September 5, 2015

►    Customer Feedback: Customer Barb C. of Mason, NH stated that her general shopping experience with us was Excellent. Did any of our team members do an unusually good job? “Kristine.” Sales help, operations people, communication, and product performance were all rated Excellent. She would recommend us to a friend. What could we do to improve? “I live in Mason, NH. First year having a pool. Disappointed I couldn’t have you close my pool for winter.” What do we do really well? “Take time to help me learn how to run a pool.”

►    Added by Dennis: I called her and told her that Joe closes pools and he will go to Mason. Apparently, we never said anything except that we don’t close pools.

►    Advertising, promotions, and specials continue from earlier this week: “Winter Pool Covers”.  This month’s color is Gray.

►    Please learn the Major Pool Supplies Sale. Your price depends on if the item is in stock, and when the customer wants it. You cannot give a clearance price unless we have it and they take it now! It’s all in writing.

►    Events during the next couple of weeks:

         September 7: CLOSED ~ Happy Labor Day.

         September 8: Final day of Pentair Automatic Pool Cleaner Rebates.

         September 12: Happy Birthday Andrew: FREE birthday cake in the coffee shop, while supplies last.

         September 16: Pool School 303 ~ Above Ground Pool Closing, 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM

         September 23: Pool School 304 ~ Inground Pool Closing, 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM

►    Happy Birthday to Andrew on Thursday, September 10.

►    We are closed on Labor Day.

►    We had 16 One-of-These Awards this month; 11 for Customer Service. This is the smallest number we have ever had in a summer month. It may be time to discontinue the program. Finalists were Joe, Kristine, Tod, and Sarah. Owner’s Choice was Sarah, and the Drawing winner was Sarah. Congratulations to all.

►    Perhaps we are not paying enough for the One-of-These winners. Would raising it to $75 help? Please let me know.

►    A competitor’s “Sale” flier 8/30 to 9/13. It’s in the lunchroom. Details: covers are very expensive. It doesn’t say, but they are normally bagged without the cable and you buy it separately. Winter kits: 8,000 gallons $39.99; round 15,000 gallons $53.99; oval 15,000 gallons $66.99. They don’t seem to do much business with inground pool owners. The 24’ Morada pool (like a Cayman) is on sale for $2899.99 with a package that does not include a vacuum, test kit, leaf skimmer, or any chemicals except Slo Pokes. Let alone a year’s worth of chemicals, and all your winterizing materials. How do they do it?

►    Since we no longer stock Ducane grill parts, we have printed labels with information on where people can buy them: www.AllPartsGrills.com. We put the labels in the grill special order book, the Ducane parts book, on a sign in the grill accessory department, and on the first page of the warranty books, where we previously listed discounts for Ducane parts in stock.

►    “Life in These United States” from the Reader’s Digest:

When I saw an elderly woman struggling to get her walker out of the car, I jumped into action. I grabbed the walker by handles tussled with it until it came out. Then I opened the collapsed legs, put them in the locked position, and placed the walker in front of her. Voila! “Thank you,” she said. “But I was trying to put it in the car.”