William
Bad situation - Warranty Honored After All
We bought this 10 x 20 white dome canopy tent on July 4th through Walmart online. We had some trouble with the assembly of the tent right from the get go. The instructions leave a bit to be desired. The top dome canopy stretches really tight over the frame. This caused stretching and pulling on the sewn seams which led to seam leakage along the horizontal seam where the dome tarp meets and attaches to the tops frame. This lets rain water leak down inside the tent. We had installed all sides and front and rear tarps. Then light winds came and the winds move the tent around like a sail. We fastened it securely on the inside to an immovable trailer so it couldn't move. That didn't do the trick as the next moderate winds came some days later, the wind then pushes up against the frame harder that is fastened and still moves the tent but also relocates and bends the poles. Then in early October, with the same tarp, sides, front and rear flaps in place and secured to the trailer conditions applied we got a dusting snow, less than 2" and the tent dome accumulated the snow where it should have rolled off and collapsed the tent bending both horizontal frame poles and 6 of the 8 vertical leg poles and ripped the tarps in at least 10 different locations. A frigging disaster and a useless tent sitting in the driveway 3 months after the purchase and assembly. But.... After talking with Walmart Assurance people, I found out that the tent came with a 12 month warranty from the manufacturer. They gave me an email for them, I sent it and no response. I googled the company and found another email address and sent another email, no response. I called Walmart Assurance again and they gave me a phone number. I called, recording, no one answers, left message and no response. I called Walmart Assurance back and explained the whole frustrating situation and they then tried calling and got the same recording and no answer. 3 days later I get an email from the manufacturer in China asking me to explain the situation (again) and to send pictures. After 10 plus emails 20 plus pictures and more explanation they offered me a 60% refund for a 100% destroyed tent. I refused and asked them to refund the 100%. Days go by between most emails but they stuck to the 60% offer until I begged them to just send me a new tent and I'd find a way to manage it differently this time around. They finally agreed and sent me the new tent within a week of agreeing to do so. So not exactly what I wanted but got a full replacement to try again and The Honored Their Warranty in the end with only a few weeks of negotiation. I like the tent I like the idea of it. The price is right. Just know that it has to be tied down, staked to the ground and it will not withstand any mild to moderate and certainly no strong winds straight on and it does not stand up to any snow load at all.