• FreshwaterSystems

FreshwaterSystems

Overview

FreshwaterSystems has a rating of 3.05 stars from 3,923 reviews, indicating that most customers are generally satisfied with their purchases. Reviewers satisfied with FreshwaterSystems most frequently mention customer service, good price, and fast delivery. FreshwaterSystems ranks 2nd among Water Filter sites.

  • Service
    139
  • Value
    142
  • Shipping
    144
  • Returns
    46
  • Quality
    132

Proactively asks for customer feedback

This company does not typically respond to reviews

Positive reviews (last 12 months): 33.3%
Positive
1
Neutral
0
Negative
2
See all photos

What reviewers want you to know

Positive highlights

  • Excellent customer service (a very patient customer service rep) when selecting the proper filters.
  • We have gotten our fridge water filters from them for a long time and still get great service.

Critical highlights

  • Also I had difficulty reaching Freshwater Systems -- "all customer service reps are busy."
  • I've been forced to call my credit card company to dispute the charges.
How would you rate FreshwaterSystems?
Top Positive Review

“Super fast shipping and product arrived as ordered in perfect condition... great buying experience!”

DeWayne W.
9/2/22

I purchased a new exact replacement water storage tank for my RO system. Amazon had them available but several people complained that the tanks they received were heavily dented or damaged. Freshwater Systems had the same tank at very competitive pricing and reasonable shipping cost so I decided to buy from then rather than Amazon and I'm very happy with my decision. The tank I received from Freshwater Systems was well packed and not a scratch or dent on it and I received it quickly. Thank you Freshwater Systems for the excellent customer service and pleasant buying experience.

Top Critical Review

“WRONG ITEM SHIPPED”

David A.
9/28/22

I am just amazed at how bad this company is. I ordered a PVC reducer, 3" to 1 1/2". They sent me a 3" to 1 1/2" reducer, but it already had a 1 1/2" threaded pipe glued into it. When I sent them a photo, they responded that they did not send what appears to a used product. As a customer I have never been accused of lying before. They may eventually accept their mistake, but their initial response is just terrible. I will never do business with them again, regardless if they do correct their error.

Reviews (3,923)

Rating

Timeframe

Other

Reviews that mention popular keywords

customer service (265) water filters (331) web site (54) replacement filters (82) water bottle (26) water systems (87) credit card (26)
Thumbnail of user ridetolive2012
1 review
0 helpful votes
April 13th, 2024

I purchased two RO filters from them at a cost of $250 each. One was no good and they refused to replace it. "Our margins are to low" this is how they treat their customers.

Service
Value
Shipping
Returns
Quality
Thumbnail of user davida4028
1 review
2 helpful votes
September 28th, 2022

I am just amazed at how bad this company is. I ordered a PVC reducer, 3" to 1 1/2". They sent me a 3" to 1 1/2" reducer, but it already had a 1 1/2" threaded pipe glued into it. When I sent them a photo, they responded that they did not send what appears to a used product. As a customer I have never been accused of lying before. They may eventually accept their mistake, but their initial response is just terrible. I will never do business with them again, regardless if they do correct their error.

Tip for consumers:
Do not use this company

Products used:
PVC

Service
Value
Shipping
Returns
Quality
Thumbnail of user roscobe
1 review
2 helpful votes
July 12th, 2023

Customer service is a joke. The customer service representative became agitated when discussing why my expedited shipping took 1 week to get shipped.

Thumbnail of user alanw764
1 review
3 helpful votes
April 19th, 2022
Verified purchase

Don buy the PH tester in the photos they are dried out and defective. The units will not calibrate no matter how long you soak them. Freshwater sent me two bad units then moved them to clearance. BE AWARE there is no refund on clearance items. Horrible company who posted lies on google reviews saying I did not want to calibrate the tips which is untrue I've been using these testers for years and tried to calibrate these pens over 5 days they don't calibrate and don't even read the same in the same testing solution. They then said they did not move the ph testers to clearance again another bold lie look at the pics below. They do NOT GIVE REFUNDS on clearance items. Terrible customer service knowingly selling defective product with no chance of a refund. Stray away

Service
Quality
Thumbnail of user michaelm9392
1 review
5 helpful votes
May 5th, 2022
Verified purchase

I have been a loyal customer for years. I got a mineralization filter for my RO system and I noticed a CA Prop65 sticker on it with a reproductive health and cancer warning. When I asked if the warning was due to the materials in the housing or was it the filter? I got the runaround and they said it only applied to CA. So the materials don't harm non-Californians? How stupid. They said they didn't know and told me to call manufacturer. They were no help either and told me to call Fresh Water as the don't apply the stickers. So I guess I have to just suck up that my water supply may in fact cause health issues when in fact I bought an expensive RO system to accomplish safe and healthy water? These folks were golden until I got this right wing dismissive bull and apathy when I am concerned about my health. Not good folks.

Products used:
Water treatment

Service
Value
Shipping
Returns
Quality
Thumbnail of user howardh216
1 review
3 helpful votes
September 24th, 2021
Verified purchase

Terrible company - terrible customer service. Do NOT waste your time. Over a month of excuses and then the day that it was supposed to be here - all that arrived was a cancellation email. AVOID AVOID AVOID.

Thumbnail of user ke59
1 review
3 helpful votes
January 10th, 2020

One (standard) item was out stock and order was on hold. Took them 2 days to notify it is on back order. After a week they still did not ship. Kept the payment for another 5 days before refund.

Tip for consumers:
don't fall for the low advertised prices. The aggravation is not worth it.

Products used:
went to another store

Service
Value
Shipping
Thumbnail of user davidt600
1 review
5 helpful votes
August 17th, 2018

I order 3x of one single part. I only got one of them correct, the other two were wrong sizes. Called to get one shipped out before Monday. For some reason, "There are zero callers ahead of you and an expected wait time of 0 mins", yet it took them 10 mins to answer my call. Customer service rep had no interest in helping. Had to fight her for a refund. Absolutely ridiculous. As someone who works in the water industry, I will NEVER use or recommend this site to anyone.

Thumbnail of user tracyk77
Tracy K. – FreshwaterSystems Rep

Dear Sir, I apologize for any inconvenience you may have experienced. I also would like to thank you for your feedback regarding our messaging on the phone system. Your comments help us to meet our goal of exceeding expectations throughout your experience with Fresh Water Systems. We are looking into this and hope to have this resolved quickly. You will see a refund on your account in the amount of $ 21.37. I hope you will consider giving Fresh Water another chance in the future. Our hope is to satisfy all your future water filtration needs on your next order with us.

Thumbnail of user ft18
1 review
3 helpful votes
September 15th, 2020

I bought a product and it failed. Tech support was at first a decent amount of help. Customer service dept was horrible.

I called back and spoke to tech support, this guy is a total POS. He is unable to admit anything is wrong with their service or their company.

Complete and total Egotistical azzhat.

I will never shop there again.

Thumbnail of user danielg96
1 review
0 helpful votes
January 13th, 2016
Verified purchase

Bill for an order I yet to have received.

Thumbnail of user danm130
1 review
0 helpful votes
March 16th, 2016
Verified purchase

Despite using the online form and sending an email to the returns department, I got no response. One of the filters I purchases--with the assistance of their chat help--won't work for my system. I never used it and wanted to exchange it.

Thumbnail of user whoc3
1 review
0 helpful votes
January 20th, 2016
Verified purchase

Price was high compared to other places

Thumbnail of user garyk43
1 review
0 helpful votes
February 28th, 2016
Verified purchase

Did not receive what I ordered

Thumbnail of user miguelb43
1 review
0 helpful votes
March 15th, 2016
Verified purchase

The cost carrier is to expensive, and never bring a good service.

Thumbnail of user jeffc93
1 review
1 helpful vote
March 4th, 2016
Verified purchase

You are specifically asking for feedback on my experience with your company, so I will share it
- Ordered a specific part number water filter for my fridge on 2/5.
- After backorder delay, order arrived on Fri 2/19
- The part I ordered had been substituted for another - not what I wanted.
-Sat 2/20 called Customer Service, they said they would talk to the fridge filter expert and get an email to me immediately.
- Wed 2/24 Four days later, still no email, I called Customer Service again, said they would send info on how to return filters for a refund.
- Fri 2/26 email to Customer Service requesting return info, email unanswered.
- Mon 2/29 email to Customer Service requesting promised return info.
- Tue 3/1 email from Customer Service, promising the return info will be emailed tomorrow.

Ridiculous delays. I'm very disappointed with this entire experience so far (wrong part sent, slow responses) and I still have these wrong filters sitting in my house. I can't wait to get my money back, but I expect I will have to wait more.

Thumbnail of user haroldf14
2 reviews
0 helpful votes
April 29th, 2016
Verified purchase

See my review at resellerratings.com.

Thumbnail of user florenceg16
1 review
0 helpful votes
April 16th, 2016
Verified purchase

You shipped error item to me, and I send back on March 28. But no one answers me when you ship the correct item to me. I send many email to your customer support but no one answer me.

Thumbnail of user ernies18
2 reviews
0 helpful votes
February 3rd, 2015

Horrible Company - Worst Customer Service experience in years. Ordering over the weekend when no live people were available the website had limitations on entering a hybrid address - both physical address and PO Box combined. The result was a return shipment that Traci the supervisor told me was all my fault. Unwilling to spend the $5 to ship it back to me and losing over a $200 sale. Told my wife on a follow up call that "... we are not Amazon, go buy it from them..." GOOD ADVICE

Tip for consumers:
Use ANOTHER supplier - this company does not care about their customers

Service
Value
Shipping
Returns
Quality
Thumbnail of user johnz54
1 review
0 helpful votes
April 29th, 2016
Verified purchase

One of the worst service experiences ever

Thumbnail of user sandyw36
1 review
0 helpful votes
April 1st, 2016
Verified purchase

My order was sent to me all wrong, and to get a
Replacement, I have to returning your wrong product
Before I can get my replacement? By the way, I'm still
WAITING! Why take so long?

Thumbnail of user davidl247
1 review
0 helpful votes
December 31st, 2015
Verified purchase

I ordered online and paid for shipping. Never received a ship confirmation and no news so finally called them. They said they "lost" the order, that it never came through the system. Several more calls and emails later, and much prompting on my end, they finally shipped it out. The customer service rep offered to refund me the cost for shipping due to the inconvenience but never did.

Service
Shipping
Thumbnail of user robertb212
1 review
1 helpful vote
August 26th, 2015
Verified purchase

If you talk to Cama in Customer Service, she can tell you why I was completely dissatisfied. It took almost 2 months, 3 phone calls and an email before I received my complete order.

Thumbnail of user jamesc248
1 review
1 helpful vote
October 23rd, 2015
Verified purchase

Personalized attention is gone from years past. They give you free shipping and it takes twice as long as it says on their website, WITHOUT TELLING YOU. Keith in customer service was rude and condescending, said the delay was not their company issue and when I called FEDEX to verify whose issue it was, it wasn't FEDEX. Freshwater chose to send me the filters that I needed via a donkey and a slow barge around China. Truthfully, in FEDEX's own words
"Freshwater chose to send you your package the slowest and cheapest way possible". Pathetic!

Thumbnail of user barryb36
1 review
0 helpful votes
September 19th, 2015
Verified purchase

I ordered 2 filters in the middle of August, you sent me the wrong filters way past the date they were expected. Then you sent only 1 filter and the second filter has a 4 week lead time to come in. Meanwhile my customer is having to wait 2 months to get a filter. Moving forward we will never purchase anything from you again..

Thumbnail of user kyungo
1 review
0 helpful votes
September 13th, 2015
Verified purchase

They didn't have item on stock. They sent wrong item(not even in the catalog), but don't issue refund until they receive their item. It will take more than 2 months. They are thief.

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From the business

Founded in 1989, Fresh Water Systems (FWS) has grown to be one of the largest independent providers of residential and commercial systems, parts, and accessories related to water purification. The company counts among its long-time customers over half a dozen of the nation's biggest pharmacy chains. FWS maintains one of the largest on-site inventory warehouses in the industry at its headquarters in Greenville, South Carolina. This ensures a wide selection of replacement parts, highly competitive pricing, and fast delivery times. We strive for total customer satisfaction with our comprehensive and easy-to-use website and call-in center staffed by dedicated and highly-trained professionals.

Business History

Fresh Water Systems began its life as a small water cooler sales and service business in Southern California. The company grew quickly and soon expanded into filtration. In the late 1990s, FWS was approached by a national pharmaceutical chain about supplying them with treatment and dispensing systems needed to provide the USP-Grade water required for formulating certain medications. (In-house systems eliminate the need for expensive and short shelf-life bottled water.) This led to FWS becoming the exclusive distributor of the PharMate® dispensing system, which the company continues to manufacture and service for over 15,000 pharmacies nationwide.

In 2004, the company relocated its headquarters to Greenville in the verdant Appalachian foothills of South Carolina. Today Fresh Water Systems is one of the largest direct providers of all things related to water treatment and purification, supplying both homeowners and internationally recognized corporations with everything from hard-to-find small filter parts to large-scale purification systems. In 2014, the company moved into a new building with greatly expanded warehouse, call center and office space from where it serves an ever-increasing number of customers throughout the US and internationally.

FWS recognizes that its business centers around water, one of the Earth's most valuable resources, and takes very seriously its commitment to improving its impact on the environment. The company actively promotes and seeks out products that reduce pollution and support global sustainability. In its own operations, it has instituted comprehensive recycling programs throughout its everyday operations.

Company Representative

Thumbnail of user stevel312
Steve L.
Digital Development Manager
Typically does not respond to reviews

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