Mike DeWar
Complaint 149947 Details

My name is Philip Boyce and I live in Kalispell Montana. I have had a salt generation pool sanitizer in my pool for the last five years with a pretty much care free maintenance program. I just have to charge it with salt in the beginning of the season, and about every four weeks or so watch the chemicals, it stays that balanced.
Last year the salt generator went out and to purchase a new generator cost almost as much as a new system so I decided to see what new technologies were out there to update or replace my current system. I came across Ecosmarte that promised that it was like "swimming in bottled water" I talked with the sales representative (Personal Information Removed) of Ecosmarte over several weeks about the pros and cons of this type of system and he assured me that Ecosmarte had been in business since 1985 and gave me the impression that they were going to be in business for a long time to come and that this system was less maintenance than the current salt system that I was currently using, less costly to use in the long run and a better value.
I was still skeptical as this was the end of our summer swimming season and was ready to winterize my pool. (Personal Information Removed) had told me that Ecosmarte offers a 60 day no questions ask money back guarantee. Since this was nearing fall, I could not evaluate the system, and talked to (Personal Information Removed) about purchasing the system the next summer as Montana swimming summers start in July. Our June normally rains all month. We compromised so that he could make the sale and he gave me a ten month evaluation period with the same guarantee with my money back if I did not like the system and he signed the invoice with that stipulation. I purchase the system on 9/22/11 for $4985 on invoice #310 and paid for it on my credit card.
I installed the system in my pool just in time for winter and winterized my pool and waited for spring. I fully expected to have as what I was told to have a clear clean pool that spring, what I got was not as expected for a $5.000 investment.
I had a pool full of stains and algae. I called (Personal Information) and told him about the problems I was having and he told me to call their service department. I called over several weeks and never once got a call back. (Personal Information Removed) kept telling me I was calling the wrong number, but I was getting through or the number was busy, but no one ever called me back. From what I could read and figure out there was more maintenance with this system than I was ever expecting. I was having to check calcium, copper, PH, phosphorus, temperature, chlorine, and this was every couple of days and still could not keep the water in balance, compared to every six weeks with my old system.
At a price that cost almost 4 times as much with maintenance that was 30 or 40 times as much in a pool that had algae problems that I never had before? Sorry this system was going back! It just did not work for me. I called (Personal Information Removed) and told him that I was sending it back and then he told me I was subject to a 15% restocking fee? First of all, there was never a mention of such a fee, and then he tells me that he no longer works for the company and that the company is a franchise and that I would need to talk to Mike DeWar at Ecosmarte and that I would have to get my money back from him. I then contacted Mike and he said I would have to contact Don Lum at another Ecosmarte, and just pointed the finger to a different address to the invoice of purchase. It is just a blame game. Everyone pointing the finger at everyone else!
All I know is that I am out $5,000. Ecosmarte has the unit as I sent it back UPS and I have the tracking number to prove it. If their unit is as good as they say it is, why don’t they just sell it again and give me my money? I only used it for less than 30 days! It is as pristine as the day I got it. I am the consumer and I am the one who is out money and they have the product and they are the ones who are saying they are being bilked?? I think not! Now Mike DeWar is posting personal attacks about my company and my company has nothing to do with my personal purchase with Ecosmarte.



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