NorthPole Two Room Family Dome, 14ft x 12ft

Summary

Company is out of business.

Plastic joints very fragile. Attempted to purchase replacement. No contacts available. Found that the company is in receivership.

See the article at biz journals dot com (format that into a correct web address). Article dated 24-Aug-2012 titled "NorthPole Tent Company Ordered Into Receivership."

First time we put it up, noticed a seam on the main body of the tent that looked strained (will soon rip I'm sure). Instructions could have been more helpful, they were not too clear. Came a big rain storm, had the rainfly on, water still came through all the seam intersections on the rainfly. Will return to CostCo, when it dries out.

This tent worked fine for the six times we used it. We are fair weather campers, the tent has never been wet from rain, only wet from morning dew. I always put my tent away dry since we use it sparingly.

As I was taking the tent down on our last trip to So Oregon, the elastic cord inside one of the major support poles snapped. It didn't come untied at the end, it snapped about 6 inches from the end. Since the pole sections are 24 inches long, it didn't occur at a connection point.

I have to order a replacement pole (ordering an extra one for back-up) on a tent I have barely used since I am outside of 2 year warranty. My 3 season Kelty 3 person tent has lasted me 15 years so I expected several years of use from this one, at least more than two years.

Did I set my expectations too high?