Bait and switch
To Whom It May Concern,
I purchased a $1,600 Maytronics robotic pool vacuum through PoolBots under the clear impression—based on sales information—that the unit would notify me when the filters required cleaning. This was one of the main features that justified paying a premium price.
After struggling through 45 minutes with offshore service, I was told that the unit does not in fact have this capability. That is a material omission and misrepresentation. There was no way for me to discover this until after purchase and use.
When I called PoolBots, the manager admitted she was unaware of this limitation but then dismissed my concern with a “no returns after 30 days” stance. That position is unacceptable. Denying escalation by simply routing me to “another manager” rather than to a director or executive is equally dismissive.
This is not a matter of preference—it is a textbook example of bait and switch: advertising or selling a product as though it includes a feature it does not. In California, and in most states, this constitutes misrepresentation and is actionable under consumer protection law.
Accordingly, I am prepared to:
File a formal complaint with the California Attorney General for deceptive business practices.
Initiate a chargeback with my credit card company, as the product was sold under false pretenses.
Pursue Small Claims Court, where judges consistently take a dim view of consumers being misled.
My preferred resolution is simple: accept return of the unit and provide me with the model that does, in fact, include the advertised filter notification feature—or issue a full refund.
Please consider this a final opportunity to resolve the matter directly.
18. elokuuta 2025
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