Tales of Woe

Double Nightmare with

COSTCO CANOPIES

 

This is what happened to my COSTCO CARAVAN CANOPY on Oct 10 at an event in Pacifica.

 

 

 

This is what two of my COSTCO CANOPIES looked like on Jan 21, 2010 after a storm in Tyson Wells.

 

 

 

 

I'll first tell you my story about what happened when I first ordered this canopy back in December.

 

My mis-adventures with these mediocre COSTCO Caravan canopies never cease to amaze me. Let's begin with the first part of a double-woe story.

 

I  needed another canopy to replace one of my two broken-down COSTCO canopies.  My daughter ordered another COSTCO for us (Alumina II) on Dec 25, it was shipped from Cerritos on Dec 30 and we received it yesterday.  I planned on taking it to Arizona in mid-January.

 

So today (Jan 6), I opened the box up and was going to attach the top cover to the canopy, but I was shocked to find the canopy was broken.  We leave to do shows in Arizona in 6 more days and it looks like no new canopy.ADDED ON 01/06/09 I just received my canopy and opened it up and it was broken. I am through with these cheap COSTCO canopies...like I said last week, mentioning that they are cheaply made. The PLASTIC PIECE ON ONE OF THE CORNERS was broken and the canopy is useless.

 

 I called COSTCO and had to wait half an hour and they told me to call the individual stores and that I did. Hayward Business Center....no canopy. San Leandro, no canopy. Fremont... no canopy and I was told that the COSTCO's no longer carry them in their stores, you have to order them. I explained that I needed it by Tuesday and it was tough turkey for me. He said that I could bring my canopy to any store and get a refund. Wow. What a burn. Did I ever get screwed on this piece of junk. DO NOT BUY COSTCO CANOPIES.

I doubt that UPS damaged it in shipping because there were no frayed edges on the box. No sign of damage on it. Additionally there's a round thing that goes on top of the canopy and it was attached to the middle pole that extends upward. Broken. So it looks like I have to use an old CARAVAN canopy of mine that has a big tear on the side of the top piece and I have to tie a couple pieces together to hold them in place. My 'better' canopy has patched up holes on top and a couple connectors snapped. Both covers sag terribly and I hope that we don't have rain. I am sure that either of those two canopie would win the 'Ugliest Canopy Contest'.

I will never ever buy another COSTCO CANOPY again. Usually I get to use them 2 or 3 times at least before they start breaking, cover tearing or pieces snapping off. Pay the money... GET YOURSELF a decent EZ-UP or something similar, but do not buy COSTCO CANOPIES. Piece of trash.

This is what I said last week (Jan, 2009), before I received the canopy. 

 

On Saturday, October 10, I was selling at an event in Pacifica, CA using this same, exact canopy.  It was around 1:30pm and I was sitting toward the back of the canopy.  I looked to the right and saw the canopy begin to lean toward my left.  I quickly stood up and reached over with my right arm and pushed up against the leg.  Too late.  "Bye bye Balboni."  Almost "Bye-bye Dave."  I couldn't stop it and I then 'moon-walked' quickly away as it narrowly avoided crashing into me.  I couldn't believe what just happened.  Fortunately, there was nobody around in or next to the canopy.  Here are more pictures o the canopy.

 

 

 

Isn't that amazing!! Never in my wildest dreams could I ever imagine something like this happening.  I am so grateful that there was nobody around when that piece of shit came tumbling down.

I just came across a website that has a wide selection of canopies for A&C Shows, festivals, street fairs or whatever you wish to one for. I just bought my 4th Caravan Canopy from COSTCO and they are half-way decent. Kind of light though and not made of steel like some of the better quality one's out there. Covers are fair and the sides of these are cheaply made.

If you want somewhat better quality canopies, such as the E-Z Up's here is a website that you can take a look at. They have a nice selection and the website is nicely designed. Large pictures of various canopies along with the features of each. They have The ENTERPRISE II, HUT, & ECLIPSE II. Also DOME II. They have accessories for the canopies; sidewalls, etc