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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

My tent leaks

13 replies

Callmecordelia · 06/07/2015 07:43

I'm so sad. My tent (bought in April) has only been used a few times, and it's only been in one light shower. However, in yesterday's downpour it leaked in five places, all where there are loops or joins. It's a vango lumen 500, and it leaks around the integrated canopy so water gets on the outside of the door with it up, and then leaks on either side of the door joins inside the tent. It also leaks around the vent at the side.

I've got photos, and I'm ready to email the retailer I bought it off. DH is going to proof read it when he gets home.

I don't want to be without a tent for the summer if they ask me to send it back, which realistically is probably what is needed.

Has this happened to anyone else?

OP posts:

MalletsMallet · 06/07/2015 08:02

This happened to us but it was an Argos own brand dome tent. I think it was a 10 man tent! The second time we used it it rained quite heavily in the night and we woke to puddles all over the floor, duvets and pillows soaking wet, belongings wet...you get the picture.
When we got back from our break I called Argos and as we didn't have the receipt they traced the transaction through our debit card and we went to the closest store for a refund. On the phone Argos were brilliant but the staff in the shop were most put out and quite rude.
With the refund we bought a 6 man regatta which so far has done us proud

BikeRunSki · 06/07/2015 08:09

Vango are a well established and reputable manufacturer. Are you sure it's leaking and not condensation? Are you sure the rent is erected properly? If so, Vango shouldn't give you are hard time, although you do have to go through the retailer.

Original poster

Callmecordelia · 06/07/2015 08:20

Absolutely sure it isn't condensation. I've been quite pleased at the lack of condensation in this tent tbh, the vents seem to do a good job, and while it is there, it's not bad iyswim.

It's an airbeam - so putting it up is quite straightforward, I don't think I made a mistake.

The good thing about it happening in broad daylight is you could see the moisture forming into droplets and dripping onto the carpet, and you could see exactly where the leaks were - all where the stitching and joins were a bit more complicated.

OP posts:

Blu · 06/07/2015 21:08

That's bad!

I think Vango tents come with a guarantee, so push for a replacement or refund. .

They should swap it straight away.

Did you order it over the 'net? can you take it straight back to the shop?

Original poster

Callmecordelia · 07/07/2015 06:35

I bought it online from a shop at the other end of the country. We'll see what they say.

I'm not too worried that they won't deal with it properly, I'm more worried about being tentless. I had all sorts of plans over the next few weeks. I really love this tent....

OP posts:

BikeRunSki · 07/07/2015 07:29

DH used to work in an outdoor shop and they had "loan stock" which they loaned out to folk who had to send big items in for repair. Good Luck!

Blu · 07/07/2015 08:10

I had to send a tent back to Millets - they accidentally sent an ex-display tent that had a 'shop damaged' sticker on it and holes in the groundsheet. They said they couldn't despatch a new one until the old one had arrived back at the warehouse and been checked in....this was going to take a while because I had to get it to one of their click and collect stores, or wait for their courier to collect.

After a protracted conversation with Customer Services I paid for the immediate despatch of a new tent and then they gave me a refund when the original one was collected by courier. And they gave me a discount on the new one, in compensation.

Original poster

Callmecordelia · 07/07/2015 11:48

Just had a phone call - absolutely wonderful customer service. Brand new tent will be with me Thursday. It will include forms for vango, who will arrange a pickup. No issues, lovely lady on the phone, no problems at all!

JR Leisure, you did really well. Thank you.

OP posts:

BikeRunSki · 07/07/2015 12:20

We need a [tent] !

Original poster

Callmecordelia · 14/07/2015 17:36

I can't believe I'm revisiting this thread.

New tent arrived last Thursday and it was up Friday to today. It was easier to put up than the other one, which makes me think that there was a problem with either the pump or airbeams on the first one.

It leaks, only a small leak, through one of the same seams as before. Also, there's a hole in the sewn in groundsheet. I camp with a footprint and carpet. There are holes in neither of them, meaning it was supplied with a hole.

Retailer still being fab, and they have given me two options -

A brand new tent in the box
sending the second one to vango for repair for the leak and hole.

I don't know what to do. The second one was better to put up, and is a known quantity. I've had two new tents already and they have both had problems. Will the third be any better?

On a positive note, I just put it down and back in the bag all by myself for the first time. Yay!

OP posts:

Naoko · 17/07/2015 21:02

I would ask them to either exchange it for a different tent (to the same value, obviously), or refund you. I don't think I'd trust a repaired or replaced version of the same tent. You may have to be quite firm about this, as the options they've given you are not actually unreasonable, but they may be willing to work with you.

davetsmart · 31/08/2015 10:55

hi,I just got back from france having bought a brand new lumen airbeam 500. It leaked like a sieve from several places in only about an hour's worth of intermittent rain. I was really disappointed too. I didn't expect that from a £500+ tent from Vango. How did you get on with Vango?

Original poster

Callmecordelia · 10/10/2015 09:00

Just seen this, sorry, it dropped out of threads I'm on.

I'm on tent number three, and this one seems to be OK. I have tested it in the rain, and it was fine. I'm not going camping next year without packing a can of fabsil though!

I never dealt with Vango directly, the retailer did that for me. Their communication and service was excellent. I did ask what would happen to tents 1 and 2 - apparently they would be repaired by vango and then sold, I'm not sure whether as refurbished or not. I hope you didn't get tent 1.....

It's a real shame it ended up being such a hassle, because the design of the tent is ideal for us. I ended up not venturing much further than my parents garden in it, because almost all trips turned into tests to see if the latest one leaked. We had fun camping out, and I do like camping with a fridge, oven and bathroom easily accessible, but it wasn't quite what I had in mind when I bought it.

OP posts:

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