🎙️ Backyard Bosses – Episode: "When Your Team is the Problem"
In this explosive episode, the Backyard Bosses dive into the raw reality of running a business when your biggest obstacle isn’t the competition—it’s your own employees. From clock watchers and excuse makers to full-blown liabilities who cost you sales, reputation, and sanity—we expose it all. Hear our craziest real-life stories of no-shows, know-it-alls, and people who put in less effort than a broken pool pump. If you’ve ever had to clean up the mess of a lazy staffer or deal with the aftermath of an epic screw-up, this episode is for you. It’s honest. It’s brutal. It’s the truth every business owner needs to hear.

Backyard Bosses brings you behind the scenes of one of the craziest times in retail history — selling hot tubs during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Join hosts Billy, Joseph, and Big Tony — industry veterans and unapologetic truth-tellers — as they recount the absolute chaos of the spa world when the world shut down. With factories closed, waitlists growing by the month, and demand exploding, the real madness wasn’t the supply chain… it was the customers.

Get ready for:

• Wild pandemic panic-buying stories

• Customers offering bribes for floor models

• Endless rants over spa lead times

• DIY disasters and backyard meltdowns

• The strange and hilarious ways people tried to get their hands on a hot tub

This podcast is part retail therapy, part survival story, and 100% real. Whether you're in the industry, bought a spa during the pandemic, or just want to hear some of the most insane customer stories ever told — Backyard Bosses delivers the unfiltered truth.

Hot tubs, backorders, and borderline insanity — this is Backyard Bosses: The COVID Chronicles.

In this episode of Backyard Bosses, we take a no-nonsense look at the top features customers ask for when shopping for a swim spa—and what actually delivers real performance and value. We discuss common selling points like jet count, swim current strength, seating layouts, water depth, insulation, and warranty coverage. Then we expose how some brands exaggerate specs, cut corners behind the scenes, and use flashy gimmicks to distract from poor build quality or outsourced components. Whether you're considering a fitness swim spa, a dual-zone model, or something for relaxation, we’ll help you separate marketing hype from what truly matters for long-term ownership.

In this eye-opening episode of Backyard Bosses, your trusted trio — Billy, Joseph, and Big Tony — dive deep into one of the most critical consumer decisions of the summer: Should you buy your above ground pool online or from a reputable brick-and-mortar retailer? Spoiler alert: that flashy price on a website isn’t always the deal it seems.

With over 50 years of combined experience in the pool industry, we break down the real costs of chasing the lowest price tag from a faceless website. From delivery nightmares and missing parts to impossible-to-find proprietary components, we expose the risks consumers face when they shop from overseas manufacturers or shady third-party sellers.

We’re not here to bash online shopping — we get it, it's convenient — but when it comes to something as important (and expensive) as a pool, the stakes are high. You’re not buying a pair of shoes. You’re investing in a permanent backyard upgrade that involves installation, water chemistry, filtration, electrical systems, and safety. That’s where your local dealer matters.

Here’s what we cover in this episode:

• The Online Trap: Why those slick photos and discount prices can be dangerously misleading. We share true stories of customers who thought they got a deal… until the “freight drop-off” left a 1,200-pound pallet in their driveway with no installation support or warranty coverage.

• Hidden Costs & False Promises: What’s the warranty really worth when the manufacturer is overseas or unresponsive? What happens when the liner doesn’t fit or the pump fails on day 10? We talk about the lack of accountability, after-sales service, and the replacement part nightmare that leaves many online buyers stranded mid-season.

• The Value of Local Support: When you buy from a certified dealer like us, you get a full team — not just a box. We provide installation services, water chemistry training, in-store troubleshooting, and parts stocked year-round. Plus, we only carry American-made pools with build lists and long-term part availability.

• Buy American, Buy Smart: We highlight how our U.S.-made pools are built for the long haul, with liners made in Georgia, filters manufactured in California, and parts that won’t vanish with a website redesign or overseas regulation change.

• Real Customers, Real Outcomes: Hear first-hand how brick-and-mortar support saved customers from thousands in losses after online disasters. From installation rescues to warranty replacements that actually got honored — these aren’t just anecdotes, they’re what separate pool pros from pool pain.

• Dealer Accountability: Unlike online sellers, we’re not disappearing after checkout. We have storefronts, service departments, and names on the door. When something goes wrong, you call us — not a chatbot or an outsourced email queue.

• Peace of Mind: We help you avoid lawsuits, injuries, or county violations by guiding you through proper permitting, electrical grounding, safety steps, and fencing codes. Something no .com has ever done for a customer.

By the end of this episode, you’ll walk away understanding why that local pool store down the street is your best ally in creating a safe, long-lasting backyard oasis. You’ll learn how we protect our customers from costly mistakes, and why professional service and support aren’t optional when it comes to pools — they’re essential.

Whether you’re just starting to shop or already eyeing a deal online, do yourself a favor — listen to this episode before you buy. Your wallet, your family, and your sanity will thank you.

🎙️ Backyard Bosses is your go-to source for no-BS, expert-backed insights on hot tubs, swim spas, saunas, grills, and outdoor living done right. Subscribe today and become the boss of your backyard.

this eye-opening episode of Boss Backyards, we dive deep into a dirty little secret of the hot tub industry: proprietary parts and foreign-manufactured spas that trap consumers in costly, limited repair cycles.

If you’ve ever thought about buying a spa from a flashy online ad, an international brand at a "too good to be true" price, or a brand that doesn't have local representation—this episode is for you.

We’re pulling back the curtain on the global problem with proprietary hot tub components—those special parts you can only get from one manufacturer. These components often aren’t interchangeable, and they’re purposely designed to lock you into a closed system. That means:

• Only their technicians can fix your spa

• Only their website or reps can sell you the part

• You’ll face long delays on parts from overseas

• You’re hit with outrageous markups on simple repairs

Why should you care? Because when your heater goes out, your jet pump fails, or your control board fries, you might end up with a $12,000 tub you can’t even use—or worse, one no local tech will service at all.

We break down:

• The difference between universal vs. proprietary components

• Why U.S.-based hot tubs with open-source parts are a better long-term investment

• Horror stories from real homeowners stuck waiting months for a $30 part from overseas

• The shady sales tactics used to lure you in with the illusion of value from private-label foreign spas

Plus, we’ll tell you how to spot the red flags when shopping:

• Brands that won’t tell you who manufactures their control system

• Spa models with zero local support or tech training

• No parts list or documentation for after-warranty service

You’ll learn why smart buyers stick with well-established, American-made brands with parts that can be sourced from multiple distributors, and serviced by any certified tech in your area.

Your spa should be a source of relaxation, not stress. Don’t get burned. Don’t get locked in. Know what to ask. Know what to avoid.

This is a must-listen episode for any homeowner, retailer, or hot tub dealer trying to protect their investment and avoid getting stuck with a beautiful backyard paperweight.

🔧 Hosted by seasoned spa experts with decades of experience in installation, repair, and manufacturer negotiations — we’ve seen it all. And we’re not afraid to name names.

Tune in now and make sure your next backyard upgrade doesn’t come with a hidden trapdoor.

Welcome to the very first episode of Backyard Bosses — the no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is podcast where industry pros pull back the curtain on the world of hot tubs, swim spas, and everything outdoor living.

In this debut episode, you’ll get to know your hosts: Billy, Joseph, and the legendary Big Tony. With decades of combined experience in hot tub sales, delivery, repair, and installation, we’ve seen it all — the good, the bad, and the flat-out sketchy.

We kick things off by introducing ourselves and sharing how we each became obsessed with creating the ultimate backyard experience for our customers. But this episode isn’t just about us — it’s about exposing the real stuff no one else talks about.

🔍 EXPOSING THE MASTER SPA EXPO SCAM?We go deep — and we mean deep — on the infamous Master Spa Expo shows. You’ve seen the ads: “HOT TUB EXPO! FACTORY DIRECT PRICING! ONLY THIS WEEKEND!” Yeah... we’re calling B.S. These shows are designed to look like exclusive deals, but they’re often nothing more than pressure-cooker sales events run by third-party huck