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Our UK Camping forum has all the information you need on finding the right equipment for your tent or caravan.

Camping

Vacanza by Outwell - An Argos rip off???

13 replies

YellowDinosaur · 22/08/2011 20:24

I started another thread here about the Outwell Fusion 400 tent that I had found for what seems to be a phenomenal deal for £99 at Argos (against an RRP of £189 and £135 being the next cheapest that I could find online). Here is the link on the Argos website

The confirmation text I received came through as 'Vacanza 4 man tent' and when I have collected it tonight it appears to have the same spec as the Outwell one but the branding says 'Vacanza by Outwell' which is not the same as on the Outwell site - here

Now don't get me wrong - if indeed it is the same tent I couldn't give a rats arse what name it says on the tent. However if I have bought a rip off inferior version I am not happy. I also have in the back of my mind that if I decide that it is not what i want after a couple of trips (it didn't tick all the boxes for what I want from a pop up but then I haven't found one that does) then this might affect resell for me.

Does anyone know anything about this?

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lovecat · 22/08/2011 21:40

Not sure if this helps any?

The reviews on the Argos website say it's an Outwell, but if it's not the same as the Argos pics you'd be within your rights to send it back.

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Tangle · 22/08/2011 22:07

Another discussion here.

From what I can see, the place Outwell seem to have economised is by using a fly with a lower HH for the "Vacanza" range - which fits in with the info on the 2 links you've provided (Outwell HH = 4000mm, Vacanza HH = 3000mm).

But given you've said its going to be a bit of a fair weather tent anyway, I'm not sure that's going to be an issue (and lets face it, there are tents on the UK market with HH < 3000mm, so its not even that low). I also picked up the comment a few times that Outwell will not want to risk their reputation by putting out inferior tents with their name on.

I think Argos are being a bit cheeky by not making it clear on their website that this isn't the exact same "Outwell Fusion 400" you'd buy elsewhere - but if you're happy with the product and the price then I don't think you need to be horribly concerned that you've got a complete rip off.

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YellowDinosaur · 22/08/2011 22:10

I've emailed Argos asking them to confirm it is the same tent. If it isn't then I would say they are misselling as there is nothing on their web page to say its anything other than the Outwell unless you zoom in on the logo on the actual tent. And why would you do this unless there is anything to imply that it wasn't an Outwell tent on the page which there isn't - I only did this after I got back from the shop with it.

If it is the same tent, and its what I want when I stick it up, don't care. We'll see what they say!

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YellowDinosaur · 22/08/2011 22:13

Cross psoted Tangle - thanks for that link!

Pretty sure the HH is 4000 but will need to go back and double check...

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YellowDinosaur · 22/08/2011 22:31

You're right it is 3000 - take your point about his being enough for a fair weather tent! We were in the Lakes in the p*ssing rain recently with our 1500 old tent and it was fine!

Just need to trial pitch it once I haven't had wine!

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Tangle · 22/08/2011 22:40

Wine won't stop you pitching it :o

Just don't try and put it down again till you're stone cold sober :o

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YellowDinosaur · 23/08/2011 06:55

I was more concerned about the wine making me not double check for spiky things / bits of toy etc that could rip it before I've decided I want it! And making me too rough as I try to wrestle it back together

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YellowDinosaur · 24/08/2011 16:57

Ok so I have just pitched it and put it away and it was much easier than expected for a first run (admittedly i was VERY reliant on the youtube vid so would need to practise a LOT more before doing it in real life). But its a GREAT tent and I'm thinking it will be kept regardless of any vacanza snobbery as its fab.

One question - is it normal for a SIG to have a kind of netting round the bedroom instead of a proper round sheet? Never had a tent with a SIG before so nothing to compare to and can see this might be the case for ventilation but clearly this could let in water and small bugs so defeating some of the reasons for a SIG... Tangle does your genuine article have this too?

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Tangle · 25/08/2011 22:54

Ours has it too - haven't worked out why, but it didn't cause us a major problem when we used it for 3 nights earlier in the year. We did see a few ants but not masses - although we didn't keep any food in the tent at all. We didn't have any issues with water coming in and it wasn't drafty. But out "big" tent (also an Outwell with a SIG) doesn't have it

One thing we did do was to find a groundsheet that was more or less the same size and used it as a footprint - we figured trying to fold the tent up was challenging enough by itself, without getting covered in mud in the process. And we couldn't see a way to wipe it off without turning the whole thing upside-down (and watching it blow away, getting the rest covered in mud in the process...).

Glad you like it, anyway - and hope it serves you well :)

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Tangle · 25/08/2011 23:06

Also meant to say...

we haven't had it up in pouring rain, but it did get rained on and we did turn the hose on it in the garden before taking it out and sleeping in it for real. No water came in from any direction that we noticed.

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YellowDinosaur · 25/08/2011 23:06

Thanks Tangle thats helpful I've actually emailed Outwell to ask them since I saw on their vids that the genuine article aso has this. I'll let you know what they say as it seems a bit wierd!

Hadn't thought about the wrestling with mud angle. Will have to go and look for a groundsheet! Or just get muddy! I've mastered the putting awy though so at least if won't be fruitless mud wrestling (as long as there isn't any wind!!!

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Robwatto · 08/09/2011 18:43

Hi everyone. I'm new to this but thought I'd post from what I have just read on this post. Argos haven't ripped off Outwell at all. The Vacanza Range looks to be part of an exclusivity deal done with Outwell. I have just purchased both the Vacanza Fusion 300 and 400 and both carry the trademark logo for Outwell. The look and feel of both are identical to that of an Outwell as I own an Outwell Nebraska XXL and is brilliantly built. The ones I have just purchase from Argos have the same spec as the Outwell Fusion 300 and 400 so an actual name on the tent itself shouldn't really matter surely. The quality is the most important thing. Hope this helps.

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YellowDinosaur · 10/09/2011 20:03

Hi Robwatto glad to hear that these tents fee the same. They are however not the same spec - the HH is 4000 for the Outwell one and 3000 for the Argos one. I agree though that in all other respects they are the same and agree that name doesn't actually matter that much if you are heppy with what you are gettin (which I am).

Reassuring to hear that they have the same look and feel as your genuine Outwell though.

I remain a bit that Argos hadn't mentioned ANYWHERE on their website that the 'outwell fusion 400' was actually not this though and feel that not to call it something to make it clear it IS different (so Vacanza by Outwell fusion 400 or something similar) means that imho they are misselling this item. Given that it is a good tent I will drop it and be happy with what I have

Now if only the weather would let me camp in it before the winter I would be delighted!