June 2023 by Eric Durr
As a consumer, not a contractor, I have visited this location 4 times, per my contractor's request. My first visit was about 10 months ago. This was to select pool coping. Everyone we spoke with was a delight and very helpful. Now, fast forward to my last 3 visits (over the last few months) and I could not have had a worse experience each of those 3 times. Each of those last 3 visits have involved the same, um, salesperson. This gentleman went out of his way to avoid being helpful. Between his sarcastic tone and literally making up "facts" about the products (coping and waterline tile), I left frustrated on each occasion. I marveled at my personal ability NOT to reciprocate his tone and I refrained from using any language that he deserved. I even went as far as telling this gentleman that I was not trying to be problematic, but rather just get some questions answered. On my second to last visit, a young lady who, I assume may also be in sales, noticed that the exchange between myself and the salesman was not progressing in a productive direction. She offered to assist when the salesman went to the back to retrieve a current coping sample. She was fabulous!! I left that visit feeling much better than my previous visit and dealing with the salesman. I had to return for a final visit about a month ago (April '23) to select a different waterline tile (needed mesh-backed, not paper). My pool builder met me at NPT so that we could be certain to get the right type. Well, the same salesman was present and, again, did his level-best to avoid working and helping. He, again, quite literally made up specs on tile (confirming that a tile was paper backed when, in fact, I was able to confirm from another source that it was mesh-backed). My builder acquired the help of an assistant manager and he procured tile from the warehouse and confirmed mesh backing, negating the salesman's erroneous statements). My builder remarked that the salesman was not very helpful and confirmed my previous impressions. He was persistent with having to re-ask questions and get true confirmations. Soon after my builder's frustration peaked, my builder elicited the help of the asst mgr.As I said at the start, I had 4 visits to NPT. The first visit was marvelous and everyone was extremely helpful, though this gentleman was either not there or we were "lucky" enough to have linked with another salesperson upon entering. The 2nd-4th visits were horrific when this salesman was involved. Thankfully the 3rd visit was saved by the saleswoman and the 4th visit was saved by the assistant manager.As long as this particular gentleman is interacting with customers, I cannot recommend this NPT location. We would all be much better served if this gentleman was working in another capacity.
