Buying new pool: Leslie's vs. Blue Wave vs. Intex

[christopher_c]

2 years ago I bought my first above ground pool on Amazon; a 15x15 Intex pool. It was great for 1 summer. Last year when I brought it out of storage and set it up, it had about 100 little holes that I had to patch (took forever).
When buying chemicals at Leslie's Pool supplies, I was talking to the employee there about the work I had to do to my Intex pool. That's when he suggested I invest in a pool that is intended to last more than one summer. He went on to explain that the pools they sell come with a 30-50 year warranty, and that the liner is super thick, so I won't have the problem of having to patch a ton of little holes.

Now that summer is just around the corner, I'm wanting to decide on a new pool, since I doubt my $300 Intex pool will make it a third year. However, these pools from Leslie's are closer to $5000! (I'm looking at 24x12 oval). Yes, it has a 50 year limited warranty, but that's still a lot of money for me.

I looked around a bit more and found Blue Wave pools on Amazon, and they're priced kind of in the middle of Intex and Leslie's, around $2,300 for a 24x12 oval pool. And of course, I could go back to Intex with their 24x12 coming in at $900.

I wanted to see if anyone has any opinions between these 3 brands? Obviously I have my own opinion of Intex since my first pool is from them, and I'm not too pleased at how it's fallen apart. Has anyone bought a pool from Leslie's (like the Valdez series or similar)? Are they really built that much better?
Anyone have good experiences with Blue Wave?

Thanks for any advice!

 

[TSiGirl]

Shop around..whether locally or online...there are always better deals to be had. I have no experience with Blue Wave.. but there are lots of(proven) good pool brands out there..Sharkline..Aqualeader ect, to name a few.. if you are installing yourself..consider buying your pool online to save $$$$.

 

[jeffchap]

My Intex is on its 4th year and I've never patched a leak, but I leave it up year-round. I think it's harder on them to take them down than it is to leave them up all winter. You might consider another Intex and doing the same if you can and don't want to spend a couple thousand on a 'real' pool.

 

[christopher_c]

I think you're right, Jeff. It was the storing that created all the tiny tears in my Intex pool; I imagine if I left it in place it wouldn't have been such a problem. But we also like having that area clear when we're not using the pool, though we've thought if we get a bigger more permanent one, we wouldn't be taking it down.

If I got a more expensive pool ($2500+) what characteristics should I be looking for that justify the extra cost? Since TSiGirl suggested there's lots of good brands out there, what kind of things do you look for when considering a pool?

 

[Donldson]

You should try to get your hands on a copy of that 50 year warranty. A vinyl liner does not last 50 years no matter how well maintained so I would love to hear all the catches and depreciation factored in to that.

 

[cfherrman]

From what I can tell on agp's, there are two types. Intex and the others liners are cheap and easy, the liners are vuneable to damage from outside sources, weed eaters, rocks, 4 wheelers, etc. They cost under $1k so who cares?

The other kinds of pools, the ones made with solid money for walls.....I mean solid metal look like outside sources of damage are minimized.

Looks wise I don't think either one look good, with a edge to solid money walls. Lots of people put decks around part way or all the way and then it shouldn't matter.