The issue is what grade of stainless is being used? The two common types are 304 stainless and 316 stainless. Type 304 is the more common variety typically found in household kitchens and non-marine outdoor used. It costs less because there is less alloy in the steel. If salt is present, only type 316 stainless will stand up over time. But it costs more because there are more of the expensive alloying elements in it.

The contractors position is based on most people not wanting to pay extra for type 316 stainless steel in their appliances.

All that being said, my son has a 304 stainless steel grill near his saltwater pool and there are no issues so far.

The term “salt water pool” is a misnomer. While you add salt to the pool water, the salt will be converted to chlorine. Do a google search.

Jody:

Why can't it be called a salt water pool? Not all the salt gets dissociated to sodium and chlorine immediately. It tastes salty. Maybe not as salty as the ocean, but still salty.

The stainless steel doesn't care about the source of the salt, if chloride ions are in solution and this solution gets on stainless 304, corrosion results.