Desert Storm Pools

[37 boat]

After reading about all the pool builds on here with Desert Storm I decided to give them a call as we are in the market. I first called on October 30th, left a message...crickets, no call back. Fast forward to December 2nd I'm driving up Palo Verde and see a Desert Storm pool sign and notice a couple of guys looking at the pool and decide to stop and ask if one of them was the builder. Turns out it's the homeowner and a buddy (both were cool and friendly). I tell the homeowner I was trying to get in touch with the builder and he takes my number and says he'll get the guy (Brian) to give me a call. Sure enough the next day Brian gives me a call...what a fucking douche!! First thing he asks is if I had a quote from any other builders, I answer yes and he asks who and I tell him (I won't mention the other company). He proceeds to tell me that he likes that "other guy" but he is not as "big time as he is" and does a lot less builds. My understanding is this dude (Brian) used to work for another builder and started his own gig a couple of years ago? He tells me in the most arrogant way imaginable he is booked out until June and if I wanted a quote I was going to have to wait for the pleasure of giving him my business. I wouldn't give this guy my business with that attitude no matter what the price. I really wish I could do owner builder (I built several pools in O.C. as an Owner Builder Consultant) but I know getting subs is a problem.

 

[Boat 405]

Good luck. Brian has been great to work with. 100% thumbs up. We knew the wait up front. Everyone is just slammed with work right now.

 

[ONE-A-DAY]

He was my contact on a build when he worked at sandcastle. I will spare the details but I refused to let him back on the job site and began working directly with the owner to complete the e job.

 

[CoolCruzin]

Yep , I’ve been there with both of those guys .
I paid $1,000 just to get in line for may/ June with another company and they working on drawing now .

 

[Ziggy]

He was my contact on a build when he worked at sandcastle. I will spare the details but I refused to let him back on the job site and began working directly with the owner to complete the e job.

Aside from him more less stealing the Desert Storm name my experience with Brian was much less than great when he was with SandCastle.
I have heard ok things about his builds of late so who knows for sure. Maybe his 'tude has just been a product of "Havasu Time".

 

[EarpRider]

Brian did my pool build this year. He very much has an attitude, my biggest complaint would be that he is never on site, maybe once every 3 to 4 weeks and just long enough to smoke a cigarette. He caught wind that I wasn't happy with him at the very end of the job and basically got his panties in a bunch.
That being said I think everything came out fine, it looks good, no problems so far, but the pool has only been up and running 3 months.

 

[Jonas Grumby]

Brian is a member of this site. Maybe he will comment.

 

[boatdoc55]

He was my contact on a build when he worked at sandcastle. I will spare the details but I refused to let him back on the job site and began working directly with the owner to complete the e job.

X2

 

[82daytona]

Brian is a member of this site. Maybe he will comment.

Tag him into the conversation

 

[Keymyster]

I dealt with him at SandCastle. Got a quote,picture and price. Wife and I changed some things on what we wanted to do.Talked to some other builders with prices. Went back and talked to Brian and told him of our changes. He asks if I have other bids. I told him that I did and immediately gets an attitude and basically threw me out of his office.

 

[Jonas Grumby]

Tag him into the conversation

I sent him a link

 

[WildWilly]

its funny, a year ago there were a couple threads about Desert storm, all positive reviews and good things said. No one ever chimed in with these stories we see now. last yeae you could get on his dig schedule in 2 months. This year its 6 months+ out. He must be doing something right.

He finished my pool a few months ago. We had a couple issues come up not due to anything in his control and we worked them out and kept it moving.

 

[DMF]

We used Desert Storm at the beginning of the year and we had a great experience! I have recommended Desert Storm to several neighbors that have signed contracts with Brian and they are in line to build. There is so much work in Havasu and not enough contractors and skilled labor to perform the work. I don't see where it is fair to get online and bash a business due to the fact that they are busy and cannot get to your project in your desired timeline. Especially, when you haven't even met with Desert Storm and given them a chance to design your pool and quote it!

 

[tx-19]

I don’t think havasu is the only place behind in pools.we are in surprise az and are having a pool built.it’s about 4 to 6 months from start of paper work to getting permits to dig

 

[Singleton]

We used Desert Storm at the beginning of the year and we had a great experience! I have recommended Desert Storm to several neighbors that have signed contracts with Brian and they are in line to build. There is so much work in Havasu and not enough contractors and skilled labor to perform the work. I don't see where it is fair to get online and bash a business due to the fact that they are busy and cannot get to your project in your desired timeline. Especially, when you haven't even met with Desert Storm and given them a chance to design your pool and quote it!

Everyone has the ability to post about their experience (Good or bad). I had 2 side businesses prior to Covid, and the rule was all phone calls were returned within 48 hours (even when i was out on vacation, etc). Negative reviews are almost 100% linked to poor communication. When my wife’s bakery was slammed (holiday time), we would call just to tell folks we are sold out and if they want cookies next year at this time to get your order confirmed prior to Nov. 1. Where people mad to hear that = yes, did they post negative reviews = No. Almost everyone understands, but you have to communicate.

 

[Desert Whaler]

The best thing this guy could do is, #1 Answer his phone. (if he can't then pay someone to)
#2 If he's so busy, stop accepting work more than 'X-amount of months out'. Simple.
#3 Tell a 'potential' customer, "I'm currently more than X-months out and not accepting any more bidding opportunities at the moment, I can hang on to your number and if I get an opening I can call you. I can also refer you to another company who may have openings".

I don't know why this basic concept is so hard for contractors to understand. You're not stringing anyone along, you are being courteous by saving people time from 'trying to get a hold of you'. By taking their number down, there is always an opportunity should a job fall through, and by referring another contractor, that dude might throw you a bone one day when you need it, or at the very least buy you a beer.
The whole, 'I've been so slammed ' yarn doesn't cut it.

 

[westair]

We used Desert Storm at the beginning of the year and we had a great experience! I have recommended Desert Storm to several neighbors that have signed contracts with Brian and they are in line to build. There is so much work in Havasu and not enough contractors and skilled labor to perform the work. I don't see where it is fair to get online and bash a business due to the fact that they are busy and cannot get to your project in your desired timeline. Especially, when you haven't even met with Desert Storm and given them a chance to design your pool and quote it!

Had ours done about the same time and this was our experience also..... every went on schedule, no issues

 

[hallett21]

The best thing this guy could do is, #1 Answer his phone. (if he can't then pay someone to)
#2 If he's so busy, stop accepting work more than 'X-amount of months out'. Simple.
#3 Tell a 'potential' customer, "I'm currently more than X-months out and not accepting any more bidding opportunities at the moment, I can hang on to your number and if I get an opening I can call you. I can also refer you to another company who may have openings".

I don't know why this basic concept is so hard for contractors to understand. You're not stringing anyone along, you are being courteous by saving people time from 'trying to get a hold of you'. By taking their number down, there is always an opportunity should a job fall through, and by referring another contractor, that dude might throw you a bone one day when you need it, or at the very least buy you a beer.
The whole, 'I've been so slammed ' yarn doesn't cut it.

Are you in construction?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[DMF]

Are you in construction?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I have the same question.

 

[Desert Whaler]

Was . . . 32 years laying tile until I blew my back apart.

 

[boatdoc55]

Everyone has the ability to post about their experience (Good or bad). I had 2 side businesses prior to Covid, and the rule was all phone calls were returned within 48 hours (even when i was out on vacation, etc). Negative reviews are almost 100% linked to poor communication. When my wife’s bakery was slammed (holiday time), we would call just to tell folks we are sold out and if they want cookies next year at this time to get your order confirmed prior to Nov. 1. Where people mad to hear that = yes, did they post negative reviews = No. Almost everyone understands, but you have to communicate.

EXACTLY EXACTLY EXACYLY!!!!!!!! All that had to be done was a 30 second phone call and all would have been fine but to get a visit from the owner of the company at 5 PM to try and explain and then a knock on the front door at 7PM by the guy that was gong to start the travertine at 6 the NEXT morning was a little strange. They say the squeaky wheel gets the grease, in this case, the big guy who yelled the most got the grease. All over a lousy NO phone call!!!! I'm not saying it was Brian's fault or whomever, I know it wasn't mine!!

 

[Singleton]

EXACTLY EXACTLY EXACYLY!!!!!!!! All that had to be done was a 30 second phone call and all would have been fine but to get a visit from the owner of the company at 5 PM to try and explain and then a knock on the front door at 7PM by the guy that was gong to start the travertine at 6 the NEXT morning was a little strange. They say the squeaky wheel gets the grease, in this case, the big guy who yelled the most got the grease. All over a lousy NO phone call!!!!

This Is what I tell staff on day 1. Wife and I both follows these in our professional lives and side businesses
E-Mail = you get a response within 60hrs
Phone = you get a response within 48hrs (even if it is I saw you called)
VoiceMail = you get a response within 24hrs
Text = you get a response within 12hrs
Drop By My Office = you get a response ASAP

 

[CoolCruzin]

There is other pool contractors to call .

I’m not going to give 100k to a guy with a Attitude. I don’t care what work or how good he can be .

These type of posts is good for the homeowners and good for the contractors .
Homeowner can pick and the builders change or don’t get more work .

 

[HB2Havasu]

Every good builder in town is super busy right now. I would cut them some slack when trying to request estimates. Ask Yourself - Do you really want the guy who doesn't have much work in todays environment really building your pool?

 

[stephenkatsea]

Don't know, perhaps you dodged a bullet? Saw a large Swimming Pools sign when I passed Big Blasters. They replastered our pool and did and on time, good and professional job. Don't know if they have also sled into the pool building business? At the least, they may be able to give you a solid referral. Believe we dealt with a very up front lady at BB named Linda.

 

[LowRiver2]

There is other pool contractors to call .

I’m not going to give 100k to a guy with a Attitude. I don’t care what work or how good he can be .

These type of posts is good for the homeowners and good for the contractors .
Homeowner can pick and the builders change or don’t get more work .

LOL, always fun to see other professions being held accountable for their attitudes.
Free market, both for companies to treat customers how they want, and for customers to call out said businesses on doling out poor demeanors.

Reminds me of a boat builder. Arguably one of the best hulls for said size/power in the industry, owner has an attitude with every customer. Hot Boat magazine described him as irascible in an article once, lol. Was spot on description.

End of the day, choose what works for you and the market/quality of any product will decide if a person can get away with lousy customer service or not.

 

[FreeBird236]

Not commenting on anyone's attitude, but my neighbor is just finishing a pool this week by Sandcastle, after several attempts and no response from Desert Storm.

 

[37 boat]

Just want to update...I got a call from Brian as a result of this thread and we had a nice talk. He apologized for coming across the way he did and I appreciate that. He is a busy guy and I appreciate that also. I contacted him because of the forum and that is why I posted my experience here. No hard feelings.

 

[RichieRich]

I had the same experience with multiple builders out there and finally settled on one that isn't as well know out there but has built a lot of pools in So Cal (I have looked at many of them) and is just getting his business off the ground in Havasu. They are actually digging my pool today! We are stoked

 

[Englewood]

He literally acted the exact same way to some friends of mine. He asked who their quotes were from and never sent them a quote. Very arrogant attitude like he was doing them a favor. They went with another company.

 

[Ziggy]

He literally acted the exact same way to some friends of mine. He asked who their quotes were from and never sent them a quote. Very arrogant attitude like he was doing them a favor. They went with another company.

To be honest, it really is none of his business if someone got another estimate, besides, everyone does that. He should just offer his bid if interested. I'm sure he knows which companies he can or cannot beat on bids but he should also know not everyone chooses the cheap bid. Many times people will pick who they liked or felt comfortable with.
Regardless, he's seemingly doing alright so good for him. In a service biz like this there is no such thing as 100% satisfied clients.
Lol, try being a car dealer

 

[FishSniper]

I am in the middle of a pool build with Desert Storm right now and everything has been great. Dig started early November and they shot it last week.