Barrier Reef Pools - Florence, South Carolina

This summer Tim and I decided we were in the market for a pool.  We did some looking around last summer, but didn't make our final decision until early this year.  We decided on Barrier Reef Pools in Florence, SC.  There are two aspects of this review - the quality of the pool, and the service from the store.   Let me start with the quality of the service.

Randy Weatherford is the manager of the store in Florence and he is who we dealt with in terms of purchasing the pool.  

In an interview published with SCNOW.com regarding the opening of the Barrier Reef store in Florence, the following was quoted (published July 22, 2011) 

“We look forward to helping the pool owners of Florence create many great family memories in their pools and backyards," says Randy Weatherford, store manager.  "We want our customers to depend on us for our superior service and technical know-how.”

I'm far from pleased with the service we have received with regard to the pool.  I do have to admit, there are some good things... the store location is close to our home and we get free pool supplies for this season with the installation of the pool.... that's pretty much where the good service ends though (and I'm sure we've paid for the "free" pool supplies in the cost of the pool).

I won't even go into the issues we had with the installation (that was at least six weeks if not more delayed for completion), I'll just talk about the service after the sale... after the final large check was written.  We have had to call the store on many occasions - multiple times, to get things taken care of.  For instance - our therapeutic jet inserts were not put in when the pool was installed.. took forever to get those in, and it was a simple job.  We had remote control lighting that we paid for with the purchase of the pool - well, they installed the wrong lighting with the pool and it also took multiple calls and a lengthy wait to get the appropriate lighting installed.  

Right now, we are dealing with deck jets.  We have three deck jets installed on the pool decking.  When you turn them on, they shoot water out, like a fountain into the pool.  The kids love them.  Well, they are SUPPOSED to shoot water out into the pool... ours don't work right, so we can't turn them on.. unless of course we just want to water down the concrete.  Over the past three weeks, I have personally called and left messages three times, and Tim has as well.  We have not even gotten a return phone call.  Tim went into the store and talked to Randy about it personally - still no one has come out to take care of fixing the deck jets.  If it is not taken care of in short order, my next stop will be the better business bureau, or small claims court if necessary.  I hate to talk about court, but if you have no other recourse, sometimes you just have to go that route.  For service, I would give them a D- on a A-F scale!

As for the pool itself...... LOVE it!!!!  We picked a fiberglass pool - which is the only kind that Barrier Reef sells.  We were looking at all of our options - fiberglass vs. liner and found the fiberglass to be a better option for our family.  We were not concerned with the depth - the pool we chose is 15 feet wide, 40 feet long, and approximately 9 feet deep.  It's too shallow for a diving board, but I didn't want one anyway.  I loved the sculptured look of the fiberglass pool.  It is also a salt water poor - which I LOVE.  If you have never felt the water in a salt water pool, you don't know what you're missing.  It's "soft".  That's really the only way I know how to describe it.  It almost makes your skin feel conditioned when you have been in it.  And it's not salty like the ocean - you don't get out of the water feeling "sticky" like you do at the ocean.  The water has salt content similar to saline... for that matter, it's very easy on your eyes as well... nothing like the chlorine pools we had when I was growing up.  All around, I couldn't be more thrilled with this pool.  I told Tim, besides investing in the kids' future, there is really no better investment that we have made!

Where once there was only a yard, now there are hours of family fun!

It can get REALLY hot in SC and this summer has been a scorcher - but with the pool, we have been able to be outside and enjoy the sunshine.  At night, we light around the fence with tiki torches and turn on the pool lights and it is absolutely beautiful and relaxing!

I guess for the pool itself, I would give it an A-..... there are always things that can be improved.  The only complaint I really have is with regard to the salt system / pump - it's kinda loud.  I guess you get used to the sound of it after awhile, but it is loud.  In terms of beauty, quality, easy care and just plain fun... this is definitely a great pool!

Sadly, if we had to do it over again, we would not choose Barrier Reef - as much as I love the pool, I would  have to find a different pool company and I couldn't in good faith recommend them to someone without a warning regarding the service.  It's not just poor, it's bad.  Which is ironic after the quote from the article when the store was opening.  If they improved their service and response to customers, they could actually have a good business going on there....

Charity
aka - "Quality Mom"

Pattycakes

The other day I was a woman on a mission.  I was having family over in just a few days for my daughter's dedication at church.  Sara joined our family about a year and a half ago from Ethiopia.  We wanted to have her dedication right away, but we were in the middle of finding our new church home.  We decided to wait until we got settled in to dedicate her.  Well, we found our church home and this Sunday is the date. I was going all over town looking for an appropriate outfit for the day.  

I didn't need a "baby dedication" gown.  I didn't need something frilly or fancy... I just needed something cute and comfortable for my daughter.  She would be walking up in front of the church on her own, but likely when we get up there, she is going to want to be held... so I wanted something that wouldn't show her panties when I held her.  I wanted a cute, dressy pant outfit.

She suddenly looks so mature in this outfit... not my "baby" anymore

After going to all the department stores and finding nothing, Pattycakes came to mind.  I'm so glad we made the trip there.  Pattycakes is a consignment shop as well as a darling children's boutique carrying new items.  We stopped there and when I walked in the door, I found this outfit immediately.  

The outfit is perfect for the occasion.  The boutique items at Pattycakes are always well made and absolutely adorable.  I'm a mom concerned with quality, comfort and "washability" for my kids' clothing and this outfit in particular will stand up to the quality, comfort and "washability" test.  It'll take some time ironing it after it is washed - but for the amount of "cuteness" it affords, it's well worth the ironing time.

Speaking of what it's worth... I was surprised at the affordability of the outfit.  It was less expensive than some of the not so cute dresses I was looking at, at the department stores.  I topped the outfit off with a pair of almost never worn sandals with a tiny little heel, and she will be perfectly set for her dedication day.  

If you are looking for a quality consignment shop or children's boutique in the Florence, SC area, Pattycakes is the place to go.  They have well organized racks of "gently used" children's clothing and a lot of it.  They go through their clothing and will not put certain items on their racks.  While we were there,  I saw one of the employees turn away an item because it was not "sellable" by their standards.  If you need boutique items or high end new shoes you can find them at Pattycakes as well.  The shoes were a bit pricey, but sometimes you have to pay the higher price if you can't find what you are looking for somewhere else.  They are high quality shoes though.

Pattycakes has recently relocated and is in the shopping plaza on second loop next to Piggly Wiggly and Fox's Pizza.  You can find them on the web here.

Charity
"Quality Mom"