Starling Pools & Spa Ltd

Great quality water testing strips! They also have a great range of little toys for the hotub like lights and speakers be sure to check it out. Oh yeah… They also do free testing on your water sample. You can’t go wrong! Totally recommend this spot. Your welcome!

Friendly and helpful staff, my experience with their customer service has been exceptional.
I recently called about a small equipment issue and 2 guys showed up 90 minutes later and solved the problem very quickly. Many thanks!

Worst services ever, just called them regarding a leak which i already did a pressure test and found where the leak is and all i needed for them to do was to fix the leak and the person i spoke to was very nice she spoke to the manager and he or she advised that they have to do another pressure test which i don’t need one done and assuming the manager would get on the line and try to fix the issue or even speak to your customer to have the work done was not done poor service just lost a customer won’t be referring this company that’s for sure

Once again Ken and his team came to the rescue. This time, we had a blockage in our skimmer vacuum line which is 80 feet long and underground. I called on Saturday and then on Monday afternoon and Justin arrived, and within 20 minutes of Justin arriving he had blown the line clear of the blockage. Just in time to get it back up, heated and cleaned for our Canada day celebrations.

We have been a long time customer and can always rely on them for all the pool needs. Excellent customer service. Thank you Ken and Team at Starling Pools

-Brook family

I bought a Hayward pump from Starling Pools a little over a year ago. It was just almost 2 weeks past the warranty when I approached the staff for some assistance. The pump for some reason when turned on for the first time this season experienced some damage to the flange on the bucket that enables the lid to lock down onto it. I wasn’t sure what the reason was and spoke to Starling Pools. They asked me to contact Hayward Canada which I did but was not getting an adequate response from them. So I went back to Starling and Ken repaired the pump. Thanks to Ken and the staff for taking care of me.

I will definitely NOT be using Starling Pools again. For the last four years they have been doing my pool opening and closings, however, last year when they closed my pool their staff left a garden tool and one of their pool cleaning heads in the bottom of my pool. I was shocked to find them in my pool when it was opened this summer! The garden tool had rusted and left a stain on my liner (see the pic attached) so I'll eventually have to get it replaced.

All this is on top of the fact that they didn't clean my pool properly when they opened it. When they left after their "final cleaning" the bottom of the pool was still dirty. After I spend $500 to have my pool opened, I expect it to be clean enough for me to swim the next day, however, that was not the case. When I spoke with Ken, the owner or manger, he was rude and wanted to charge me again for a service they hadn't completed properly the first time!

Do yourself a favor and find a different pool store. These guys are horrible! I will certainly not be going back.

Being new to having a pool the customer service here has been excellent. Eric not only helped us learn how to take care of maintenence, wyatt and Jade were amazing when opening our pool they were super friendly and very professional. I can't say enough good things. I will say some how we keep ending up at the end of the day for our service, but imagine they are still in good spirits and willing to answer any questions.

My favourite pool and hot tub store! I love that I can come year round for water testing, chemicals & supplies if needed. The owner is amazing an the staff are very knowledgeable and friendly. I always feel so welcomed when I enter the store or ring them on the telephone.

I a new pool ownership and I have more than my fair share of questions. They always take the time to explain everything to me and make sure I am ready to maintain my pool. Great store, great products, great staff. Location is a bit out of the way but worth the trip.

THE NEW STORE MANAGER IS FANTASTIC.
THIS IS MY GO TO POOL STORE!
Really impressed, usually wouldn't leave a review but it felt necessary because the service was so great. I feel confident they know exactly what they are doing and this year opening my pool was so much easier and simpler.

The service is awful. The actual service people are fine and they do a good job but the customer service is just awful. They will just show up without giving you warning - they don’t even ring your bell to advise you that they’re there they just come right in and start working- you’re not allowed to communicate with them. We signed up for the pool schoolteacher learn about regular maintenance, but they will not provide a time frame -So you have to be available the entire day - which I thought was weird - just give me a like a window or something so I can plan my day. When we pushed them in this they were very rude about it and just said it’s anywhere between 9-5.customer service over the phone is extremely rude. I will not use them again that’s for sure - I think for the price they charge there are lots of better options. I wouldn’t recommend as it was very frustrating working with them

We have used Starling Pools and Spa for opening and closing of our pool, liner and filter replacement and general maintenance for 30 plus years and have been very satisfied. Their staff are very knowledgeable and friendly.

Always great service. Very knowledgeable staff. Live the in store water analysis, water is kept sparkling clear all summer long.

It was very good. Custumer service us superb and the prices are reasonable. I would strongly recommend this store for your swimming pool accessories and maintenance.

Second time heading to the store and I won't be going back.
Terrible interaction with management; absolutely appreciate her concern for their employees and hours worked but absolutely no care nor appreciation for their customers.
I got to their store 40 minutes before closing, stood in line and waited patiently - a staff member and then manager at 5pm (closing hour) indicates that the last 3 in line would not be served. This happened after another staff member at 4: 50pm indicated that the last person in line would be the last to be served and we should advise other customers that they're closed.
So the last of the 3 not to be served left annoyed, indicating there were other pool stores in town and she won't return.
The first of the 3 not to be served indicates that Starling Pools have property in the store (a repaired piece of equipment) and demanded that they got it now, citing that this was their 3rd attempt to retrieve it today. This demand came after very patient discussions asking for his property and that he was assured he would be served. So the manager obliged, asking him to wait.
And me, the second of the 3 not to be served. Now, I am the only person remaining to be served, she said it was too much to have me served because it wasn't fair to their staff. She was terribly argumentative and rather than trying to cater/understand my position. Actually she did understand my position, she just simply didn't care. Again, I understand about her staff but I was out there for 40 mins.if she felt so concerned for their staff and their hours, the least she could have done was come out a long time ago and indicated that the store closes at 5pm and we are cutting the line at the same person. Even after requesting to be served, that I was the only one, she held firm that she has to draw the line somewhere and that line was me.

So what else to do but go to a pool store that does care for their staff AND also respect and appreciate their customer as well.
Cheers to the owner of Starling Pools. I wish you all the best and hope you get a better manager who is less argumentative.

Been dealing with Starling consistently since 2013. Had previous experience as well. They installed our in ground pool and have been servicing as well as opening and closing every year. Ken is extremely knowledgeable and always tries to accommodate us when requested. Thanks Ken and crew!

I paid to have Starling open my pool this spring. This experience started with their the crew installing chlorinator backwards. Not a huge problem, but also not something that fills a customer with confidence.

The much bigger problem was that the crew badly over-tightened and ultimately damaged a $300 tension clamp on my filter. Ken refused to acknowledge any responsibility for this, insisting instead that Starling provided excellent service.

Never again will I give them any of my business.

I have dealt with Starling for years. There are 3 other pool stores closer to my house but I make the trip to Starling. Friendly, knowledgeable staff and Ken, the owner, has been in the business for many years, really know his stuff and will only fix/replace what NEEDS to be done. 100% trustworthy business, refreshing in these times.

Before I get into my review, would the owner of Starling stop being so cheap and just get the parking lot paved already!

Now my review. Last weekend I noticed the pool water was a bit turquoise (green-ish). I'm going to condense this LONG story. Some girls know what there doing when checking your pool water and some don't. Thankfully one girl was able to tell me that I probably had algae in the pool and she gave me an "instructional sheet" on how to treat it.

I found the "instructional sheet" confusing. Some steps were missing and some of the instructions were lacking in detail, or not explained properly. I did manage to get rid of the algae, but it was part luck and part common sense.

They should consider re-writing that instructional.

For a week or so I'd wake up to hundreds of ants in the pool. Would only happen over night I guess. Went to Starling to see if they had anything I could use or do to deter this from happening. I didn't want these ants to somehow damage my pump, filter, etc. It's also kinda a gross. The girl who was helping me didn't know what to do, so she asked the owner to help me. Right from the get go he was rude to me, replying to my question (s) "I'm not an exterminator! ". I couldn't be the only person in all of Whitby with this problem, so I just thought he might have some ideas. Rude and very unprofessional behavior. I left the store.