When the Manufacturer Makes You Look Bad

In this episode of the Talking Pools Podcast, hosts Peter, Shane, and Lee dive into the ongoing debate of "replace it versus fix it" within the pool industry. As new products continue to emerge, they emphasize the importance of checking parts availability and performance before offering them to clients, underscoring how the reputation of the equipment you sell directly impacts your own.

Peter and Lee share some amusing tales from the world of automatic cleaners, with Peter recalling a quirky model that would flip onto its back like a turtle, getting stuck in place. Lee, however, praises the reliability of the Dolphin robotic cleaner. Peter also shares a humorous anecdote about a customer who was so pleased with his automatic pool cleaner that he bought three more—one for each of his children.

Shane rounds out the conversation by discussing mineral pools and recaps an educational session hosted by Fluidra, which covered the growing trend of chlorine generation using magnesium chloride, potassium chloride, and other alternatives. This discussion offers listeners insights into emerging trends while reinforcing the importance of thoroughly vetting equipment before recommending it to customers.

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Transcript

[Intro music fades out]

Peter: "Welcome back to another episode of Mondays Down Under with myself, Shane, and Lee. Today, we’re diving into something every pool tech has probably faced—should you replace it or fix it? It's becoming a trend in the industry to replace instead of repair, and it’s not always the right call. We’ve got some new products out there that are game-changers, but not all are winners. So, what do you guys think? Shane, Lee, how do you handle this dilemma?"

Lee: "Yeah, it’s tricky, isn’t it? The big thing is, before you offer anything to your client, you’ve got to make sure parts are available, the performance is reliable, and that it’s not going to come back to bite you. Because, you know, when you sell equipment to a customer, you’re basically staking your reputation on it. And if it’s dodgy, well, that reflects on you."

Peter: "Exactly, and there’s been some real wonky ones out there. I remember this one automatic cleaner—it was a real piece of work. You’d put it in the pool, and next thing you know, it’d flip over on its back like a turtle, completely stuck! We had so many complaints from customers on that model. It was a disaster."

Shane: [laughs] "Oh yeah, I remember that one. It’s like, 'Congratulations, you bought a pool cleaner that needs rescuing!'"

Lee: [chuckles] "Yeah, but on the flip side, I’ve had really great success with the Dolphin robotic cleaners. Those things are tanks. You put them in, and they just work. No nonsense, no drama."

Peter: "Oh yeah, Dolphin’s been great. But I once had a customer who was so impressed with his automatic pool cleaner that he ended up buying three more—one for each of his kids! Can you imagine? I mean, I’m all for a good product, but that’s next level!"

Shane: [laughing] "He must have been their favorite dad that year."

Peter: "No kidding! But back to the point, it really comes down to making sure you vet these products. We’ve got to check performance, parts availability, and all that before we even think about offering them to clients."

Lee: "Absolutely, it’s about protecting your own reputation. If something goes wrong, you’re the one they’re going to point the finger at."

Shane: "And speaking of trends, one thing I’ve been looking at is the rise of mineral pools. There’s a lot of talk about these systems using magnesium chloride and potassium chloride for chlorine generation. I was at an educational session hosted by Fluidra the other day, and they went into detail about how these new chlorine-generating systems work. They’ve got potential, but it’s still something you need to fully understand before jumping in."

Peter: "Yeah, the chemistry can be a little tricky with those systems. It’s great when it works, but you need to know what you’re dealing with. It’s not like tossing in a basic chlorine puck."

Lee: "That’s why education is key. If you don’t know the ins and outs of these systems, you can’t properly support your clients, and then everyone’s in trouble."

Shane: "Right. The last thing you want is to offer a product that causes more headaches than it solves. That’s where being thorough comes in—know what you’re selling, make sure it’s available, and make sure it actually does what it’s supposed to."

Peter: "Exactly. Well, that wraps up another episode of Mondays Down Under. Thanks for tuning in, and remember, your reputation is only as good as the products you stand behind."

[Outro music fades in]