence these parts we're no longer of any value except to a pool retailed. This man who had never met me said I don't think so. I don't consider that extenuating an circumstance. I calmly replied that if 500 tons of dirt were to land in the store showroom would that be considered extenuating and he chuckled and said of course that would.

Since when would you see 500 tons of dirt in a showroom floor. My reply was simply I agree 100 percent and when would you see 500 tons of dirt in a Pool. The pools I have seen in my 56 years have all been filled with water. I sensed right then that to continue this debate would be futile and said have a nice day. On September 26th I decided to write an e mail to Leslie's. I explained my dilemma.

Their reply was Dear Mr S****,
Thank you for your e-mail and the time you've taken to make us aware of your concern. I apologize for the inconvenience you have experienced. I will forward your email to the District Manager who will be interested in speaking with you and addressing your issue with the store staff you are referring to. Again I apologize, thank you for your time and we look forward to assisting you further. Shelley A Mc MahonCorporate Retail Customer Service1-800-Leslies Extension 4200

Shelly cc'd Phil O'Haver; Marc Toussaint; Dwight Groth. I do not know who they are. Today is October 23rd 2008 and I have not heard a word from anyone. All I wanted was the $35.00 they owed me but it seems that Leslie's has failed to make the grade again. If anyone wants to know about they way they push chemicals on the public and give false readings on their water analysis I have some stories.

I have since found a company here in Phoenix called (((competitor's name redacted))) who offered me assistance with their products. I had called them for the major parts I needed in the beginning of my pool repairs. They taught me how to fix it and what not to do. How to avoid all the chemicals Leslie's was pushing. BTW I never once mentioned Leslie's to them. They just treated me fairly and were honest with me about anything I asked them. That is much more than anything I have said about Leslie's since. My friends and neighbors agreed.

S****4x4
glendale, Arizona
U.S.A.

sorry, allowing you to give a competitors name would instigate others to just file against their competition, to only come back later to suggest their company, ..plus, if you post a competitors name more than likely they will show up on search engines as a Rip-off! - - your comments on this policy are welcome. CLICK here to see why Rip-off Report, as a matter of policy, deleted either a phone number, link or e-mail address from this Report. In this case we removed an alleged competitor's name