We have used A&S twice. In our first home and now in our new home. We had a great experience the 1st time and our pool was beautiful. It wasn't just a plain pool either, we had flagstone retaining walls that went around the entire backside of the pool due to slope of our yard. We also had excellent customer service after our pool was finished when a few minor issues came up. Also, the fact that we had a transferable pool warranty helped sell our home.

We just finished our new A&S pool last Oct. This time we did have a few problems with the build and it took much longer than we expected, but all was worked out and we love our pool. We decided to go with them again because we like the fact that they've been around for years, and also that any time we've had a problem they are quick to fix it. They use some of the same contractors that some other independant pool companies in our area use.

I will say this about Blue Haven. We got bids from them on our 1st pool and they didn't have the retaining walls we needed high enough which would have been a disaster had we gone with them. There bid was way under our A&S bid. We think they made the walls smaller to keep the cost down, also at that time they were using fiber optic lighting in the pool and said we only needed 1 light. A&S said if we went with fiber optics we would need at least 3 lights. When our pool was complete with our 3 fiber optic lights, we realized there was no way 1 light would have lit up our pool. We didn't even take bids from them on our 2nd pool.

All in all we are happy with A&S and would use them again.

I don't think all complaints and problems show up with a BBB report. I know for a fact that our pool builder is being sued by at least 3 of his last years clients and that more than 3 others have nothing but bad things to say about him, however his BBB record is clean. Go figure.

Our Blue Havens and A&S's here in this area had LOTS of complaints on the BBB. The PB we went with has been in business on his own for only about 4-5 years, but built pools under a larger builder for 22+ years. He started his own company to build pools "the way he felt they should be built" with the customer in mind. We had an awesome experience and there were no complaints about them on the BBB.

I know a couple people who have used both Blue Haven and A&S. The neighbor I have who used A&S wishes he never did and still has problems to this day (3 years later) and one home over here had Blue Haven and their retaining wall collapsed 2 times during construction. They did have a tough property to deal with, but still. Then there are some people who I've met who absolutely love A&S and have had no problems at all.

Just do the research in your area, talk to former customers and make your decisions based on your findings.

I don't know anyone who used Blue Haven, but as far as A&S goes, it's all been negative (in South Jersey). We didn't even look into either of them for our build last year. As most people will tell you: talk to the builders customers, look at finished pools, and most important, go with your gut! Good Luck:)

jerzygrl

how far south in Jersey are you?

Who did you use for your build?

Im in Howell NJ and used nicholas pools in Toms river and had zero problems.

where in Jersey are you ?

http://www.nicholaspools.com/Templates/E03/1049/949/index.aspx

I have heard very good things about Nicholas pools but they only do liner pools - right?

I was/am looking for gunite - I am in Manalapan

Yes I believe you are correct.
I had a company come out from Freehold that were highly recommended(gunite)....

I can look for the name of the company if you want it.

tommy

I am in the middle of an A&S pool build in the Philly area. So far I cannot complain. Their subs have been very professional, skilled and flexible. The Project Manager has been extremely flexible and has allowed me to make changes myself or directly with the subs.

They have made small mistakes but are quick to react and fix them (or let me fix them without holding up the project). With a relatively complex project you have to expect small hiccups. It's how they react which is important.

We have been very particular and they have satisfied us...so far.

Tommy281

If you wouldnt mind please forward me the name of the Freehold Gunite company

thanks!

We used A&S a year ago - Bucks County PA - and it was a great experience. The few problems we had were resolved quickly by our PM, subs were pretty good (and, again, there was oversight of them by the PM). Honestly couldn't have gone better for us.

In contrast we used Maryland Pools when we built in the DC area a few years ago, and it was truly a nightmare - one of those stories you read about and think will never happen to you. We were VERY cautious this time and honestly we had very low expectations, but were pleasantly surprised at every step of the way.

We talked to Blue Haven here but the sales guy was far too slimy for me.

Oh, and regarding the BBB - after our Maryland Pools experience I learned the BBB is useless. Our complaint never did show up on their record, despite the fact that we went through the full process with them. Could it possibly have something to do with the fact that the pres of MP was on the board of that BBB chapter?

In any event, I think you either luck out or you don't. It seems to depend also on the time of year you build - if you build in the late winter/early spring I think they'll all be too busy to pay attention to you. And ultimately I think one key factor is to gauge their attentiveness even during the sales process.. do they return your calls? Answer your questions promptly? In my sample of 2, the responsiveness during the sales process was a very good indicator. I would also recommend a builder that assigns you a dedicated PM - it made everything so much smoother for us!

I am in the North Texas area, and as I stated above, we have a beautiful pool and are very happy. I don't think you can find a pool builder who hasn't had a few unhappy clients. A&S builds a lot more pools than any local pool company, so of course with the numbers they build there are going to be some unhappy people.

We had a great designer who designed us a beautiful pool. Always get references of other pools they've done in your area. In our case, we had a family member who used A&S and they had a great experience and a beautiful pool. That's why we went with them for our 1st pool, and after interviewing several companies on our 2nd build, felt the most comfortable going with them again.

On another note, I have a family member who used a pool builder who had been in business for 15 years with pool companies under several different names over the years. Needless to say, after 3 years they got a crack and the pool was leaking. Their pool builder was "out of business" under the company name he used to build their pool, but was still building pools under a new company name. He never fixed their "warrantied" pool because it was in the name of the out of business company.

swim-mor pools....

they seemed pretty good however since they only did Gunite and i was getting vinel i never really checked them out.

I am also in Bucks County, PA. & I am having a horrible experince with A&S. They were highly recommneded by friends & neighbors. My sales person seemed to be on the ball & understood our situation (I was building this pool for my daughter tha twas diagnosed with leukemia in Feb.) & promised me I was going in as A VIP Client. All lies..they have been horible & the latest is that they build the pool to deep....my daughter cannot even stand in the shallow end of the pool with out her swimmies (she is 4 years old). The grading is all wrong &I could go on & on. I went with them because I wanted peace of mind thru this difficult time & trust me it has been a nightmare.

layers73~ I live just outside Washington Township in Gloucester County. We used a small custom company called D&T (they only do gunite). I know they travel down to the shore area (OC,Avalon, etc.), but I'm not sure they do your area. If you want more info., you can email at duck260@verizon.net

Blowe,

I'm so sorry to hear about your experience with A&S! That really bothers me, as I've offered to be a reference for them - and while I always preface with "this is just our experience - I've heard good and bad" - I was really hoping that our story was the norm with them. Can I ask if you're working thru the Doylestown office?

I wanted to add that I'm very sorry about your daughter. I do hope you'll end up with a great pool for her to enjoy.

We ARE dealing with the Doylestown office...and you know what, I am still shocked of how they have treated this project.I signed on with them back in March & their sale guy promised me the pool will be done in early JUNE...well my daughter just put her toes in for the first time yesterday. I paid top dollar for this pool & have had issues every step of the way.... and now she can even stand in the pool....SHAME ON THEM!!! I do not even know how people could lie just to make a sale!!! I am glad your experience was better than mine..as it really should be.

Bridget

I tried to get a quote from Blue Haven, but it took them three weeks to return my original phone call. I didn't like the salesman that came out for A&S for one thing. It also seems that A&S jacks up their prices and then tells you that if you sign now you'll get a discount. A&S also sub-contracts all their work.
Carlton's quote came in around the same price as A&S (even after discounts). At least Carlton's salesmen seemed up front with us, which made the decision to go with them allot easier. There were some minor issues with Carlton, but nothing major.
Good luck with the pool quotes. Get as many as you can and ask for references.

I have heard several horror stories regarding both Blue Haven and A&S. We are in Monmouth County and used East Coast Pool Concepts (in Manalapan) which is an owner operated company that specializes in gunite pools. They did a fabulous job and we highly recommend them.

Blowe, I don't know if a month delay is that abnormal, but if you had issues all along the way.. well I feel for you, having experienced that last time. I wonder again if building in the slow season (started late summer) was what made the difference for us.

Artvandalay - first I love the name! Classic. But have to add that we ran from Carlton as fast as we could. I think you may have been lucky.. search for them on ripoffreport.com. THOSE stories are just like our experience in Maryland.. we stayed far away from Carlton!

Bridget, we too have had nightmares with BH. We get our plaster today, so we will see how that goes. It seems their way of selling is a 'bait and switch' approach along with total deception.

I too questioned the depth (appears that the shallow end starts at 4' instead of 3') and they assured me that it was 'just fine.' I don't think we will be able to play volleyball with it like it is. We'll know for sure in a couple of days when we can get in it.

There is someone in my neighborhood that had the same problemm, and he made them come back and fix it. I don't know what they did (I think they had to chip it down and then plaster over again) but I am not sure. I do know that they did get it fixed.

Anyway, good luck!