Summary: I purchased my VE-25 tent in 1987 and have used it in many extreme conditions. I noticed a year ago it was becoming sticky rather I cleaned it or not. I sent it to them knowing that material breakdown was not covered by the warranty. They notified me they would not cover repair or replacement of my tent but it said call for other options.
I called and was told the option was to get a new tent at 50% off. I purchased a new VE-25 for 280.00. That is less than half the going rate for a new tent.
I have seen reviews pro and con about the NF warranty. Even though my tent was 22 years old I had taken great care of it all these years of heavy use and other than my sticky problem it was in great condition and returned to them packed in clean shape. Actually the warranty dept said based on the SN it was manufactured in 1981 making it 28 years old!!! Are you kidding me!!!
I can't say enough great things about TNF warranty dept and their products, I have used them for over 25 years with no problems until now and they took great care of a loyal longtime customer.
Thanks TNF
Tim
Customer Service: The best folks I have ever delt with.
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Summary: I have a 1996 model VE-25. I have been is some extreme climates from torential rains to heavy snow and heavy winds. The tent has never leaked and even hinted on giving way.
I have no idea why others are having troubles. My only comment is to question others maintenance of their gear.
Great tent. Last tent I will ever have to buy. If I ever do need to replace it, I will definetly buy another. Oh, and the color....easy to spot on a snow covered slope.
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Summary: Purchased after my Sierra Designs tent was stolen. Thought I was getting a roomier but equivalent quality tent. Wrong, wrong wrong.
Hard to set up. Heavy. Required a ton of guying out to shed snow properly. Stayed dry until the floor started peeling. Zipper always caught in the extra material around the door. (And the color - oh my gawd, whoever thought that would be appropriate in a wilderness setting? Clearly someone focused on being the showiest tent on Everest, not tucked away in a quiet forest.)
Anyhow, never lived up to the wonderfulness of my first wife, er, tent. Finally, about 5 years ago, the warranty dissolved into nothing ... Last week I found it as I cleaned out the basement. Bitter taste left in my mouth from that one. Now the d@#* thing is in some landfill where it belongs.
Customer Service: I've read these reviews as I prepared to write my own and don't understand how I got absolutely no customer service and other folks got their misused and abused tent replaced for free. My tent had the waterproofing peel off and NF claimed it was moldy (I couldn't see it at all) and therefore the warranty was invalid. This is the second NF product (backpack was the other) I had in which they refused to honor their warranty. I will never buy another NF product.
Similar Products Used: Sierra Designs (forgot the name, but bought in it 1981 and lived in that sucker for two years and used it for several more before it was stolen in '96). Of course their tents are all pink and orange and neon color now, too. Ick.
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Summary: This tent looks like it can handle anything mother nature will throw at it but fact is if your spending £500 on a good mountain tent don't buy this one. Due to it will not last 4 years of use like there other competitors tents. they offer product life time warranty but in fact the materials i.e groundsheet is only covered for 2yrs. So that means there product life time warranty is not worth the paper it is writen on. In fact if you want quality products that will last don't buy North Face products at all.
Similar Products Used: Mountain Hardware muir trail tent 8yrs old and still looks as new now as it did then.
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Summary: Just replaced my old 1990 VE-25 after years of wear & tear. North Face helped me somewhat due to their "lifetime" warranty. I have car-camped, backpacked, mountain climbed in just about every sort of weather one can imagine. From puring rain that turned the tent into a virtual raft (that never leaked) while in Virginia, high winds aside Missouri River that nearly inverted the tent, to cold snow pack of Adirondaks, the VE-25 as been 'old faithful' and never let me down. Will never purchase another tent!
Customer Service: Very good. Paid 50% for replacement tent 16 years later through North Face.
Similar Products Used: Eureka, North Face.
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