Ameri-Brand Pool Service

Ameri-​brand is also a company that sells products thru the web. I recently had a nightmare experience with the company and it’s owner Tim Merino. I ordered 60 yards of clear plastic and it was marred by horrible chemical stains. Merino said to send a sample to his supplier but after receiving a sample the supplier feigned complete disbelief that this cheap plastic from Taiwan could be flawed. Merino refused to take my calls and I have had to have the credit card company go to bat for me for the $ 328 of wasted plastic. I don’t understand how a business could be so callous in it’s treatment of customers. I guess when you only want their money and nothing else it makes sense. This plastic was too cheap to begin with. You do get what you pay for but shame on you Tim Merino.

One negative review should never stand on it’s own. We bought ours 5-​years ago for $ 3,600 shipped and it did great here in 14° — 105° Louisiana. We left it up year-​round after the first season because the clear got wrinkled as it stuck to itself in storage, all folded up like that. Anyway, the clear eventually suffered from the ultraviolet and we finally had the clear vinyl fail ¹⁄₈ inch below the seam with the colored top portion. The clear failed at top, center, and the tear went to the door, 20 feet long in about 10 seconds. Ours is 24′ by 54′ and was aqua in color. The aqua colored vinyl itself is still in really good shape. Will repurpose to cover a carport frame I have.
So, we are gonna get another Bubble for next season from Tim (who was totally willing to work with us upon hearing of Bubble #1’s demise). This Bubble will be in white, no clear. Plus, we are gonna take it down in the worst heat of the summer. I had put my blower in a SEARS utility box and cut a slot for the air-​feed tube to the bubble and a 10″ hole for the intake and that ran quietly. We’ll be back in business for $ 3,100 shipped. Since we did our own install on #1, (which is simple, if your are the least bit mechanically-​inclined, have a hammer drill, can drill 54 holes and pound in the anchors and cut the vinyl to match the eyebolts. Two people put it up, my self and my wife), this one will be a piece of cake.
The first bubble did fine through 3 Hurricanes and 3-​inches of wet snow. The priciple advantages of having a Bubble are: It extends our season 2 months on either side of 6 months of summer. We have been swimming on December 15^th and back in by March 15^th with our 115,000 btu heat pump, but the bubble holds in the night time heat to maintain the 84° water temp I like AND there is no cleaning needed. Our 18′ x 41′ fiberglass inground salt-​water pool is leaf and bug free with the Bubble… Our chemical bill is zip too; the bubble keeps the rain out.

Not happy!
This company has an «F» rating on the BBB website:
Now I know why! Just wish I’d read that before trying to business with them:
I was visiting my elderly parents in Willows, California for vacation in the summer of 2012.
On July 2, I needed a part to repair my dad’s Polaris 280. I knew the exact part we needed. I called Ameri-​brand in Oroville. The young man on the phone was very helpful. He said they did not have the part in stock, but could have it by 3:00 the next day on July 3. That’s exactly what I wanted to hear. I needed the Polaris fixed before a pool party my parents were having for July 4. We were willing to drive from Willows to Oroville to get the part.
We arrived the next day at 4:00. The young man at the counter told my dad, «My boss said you did not need that part. Instead, you need this part…» which he showed us. It wasn’t even for a Polaris. The young man still had the notes he took while on the phone with me the day before. His info was correct, so I know it wasn’t his fault.
If his boss wants to be helpful, that’s cool. But his boss should have called me to clarify and get my approval instead of just making an assumption. We made the trip to Oroville for nothing. What a waste of time and gas money.
My dad’s Polaris did not get fixed in time for our pool party on July 4, 2012.
My parents and I are quite unhappy about that poor experience. My dad said he will will most likely do his pool supply shopping in Chico from now on.
If «the boss» is also the owner, it is certainly no way to grow his business.