So over the weekend, I went to an LPS. Put away your pitchforks, I just needed a couple of mechanical items. (Backwash hose, skimmer lid, that sort of thing).
Around here, choosing an LPS is pretty much like deciding which foot to drop the bowling ball on. One in particular is as useful at testing/monitoring/maintaining water chemistry as any other store, but usually has a decent stock of various opening-weekend bits and pieces, so I went there.
Walked in, girl behind the counter was helping a customer, and looked, for all the world, to be dropping some DPD reagents into a vial.
Nope. Can't be. I must have been seeing things.
Grab my bits and pieces, head to the counter.
At this point, my world view is restored, as I see "CYA Reducer" on the counter. Ah, good. They are indeed selling magic snake oil like any good LPS should!
I picked it up just out of idle curiosity since, frankly, I didn't even know the stuff existed. Figured I'd get either a blank stare, or a hyped up sales pitch about this miracle of modern pool chemistry.
"Really? CYA Reducer? Never heard of it. How does it work?"
"It doesn't"
Wait...
Did that LPS employee just give me the straight scoop on something?
"Well..ok..I mean I GUESS it works...if you have 3 weeks to kill and don't mind spending twice what the water would cost you to just drain and refill anyway"
This can't be. I'm getting a REAL ANSWER.
Had a chuckle with the kid behind the counter, paid for my purchases, and headed out. About this time, the wife says "Hey, do you need any testing stuff?"
I'm thinking "Nothing they sell here, that's for sure" and then she points. Sitting next to a wall is a big brand new, shiny rack...with every Taylor kit, reagent, tube, bottle, and tool you can think of! I mean, ALL of em! Well stocked, correctly organized, all documented as to their purpose and use.
No kidding...the girl that had been testing customer water earlier (She HAD been using DPD reagents!!) walked over, said "You do your own testing?"
"Yes ma'am, sure do"
"Good! We're starting to encourage that more. It's a great way to know exactly what your pool is doing, and catch problems before they get out of hand. Do you have everything you need to open?"
We wound up talking pool chemistry for 5 minutes. She actually understood shock as a process, CYA relationships, the works!
I was speechless. An LPS just encouraged me to test my own water with accurate supplies, and has everything I need to do so, and even knows how to use them.
First the Preds in the SCF, and now this. It has indeed become very cold down there...
---
PS
No, I haven't mentioned the store. It's a local outfit, one shop only, and didn't want to turn this into a giant ad. If you're in or around Nashville, however, feel free to PM me and I'll be happy to tell you who it is.
Around here, choosing an LPS is pretty much like deciding which foot to drop the bowling ball on. One in particular is as useful at testing/monitoring/maintaining water chemistry as any other store, but usually has a decent stock of various opening-weekend bits and pieces, so I went there.
Walked in, girl behind the counter was helping a customer, and looked, for all the world, to be dropping some DPD reagents into a vial.
Nope. Can't be. I must have been seeing things.Grab my bits and pieces, head to the counter.
At this point, my world view is restored, as I see "CYA Reducer" on the counter. Ah, good. They are indeed selling magic snake oil like any good LPS should!
I picked it up just out of idle curiosity since, frankly, I didn't even know the stuff existed. Figured I'd get either a blank stare, or a hyped up sales pitch about this miracle of modern pool chemistry.
"Really? CYA Reducer? Never heard of it. How does it work?"
"It doesn't"
Wait...
Did that LPS employee just give me the straight scoop on something?"Well..ok..I mean I GUESS it works...if you have 3 weeks to kill and don't mind spending twice what the water would cost you to just drain and refill anyway"
This can't be. I'm getting a REAL ANSWER.
Had a chuckle with the kid behind the counter, paid for my purchases, and headed out. About this time, the wife says "Hey, do you need any testing stuff?"
I'm thinking "Nothing they sell here, that's for sure" and then she points. Sitting next to a wall is a big brand new, shiny rack...with every Taylor kit, reagent, tube, bottle, and tool you can think of! I mean, ALL of em! Well stocked, correctly organized, all documented as to their purpose and use.
No kidding...the girl that had been testing customer water earlier (She HAD been using DPD reagents!!) walked over, said "You do your own testing?"
"Yes ma'am, sure do"
"Good! We're starting to encourage that more. It's a great way to know exactly what your pool is doing, and catch problems before they get out of hand. Do you have everything you need to open?"
We wound up talking pool chemistry for 5 minutes. She actually understood shock as a process, CYA relationships, the works!
I was speechless. An LPS just encouraged me to test my own water with accurate supplies, and has everything I need to do so, and even knows how to use them.
First the Preds in the SCF, and now this. It has indeed become very cold down there...
---
PS
No, I haven't mentioned the store. It's a local outfit, one shop only, and didn't want to turn this into a giant ad. If you're in or around Nashville, however, feel free to PM me and I'll be happy to tell you who it is.
