The retailers we actually check out with — Poolbots, Pool Express, PoolRobots — grouped with every other store we've reviewed, plus the fake storefronts to skip.
Hey, I'm Justin — The Pool Nerd. These are the online stores we order from for the robots, chemicals, and parts we test. If a site is on this page with a high rating, we have checked out with them. If it is in Avoid, do not.
The shops we actually check out with — then every other online store we've reviewed. Warranty, shipping, and a real checkout. Not a live-chat Remitly ask.
Those three are Platinum Maytronics dealers — 30-day in-pool trial, $0 restocking, full warranty. They are the shops we send people to instead of Amazon. Everything else in this grid is still a store we'd use; those three are the ones we check out with the most. Full dealer list: Authorized Dolphin Dealers.
We shop here
More online stores we recommend
When you need chlorine today, a free water test, or someone to look at a broken part.
Most pool owners still need a local store. Shock that has to arrive “sometime next week” does not help when the water turned green overnight. A good in-person shop also does the un-sexy work Amazon cannot: water testing, looking at a cracked cleaner housing, and handing you the right O-ring without a 40-page parts diagram.
Leslie's is the chain we review because it is the one you can actually find in most U.S. cities. Independent shops can be excellent — for a Dolphin, confirm they are on the official Maytronics dealer locator or the Maytronics U.S. store locator before you pay.
Fake Dolphin storefronts and other sites we recommend you never buy from.
Real retailers charge your card on the thank-you page and email a tracking number. Scam Dolphin sites copy product photos, claim “certified dealer,” then send you to live chat for Apple Cash or Remitly. Check the manufacturer locator. If the site is not on it, do not buy.
Read these before you buy a robot — the store is half the decision.
We do not grade a homepage. We order, we check dealer status, and we publish when a site is a scam.
The stores we recommend are stores we have actually checked out with — robots, chemicals, parts, or all three.
For Dolphins, the official dealer locator is the test. A badge on a homepage is not proof. A listing on Maytronics' locator is.
When a fake storefront hits reader inboxes, we document the checkout, the payment ask, and where to buy the real thing instead.
The questions people actually search before they hand a pool store their credit card.
It depends on what you are buying. For same-day chemicals and free water testing, Leslie's is the best national chain. For robotic pool cleaners, buy from an authorized dealer like Poolbots. For bulk chemicals and covers, start with In The Swim, Doheny's, or PoolSupplies.com.
Online is usually cheaper for chemicals, covers, and liners — especially in bulk. Leslie's can run higher on everyday chemicals, but they will price-match qualified retailers including Amazon, Home Depot, Lowe's, Doheny's, and In The Swim. Use the local store for emergencies; restock online.
From an authorized dealer, not a third-party Amazon seller. For Dolphins, start with a Platinum Maytronics dealer or an official direct site. You get a warranty you can register, a 30-day in-pool trial, and $0 restocking. Details: authorized Dolphin dealers.
Yes. Leslie's is the largest pool supply retailer in the country — 975+ stores, founded in 1963, publicly traded as LESL. Lesliespool.com is their official site. The real question is price, not legitimacy.
Real stores take payment at checkout. Walk away if they tell you to contact live chat for Apple Cash, Remitly, Zelle, crypto, or a wire. For a Dolphin, confirm the retailer on the official dealer locator. See our dolphinpoolvacuum.com review for a live example of the fake-storefront pattern.
Leslie's when you need it today or want free AccuBlue testing. Online — In The Swim, PoolSupplies.com, Doheny's — for weekly chlorine, shock, and balancers, especially in bulk. If you shop Leslie's, use the price match.
A good independent can beat Leslie's on advice and parts knowledge. Leslie's wins on hours, nationwide returns, and free testing. For a Dolphin, either is only a good buy if they are on Maytronics' locator. Ask about restocking fees and warranty registration before you pay.
Yes. Leslie's offers free AccuBlue testing — bring a sample. Many independent shops do too. Online retailers generally do not. If chemistry is the problem, an in-person test is still one of the most useful things a local pool store does.
Buy it from an authorized dealer. Current authorized pricing, open-box, and refurbished units live on our deals page.
See Current Deals →We test and review more than just one product — here's everything we cover.
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Independent, Hands-On Reviews
We're not a big media company. We're a small, independent team that actually gets in the water and tests this stuff.
Every robot, pump, and skimmer gets run in our test pool under real-world conditions. Not a lab. Not a demo tank. Dirt, leaves, algae — the works.
We don't review products in isolation. We test them head-to-head so you can see exactly how they stack up against the competition.
We've been testing pool products since 2020 — through every season, firmware update, and product launch. That depth of experience means we know what holds up and what doesn't.
We run each product through multiple cleaning cycles in our test pool — floors, walls, waterlines, and filtration all get evaluated.
Products go up against their direct competitors so you see real differences, not just marketing specs.
We publish what we find — good and bad. If a $500 robot beats a $2,000 one, we'll tell you.
