Business ProfileforBuckeye Spa & Pool World, LLC

On June 3rd, 2024 I contacted a representative for Atlantis Pools & Spas at ************, and explained that the motor on my spa was making a knocking noise.  After explaining the sound, I was advised that repair should take about an hour, and was quoted a rate of $150/hr.  We also discussed draining and cleaning the spa, which would take about three hours at the same rate.  The person I spoke to explained that the only other variable to consider would be if the spa had a leak or was in a hard-to-reach area, which would cause the per hour rate to be higher.  We agreed to an appointment sometime after 2:30pm on June 24th, 2024.
On June 24th I received a call from the technician around 6:30pm.  He explained that he was still willing to come out and perform the services we discussed if I was ok with him being there until midnight.  I stated that I was ok with that.  He called thirty minutes later and said he failed to factor in that he was two hours away, so he wouldnt be finished until 2:00am.  He seemed like he wanted to reschedule, so we then agreed that he would come on July 8th, 2024.
On July 8th, I received a similar call around 6:30pm, with the technician saying it would be around 8:30 before he would arrive, meaning it would be after midnight when he finished.  He again seemed like he wanted me to tell him not to come, but as long as he was willing, I wanted to get the repairs done and not have to reschedule again.
Upon arriving, the technician took some pictures of the spa and listened to the sound it was making.  He immediately said the pump and filtration system needed to be replaced at a cost of $4800.  He stated that the brand of spa was low quality and wasnt designed to last more than three years (the spa is less than two years old.)  I stated that I wasnt going to pay that much for the repairs, especially since we never discussed the cost of replacement parts when talking about pricing.  I explained that I was led to believe that the sound could be created from something getting into the pump and asked him to confirm that such a thing wasnt causing the issue.  He again stated that the pump was dying and that he was positive.  He was there for fifteen minutes, provided no service, and I was charged $150 for the one hour of labor, a $300 trip fee, and $30.38 in tax for a total of $480.38.     
The next day, I contacted the manufacturer of the spa.  They connected me to one of their technicians, and he asked to hear the sound over the phone.  Upon hearing the sound, he stated that he could say with 90% confidence that something like a small piece of plastic had gotten into the pump.  He gave me instructions on how to get into the pump and look for any debris.  I was able to do this, and sure enough, there was a small piece of yellow plastic in there that had broken off of the mineral stick that stays in the filter.  After removing the debris and reconnecting everything, the knocking sound is gone, and the spa works just fine.
After I was able to perform the repair myself, some things the Atlantis technician said started to come back to me.  He stated that there are times, especially when customers have spas that are recessed in their decks or patios, where he quotes 
them an outlandishly high price hoping they refuse the service.  He also didnt seem very excited about being out until 1:00am, which is how long it would have taken him to perform my repairs.  It is my belief that he was content with the $450 he was going to make for our 15-minute conversation, and fabricated the assessment of the pumps just to see if I would bite on the $4800 replacement.  Its the only thing I can think of that would explain why he didnt look in the pump like I suggested.
I am seeking a full reimbursement of the $480.38, and upon receipt of that refund, I will consider the matter closed.  If Atlantis refuses, I will be contacting the Ohio Attorney General to seek further options.