Leaky tent bought from Tesco....

Kaytee

Hello!

I would really appreciate some help and advice and don't know where to get any, thought I would try here as my first port of call.

I sent this email to Tesco but have not heard anything back, I doubt I will. I'll copy paste it here as it explains the situation so I don't have to write it all out again:

"This is a complaint about a tent I purchased instore. My other half and I are meant to be at a festival right now. It started Thursday July 15th and was to end Sunday, July 18th. Unfortunately for us it ended a few hours after we arrived on July 15th, all thanks to a leaking tent purchased from Tesco. Admittedly the weather was atrocious but I have had tents cope fine with worse weather than the tent was subjected to. The tent leaked in various places, including all around the entrance where it zipped up (the bit with the bug screen). It also leaked along one of the corner seams. It soaked our airbeds, they had a fuzzy felt top and we couldn't get them dry, so we were left with nothing to sleep on. Our duvet got soaked and all the clothes we had bought for the weekend were also soaked. It was 1am before we realised the extent of the problem, everywhere in the area was shut as the festival was in the Cotswolds in the middle of nowhere so we were left with no choice but to pack up and return home. The tent cost us £25 and the festival tickets cost us £75 each. We no longer have the tent, we left it there, we were wet and freezing cold, it was 1am when we left and we were faced with our drive back to Birmingham before we could be dry and warm and sleep. We weren't going to use it again and I hadn't thought about complaining at that point as my sole priority was getting home and getting warm and dry. I do have a credit card statement showing the tent purchase. I would like to know how Tesco are going to compensate us for the fact we missed the festival due to an unfit for use product sold by yourselves. As an aside, I am so angry about this, my other half and I have not had very much money and this would have been our first chance to get away in the two years we have been together. I have been a loyal Tesco customer for years but will be shopping elsewhere if this is not resolved swiftly."

I spoke to someone in my local Tesco's customer services this morning, the store the tent was bought from and they said that unless I had the tent there was nothing they could do. I am so angry about this, it was 1am, raining hard, windy and we were soaked through, all we were thinking about was home. The tent was pegged into the ground and it would have taken a lot of effort to take it down in the weather conditions, the tent they sold me shouldn't have been leaking anyway! :mad: So we are £175 down and we missed the first break we would have had in a long time and there is nothing they can do? Is this worth taking higher? Does anyone have any advice please? I know I am most likely clutching at straws but I'm so upset I thought it would be worth at least checking if anything can be done.

Thank you for reading and for any advice anyone can offer.

triticale

Kaytee wrote: »

The tent cost us £25 and the festival tickets cost us £75 each.

I am genuinely sorry you had a rotten weekend, but you take your chances when you buy a 'budget' tent I'm afraid.

I was at a festival this weekend and had no problems with leaking.

My tent cost me £75 and the tickets were £25 each...

Kaytee

The tent was reduced from £60 if that makes any difference. It wasn't from a budget range.

Barneysmom

I'm afraid that is a budget range tent if the highest price was £60.

When you look for another tent, make sure it's got a hydrostatic head of at least 2000.
This is the pressure of water the fabric can withstand before it'll leak. Anything less is not worth tuppence and is more of a playroom than a tent.
better to buy a second hand tent with a higher rating if you can, our tent cost us £50 second hand and the brand new price was £1300, it's got a rubber roof and mudwalls.

Don't let it put you off camping, with the right kit it's mega fun.
Not really sure what you can do about Tesco though.

Kaytee

It was this one: direct.tesco.com/q/R.100-4441.aspx , you need to add the Http:// It seemed up to the job and was certainly sold as up to the job going by the website listing, yet it wasn't. It also gets good reviews on the website, I think it was more than likely our one was dodgy or something!

Barneysmom

This one.........
http://direct.tesco.com/q/R.100-4441.aspx

It's hydro head 1500, not too bad.
If you look at this one http://www.singersoutdoors.co.uk/showproduct.asp?id=2517&pgid=0&r=0/0/0/0
the price looks high maybe, but that tent will last much longer than 4 times so works out much cheaper in the end.

I'd say supermarkets aren't the place to buy a tent but now and then they'll get a good one. The best place is a proper outdoor shop.

Kaytee

Yes that's the one! It shouldn't have leaked though should it? Thanks for linking me to a decent one so I know for next time

lynzpower

Hang on

Have you not tried to take it back to the shop?

I bought a cheapie tent ( also a reduction) from Go outdoors, and took it straight back after the weekend saying it had leaked.

They took it back no problem, reported that someone else had been in the same morning reported the same issue. Refund onto my card- couldnt be happier with their response.

If it isnt "fit for purpose" and they dont give you a refund straight away call consumer direct for advice.

Barneysmom

I think it depends how heavy the rain was, we had some 'orrible stuff come down a few days ago and I doubt many tents would have stood up to it?

System

lynzpower wrote: »

Hang on

Have you not tried to take it back to the shop?

No they left it at the festival.

lynzpower

Barneysmom wrote: »

I think it depends how heavy the rain was, we had some 'orrible stuff come down a few days ago and I doubt many tents would have stood up to it?

Actually it really doesnt.

A reasonable person would expect a tent to be waterproof ( as long as its used properly and guyed out properly, vented properly, etc.

You may well find an instant refund if you take it to Tesco.