The Great Escape Youngstown — Local services in Boardman

My husband and I went in exactly one week before memorial day to get our water tested and buy all products as well as a new fliter. We have bought 3 pools from lite house pools and loved our pools and service. They are out of buisness and Great Escape got our information so we were told to go to them for great service.... ya right!!! Upon going in I went to stand in line at the register as there were 3 people in line ahead of me. When it was my turn, the cashier said let me wait on anyone who is checking out. I said ok but that I was in somewhat of a hurry because I had to be at work at 2pm and it was 1:10pm. About then the manager walked in as he was in a hurry and said he will take care of me. I said oh good because I am in a hurry today. He then told me and my husband that we were not the only customers they have. I told him I know that but I was waiting in line for a while and it was my turn and I have to be back to work by 2pm. At this point in the conversation I was in shock due to the attitude and poor customer service I was receiving. I had not been angy I was just letting them know I was on a time limit. Anyway, the manager then took my water from me and informed me that "testing water is a free service" then he told me as he looked at me " I have all day long". At that point I asked him what was his issue? he then said to me " like I said, I can take all day to do this if I want to" as he was laughing and sarcastic. My husband had walked up at this point and heard the way the man was speaking to me and asked what is going on here and why are you talking to my wife like that? The manager then told my husband again sarcastically " I have all the time in the world" and he is testing the water one small drip at a time and moving very slowly. My husband who is known as a very kind and patient man leaned over the counter and dumped our water in the sink and said to me, honey we are leaving now. We then turned around and proceeded to leave, we got about 12 feet from the testing counter and my husband felt something on his head. He turned around and the manager was using a spray bottle of water and soaking my husbands face and shirt repeatedly. Then my husband went to the front of the counter and asked the man "what is your problem"? The manager came around the counter to my husband got into his face and stuck out his chest and informed my husband "to bring it on". At that point I called 911, I spoke to the police and as this was happening the manager then was appoligizing telling my husband it was all his fault. The manager gave my husband a free 59 dollar filter and said there was no reason for the police to come. The police came anyway and we gave our account of what happened and they suggested to contact Better Buisness and place a formal complaint as well as finding a store that treats customers with respect. I never write reviews or complain but this was a horrible experience and we feel like the manager was already provoked before we entered into the store about something. This was expecially horrible as my husband has a limp due to the fact he recently had bone cancer in which his femur and half a hip was removed as well as agressive chemo-therapy! The manager of Great Escape and the service there is unexcusable and we have told all our friends and neighbors of our horrible experience. We will never return there again. I want everyone to hear our experience so I am taking the time (that I do not really have) to write this review as well as to contact angie's list and all other avenues of complaint. Please don't go to The Great Escape in Boardman Ohio. After this experience we went to Burnett Pools on Boardman-Canfield Road and had recieved EXCELLENT SERVICE. PS. I don't know if they have camera's in there store but if they do I hope the owner of this location reviews this experience, I can't imagine his reaction to such treatment...

My wife and I went into this store yesterday looking to purchase a firepit. When we asked Michaelene if they provided free set up and delivery as virtually everyone else in the area does, she initially said yes as long as our purchase was $1000 or more. We said great!

Then, after we found one we liked, we were suddenly told that there would still be a sixty dollar delivery charge to deliver it to our house, literally about four miles away. When asked why and if the delivery charge could be waived on a $1200 item, we were curtly told "that's the way the contract is" and that we could basically "take it or leave it," although, to be honest, it felt more like, "or... you can shove it!"

After asking if she could ask the owner about it since they apparently do offer free delivery when they choose to do so, we were told, "Nah, I already know the answer!" When I insisted that she ask, she told me that "she would call back in the morning but that the answer would still be no." We should have paid more heed to other shoppers and just walked away right then, but, live and learn!

Well, surprise, surprise, as promised, we found out the next morning that the owner turned out to be as greedy as advertised. And if that wasn't enough, he then chose to take the insult to us a step higher, for good measure. You see, after we were summarily informed that it would be absolutely humanly impossible to wave the delivery charge, we were additionally informed that they were returning the firepit we chose back to the manufacturer rather than sell it to us - apparently, at any price! How about that? Sweet, eh?

No wonder this store has such a well deserved low review score of 3.6. It also helps fully explain why there was virtually no one else in this store besides us on three separate occasions. Man, they sure have a LOT of other bad reviews, don't they - 15 out of 45 reviews were one or two stars (with 12 of them being one star ratings). ONE THIRD of their reviews! Gee, I wonder why? Believe me, we'd give this store zero stars if that was an option. Oh wait, I see that we weren't, by far, the first to come to that very same conclusion!

When THAT many people have a problem with this store over this long a period of time, there is something seriously wrong there! And when they just choose to continue to do the exact same things that people don't appreciate, it becomes quite obvious that this owner is either oblivious to the criticism, or just doesn't care. Either way, he's clueless! This is really a pathetic way to run a business, particularly since there are so many other places to shop that don't make you feel like your being looked down upon like your some kind of peasant. Gosh, you'd think they would have figured it out by now and would have taken all of these hints to improve, wouldn't you?

As a direct result of this greed and sheer arrogance, we will now never purchase anything there. And like the suggestions of many, many others who have left negative reviews, we would also highly recommend that you shop at Sheely, Lowes, Home Depot, Pool City, Target or virtually anywhere else for your firepit! Believe me, you'll be glad that you were smarter than us by saving yourself the aggravation and listening to all of those people who have left those one star reviews. They all left them for a reason, and, as we found out, they...

Bought a pool and had it delivered before mother's day and its still sitting in the box! We have called the store 3 times to see what's going on. Always the same story blaming it on the weather. Yes I understand we have had horrible weather but my complaint is no one calls or contacts you to let you know what is going on! I shouldn't have to keep calling and checking to see when my pool will be installed! When we purchased the pool the salesman told us that it usually is installed a week after the pool is delivered. Well since the pool was delivered in May we are way past that point! If I would have known it would take over a month to get a pool installed I would have went elsewhere! Each time I call the store they tell me I should get a call from the installer next week! That was 4 weeks ago! We had a pool party scheduled for this Fri for my daughter and mother's birthday...looks like that will not be happening! I guess I should have read the reviews before I purchased my pool from here! Just writing this review to maybe spare someone else from having this issue! I'm definitely not happy with the service we have received from this place yet! If I could return the pool and go elsewhere I definitely would! Shop around before purchasing a pool also read reviews before making such a huge purchase! I think this company should only sell the number of pools they are able to handle with...