“Once we have the opportunity to educate the customer about filtration and circulation, we are able to start the conversation about pool cleaners,” says Belcourt. “In many cases, we often determine a pool cleaner might fix the problem better than an aggressive chemical treatment.”
Lenz agrees about the importance of starting the conversation related to pool cleaning and providing real-life personal experiences to validate the benefits of a robotic cleaner.
“I always start by comparing the robotic cleaner to having a dishwasher in the kitchen,” says Lenz. “You can wash the dishes manually, but you don’t want to, so you run the dishwasher every day to keep the dishes clean. Similarly, one should keep a robotic pool cleaner in their pool so it is always clean,” says Lenz.
Lenz, a pool owner himself, understands a) the desire to ensure the pool is always ready for impromptu guests and b) the burden of having to rush to clean the pool to be able to use it.
“Battery-operated pool cleaners are also a convenient option for spot cleaning steps and corners in a hurry,” says Lenz, who has two display pools at his store—one equipped with a robotic cleaner and the other with a battery-operated cleaner so customers can test them out and learn more about the benefits of each.
The power of educating customers
Once a retailer has started the conversation about pool cleaning, the next step is to be sure to explain all of the other benefits a robotic cleaner would bring to their pool. For example, they improve pool water circulation and help distribute chemicals and heat more evenly throughout the pool.
Essentially, a robotic cleaner works like a moving pump and filter at the bottom of the pool. As a result, pool owners who use one can reduce the load on their pump and filter, which extends the life of other equipment. More importantly, robotic cleaners allow the pool pump and filter to perform their jobs better because they are just filtering water, not all the other dirt from the pool floor.
“I often explain to customers if their filter only had to remove particles from the water as opposed to loading it up with all the debris from the bottom of the pool, the filter would work more effectively in keeping their water clean and clear,” says Belcourt.
“Although an automatic/robotic cleaner is 50 per cent more expensive than suction-side pool cleaners, customers can rest assured the former will pay for itself as a result of reduced chemical usage, the need to purchase new cartridge filters, let alone a new pump should the motor fail,” says Belcourt.
Further, robotic cleaners continuously scrub the surface of the pool and, in doing so, break up any biofilm and algae, which allows the chemicals and filter to work more effectively in keeping the water clean.
“I find it’s important to explain how the cleaner works in a manner the customer can understand,” says Belcourt. “I compare the biofilm that accumulates on the pool surface to plaque buildup one may feel on their teeth before brushing.
An automatic/robotic pool cleaner cleans 95 to 97 per cent of the pool surface in 60 to 90 minutes versus manual cleaning, which can take between 45 and 60 minutes three times a week.
There are other benefits customers should know about using a robotic cleaner, too. For example, Belcourt gets frank when she explains how a robotic cleaner helped her get her two-year-old nephew into the pool.
“Her nephew was terrified of bugs and wouldn’t get in the pool if he saw one in the water,” she says. “Rather than being distracted by having to manually clean out bugs from the bottom of the pool, I simply drop the robotic cleaner in the water and let it do its thing. All I need to worry about is getting towels, toys, snacks, etc. Kids even like watching the robot clean, so it’s entertainment too!”
