I put this blog together to help consumers keep informed of what’s going on in the Swimming Pool Industry and how to save some money.
Everything today seems to getting smaller or resized and in this economy and you need to save money everywhere you can.
This is even happening in the Swimming Pool Industry.
One of the things you need on a regular basis for your pool is Chlorine Shock.
( Liquid or Powdered) I will not be talking about Liquid Chlorine at this time but will revisit it in the future if needed.
I have a number of customers who want to supply some of their chemicals
( Chlorine Tablets or Sticks and Granulated Chlorine Shock ).
They think they are saving money - but instead are getting taken by deceptive practices now infiltrating the Swimming Pool Industry.
I noticed a disturbing trend starting a couple of years ago and has only gotten worse.
Here’s one of the two scenarios I have for you.
First scenario –
You’re cleaning your pool and you need to shock your pool but you realize you’re out of chlorine shock. So you make a quick trip to the local pool store and pick up a couple of 1 lb. bags of shock and head home without ever looking at the label to see exactly what is in it.
Note: In the past the Calcium Hypochlorite or Sodium Dichlor came in the 1 lb. bags or in buckets and was at or about 65% if not more.
NOT SO ANYMORE!
As you can see in the photo above a lot of the various manufactures have started producing Pool Shock in 1 lb. bags and buckets up to 100 lb. containing 47% or 58% or percentage in between.
Note: There are only a few chemical companies in the United States and A LOT of Rebranding goes on. So the one plant sends it to pool companies X, Y, and Z and they in turn package it with their own logo.
So let’s do some quick math the: Old Shock 65% available chlorine
New Shock 47% available chlorine
Difference 18%
Doesn’t sound like a lot ----or does it. That’s quite a bit of profit while giving the impression that you the consumer is getting a deal or saving money.
I call it what is Deceptive. Your pool store knows what their doing --- they just aren’t telling you.
I would say Deceptive Advertising but that would be wrong. Because it clearly states on the 1 lb bags or buckets of Chlorine Shock the percentage of strength.
The problem is the consumer unaware he or she is getting a weak product and not knowing it!
WHY WOULD THEY DO THAT?
Easy
They make more money that way.
Because the consumer most of the time just doesn’t know. They charge you the same or say it’s on sale while they are still making a healthy profit.
You probably haven’t noticed that the price for shock you’ve been buying hasn’t gone up like everything else or has stayed basically the same.
Now you know why.
Here’s the second way I’ve seen deceptive practices done.
Back to the scenario of needing some pool shock.
You run to the pool store you get the shock you always get – you look at the bag and it says 65% Calcium Hypochlorite everything looks good and you head for the door.
STOP!
Wait just a minute. You being the good consumer forgot one thing. Just how much product is in the bag? It’s a 1 lb. bag right? Not so fast. Again they might be trying to fool you. You need to check the lablel.
I’ve seen Chorine Shock being put in 10 oz. bags. They look just like the 1 lb. bags and yet they clearly state they have 10 oz. inside the bag. But again the public just picks it up not really thinking and off they go.
AGAIN-- WHY WOULD THEY DO THAT?
Easy
They make more money that way.
I have tried to educate my customers about just what they are buying. After all they are the ones trying to save some money by buying chemicals themselves.
It’s sad in this persons opinion the swimming pool industry has joined other industries doing this!!!
We as consumers have to be smarter buyers
It’s happening everywhere!
Food right now has to be the biggest area we are being hit with. I became aware of it making my Tuna fish sandwiches. The tuna just didn’t cover both sandwiches. I looked at the can. It looked the same until I looked at the amount of tuna in the can.
It said 5 oz.
5 oz.?
I was thinking it was 6 oz. can. After checking it out I found out I was right!
It used to come in 6 oz. cans not 5 oz. cans. Did the price go down? Same size can with a cheaper price – Right!
NO!
Same price – Less Tuna Fish
What’s wrong with this picture?
We are getting taken advantage of on a daily basis
Again it’s a deceptive practice with the food companies thinking we won’t notice or care what there up to.
Here are a few examples of what you may find the next time at the supermarket:
Hefty gripper bags changed the amount of bags in the box from 40 to 36.
Tropicana's orange juice went form 96 ounces to 89 ounces by just tapering the bottle inwards.
Bounty Napkins. They shrank from 200 napkins to 180 with the same look!
Pampers size 3 now has 8 less diapers yet the packaging is virtually identical.
As you can see it’s now all around you if your looking.
Let me know what you think or you have any questions.
Next up –
I’ll be showing how to SAVE money on another regular swimming pool chemical. This alone could save you over $50 a year.
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