Our methodology

Scope

PoolProStack reviews pool service and field-service software used by pool route operators, repair shops, and small multi-trade companies serving pool customers. We focus on tools operators actually shortlist, not every app store listing with "pool" in the description.

Research process

1. Identify candidates from operator forums, industry publications, and search demand
2. Collect primary sources: vendor pricing pages, feature docs, official integrations lists
3. Cross-reference with independent profiles (Software Advice, Software Finder) where they exist
4. Collect public operator comments from G2, Capterra, Software Finder, GetApp, app stores, Reddit, and trade forums when we can open the page
5. Document conflicts when sources disagree. We do not silently pick a side
6. Date-stamp pricing with pricingLastVerified in each vendor profile
7. Date-stamp operator feedback with a retrieval date and a source URL on every snippet

Claim types

Every page uses four claim categories:

• Verified fact: supported by a linked primary or reputable secondary source
• Editorial judgment: our analysis of fit, value, or comparison (not a vendor claim)
• Unverified: plausible but not confirmed; treat as "ask the vendor"
• Third-party operator comment: a paraphrase or short quote from a public review, forum, app store, or vendor trust page. Not a PoolProStack field test. Vendor-selected blurbs and competitor writeups use a narrower label.

Prose standard

Seed copy and new pages must pass Vale plus a structural editorial check (npm run check:prose). The house rules live indocs/editorial-style.md: short intros, sourced numbers, labeled judgments, no fake field tests, no invented anecdotes. That is an editorial quality bar, not an authorship-concealment trick.

Operator feedback (aggregated)

Vendor pages may quote or paraphrase public G2, Capterra, Software Finder, GetApp, Reddit, forum, app-store, or vendor-trust comments. We link the page we opened and show the published date plus the retrieval date. If G2 or Capterra HTML is blocked in a retrieval, we say so and use a page we could open, or we report that the public record is thin.

We do not fabricate quotes, composite operators, or anonymous star ratings. A thin source stays thin. Pool-native tools often have fewer independent reviews than Skimmer or Jobber; that gap is part of the record.

First-party operator notes can be emailed topoolprostack@agentmail.towith the subject Operator note: [vendor]. Seehow we use notes. That mailbox is not a personal address. We still will not invent quotes.

What we do not do

• Claim hands-on testing unless we have actually performed it
• Accept payment for rankings or placement (now or retroactively)
• Invent credentials, pool industry tenure, or operator experience for the editorial team
• Invent testimonials, Reddit threads, or star averages we did not retrieve
• Publish fake sponsor badges or pretend affiliate relationships are live
• Copy vendor marketing copy without attribution and verification

Updates

Software pricing changes frequently. We re-verify pricing on a rolling basis and when vendors announce changes. Each vendor profile shows a last-verified date. If you find outdated pricing, send a source link and we will update.

Future affiliate relationships

If we later add affiliate links, they will be marked on the specific page where they appear, and our affiliate disclosure will be updated before any paid link goes live. Rankings are not for sale.