Local business · Lawrence, MALocal business · 603 S Union St, Lawrence, MA 01843
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Four of the six reviews you can actually read about Swimming Pool Center are one-star, and they describe the same arc: work starts, then silence. A 2022 customer said a crew rushed a pool closing, left because they were missing a tool, never came back, and then followed up only to charge for the incomplete job. A 2023 customer wrote that the company removed a part from their jacuzzi and never returned to replace it — "I waited 2.5 months for someone to reach back out, crickets." Another, writing in 2022 after a new liner and skimmer replacement, described concrete and rebar left behind and debris in the pipes. The Google average across 33 ratings is 3.8, so the readable reviews are not the whole picture. In 2022 one customer gave five stars precisely because the company owned a mistake: an electric pump motor went in at a lower horsepower than agreed and, that reviewer wrote, the team kept trying to schedule a return until they came and swapped it for the right one. Another 2022 reviewer called them a hardworking, professional small business — patient, thoughtful, and trying hard to look after clients. Two things to weigh before calling. Its Massachusetts home improvement contractor registration, number 118519 under the name Swimming Pool Center Inc, is expired on the state registry — and this is a company that remodels pools, replaces vinyl liners and installs heaters. The Better Business Bureau grades it B-, its stated reason being failure to respond to one complaint filed against the business. The corporate story is worth knowing too. BBB lists the operating entity at 603 S Union Street as Miranda Family Corp, incorporated on 18 June 2019, with one employee and Jim Miranda as president, while the company's Angi and HomeAdvisor pages advertise "68 years of experience". Trade coverage in 2023 described St. Cyr Pool & Spa acquiring the separately named Swimming Pool Center of Hampstead, New Hampshire from longtime owner Roy Charland — that is the New Hampshire business of the same name, not this Lawrence shop. Both its directory profiles say estimates are free and that Spanish is spoken. If you do go ahead, get the scope and the return visit in writing, ask directly where the state registration stands, and hold back final payment until the work is signed off.
“my responsibilities included, cleaning the store, stocking shelves, warehouse inventory, sales associate, customer service, and service crew.”
“this year, they acquired Swimming Pool Center of Hampstead based in Hampstead, New Hampshire.”
“agreed to acquire the Swimming Pool Center of Hampstead from longtime owner Roy Charland”
“SWIMMING POOL CENTER, INC. v. LUCILLE C. CHARLAND, trustee.”
DO NOT USE THIS COMPANY - awful customer service. They removed a part in my jacuzzi and never came back to replace it. I waited 2.5 months for someone to reach back out, crickets. They should not be in business. The owner was not responsive after many calls and txt's. Luckily a nice girl in the office finally got back to me after many attempts to get some sort of answer.
We’ve had several pool companies over the 20+ years we’ve lived in homes with pools. Every one in the past (both here in northern MA as well as on Cape Cod) defined “opening” as getting the pool ready for use. Valves plugged in, filter turned on, vacuum, chemicals started. All have charged anywhere around $400-500 through the years. Our last provider unexpectedly retired this year and I was forced to find a new company. Everyone was booked out so I was pleasantly surprised to see this company had tons of openings. Guess I found out why. I was booked for 1.5 hours. They arrived and took about 20 minutes to take cover off, filter on, throw some chemicals in. Left without saying anything. Next day I called back to see if they were returning to finish. Was told they were done. $495 didn’t include anything else and “sorry if you were confused”. Here’s my ‘open’ pool. My fault for not specifying what was included in their definition of opening at the end of the day, but seeing the 1.5 hours reserved and history with others didn’t trigger me to even ask. Wanted to share to avoid any one else being ‘confused’.
Had them close my pool, when they got here everything was rushed. Just opened up my filter added some chemicals and were gone. Said they were not finished because they were missing a tool. Called for them to come back because was afraid my pool could get damaged if closing was not finished, never came back, only followed up to charge me for an incomplete job. Will not be contacting them again.
This business earned a FIVE rating from me because they are perfect to own up and do the right thing. An electric pump motor was replaced with a lesser HP than agreed to [This is Not Perfect]. Once I alerted the SCP team, they attempted multiple times to come up and correct the unit, I was not available. They never stopped trying to coordinate the schedule until they came up and swap the electric motor with the correct HP [this is PERFECT – they did not use my hectic schedule as an excuse to delay or walk away from the responsibility]
Last October just before we close the pool for the year Swimming Pool Center Lawrence installed a new liner, we also had a leak coming from our skimmer basket which they had to replace, they left the concrete and rebar for me to clean up destroying the pool deck with poor cutting of the concrete leaving debris in my pipes which is where I believe why I am now having a leak in my new liner. They came out a week ago and determined they see something said they would return to dive and do a test never returned since ! No response to my texts or phone calls. Also all arrows for the new liner which I assume is to benefit The installer of direction we’re all left on the liner after water was re-put into the pool I had to go in and remove them. When we first approached them about we think we have a leak I was told it is evaporation plug up your pool as if you were closing it and fill a bucket with water and mark with a sharpie To determine evaporation. Brand new liner just opening the pool this year!
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Added 6 new comments, added 36 new photos, license now expired, established rating 2.2
One-day installs4.2
Neglected pool revivals3.9