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Camping

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

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Original poster

Leaking tent...will we get a refund?

20 replies

LingDiLong · 28/07/2013 20:51

We bought a tent from an Ebay shop with very good feedback last April. The zip was broken on it so we sent it back and they repaired it. We took it out for the weekend and it was fine. We've just come back from an overnighter where it tipped down and the tent was like a sodding sieve . It wasn't leaking around seams or anything but just at various points through the canvas, it was as if the material simply wasn't waterproof despite it being a 2000mm one. I've sent a message to the seller to explain that I'd like to exchange it for a different make/model but I reckon I'll have a fight on my hands. What do you guys think? Have any of you experienced this before?! And what can you recommend for us to buy?! We're fair weather weekend campers really so don't need all singing all dancing...but waterproof is pretty essential! We're looking for 7/8 person.

Thanks

OP posts:

orangepudding · 28/07/2013 20:55

I don't think that I would expect a 2000 mm tent to protect from a really heavy downpour.

Contact the sellers to see what they say but I wouldn't be too hopeful. Good luck!

Original poster

LingDiLong · 28/07/2013 20:58

Seriously?! When I researched it everything seemed to suggest that anything over 1500mm would be fine for UK weather - barring some kind of freak storm. And it wasn't monsoon like, just heavy showers off and on through the night.

What kind of mm should I be looking at then?

OP posts:

BikeRunSki · 28/07/2013 21:00

Are you sure it wasn' t condensation?

Where were you camping last night? Because we were on a campsite in the Yorkshire Dales and the storm we had last night was exceptional. There were lots of people with leaking, flooded tents this morning.

Original poster

LingDiLong · 28/07/2013 21:08

We were in South Wales. Definitely not condensation. The first time we camped in it, it was cold at night and we had the few drips you get from condensation when you touch the outer shell. This was entirely different; the kids beds were wet where the water had come through and you could hear the water dripping all night on to the groundsheet.

I wouldn't have said the weather was 'exceptional' (but then I am Welsh so used to rain ). It was steady rain interspersed with heavy showers. I've camped in rain before and never known a tent to leak like that.

OP posts:

troutsprout · 29/07/2013 08:00

Oh how feckin annoying.
Tbh though I probably would expect a 2000 HH tent to leak in steady rain with heavy downpours... Just too much water!
2000 hh seems to quoted as the bare minimum for this country but good old british weather is a quirky creature and I've always gone higher tbh (4000 or 5000)
Hope you have some luck with the eBay shop.

3MonthMaid · 29/07/2013 09:37

What tent was it? Some eBay shops are better than others but I'm not sure i would expect an exchange at this point

SparkyUK · 29/07/2013 11:28

I'm a foreigner so have slightly different standards, but I had a giggle about OP saying she was a "fair weather" camper but that included camping in steady rain and heavy showers :)

That said, I'm so sorry. Waking up with everyone wet would put me off camping for a while. I would definitely look for something with 3000mm at a minimum, but you should be able to get a good brand with 4000 for not too much, esp. with the sales.

GobblersKnob · 29/07/2013 11:34

I wouldn't take a 2000, if it is going to rain I won't even take our 3000 weekend tent if there is going to be more than a light shower.

Original poster

LingDiLong · 29/07/2013 11:48

It was a Gelert Tanis 7 tent, first time we actually bothered to research and put some thought into a tent and it goes wrong. In the past we've just had cheapy supermarket ones and never had a problem! Oh well. I've sent a polite message asking for an exchange, worth a try. Thanks all

OP posts:

craftynclothy · 29/07/2013 11:59

Another one that wouldn't buy anything under 3000HH. Our main tent is a 4000HH.

Original poster

LingDiLong · 29/07/2013 13:54

See, I googled the HH of the tent and, like I said, it seemed to be fine www.ukcampsite.co.uk/chatter/display_topic_threads.asp?ForumID=32&TopicID=195803&PagePosition=1

What's the point of a 2000mm tent then?! It's like buying a car that won't reverse - pretty much useless a lot of the time!

I AM a fair weather camper in so much as I wouldn't want to camp for a week in the rain - and if I did then I would have bought something more expensive/sturdier but I DO camp in the UK which means I am bound to get caught out from time to time. Saturday night being a case in point - we were meant to get showers for a few hours in the evening according to the forecast, but it rained all night.

The other two tents in our group didn't leak, both older not particularly expensive tents. No reply yet from the Ebay shop guy.

OP posts:

SparkyUK · 29/07/2013 14:40

I wonder if you could take it up with Gelert if ebay guy doesn't get back to you within a few days?

craftynclothy · 29/07/2013 14:43

This suggests 3000 is better for family tents and that the tent design plays a part in how good it is too. Having googled your tent, it's similar to one of our smaller tents (a cheap one we bought to see if the kids liked camping) and I found it leaked a bit above the door (it always seemed as if you couldn't get the fabric to not dip in certain places and those bits let the water in)

Original poster

LingDiLong · 29/07/2013 15:10

Thanks both, I do feel it's a manufacturing problem rather than anything the seller has does wrong - and stated that in my message. Crafty, we'll definitely go for something a bit better quality next time.

OP posts:

zumo · 31/07/2013 19:36

If you don't get what you want complain to Paypal / credit card as they should fight it for you.
Gelert have just been bought out by sports direct so might be worth emailing a complaint?

Original poster

LingDiLong · 31/07/2013 21:33

Thanks zumo. He's replied, basically saying no way to a refund. We've sent one back quoting the Sale of Goods Act because I don't think the tent is fit for purpose personally. We'll see what happens next. I'm not sure Sports Direct would do much, the tent is probably old stock from somewhere hence it being cheaper in an Ebay Shop

OP posts:

YellowDinosaur · 31/07/2013 22:56

If the tent wasn't new i'm not sure sale of goods act is applicable.

I really feel for you but in all honesty as a seller there is no way I'd refund you for a second hand tent you've had for several months and already taken away. The tent might be shit. Equally you might have not stored it properly or packed it away wet so the tent became damaged. I think this is one of the risks you take buying second hand on Ebay

In your position I'd cut my losses and buy a better tent.

If the tent was new its a bit less clear cut but I still think you're unlikely to get your money back unless you manage to claim through sale of goods.

Original poster

LingDiLong · 31/07/2013 23:11

Well, apparently the Sale of Goods Act DOES cover 2nd hand goods if they're bought from a store (which this was, it's an ex-display tent from an ebay shop) - if it's just a private sale then it's Buyer Beware.

Thing is, you have to put the tent up to check it so the fact that I've put the tent up and used it shouldn't negate my rights. I can happily send it back to prove to him it's been stored and packed away properly - it looks as good as new.

I really can't afford to just cut my losses when they add up to £100. The seller suggested I just stick it on Ebay and re-sell it. I'm not prepared to sell a tent that isn't waterproof so we'd basically have to just chuck it in the bin. I might as well try my best to get a refund before we get to that point.

OP posts:

zumo · 01/08/2013 06:50

You could try re water proofing it

YellowDinosaur · 02/08/2013 15:31

Well if sale of goods does cover it I'd go for it. I totally agree you have to put it up to check but that's different to taking it away for the weekend so you might struggle to prove the tent was faulty when you bought it.

I'm not trying to say you've done anything wrong by the way and I'd be pissed off in your shoes too. Just can't really see this ending in your favour.

Re waterproofing it sounds like a good option.

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