Upset with Coleman products, anyone else have bad luck with them?

[suprz]

you may say i am "partial" to Coleman stuff seeing how i collect the lanterns and stoves.  I have 6 of the Coleman fuel stoves and 4 of the lanterns.  2 propane lanterns and 1 of the propane stoves, and one of the old Coleman fuel catalytic heaters.  I will agree that i like the older Coleman products over the newer ones. I have to admit the newer Coleman stuff is not made as bulletproof as the older stuff. but still,  i have never had a problem with any of the Coleman products. and the Coleman customer service has always been great.   I have had friends tell me when looking at an old beat up coleman stove that i just got, "that thing will never run" but it always does.. :-()

[br9]

Yeah, I have had the same propane Coleman lantern for 20 years now, works just fine. Its just these stupid battery powered lanterns that are junk.

Coleman never emailed me back.

Use thier 800 number I got much faster service that way

[garym053]

The problem I had with Coleman was with a Road Trip Stove Griddle and they responded with a new one right away. I've never had a problem with my Coleman Propane or Battery Lanterns, Coleman Extreme Coolers or other Coleman products.

When dealing with Customer Service, I wouldn't call their products junk though! I would suggest that the item slipped through quality control.
(Even if in YOUR opinion they ARE junk!)

Good Luck!

[fun4all5]

Yes, We bought a Coleman tent with a "pet den" and took it out on Spring Break last year. There was a large T-storm and it leaked bad at all the seams. I understand some moisure making its way through but not dripping and puddling like we had. Needless to say, we returned it, got our money back and purchased our pop-up. Now, we are all glad that it happened or we still might be tent camping.

[bonscott]

Yes, We bought a Coleman tent with a "pet den" and took it out on Spring Break last year. There was a large T-storm and it leaked bad at all the seams. I understand some moisure making its way through but not dripping and puddling like we had. Needless to say, we returned it, got our money back and purchased our pop-up. Now, we are all glad that it happened or we still might be tent camping.

Did you water proof the seems before you used the tent the first time?  You always have to water proof the seems no matter what brand tent you buy.  Any time we bought a new tent in the past (before our PUP) we would set it up in the backyard when we new it wouldn't rain for 2 days.  It taught us how to set it up and then we water proofed the seems.  2nd day we did another application of the seem sealer and when dry took the tent down.  Never had a leak.  

Anyway, enjoy the PUP, they are the way to go.

[sewserious]

The last Coleman tent I bought (or any brand for that matter) comes with a bottle of seam sealer.  The setup instructions tell you to seal the seams before first use.  No wonder it leaked.

[waygard33]

The last Coleman tent I bought (or any brand for that matter) comes with a bottle of seam sealer.  The setup instructions tell you to seal the seams before first use.  No wonder it leaked.

The Manufacturer should seal the seams! Gimme a break! Throwing a bottle of seam sealer in the package is crap. The tent should come ready to use.

I've bought many tents, still have and use them. None have come with seam sealers and my tents have not leaked. At least not until they have aged many years. Then I've bought seam sealer and applied.

Side note to sewserious:
Your replies always seem a bit rude to me. Ease up on the coffee.  :morning:

[CajunCamper]

Most tent manufacturers recommend that you use a sealant to seal seams and zipper areas whether it's a $40 tent or a $1000 tent. We've always done so and have never had a leaky tent. Your supposed to re-seal after washing the tent as well.

CajunCamper

[bonscott]

Most tent manufacturers recommend that you use a sealant to seal seams and zipper areas whether it's a $40 tent or a $1000 tent. We've always done so and have never had a leaky tent. Your supposed to re-seal after washing the tent as well.

CajunCamper

Exactly.  Just the way it is tenting.

[ScouterMom]

I apologise, I guess I wasn't being clear....

the coleman stuff that my family and I used in the '60's and 70's was fine - in fact, I think  the cookset that I am still using is a Coleman set - the 'teflon' coating on the frying pan is shot, but after 40 yrs, I'd expect anything with teflon on it to be scratched up, so I only use the frying pan as the large pot lid.  Everything else is aluminum, and it's still the best fitting, lightest,  and most complete nesting set of cookwear I've seen.  

But when my son joined his scout troop in 2000, the troop had a few old coleman stoves left, and they needed alot of new equipment.  We got quite alot of new equipment, and the coleman stuff just really did not stand up to the boy's using it.  I agree that the boys need to be taught how to better care for their equipment - but that's an issue I've been fighting with the troop leadership for years.  Some of the older boys, once they start buying their own equipment and borrowing from other scouts and scouters, DO take good care of stuff - but the young ones are hard on things until they learn.

( and the propane thing must be something passed word-of -mouth in our area - and it doesn't suprise me that I was told wrong, that BSA DOES allow the use of propane. I have an ongoing argument that our boys CAN use power tools in service projects and Eagle projects, according to how I read the Guide to Safe Scouting - yet I was constantly told by our troop committee, local district people and our old unit commisioner that they are not allowed to use power tools, even with adult supervision.)

I do work in a retail store that sells moderately priced camping equipment, including coleman, and one thing that can't be argued is how often we see  Coleman products come back to our store as defective or with 'unsatisfactory performance'.  Yes, tents should be waterproofed before taking them camping, but alot of people don't read the instructions, much less waterproof the seams!  People often buy the lanterns without the cases, and the mantles and globes break - the glass is thin.  I DO have a Coleman propane lantern - and it's worked fine for the past  3-4 yrs I've had it - but a lantern/stove combo I paid the same price for, and bought the same summer, has many more features and works just as well.

I'm just saying that people expect something from the NAME because they remember it from when it was a good make in the 60's and 70's, and that the names that are not as well known and are newer, can often be better.

Laura

[barbjeff]

I also have over the years had many Coleman products and have never had a problem.  Yes things have broken but really that seems to be an issue of wear and tear rather than poor quality. My biggest problem wiht these items, lanterns, stoves, ovens, have been getting them back from the kids after they had borrowed them!  I have broken a globe on a lantern recently, but that story involves beer :!  and a late night trip to the outhouse, though humorous probably does not qualify for this discussion.

[waygard33]

Overall, I'm a Coleman fan. However, I, like many have mentioned, am overall dissapointed with the latest generation of products.

I went to Sportsman's Warehouse last weekend to buy stuff for my upcoming trip. In particular, I wanted to buy a Coleman LP lantern (the type which utilizes the 1lb LP canisters).

I'm the type of person who will pay extra for quality. I typically try to buy something that will be in my camping arsenal until I'm gone. With that in mind, I began to look at Colemans lanterns.

When I picked up the Coleman lanterns from the shelf, I was immediately put off by the 'Made in China' label. OK, I'm used to this. And what can I do. It's tough to find anything not made in China these days. I got over the label and started to play with the lanterns. Immediately, the look and feel screamed...'CHEAP'!. Plastic base, loose fitting/feeling plastic knobs. I pictured my current battery operated Coleman lantern where the base falls off everytime we use it. I became dissapointed and set them back on the shelf. I left the store without a lantern.
 
I'm a Coleman camping fan who is becoming disillusioned (sp?). I believe there are plenty of products still labeled Coleman which are good products but my list of bad ones continues to grow. I am finding myself looking more and more at the competitiion when I buy camping items, rather than counting on Coleman.

In case anyone from Coleman is listening, it's time to stop coasting and resting on long past successes. It's time to get back to work. A great place to start would be with those folding trailers you're about to put your name on.

wg   :compumad:

[sacrawf]

I am amused by the new essential Coleman product:

http://www.coleman.com/coleman/colemancom/detail.asp?product_id=5998-412&categoryid=26006

[wavery]

I am amused by the new essential Coleman product:

http://www.coleman.com/coleman/colemancom/detail.asp?product_id=5998-412&categoryid=26006

OH Please!!!! :rolleyes:

[eanddrice]

I'm an avid user of Coleman products.  I still use the three burner stove and chrome plated kerosene lantern that my Dad bought way back in 1963.  I also have another lantern that I bought at a yard sale that is over 40 years old and after replacing the gasket on the fuel cap, it works like a new one.  I also have a NorthStar propane lantern that I have had for over 5 years that still works perfectly.