Buckle up and practice your best cannonball. . . we are interviewing Scott Toth of Cannonball Pool Service and Repair for our latest installment of our PRO Spotlight series. Scott’s story is special. He was at a point in his life where he wanted to make a bold move and start his own business.  He was searching for something that would allow him a flexible schedule that would also earn enough to support his family. With a couple of friends in the pool industry, he asked if he could join a buddy on a ride-along to learn more about the business.  Scott quickly realized that this would be a great opportunity for him. “Selfishly, I didn’t want to miss out on good surf days when the swell was pumping!”, Scott added.

Shortly after that fateful ride-along, Cannonball Pool Service was established in February 2012.  Initially Scott purchased a small route of 20 pools to get himself started to learn the ropes.  From there, he added more accounts through direct referrals and established a good online presence. His Cannonball team consists of himself handling installations, repairs, and warranties; a part-time service technician who does weekly residential maintenance; and his wife, who manages accounting and billing. They provide services in coastal Orange County, California from Huntington Beach to Laguna Beach.

We asked Scott about his partnership with Raypak and why he especially loves working with our AVIA pool heater. Here’s what he had to say:

For years I’ve had really good luck with Raypak’s older version of steel bodied heaters. I would install them and forget about it.  Never would I worry about getting callbacks from customers with issues of them not working properly. Both I and the homeowners were very happy.  I often tell customers they could expect to get 15 years plus versus the standard pool company heaters that you are lucky to get 10 years out of. 

 

When the AVIA came out, I was most excited about the smaller footprint, lighter weight and overall size. Upon launch, I gave it a try straight away and happily had the same experience with this Raypak product. I was installing AVIA and not getting any call backs with issues of it breaking down or not performing properly. 

With my success installing the AVIA, I had a good amount of confidence letting customers know that they are as reliable as the older models that I had a lot of faith in.  A big plus is that the price is very competitive for how good the product is.

With the recent launch of our AVIA three-year warranty, we are seeing more and more professionals turn to Raypak and the AVIA as a best-in-class all-around option for their customers.

In addition to the long-term warranty, updated technology and sustainable footprint, Scott also recognized that working with the team at Raypak behind the scenes is second to none:

When you are in someone’s backyard and you need a question answered fast, I’ve found that dealing with Raypak’s technical service department has been very helpful. Also, the toolbox quick reference guide has come in handy for me on the job site.  The warranty department has been extremely responsive and helpful in getting replacement parts as needed right away.  Over the years, I’ve worked with all the major pool equipment manufacturers and Raypak’s service reps are top-notch at helping repair guys like me do my job and get it done right.

When asked what advice he would have to someone interested in breaking into the pool business, he replied,

I recommend answering your phone every time and responding promptly to texts. If you don’t, potential clients will simply reach out to the next available person. That one simple step can make the difference between getting the job and missing out.

Additionally, treating people with kindness goes a long way. It’s also crucial to follow through on your commitments; you don’t want to be known as the “flaky pool guy.” Lastly, make sure to read the manual—most of the information you need can be found there.

Thank you, Scott, for being a loyal partner of Raypak’s team and for continuing to do your research daily in the industry. We are proud to work with you and many others and thank you for trusting us with your customers. To work with Cannonball Pool Service and Repair, please visit their website at www.Cannonball-Pool.com.