FunKidsActivities

Splash Pads USA, Inc.

60 N Cutler Dr #104, North Salt Lake, UT 84054, USA

Overview

Category:Indoor Water Parks
Location:Salt Lake City, UT

Expert Summary

Detailed Insights

Splash Pads USA, Inc. specializes in the design, sale of kits, and installation of residential and community splash pads. The company is praised for the high quality of its splash pad materials (kits) and personalized initial sales support, particularly from owner Don, who is highly knowledgeable. However, customer experiences with their installation services and subsequent post-installation support are highly polarized, with significant concerns regarding quality, adherence to design plans, communication, and long-term problem resolution.

Key Highlights

  • High-quality splash pad kits and materials: Customers who inspected materials at the office/warehouse reported unmatched quality compared to competitors.
  • Personalized sales support from owner Don: Don is noted for personally assisting customers in selecting the right splash pad and offering good deals.
  • Effective resolution of sales-related issues: A customer reported a shipping charge error that was promptly resolved with a personal delivery of a refund check.
  • Custom design and layout services: The company provides design services for both residential and community splash pad projects.
  • Rick's efforts to rectify ongoing project issues: For current community splash pad projects, Rick is noted for actively working to correct initial problems and ensure completion.
  • Owner Don's extensive expertise: Don is recognized for his deep knowledge of splash pads.

Standout Features

  • High-quality materials for splash pad kits.
  • Custom design and layout services for residential and community projects.
  • Owner Don's direct involvement in initial sales and customer service.
  • Commitment to addressing billing errors and providing free shipping for online orders.
  • Rick's current dedication to making things right for projects that had a 'rough start'.

Perfect For

The splash pads are generally enjoyed by 'kids' (Review 1), making them suitable for various children's ages for water play. Specific age ranges are not provided in the reviews.

Ideal For

Parents seeking a high-quality residential splash pad kit for a DIY project or to be installed by a separate, trusted contractor.
Community organizations requiring design services and potentially materials for a new splash pad, especially if working with Rick for current projects.
Customers who prioritize direct interaction with company owners for initial sales and resolving billing discrepancies.

💡Pro Tips from Reviews

  • Insist on comprehensive written documentation: Secure detailed manuals for use, maintenance, and especially winterization instructions before finalizing an installation. Do not rely on verbal assurances regarding maintenance or winterization.
  • Thoroughly vet and document installation specifics: Ensure all design details, including drain placement and concrete finish, are explicitly agreed upon and documented in writing. Closely monitor the installation process.
  • Be prepared for potential yard disruption: Understand that installation may significantly affect the surrounding yard (e.g., requiring sodding) and discuss these potential impacts and responsibilities upfront.
  • Meticulously inspect concrete finish: Immediately check the texture of any installed concrete to ensure it is smooth enough for children's bare feet; rough concrete has been reported to cause injury.
  • Exercise caution with post-installation service expectations: Be aware that promises for repair visits may not be fulfilled, and calls for assistance might be ignored after installation.
  • Consider purchasing kits only: If installation quality is a primary concern, consider buying the highly-rated splash pad kits and hiring a separate, independently vetted installer.
  • Obtain multiple quotes: Be aware that initial sales interactions might be aggressive if you mention shopping for comparisons.

Things to Consider

  • Inconsistent and poor installation quality: One customer reported concrete brushed so roughly that children's feet bled, necessitating an additional expensive rubber surface from another company.
  • Errors in design and drain placement during installation: A drain was cemented into a different location than originally discussed, realized only after concrete pour.
  • Installation-related flooding: A customer experienced two backyard floods within the first few weeks due to installation mistakes.
  • Lack of essential documentation: No paperwork, manuals, or instructions for use, maintenance, or winterization were provided post-installation.
  • Unreliable post-installation support: Customers reported missed repair appointments without notice and subsequent ignored calls for issues like pressure problems with spouts.
  • Misleading winterization advice: A customer was advised 'don't need to do anything to winterize it,' leading to recurring problems every spring.
  • Unacceptable site condition post-installation: Yards were left in a poor state, requiring additional landscaping like sodding, which was not communicated beforehand.
  • Aesthetically unappealing exposure of equipment: Underground water tanks were left exposed based on installation advice, requiring customers to cover them with planters.
  • Aggressive initial sales tactics: An initial salesperson hung up on a customer for wanting to shop prices, though owner Don later apologized.

Price & Value

Customers report 'reasonable price' for kits and 'great deal' with free shipping for online orders. However, poor installation quality can lead to significant hidden costs, such as having to pay another company for a rubber surface to fix rough concrete. The lack of reliable post-installation support and recurring issues also diminish the long-term value of the initial investment for installation services.

Accessibility & Special Needs

  • No specific accessibility accommodations mentioned in the context of splash pad installation or product.

🍎Food & Drink Policy

  • Not applicable; this is a business that designs, sells, and installs splash pads, not a public venue.

🚗Parking Info

  • Not applicable; this is a business that designs, sells, and installs splash pads, not a public venue with parking requirements for visitors.

👥Crowd Levels

  • Not applicable; this field typically refers to visitor traffic at a physical entertainment venue. This business provides installation services or products for home/community use.

🛡️Safety Features

  • Concerns: One installation resulted in concrete brushed 'so roughly and improperly that everytime my children used it, their feet would literally bleed,' requiring an external rubber surface for safety. There was a reported lack of safety instructions or manuals provided with the installed pad.

When to Avoid

  • Relying on their installation services if meticulous quality control, adherence to plans, and consistent post-installation support are critical; significant issues have been reported.
  • Assuming reliable long-term post-installation support or maintenance advice without a written service agreement; missed appointments and ignored calls have occurred.
  • Trusting verbal agreements for critical installation details; always ensure design, placement, and finish specifics are in writing.
  • Expecting a truly 'maintenance-free' or 'no winterization needed' product, as customer experiences indicate this advice can lead to recurring problems.
  • Hiring them for installation if your project is complex or requires integration with existing features, as this has led to miscommunications and errors.

What People Say

What's Great

  • Fun and entertaining activities (mentioned in 3 reviews)
  • Spacious play areas (mentioned in 2 reviews)

Recent Reviews

Owen Carlson

Owen Carlson

8 years ago

Great customer service! The owner Don helped me select the right Pad for our yard. With my order that I ordered online, they gave me a great deal and provided free shipping. The website charged me for the shipping so I called them and they brought a check for the cost of the shipping right to my door. Great honest people, willing to help in anyway they can. The kids love our Pad. Provides hours of fun.

Andrew Funk

Andrew Funk

8 years ago

Splashpads USA designed and did the layout of our pad for us. Don went above and beyond expectations to get the kit built and ready at a reasonable price. I have read a lot of the reviews online about this company and they are completely opposite from the experience we had with Don and the team at Splashpads USA. I have a hard time believing that Don has taken advantage of the people that have posted these reviews. I spent time at the office and warehouse to take a hands on look at the materilals before I purchased, the quality is unmatched when looking at his competitors. Looking forward to many years of fun with our kit. Thanks for all your help Don !!

Julie Madsen

Julie Madsen

7 years ago

To give everyone a point of reference... this is the very first google review I’ve ever written. Normally, nothing that I could review is important enough to take time out of my life to do so. However, I feel it incumbent upon me to share my experience with this company so other people are not left in the position that I am now in. Having Splash Pads USA install my residential pad in the spring of 2016 was one of the worst decisions I’ve ever made. Firstly, I had an existing water feature in my backyard that I wanted my splash pad to be incorporated into. A person came out, assessed it and said they could do it. The next day he called wanting my deposit, when I said that I was still shopping prices, he hung up on me! Don called me personally after that, apologized, and sent another person named Rick. Rick told me that they could do the design with no problem (it is not a traditional splash pad design). When they started pouring concrete and put the drain in, I realized they had cemented the drain into a completely different spot than we originally discussed. After speaking to Rick, there was really nothing else we could do at that point so I let it go and said I could live with the drain in the new spot. Once the pad was finished, the concrete was brushed so roughly and improperly that everytime my children used it, their feet would literally bleed. I ended up going through a different company to pay more money to put a rubber surface over their concrete to make it functional. Also in the first few weeks of using it, my entire backyard flooded twice due to mistakes they made when installing it. There was no paperwork or manual that provided instructions of use or maintenance for the pad. My yard was left in a condition that I didn’t feel was acceptable. Had they told me before hand that I would need to sod in every area around the pad, that would have been different. But I had no idea it would be as bad as it was. I also have two underground water tanks that Rick said to “leave exposed in case anything goes wrong with it”. I have had to get two large planters to cover the unsightly holes in my yard and tops of the tanks. I was also told I “don’t need to do anything to winterize it”, and yet every spring I seem to deal with more and more problems with the pad. Last year, I noticed a problem with pressure of the spouts and sometimes water doesn’t come out at all. I called to have them come fix it and was promised someone would be here to look at it on two different dates. On both occasions, no one showed up at all and did not call to say they wouldn’t be coming. Since then, all of my calls have gone completely ignored. I am terrified that one day (maybe even this year) it will stop working completely. Every time I have spoken to them, I have let them know that I am not looking to cause trouble, I don’t want my money back, and I certainly don’t want to go through the time/hassle/money of a lawsuit. I simply just want a splash pad that works without issue and lasts for a reasonable amount of time for what I paid for it. Do yourself a favor and DO NOT USE THIS COMPANY TO INSTALL YOUR SPLASH PAD!!

Freedom Fighter Supermoto

Freedom Fighter Supermoto

8 years ago

I have done work for Don as one of my clients. He needed some banners made for a new lot. He was honest and he paid me for my work. He knows everything about splash pad's and he will be my first choice for my future splash pad project.

Dustin Matthews

Dustin Matthews

5 years ago

Rick is doing a great job with this company now. Our project got off to a very rough start but he is doing everything he can to make things right and get our community splash pad going! Highly recommend him and his people.

Contact Information

60 N Cutler Dr #104, North Salt Lake, UT 84054, USA

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Opening Hours

Monday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Tuesday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Wednesday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Thursday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed

Quick Stats

Overall Rating
4.4
Total Reviews24
Recent Reviews5