Pinch A Penny Reviews 120

From owner on down to all employees this store misses the mark. Terrible service from "pool Tech" who who totally misdiagnosed and tried to resolve a problem to the in store workers doing water analysis.We wasted a lot of money to get our pool back to normal. All they are interested in is selling products. All of their recommendations led to a chlorine block. We called with another pool company, remedy solutions enacted and we were swimming again in two days. DO NOT TRUST PINCH A PENNY!

Great service ,friendly staff and honest evaluation. Highly recommended ✅.
G. Langset
Palm Coast

Excellent product knowledge: At the Store on Wickham in Melbourne the worker knew exactly what part I needed for my pool cleaner - I was so happy.

called for spare part, price quoted was 115 % higher than other online suppliers with free shipping had a cavalier attitude, I don't mind paying a little higher,
will go to them ONLY as LAST resort

Last 04/15/2020 I bought a Zodiac MX8 Elite vacuum cleaner for $ 560 at Pinch A Penny. The vacuum worked good until last week that it suddenly stopped working. The pool filter was replaced to make sure everything was fine, later the straps on the MX8 wheels that were worn were replaced and still it wasnt working, so finally concluded that the vacuum cleaner was presenting a technical failure of the internal parts (Annex photos). By going to a representative and a store manager on 04/13/2021 Pinch A Penny the store located 14615 Sw 104 St, Miami, FL, zip 33186. (It should be noted 2 days before the end of my warranty period). The store representative refused to cover my warranty, claiming it was the fault of the pool plaster, the water chemicals, the pool conditions, then saying that the warranty doesn`t cover internal parts that damaged on their own, in short a number of excuses and excuses for not covering my warranty. When I consider that the store's protocol should have been that the store received my pool vacuum cleaner to make an inspection to assess the damage and give me a receipt to process my warranty with the manufacturing company. Finally after arguing with the store manager and refusing to cover my warranty and even refusing to give me a receipt that I could demonstrate that on 04/13/2021 I am claiming my warranty, during my regulatory period of time and with a totally justified reason (which I was later able to corroborate by calling a representative of Fluidra, which is the equipment's manufacturing company) The manager from Pinch to Penny the only solution he gave me was to replace the central piece and pay for it from my pocket a total of $ 42.79 (attached photo and receipt). When I arrived home, yes! the pool vaccum cleaner was working better, but it moved slower than normal, which raises doubts if there is possibly more internal damage that should have been diagnosed after a more thorough inspection and also should have been covered by the guarantee according to the Fluidra representative informed me.
Therefore, I express my dissatisfaction with the representatives of the Pinch A Penny store since they did not want to assume my guarantee and I call on the Big manager of the franchise to take the pertinent measures to guarantee the quality and satisfaction of the customer service.

I have had a few service issues with Pinch A Penny over the past week. First when I called to make an appt they were supposed to call me back with times and days to schedule. They did not, they just scheduled a day on their own and did not tell me until I called to check. They also told me my service would be 45 bucks and today they tell me that it is more like 100. AND when they came to do the service - scheduled for 10-11AM, they came late at 1230 and did not call to inform me. I work from home and have meetings all day, this was not helpful. Then once they finished the work they just drove off. Did not tell me the item is working or that they were finished. And now the gal from the office today was extremely rude. I will NEVER use their services again or shop there again.

We have used Pinch a Penny for over 10 years. The office called and requested payment yesterday so my husband decided to stop by the main office office to pay our monthly bill which was 15 days late which truly rarely ever happens. The owner was there and when my husband ask to speak to the owner. She took the check and was quite rude preceding for some unknown reason to tell my husband to take our business elsewhere. He was confused but she was very rude that we are now looking for another pool company. She obviously does not care about the pool home service business? We paid until the end of the month but we really need to move on.

I worked as a pool guy (subcontractor) for 6 months at 4902 S Kirkman Rd, when I decided to leave to work at another company, the franchisee, Mr Janak, did not pay me my last week of work in the amount of $ 630.00 as I was already working in another place I asked my wife to go to the store and ask when I would receive my last week of work, he humiliated my wife by calling her several names that I cannot write here, Mr Janak is a very bad person, with a horrible character, I’m leaving it here because if you want your pool to be cleaned by this store # 92 I don’t recommend it at all, the franchisee of this store is a liar and unresponsible, I had to borrow money from friends to honor my commitments because I did not receive what was rightfully mine from Mr Janak

In February 2017 I purchased a Pentair Master Temp 250,000 BTU pool heater. It seemed to work well until March 2019. After five service calls under warranty we thought the problem was fixed.
We returned from Wisconsin in November 2020 (left early in spring due to Covid) and realized the problem was still there. However, now the heater is out of warranty. Pinch-A-Penney charged me $321.00 for the repair. Adding insult to injury they refused next day service as they said there are other people with service calls ahead of me. My grandchildren are in town for only a few days for the Thanksgiving holiday. They spend all day in the pool, however, no heater-no pool.
I would also not recommend any Pentair product, as they also would not do anything to replace an obvious lemon pool heater. Buy any other product than Pentair.

Pinch a Penny - Parrish, FL
Price gouging is more like it. Invoiced more than $250 higher than what what was quoted. When called out on the bait and switch, was told the best they could do was $40 off - owner wouldn't even talk with me; had an hourly work deliver the message. Won't use them again. Get everything in writing.

Pinch a penny store # 11 Bradenton Florida We recently had a new pump installed while we were out of town . When we returned three weeks later we noticed two of the jets not working . I emailed Jason And he sent someone out twice and repaired the problem . He did not feel it was caused by the new pump but nevertheless he took care of the issue . I would like to thank Jason for his professional manner in which he handled this matter .

Regularly shop Dixie Hwy. store in Ft. Lauderdale. These guys are honest, patient and very friendly. I know they are a franchise (as most/all stores are), so if you're in the area, shop this one. They have hundreds of regular customers but somehow ALWAYS remember you when you walk in the door. No hesitation to tell you if a product isn't great, and no questions about returns. Truly a model for great service!

After a frustrating time to find someone who wasn't going to gouge me
to death I picked this company. I also support my city by staying with locals.
They came and installed my pool pump in a timely manner. Made sure
everything was working and very knowlegable. My best experience ever.
Thanks to all.
V. Sample

If I could give a zero, I would. This was the second time, the same employee humiliated me. He took his time coming over to me, loading chlorine onto the shelves. I waited. He has a mask but wasn't wearing it. He took my sample and started questioning me where I buy my pool supplies. I have purchased many there but sometimes I buy in bulk online. Last year, I started buying algaecide online because there's wasn't working. In fact, I was unable to swim in the pool at all last year. A couple of months ago, the pool got a new liner and was balanced by the company which filled it. Since I have a vinyl liner I no longer buy calcium hardness since it is not necessary with liners (they don't tell you that). He berated me, chastised me, was extremely rude. I will never return there. I will go to Leslie's or buy my own test kits (most likely). Additionally, the worker at the cash register was not wearing a mask. Masks are for protecting others, not yourself. I will not give any business to a company who does not have their employees wear masks. But that is secondary. His rudeness was beyond anything I have ever experienced and I'm a 70 year old New Yorker! This is for the Pinch Penny located at 8257 Normandy Blvd. Jacksonville, FL.

Store at 10228 Curryford Road Orlando, FL
The owner of the store David is rude and nasty. He feels it’s ok to patronize others because they don’t act like him.
Refuses to let people view products because of the coronavirus. This place gets 10 people a day and grocery stores get 1000xs more. I understand the need for concern but to go overboard and treat customers like crap is unacceptable

You get what you pay for with their "Free" water tests. On more than one occasion I have taken a water sample from the same pool to the Coconut Point Road (CPR) store and the Bonita Beach Rd (BBR) store and most recently after checking the water myself. The results they have provided differ widely. On one visit the BBR reported my Stabilizer was 50 and the CPR store 100. This week, Delcan at the CPR store reported my phosphates were 2000 ppb and Dave at the BBR store reported my phosphates at 700 ppb. Also, it appears the information they provide must be verified by doing additional research . Dave told me the Phosphates should be less than 300ppb when every article I have read states over 100 ppb needs attention. Delcan said he doesn't believe in treating a high phosphate reading with phosphate remover except, as a last resort when nothing else works. Confused so I am.

This is Pinch A Penny in Lake Park on North Lake Blvd. John is known as "Doc" because he cures sick pools and makes them beautiful again is one the most honest and nicest guys I have met in the pool business and in fact any business. He is extremely adept at figuring out what the problem is with any pool and fixing it permanently. His goal is to not have you keep coming back into his store and buy more stuff and milk you like so many others do. His goal it to fix your issue the most cost effective way possible. He treats his customers like his own family. I drive an extra 25 minutes each way just to go to his store when other pool stores are much closer. Cannot say enough great things about him personally and his operation. Thanks Doc!!!

Purchased a vinyl vac head with side brushes 3 months ago. Used it 3 times. First time okay. 2nd time bristles falling off into pool. Third time bristles falling out in handfuls and unusable. Took it back to store in Brandon FL and they refused to return this defective product. Said it was past 30 days. Was going to upgrade to a different vacuum head. Did not purchase anything and will not return to Pinch a Penny. Do not buy this product. It is a one use only. Instead of pinch a penny it is more like throw your money out the window.

So I dropped off my pool cleaner because it stopped functioning. I was told it was under warranty. I was called 5 hours later and was told it was ready. I paid $20 bench labor and returned home only to find out that the unit was still not functioning. In fact it was doing the exact same thing. I took the unit back and waited for 2 days. I called and was told once again that the unit was under warranty and that my cost would not exceed $50. I explained that I just wanted the unit to work or for the unit to be replaced. I was asked if I had just put pavers in. I said no. The rep stated that there was a lot of grit in the unit. I do not understand what that had to do with anything. Isn't grit and dirt what the unit will find at the bottom of the pool? I waited 3 more days and called again and was told that they were waiting for the manufacturer to email them back. 3 days later and a little more perturbed I called again and was t ok old they were waiting for the manufacturer to email them back. I stated that I would appreciate a call from the manager or owner. Next day I called again and was told that they were waiting for the Manufacturer rep to email them back. A little more perturbed I was told that I was acting unreasonable and that I should not be raising my voice to the rep that I was speaking to. I stated I was at my wits end with this situation and the lack of communication from anyone on staff there as well as the lack of response from the owner or manager. I Al's stated at that time that I was not calling anymore being that every conversation with them was initiated by me and I need a call from the manager or owner. Much to my surprise this morning I received a call for an employee who explained to me that they were waiting for the manufacturer to email them back ARE YOU KIDDING ME. I asked why the manager had not called me back and she stated because she was. I then tried to explain to this employee that I did not care at this point if the unit was under warranty or not. I just wanted to have it fixed and I would pay. I was told that the warranty runs out in a week. I stated that this was irrelevant. Are you going to fix.. every time I started speaking bnb or asking a question I was cut off shut down talked over. She had no intention of hearing ANYTHING I had to say and evidently neither did the owner or manger. She hung up on me. I jumped in my truck and went to the store and was greeted by a young man and told him that I was there to pick up my pool cleaner. It was quite obvious that the condescending little girl was the one who handed it to him because she had nothing good to say and just continued to be a pompous butt head as I retreated not saying a word with cleaner in hand. HAVE A NICE DAY! Unbelievable! I took the cleaner to another pool store at 11AM. The cleaner was returned to me at 3PM. $10 dollars later it has been running perfectly. I tell this story because I entered the store originally with the expectation of them having a staff that could fix the cleaner but instead was ignored by staff and managers and owners. Treated with an attitude of indifference verbally abused robbed of $20 and close to 3 weeks of my life that I will never get back. WHY? I will never know. All I have left is to post this all over the internet.

This review reflects the Wellington FL store
6/17/2017
In June of 2016 I had pool diamond brite redone, was told I needed Pool chemically balanced after pool filled. Called Pinch a Penny and was told they could do it for $250 for 1 week they would check it daily and chemically balance, and brush the new finish. Well their guy showed up daily and quickly briefly brushed the pool and tested it but never added any chemicals. I took sample of pool water to their store, Results....... Not balanced and needed just about everything. This went on and daily after their guy left I kept taking samples over after about the 3-4 day of 7 I called and complained. They sent another guy out who checked on first guy I showed this guy my water test results from their own store. He reassured me his guy would put the proper chemicals in and balance the pool water. I continued to test water every day after their pool guy left, NEVER once saw him add any chemicals besides occasional liquid chlorine. After seventh day I debated about disputing my credit card bill but opted to just let it slide and Balanced the pool myself. The final straw was June of 2017 when I tried to return to NEW chlorine plastic containers that I had to pay $8.99 a deposit on each container. Completely new and intact, guy at register in their store tells me they don't refund Deposits anymore???? I stated I PAID the deposit and returned the containers intact I expect it back, he just smiled and stated we don't return deposits ( technically its not a deposit then its a screw job).
I took my water results that I got that day and BOUGHT all my needed salt, Muraitic acid, and Pool stabllizer at another pool store as I will continue to do here forth. Pinch a Penny you just lost along time year round customer, smile its your last time you screw me.
I have bought Salt bags and other chemicals for 3-8 dollars less then Pinch a Penny at 2 other pool supply stores in the area, and will continue to do so over the year the savings will be worth it. My recommendation to others in Wellington area shop around other pool stores test water for free and are cheaper and have better customer service and loyalty.

Was called by the main corporation 1 week after this post they stated they will contact the store, no response after another week I called to inquire Same Rep stated they could not reach the local store nor would owner return their calls............ Sounds like they have a franchise owner blowing them off