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We gather that the original manufacturer of Kayak above-ground pools declared bankruptcy, leaving many Kayak owners stuck with useless warranties. The New Kayak Pool Corp. sells parts to repair leaky Kayaks but isn't responsible for the previous firm's warranty obligations, leaving some pool owners high and dry.
Is the situation better today than it was immediately after the bankruptcy? Hard to say. One thing's for sure: above-ground pools are expensive and more prone to damage than in-ground pools. Consumers should carefully weigh the costs of sinking a lot of money into what is essentially a temporary structure.
Oh, and be sure to read the contract thoroughly before signing it. Completely disregard the salesman's verbal promises. They are meaningless.
Here are a few of the more recent complaints ...
Rosemarie of Gilbertsville PA (06/19/08)
We purchased our pool in 2003. They delivered it (destroying the right side of my house in the process) and left it there until the last week in August (approximately 2 months). My family was going on vacation 2 days after. They realized they had delivered it to the wrong side of the house and proceeded to destroy the left side of my house when installation began.
When we came back from vacation we had 7,500 gallons of water in our backyard due to a flawed liner. They came and fixed it 2 weeks later. So the 1st year we owned our pool we could only swim once.
This year I have another 7,500 gallons of water in my back yard. My husband called the company and they sent someone out. They said it wasn't their fault since it wasn't on a seam and wanted 385 for the inspection, my husband told them to pound salt. We had to order the liner from them 800 but had another company (Chris Miller) install for half the price that Kayak wanted and was on time and did a great job.
The Kayak warranty is not worth the paper it is printed on. Very unprofessional people, every single one that I have dealt with. We even heard one of the managers in the background use extreme profanity when he heard that we were not going to pay the 385. My husband wants to put an add in the Philadelphia Inquirer warning people NEVER to buy this product. I believe there should be a class action suit leveled against this company.
We have lost 280 for water. 800 for the liner and 600 to have installed. Landscaping for the damage done to the side yard 400. John of Abington, MA June 5, 2008
John of Abington MA (06/05/08)
i bought a 12 24 pool free cemicals,cover , skimer. 20,000.dollars the pool was delivered it was used it took 2 months to get a new one that is all i wanted .the manerger danti--never got any were with him doug finally got the pool set up the crew left the water truck was filling the pool the liner fell off the top . the crew came right back took care of it the next day the pool was half empty
I called it took 4 weeks they put new liner in i pay again 275 for water used it for 1 month had them close it for winter. when i opened it i noticed the liner seam spliting i called it took several months finally a new liner and made them pay for the water. I think the only reson they fixed it because the better buisness was involved and the sign in my front yard never deal with those people ever again only had the pool 4 years then it fell down last winter Debi of Clarksville, OH June 5, 2008
Debi of Clarksville OH (06/05/08)
Our liner was torn after taking it out we discovered corrosion (exfoliation) on every waterwall. Places were already blown out and other places on the way.We actaced Janice in New York who handles warrenty issues and sent over 100 pictures. After viewing them she told me areas exfoliated were just cosmetic. She would not let me talk to anyone else who supposedly viewed the pictures but she would let them know I was not happy. I informed her my husband and I are both Aircraft Mechanics and work with metal every day and we know what we are talking about. Now they say we will have to pay for shipping and installation for the new walls plus the walls will be prorated because the pool is 9 years old and we will have to pay 30% for each wall.
I didn't know a lifetime warrenty could be pro rated. Also I know my pool is not the only one out there like this there are probably quite a few so maybe a class action suit would be the way to handle this with Kayak since they only seem to be concered about ripping off their customers and not standing behind their product. I'm not done fighting with them yet but a sign is about to go up in my yard advertising their pool in hoping to spare others a big headache.
Exfoliation peels away the layer of aluminum and turns them to powder, in the meantime it leaves sharp edges where the metal is deteriorating, I believe this is why my liner was torn. It will cost 3089.00ace the walls which they want me to pay around 900.00 A hardware kit will cost 110.00, wall seam tape 8.00, coping kit 140.00, corner caps 8.00, return fitting w/gaskets 8.00, in wall skimmer 43.00, liner 700.00 all totaling 3948.00 Larry of Jackson, MI June 3, 2008
Larry of Jackson MI (06/03/08)
Had a problem this winter (2007/2008)where a PVC pipe poped apart. This drained the pool and distroyed the liner. Called Nita in March of 08 at kayak pools expecting them to live up to there 30 year warranty since the pool was only installed in November of 06. Nita assured me she was working on it. Did har from her til middle of April and at that time I was told that I had to pay a 240.00 to have the Service man out to look at it. Service man came out 2 weeks later and said it was Kayaks fault.
Gave Nita a week to respond. I did not hear from her. Emailed her and waited another week and still no response. My wife called still no reply. Emailed again and waited another week. Now I was mad and called corperate. She called my wife and said liner was on order. Kayak and nita provided terrible customer support. I will not ever recommend a Kayak pool to anyone and I will tell as many people as can on my bad experience.
Because of poor installation my pool was drained and even damaged. Charmaine of Mattawan, MI June 2, 2008
Charmaine of Mattawan MI (06/02/08)
We purchased a Kayak pool in the fall of 2006. They came and set it up and because this was Oct. we were told to hook things up in the spring. When we did we ran it for 1 month before the frogger broke. They were not helpful at all and did not return phone calls, and then proceded to tell us that there would be a 200 charge for them to look at it. We waited for 3 weeks in the heat of June without any help.They told us this was not warrenty and that we broke it.In one month this brand new item was broken. Sorry to say that this was just the beginning of our troubles with Kayak pools.
After fixing the frogger at our own exspense we encountered pipes that broke and connections that burst. After amounts of money and time on OUR OWN we closed it down. During the winter the liner ripped apart and 15,000 gallons of water appeared in our yard. I cannot tell you how disappointed we were. After phone calls to Kayak pools, they requested a picture,of the tear. Because they had told us when we purchased the pool that this liner had a 25 year guarantee no matter what. Well after a quick look at the picture they decided that it was caused by the weather and that it was not a covered warrenty.
I am shocked and can't believe that they have no standards to back the products they sell. We are out a liner and now are responsible for the cost of a new liner, a 22,000 pool that is junk and a company that is lying to the public. At this time I am contracting to rent a huge billboard and post this statement, that Kayak pools are junk. Funny how they wanted me to put a sign in my yard advertising this pool.They have already ripped me off of my hard earned money and will not give any customer service.
This pool cost 22,000, 1000 for a liner, 750 to put a new one in and 120 to replace the sand that washed away. The sad part to this, is that my husband is recovering from cancer and this pool was to be part of his treatment to a healthy life. To bad this pool issue has caused him undue stress. Amy of New Hudson, MI May 27, 2008
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