I want to start camping again. (The unintentional build)

LOL, it’s called typing on a phone with a tiny onscreen keyboard. Sometimes the auto spell check has a kind of its own.

 

I feel you there. Can't tell you how many posts I've edited after the fact because autocorrect is retarded.

Ok, so what did you actually mean to type instead of the Tj era CM bit?

 

LoL, I was trying to say that at least they have a setup for the Tundra CM (Crew Max).

 

This guy has a half way decent review of the GFC on his Tacoma.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qy6IZQWy5M

 

I just watched that one today. Some of the info he has is a bit outdated (lead times for example) but he does a good job showcasing the unit.

 

Any word?

 

Not since this morning. She emailed to check in and let me know whe was waiting to hear back from her supervisor, but would update me as soon as she had info. I replied with a thank you an hour later. Then, about 3 hours ago I emailed to follow up and see if there was any info or update. No response yet. Don't think I'll hear anything until tomorrow.

 

Well, I heard back.

New offer. They have a video (have not watched yet) showing the canvas swap on the regular Condor. Says it should be very similar and only take about 30 minutes. I don't buy that timeline at all, and expect it to be a PITA. She said that she can get specific instructions for the Overland once the holiday is over for the manufacturer.

The tent material would also have to be sent direct from the factory...once the holiday is over... Additionally she can offer $400 refunded via the CC I ordered the tent on.

The big worry with all of this is all the waiting. I can't sell the tent to recover fund for the GFC until I get the material, and it won't ship until "after the holiday" and I don't know when that is.

Just thinking here, they really seem to not want to pay for freight back to California. Apparently a $400 refund and paying freight to me from CHINA for parts to a tent that I bought at a $300 discount is still enough profit..... $700 below MSRP plus shipping from China twice... Seems like this thing might have one hell of a mark up.

I'm tempted to tell them to make it $500 to cover the deposit on the new setup and they have a deal, but at the same time that means I have to try and sell a product I don't believe in to somebody else. Moral dilemma for me, sort of. Just something I have to think on. For now I asked her if we can schedule a call tomorrow so as to avoid any confusion in what I want to convey.

 

Man, I dunno. What a pain in the ass. I wouldn't want the hassle of trying to sell it to someone wanting a deal on it. But.. even if you broke even on the deal I would call that a win.

Don't sweat the moral dilemma though, you would be selling them a complete product without flaws. Your opinion of the company shouldn't even be brought up.

 

I feel like as long as you're honest about the issues with the tent then you should be fine.

 

It won't be without flaws. The aluminum panel the ladder is attached has a couple dents.

 

If I take their offer it would be sold one of two way. Either after I have swapped in the new tent material, or at a reduced price in its current state with the new material that the new owner can install.

 

Full refund.

I would call your credit card bank and talk this one through with them. Even though you have the tent, you may still be able to initiate a chargeback on the grounds that the product was misrepresented, isn’t usable, and requires a lengthy wait to receive replacement parts. It’s also damaged beyond what the replacement parts will cover.

 

My preference is strongly for a refund, and I will explain that when I talk to them tomorrow. I just don't understand how freight from China would be cheaper than freight back to LA where they can fix it themselves and sell it in their ding/dent set for $100 under retail. Once the canvas is fixed, and likely the struts, it'll be in perfect working order aside from the dents in the floor. They'd even know that it wouldn't have aluminum shavings in it because I already cleaned them out!

I plan to discuss this vague "after the holiday" stuff too. Does that mean it'd ship tomorrow, or next month? I guess part of this is my fault because on the initial interaction when the guy said it'd be a couple days for a response I said I was patient and camping season didn't start for months. I didn't think they'd take that as an excuse to put this issue on the back burner or go silent, though. I was just expressing that I understood it would be a couple days. Not weeks. Days.

 

Doing a chargeback right now is the last thing he wants to do. Being in business, I have vast experience here. The bank will initially perform the chargeback and then RN has an opportunity to rebuke it. Based on the info on hand and what they have offered, I guarantee you that the bank will reverse it back to RN.

@AzureNightmare sounds to me that they are digging in. Their $ offer is more than I got. My suggestion is to take their offer, get the replacement material and then Sell it as is with the extras. That is if they absolutely refuse a refund. The tent is definitely usable. With the extra material and new struts, I think someone will be happy to use it.

 

I tend to mostly agree. I am going to try to plead my case as rationally as possible for a refund tomorrow. I doubt they will give one, and this may be disappointing, but it's hardly surprising. At the very least I'd like to get $500 back to cover the deposit I'll have to make on the GFC so that I can at least get that ball rolling without actually being out anything. I'm sure I'll be paying for the full GFC before I can sell the tent, because the "holiday" and shipping from China will not be anything quick.

The kicker here, if RN had inspected, cleaned up, and repaired this tent before they shipped it to me then I would be shouting their praises. If the fabric replacement is legitimately a 30 minute job as claimed, then they could have replaced it, freighted it out to me, and had a happy customer. I don't see them paying anyone a high enough hourly rate that they wouldn't come out ahead to have stuff inspected and repaired before shipping.

 

I run a business and have vast experience with chargebacks, too. It’s such a common thing that I pay for a third party service that handles all of ours. Based on everything in this thread I believe it might stick, or at least get a better response from roofnest.

I still think he should at least talk to his bank about it. Doesn’t cost anything but a little time. Probably worth pointing RN at this thread so they can see all the business they’re potentially losing by not doing the right thing, as well.

 

Perhaps, good luck on the call tomorrow and hopefully the chips fall in your favor.

BTW, due to the relatively thin clamshell and the fact that it’s aluminum, I’m almost positive that every single one of these Overlanders will have small dents where the ladder folds in. Mine also has the 2 small dents that align where the ladder folds to. I can’t see how this tent can escape it since the case is hard and has no give. The small dents don’t bother me so no big deal to me. But that’s just me. Others may care.

 

Chinese holiday is 1 month. Not sure when it started.

 

Well now you have more ammo for a refund request.

 

I have to say this whole ordeal is a little shocking. Had nothing but pleasant experiences with Roofnest and my Sparrow EYE, but not replying for two weeks...unacceptable. You don't need social media to go scorched earth, this thread is more than enough. You should definitely include a link in your next email.

As for markup, rooftop tents are marked up well over 100%. These foldout style tents can be purchased on Alibaba for $700. You're paying for customer service, or, in this case, you're paying to be ignored for weeks.

 

Had the phone call a while ago. I pressed hard, but politely, for a full refund.

I have concerns about the fabric replacement after watching the video for the regular condor. The guy did it on a waste high special platform, and I'd have to do it on the ground or on my truck while on a ladder. Not good. Plus, mine is a different model and who knows what impact that'd have.

Told them if it's not a full refund then "I'm going to go scorched earth. No more pulling punches." I'll pursue every social media outlet there is and any local media to generate as much bad press as possible for the company. I stayed calm, didnt raise my voice about it, etc. and told her not to take it personal. My frustration is not with her, it's the situation and the continued refusal to just refund the purchase.

I also told her that the happiest they'll make me is the refund, and at that point I won't escalate things beyond the forum where I've been discussing it. Refund and I go away, or no refund and I get noisy.

She has to contact the owner again. I expect I'll be waiting until tomorrow for a response.

 

Seems like it's becoming a common theme here where we get 10 page threads about a company reselling chinese parts with little or no QC that could have all been avoided if the company had simply acknowledged the defective goods and issued a refund.

 

Got an email response stating she was able to get my return approved. Major weight lifted reading that. She said another person will be contacting me to arrange shipping. I replied that it was good news and I would work on getting it crated up tomorrow to resolve this ASAP.

Then I got to thinking on the wording, and as a cynic I sent a follow up for clarification. I want it in writing that I get the full amount I paid and I'm not going to be charged any freight or fees. So long as I get that confirmation, I am relieved to be done with this mess.

 

Yeah, definitely get them to state what amount they are refunding and what they are covering with the return.

Glad they are at least supposedly doing what you were hoping for....

 

…. well maybe.

 

Sweet! Happy for ya man

 

Indeed. Though I did cover my bases with my CC company. They heavily agreed that any charge back would be in my favor if I was not provided a refund.

 

Thank you, Gents. If nothing else I have learned, and hopefully sharing it here will help others with their camping journeys.