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Talking Pools Podcast
If you’ve ever stared at a test kit like it personally insulted your family… welcome home.
Talking Pools Podcast is the pool industry’s “pull up a chair” show—part shop talk, part field manual, part therapy session—built for people who actually live on pool decks: commercial operators, service techs, builders, facility managers, and anyone responsible for water that can’t afford to go sideways. The network was created to level up the pool industry with real-world conversations on water chemistry, filtration, troubleshooting, construction, safety, and the business side of keeping pools open and budgets intact.
Here’s the hook: it’s not theory-first. It’s experience-first—a roster of seasoned pros (with 250+ years of combined “been there, fixed that” wisdom) turning complicated problems into practical moves you can use the same day. And it’s not one voice, one vibe, one corner of the industry: it’s a network of shows designed to reflect how diverse this work really is—different regions, different specialties, different personalities.
Also worth saying out loud: women aren’t “special guests” here—they’re on the mic as hosts, from the beginning, with an intentionally balanced roster. That matters, because the best ideas in this industry don’t come from one lane—they come from the whole road.
If you want a podcast that can make you laugh and make you better at what you do—without pretending the job is easier than it is—Talking Pools is the one you queue up before the first stop, and keep on when the day starts getting weird.
Talking Pools Podcast
Mondays - Your Prices Are Wrong… and It’s About to Hurt.
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Mondays Down Under – Featuring Lee Salisbury, Shane & Nick
Something is happening in the pool industry right now… and if you’re not paying attention, it’s going to cost you.
Quietly…
Gradually…
Then all at once.
PVC prices jump 30%.
Salt cell materials skyrocket.
Fuel costs ripple through everything.
And suddenly the quote you sent two weeks ago?
👉 It’s already wrong.
In this episode of Mondays Down Under, the crew breaks down what’s actually happening behind the scenes—from raw material price explosions to freight increases—and what it means for pool professionals trying to stay profitable in a market that’s shifting in real time.
But this isn’t just doom and gloom.
This episode is about control.
👉 What you can still control
👉 How to quote smarter
👉 And how to avoid losing money on jobs you thought were profitable
Because right now?
The difference between a good business and a struggling one…
might come down to how you write a quote.
⚠️ WHAT’S REALLY HAPPENING
PVC prices jumping fast
→ 30% increases already… more expected
Salt cell costs exploding
→ Key materials like ruthenium up over 100%+ year-over-year
Freight costs rising
→ Minimum orders increasing just to qualify for delivery
Everything is connected
→ Fuel → materials → manufacturing → YOUR pricing
🔥 THE BIG REALIZATION
“This isn’t just a price increase problem…
this is a quoting problem.”
Because if your pricing doesn’t adapt…
👉 You eat the cost
👉 You lose the margin
👉 And you don’t even realize it until the job is done
🎯 KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Prices are no longer stable—quotes need expiration dates
- You should quote what you can control… and estimate what you can’t
- Always build in allowances for unknowns (labor, access, conditions)
- Shorter quote validity windows protect your margins
- Templates and systems prevent repeated mistakes
- Customers are getting smarter—you need to be sharper
- Deposits, surcharges, and terms need to be clearly defined upfront
💡 PRACTICAL STRATEGIES (THAT ACTUALLY MATTER)
1. Stop treating quotes like guarantees
→ Use estimates for variables you can’t control
2. Shorten your quote window
→ Two weeks might be safer than 30 days right now
3. Add clauses like:
→ “Subject to supplier price increases”
4. Separate scope clearly
→ What IS included vs what is NOT included
5. Build in buffer
→ Labor overruns, hidden obstacles, weird jobsite surprises
Because as one story proves…
You don’t know a job is a nightmare
until you’re stuck under a house…
on your back…
with pipe in your face.
⚠️ THE HARD TRUTH
You’re not just competing on price anymore.
You’re competing on:
👉 Accuracy
👉 Risk management
👉 And how well you protect your business from things you can’t control
📲 LISTEN NOW
🎧 Apple Podcasts
🎧 Spotify
👉 Follow the Talking Pools Podcast for real-world conversations that actually prepare you for what’s coming next.
Thank you so much for listening! You can find us on social media:
Email us: talkingpools@gmail.com
