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Kayak Pools

Kayak Pools • Installation • Liners • "One Free Move" • Sales Practices --- • Kayak Responds

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 ...

Amy of New Hudson MI (05/27/08)
We purchased our Kayak pool in 2006 with the sales pitch that Kayak provided the best warranty & maintenance free pool. We had a tear in our liner over the winter and contacted Kayak Midwest. We were advised to email pictures of the liner and was told by Nita that this was ice damage.

We were concerned how they could come to this conclusion by looking at pictures. We requested (Kayak did not offer) to have someone come out to take a look and we were told a service technician would come out for a 240 charge! The service tech contacted us to give us a quote over the phone of 2000 for replacement and repair of liner!! This is for a pool that is not even 2 years old!! He didn't even come out to look at the damage.

We contacted a local pool company owner who came out free of charge and said the tear started at the seam. He advised us to call Kayak back since this should be covered under warranty. When we called Kayak Midwest, they referred us to their New York office and to speak with Janice in the Warranty Dept. We made several phone calls, which she NEVER returned and when she finally did, she would give us some excuse that she was working on it and that she would call us back.

After 2 weeks dealing with Janice, she told us that we needed to contact the Midwest office! We were getting the complete run around without any assistance let alone decent customer service to resolve this. We've left several messages for Greg, who is the national sales manager for Kayak and the supervisor of Janice. And surprise, we're still waiting for a return call.

They don't stand behind their warranty and I would never recommend a Kayak Pool to anyone! We will also let everyone we come into contact with to not buy a Kayak pool or even think about it! BUYERS BEWARE, don't waste your money!

We've been trying to resolve this for over a month now and we still haven't gotten anywhere with Kayak. Luckily, the local pool company owner is a reputable and honest person who is going to help us out. We still feel entitled to a new liner from Kayak since our current one is a defective item. They refuse to return calls and it seems that if they give us the run around long enough, we will give up.

Derek of Downers Grove, IL May 21, 2008

Derek of Downers Grove IL (05/21/08)
I bought my Kayak 16x32 pool 2 years ago never had an issue with it. When I was suckered into this pool I was lied to and deceived to think my so called 30 year warranty covered everything and anything and thats the KAYAK name.. Well now its 2 years later and my liner has a hole in it that is too large to repair. They said it was due to ice... I know Chicago has some bad winters but growing up my first family pool liner lasted 17 years.. Let me tell you the winters were much worse in the late 70's and all of the 80's. So I call them and as sweet as pie just send us the pictures so we can validate the warranty claim. Bottom line is they are rediculously priced and are not standing behind what the salesman said. EVERYTHING IS COVERED So my advice buy a DOUGHBOY or just an inflatable pool. Anything but a KAYAK

I can either buy a one thousand dollar liner and pay to have it installed or claim it on my homeowners insurance. Either way I am screwed. I should scrap it and buy something with a REAL GUARANTEE!

Hot of Homewood, IL June 15, 2007

Kevin of Homewood IL (06/15/07)
Purchased a new pool liner in 2004 with a 15-yr warranty. The liner ripped at the seam which should have been covered and they came up with every excuse in the book,not to give me a new liner. What I was told was I could buy a new one with 15% off.I'm now think about buying green seeds. They are cheaper then a liner.

Anne of New Fairfield, CT June 10, 2007

Anne of New Fairfield CT (06/10/07)
Once I ordered my Kayak pool and it was delivered they never came to install it. The pool sat in my driveway for months. I called several times and was told different days. I would take a day off from work on the day they said they were coming and they never came!!

When Gary came and gave me the sales pitch he told me the pool could go partially above and partially in the ground. I informed Gary that the only thing I didn't want was an above ground pool - he assured me that they would sink it three feet into the ground!

When they finally installed it, which was done on the day I told them not to come, it was done totally about the ground! Exactly what I didn't want.

When I called - Lord knows how many times - Gary said he would talk to Doug about redoing the pool and then I would call and Doug said he didn't know why Gary would lie and tell me it could go partially in the ground!! I spent four months with the run around and then they finally said they would have it redone by the end of September. They said their workers were in Virginia - know if you have an irate customer wouldn't you help them first before sending your crew to Virginia?!?!?!

Anyway - September came and went - I finally contacted an attorney who tried several times to reach them but they wouldn't even return his phone calls or certified letters!! I have had my own business now for 19 years and I must say that this is the most poorly run business I have ever heard of.

Erica of Mashpee, MA November 9, 2006

Erica of Mashpee MA (11/09/06)
My husband and I purchased a pool from kayak last March assuming we would have a pool to swim in by summer. After getting the run around for several weeks on a delivery date then another date to install the crew finally showed up to put the pool in. The crew started to dig the hole and it didnt look anything like I had expected so I asked the main guy what he was digging. He said he knew there was going to be a problem when he saw my paper work and had seen they had sold me a pool that was no longer available.

I told him to stop right there untill I could figure out what was going on. After8 months of attitude from Doug, dodging of phone calls, Attorney fees, and aggrivation we now have a 17,000 litter box in the back of our beautifully landscaped yard. IT is a huge hole with the whole pool kit strewn about. We took out a home equity line of credit to buy this pool for our two little girls, and are paying 275.00 a month for nothing but aggrivation.

Rita of Upper Marlboro, MD May 24, 2006

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