At 8am on Monday I was preparing to type a glowing review of the service I received, but by 8.30 my opinion had changed.
After deciding to take the kids on a camping trip I needed to equip myself. Not wanting to spend large amounts of money I decided to go along to Kalahari Kanvas by the airport in Maun and see what I could hire.
The pricing was very reasonable – for P195.80 and a P200 deposit I was able to hire:
- 3m x 3m bow-tent
- single and double bedrolls with sheets, pillows and blankets
- 4 folding chairs and a table
Even better, although I collected Friday afternoon and returned Monday morning, they only charged me for one night.
I confirmed my requirements by email on Thursday, and everything was packed and ready for me when I went there on the Friday.
This is where the tale goes sour: the staff helped me to load and the friendly supervisor (hello, Boston) asked for money for a drink, since it was Friday and hot. Being a friendly person, and because they were so quick to load, I let him keep the change from P200.
What I didn’t ask, because they seemed so efficient, was to check the contents of the tent bag. My bad.
When I returned the equipment on Monday they were very thorough to open everything and count tent pegs. Oops, no flysheet. Cost to replace: P1009.
It would probably have been cheaper (although not so much fun) to stay at Drotsky’s.
Of course I complained to the “Financial Controller” but I got a stock reply:
I have checked with our staff and they assured me that they check everything that goes out and gets returned the same time.
the poles for the flysheet was also in the bag that you returned. We have very strict rules about hiring and returning.
We also did check on the previous time that it went out and was returned with everything intact. Even with a regular customer the same process takes place.
Regards
Sonia
Well, I’m sorry Sonia, your procedures didn’t work this time – how can somebody lose a flysheet when camping for a single night? It would only have been a piece of fabric maybe 5m long x 2m wide!
I would be happy to hear from anybody else who has had a similar experience.
I hope it isn’t their way of keeping prices low - leave an item out of the bag and gouge for it when it isn’t returned.
My advice for next time: get a list of the contents of the tent bag and make them prove that everything is there, and in good condition (don’t want to be blamed for holes and things either). It’s a shame when you can’t trust people.
Watch this space for reviews of other outfitters next time I go camping.
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