Hi,
I borrowed a tent off my friends brother. This tent was meant to be "brand new" only used twice.
When we put it up, I noticed that the tape was peeling off the seams which to me (an experienced caravaner who has been putting up and maintaining awnings since I was 5) is a sign that this tent has been used more than twice.
We experienced torrential rain whilst we were camping and the tent began leaking at the seams, after the first storm I put fabsil waterproofing spray over some of the seams but could not reach them all. When the second storm happened it was leaking but only through the seams that I had missed or that were missing the tape.
But apparently the tent leaked because I put a pole in the wrong place and "stretched the seams" and that a "brand new tent" which had the seam tape peeling off is now ruined and its my fault for putting 5 identical poles in the wrong places.
I'm now being told that I have to pay £250 - I have been advised by family not to pay this as the tents owner either hadn't been maintaining the tent properly or that he knew the tent was damaged and lent it to me to get £250 out of me.
I just want to know what some experienced tent campers think.
Thank you in advance
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i wouldnt pay it either, but what i would do is get some seam sealant and do all seams on the inside and then put some talc on them to stop it sticking to the tent when packed. i would then have the tent pitched and get the hose pipe out and check the tent over to make sure its not leaking, if it does then put some more sealant on it.
what tent was it? and there are many takes on only used twice! 2 x 14 night holidays or 2 nights in total? makes a big difference. how could you have put poles in the wrong place, mostly they are all colour coded so you cant get it wrong
Brand new should be straight out the box or bag with the rubber bands still around the poles and factory packed, as it is not its already half price.
How did it look to you? were the poles clean? Any spots of mildew? any dirt on pegs. as the tape was coming away from the seams it sounds like it may have had a fault which should have been resolved before hand.Or like Marg6 says if it had been used for 2 weeks in a red hot summer then the fabric and tape may be starting to break down. A tent at a display outside is no good after 7 weeks UV is the main problem.I had and Outwell Nebraska and the seams did the same . I think i used it 6 times over long weekends, so hardly any wear.
It's an Oggie Endevor 800, found out after posting this that Oggie went out of business years ago. It was brought second hand (was admitted last night) but made out to be brand new, and according to the owner the seam tape that was peeling off was "masking tape" used to pin something up.
Apparently the tent is completely destroyed because it was packed away wet.
Myself and my friends have discussed splitting the bill but I'm still annoyed because I'm convinced we were loaned a tent that has not been taken care of properly.
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The tent may well have been damaged by age but if you borrow a tent, pack it wet and don't dry it out before returning it, you can hardly claim the moral high ground
------------- Never argue with fools........They drag you down to their level, then beat you with experience.
Plan was to dry it out the next day as we packed up late at night, my friend who also came with us said she was going to dry it out and took it home with her
Quote: Originally posted by Sam13121999 on 02/7/2022
Plan was to dry it out the next day as we packed up late at night, my friend who also came with us said she was going to dry it out and took it home with her
I apologise if I am misunderstanding the situation but in your original post you state 'I borrowed............ I inserted the poles............ I have to pay £250........' You imply that the owner deliberately lent you a faulty tent in order to gain financially, an act that suggests a considerable degree of premeditation. More likely, he was unaware that the tent leaked and is pushing his luck in seeking the cost of a new replacement.
Reading your subsequent posts suggests that this was a group venture, perhaps involving the friend whose brother lent the tent. You need to consider the views of the other members of the group.
In the circumstances a compromise should to be reached, either to repair the tent with seam sealer, or as your friends perhaps wisely suggest, compensate the owner. My previous post evidences the age and and value of the tent.
When you borrow or lend, if things go wrong, it invariably costs you money or friendship or both.
------------- Never argue with fools........They drag you down to their level, then beat you with experience.
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My thoughts are: as you're an experienced camper, why didn't you check the tent before going away and hand it straight back to your friend's brother when you saw the state it was in? Why use Fabsil on the seams (did you spray it inside or outside, or both?) instead of seam sealant? Did anyone take pics on opening the tent and send to the owner to show it wasn't as new?
If you were loaned the tent in good faith and returned it wet through and beyond repair, I'm not surprised the owner is upset and claiming recompense. The amount is the only thing you should be negotiating. He's possibly been conned by an unscrupulous seller, but he was good enough to actually loan you his tent so please don't lose sight of that.
Quote: Originally posted by Sam13121999 on 02/7/2022
Plan was to dry it out the next day as we packed up late at night, my friend who also came with us said she was going to dry it out and took it home with her
So she didn't bother drying it out? Hope she's happy to cough up for her share of the bill then.
Properly dried out, you could have attempted to repair it as described in the above post. In deciding it's not worth taking care of, you've sealed your fate, instead of the seams..
That said, it's a very old model synthetic tent and was brought second hand. It's value is nothing like £250.
Good grief in our tent reviews on here brand new the tent was retailing at £199.95 and he is asking you for £250?!
Out of curiosity are you near Biggin hill. Bromley , Orpington Westerham?
Take it the friend who took the tent is the sister of the man you borrowed the tent off. So you did not have chance to dry it out?
Post last edited on 03/07/2022 09:53:12
Post last edited on 03/07/2022 09:55:36
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They lent it to you for free. You shouldnt have packed it away wet then trusted someone else to sort it - however, there is no legally binding contract and this guy is clearly a scammer. Tell them to go and stuff it where the sun doesnt shine.
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Topic: Please help - leaking "brand new" tent
via mobile 01/7/2022 at 8:34pm
