In the Industry Folks

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I never worked for Leslies or poolcorp, and am not aware of another corporate pool company. I worked for privately owned small businesses, my own for the last 15 years or so. I am as far from corporate as you can get, being my only employee. Well, not anymore, as I basically retired last year and moved to the country to pursue my lifelong dream of selling bbq at fairs and festivals. If not for covid, I would already be cooking.?
Put about $25K into a smoker trailer and all the bells and whistles. My health department inspection was cancelled due to covid19. Dangit!
Here's my baby, if anyone is interested.
Or not. Image wouldn't load. Too big apparently???
 
RDspaguy said:
Tim, I am sorry you had such a bad experience! I have never, in 25 years in this business, met such a pool professional. I can't imagine they would stay in business very long using such sales tactics. And I don't know any who have a shortage of work during the season and would need or want to do unnecessary work.
But I grant you, there are inexperienced or dishonest people in every field. And I have seen some pretty shoddy work in the field myself over the years.
Perhaps I don't spend enough time at the counter to see what you describe, being busy in backyards fixing equipment.
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I have been in four different pool stores here in Tucson, three of them are exactly like that, one told me that TFP would ruin all my equipment. My PB left multiple code violation level issues with the electric and I swear the plumber intentionally plumbed the system so it is difficult to add the salt generator. So, so far it sure looks like it's a great industry to avoid doing business with in general.

Now a couple of the subs were awesome. (Excavation and gunite.). So I know there are good people out there but it seems more of the exception than the rule. The only pool store that seems okay with TFP is the cheap source for Hasa chlorine and I sometimes suspect that they are only okay with it because of that.
 
Rattus Suffocatus said:
My PB left multiple code violation level issues with the electric
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Do they not get inspected where you are? The one pool builder I worked for was always complaining about waiting for this or that inspector slowing him down. I was the service manager, so not directly involved in builds except for the equipment pads, which we had to have wired by a licensed electrician, permits, whole kit and caboodle.
The pool plumbing we did ourselves, as it is not potable water or waste water, it did not require a licensed plumber to do. Except for the backflow preventer on the autofill, if it had one.

Rattus Suffocatus said:
a great industry to avoid doing business with in general.
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I am sorry you feel that way. I worked on a referral only basis for close to 15 years. I did not advertise, you had to get my number from a pool store or a friend to even know I existed. I was booked 2-3 weeks out for 8 months of the year seeing about 20 pools or spas (mostly spas) a week, and had about half of my customers for over a decade. I still get a few calls a week with questions or asking for referrals a year after moving 3.5 hours away. As I said before, I can't imagine how these places stay in business if they are so bad. I surely couldn't have if I was guilty of these things.
Incidentally, I have had a few customers over the years tell me they followed the TFP method, which I had no idea what they meant at the time. I am a repairman and was there to fix equipment, not chemistry, so didn't care what method they followed as long as it worked for them. I have always said if it works and you are happy with it then keep doing what you are doing. I have seen some really questionable stuff, especially in portable spas, that I would never recommend. But if the customer likes it and it doesn't cause problems, it's all the same to me. Unless it is commercial, of course, then the health dept tells you what you have to do. And I have to do what they say on those or risk my license.
Now there's something to drive you crazy. Health dept would get all these college kid interns out there checking pools with 4 hours of training and no understanding of chemistry or equipment. I can't even tell you how many I have had to teach how to use a taylor kit after they closed a pool because they messed up. I liked to see their faces when I came up with my taylor suitcase and tested everything on earth while they stood there with their wallet sized 3 way kit and a clipboard looking lost.
Gotta get your kicks where you find them... ;)
 
I like hiring the guy where I need to wait a few weeks for a spot. I worry about the guy I am referred to who has immediate availability.

Just like when traveling on the road and hungry I will pull into anyplace with a full parking lot of cars and keep on driving if the parking lot is mostly empty.
 
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RDspaguy said:
Well, not anymore, as I basically retired last year and moved to the country to pursue my lifelong dream of selling bbq at fairs and festivals. If not for covid, I would already be cooking.?
Put about $25K into a smoker trailer and all the bells and whistles. My health department inspection was cancelled due to covid19. Dangit!
Here's my baby, if anyone is interested.
Or not. Image wouldn't load. Too big apparently???
Click to expand...

DANG!! You’re living my dream!!

chicken anyone?

FCAC8422-EA21-4729-97EE-6548F5F31591.jpeg
 
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It's been a long time coming, I can tell you. I thought the health department was bad about pools, then I started to build a mobile kitchen! I swear I planned out and designed, and then scrapped a dozen designs after a chat with them. And the rules seem to change with every county, as well as state. It's been almost 3 years of planning, getting the trailer built, installing equipment, electric, propane, plumbing, sinks, on demand heaters, screening, counters, storage, lighting, ventilation, and several more things I can't think of right now. I stopped work on it twice due to family stuff, and almost put it up for sale at one point. But I am in the final stretch now, and covid hits! I know it's not the universe out to get me. I know it's not the universe out to get me. I know it's not the uni... Sorry, still trying to convince myself...
 
RDspaguy said:
It's been a long time coming, I can tell you. I thought the health department was bad about pools, then I started to build a mobile kitchen! I swear I planned out and designed, and then scrapped a dozen designs after a chat with them. And the rules seem to change with every county, as well as state. It's been almost 3 years of planning, getting the trailer built, installing equipment, electric, propane, plumbing, sinks, on demand heaters, screening, counters, storage, lighting, ventilation, and several more things I can't think of right now. I stopped work on it twice due to family stuff, and almost put it up for sale at one point. But I am in the final stretch now, and covid hits! I know it's not the universe out to get me. I know it's not the universe out to get me. I know it's not the uni... Sorry, still trying to convince myself...
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I can only imagine the hassle...my brother lives in St Louis and my wife has some extended family in Kansas City. Let me know if you’re mobile kitchen ever winds up near those places and I’ll send them your way...ya know, assuming we don’t all die from the virus ... or from being cooped up at home with family for months on end ... not sure which one is worse ?
 
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The Midwest is very bad with food truck type businesses. I think it is cultural. We used to call them roach coaches back there. In Arizona there are strict state laws prohibiting localities and counties from imposing rules and fees beyond the state's. And as a result, that and the climate here tends to make the food trucks the best food you can get in many cases. I like the attitude here better...

And as far as inspections... After coming from what the National Association of homebuilders called the fourth worst county in the country (I had to pass the journeyman's test to do my own work legally on my own property). Linn County Iowa... Here... I did my own wiring for the Spa and the inspector only cared that the GFCI worked.

No covers of boxes pulled off... Nothing like that. And that is how the slop was gotten away with on the pool electrical...

Definitely more taxation here than anything else... There is a lot of slop in the biggest homebuilder in the worlds electrical as well. It's kinda scary... I fixed all of mine... But... In a fire hazard area one would think...
 

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I will try to get a pic posted tomorrow.
This is for fairs, rodeos, that kind of high-volume event. This is not a food truck and could not operate as a food truck does. Mine is a giant bbq smoker on wheels with a roof and fold down awnings on each side. 11' deck in front with all my stuff, and pull-down screen sides. 3 compartment sink plus handwash, propane on demand water heater, 12v rv pump, 40 gallon fresh 46 gallon waste (by code), 2 refrigerators, 30" grill/ griddle (on the ground under the awning), 3 pan steamtable, folding service counter, 18" burner (like the infamous turkey fryer) for chili and such, sliding screen service window, storage cabinet, propane tank, and portable whisper-quiet propane generator if I need it ... It's a logistical nightmare making it all fit in a workable manner.
Then the trailer builder puts the awning supports in the wrong place (I sent detailed plans) I don't know until I drive to Georgia to pick it up! Start over. Just glad I hadn't bought the equipment yet.
 
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Yeah believe it or not I have eaten at something like that more than once here like a food truck. They bring out a "tent" (awning) for the cash register and serving. So I do know exactly what you are talking about. The last one convinced me to get my own little smoker myself...
 
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He's from MO. It's hard to beat BBQ from there... Anthony Bourdain's bucket list of restaurants around the world to eat at before you die only had one in the US. That was Oklahoma Joe's in KC. Now people will argue that there is better there (though I agree with the late great Anthony)... But if it's meat.. They will smoke it and BBQ it. I am with you and like pork made the American BBQ way better. Not so much with beef. I hated beef ribs until I had Kalbi....
 
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Pork, beef, chicken, turkey, fish. It's all good. Outdoor cooking has been my hobby since boy scouts.
I visited the bbq thread before, shared a cucumber slaw idea (can't say recipe because my wife actually makes it and I don't have the exact amounts of this and that).
 
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