Omlet Run Issues

[Dee Dub]

Anyone considering investing a lot in a Omlet chicken run, think again. Love my EGLU coops, but there is a big problem with the runs. I have had mine for just 2 yrs & the deterioration from rust for such an expensive product is unacceptable. There are several places on my run that have completely rusted thru. As I am just past the 2 yr warranty period, Omlet is not willing to help other than to advise me to buy some paint to go over the rust. I live 30 miles from the coast...the air is not THAT salty here. Ridiculous! Below is the response from Omlet:

Hi Dawn

Thank you for your message.

I'm sorry to see that your walk in run has rusted, this can happen in areas close to salty sea air.
Unfortunately, as your walk in run is over 2 years old and out of warranty, we wouldn't be able to offer any free of charge replacement. We do have a touch up paint for the smaller areas of rust but you would most likely be able to find a green metal paint at a local hardware store.
As the door is a little worse, you can find a full height door, just the top door, or just the bottom door on this page of our website:
https://www.omlet.us/shop/chicken_keeping/spares/

Please let me know if you need anything else and I'll do my best to help.



Omlet Customer Service
Monday - Friday, 7am - 7pm ET
Phone: 646-434-1104

 

[Dee Dub]

Thank you ALL for your comments & support! I sent a link to this thread to Omlet and received the reply below. A big step toward rectification, but this does not not change the fact that the product is of poor quality. I wish more companies would follow the example of LifePro (excercise equipment)...rather than dealing with a "customer service representative", they have "happiness specialists" whose first priority is the customer.

Hi Dawn

Thank you for your message.

****** has asked me to take a look at this as you are outside the warranty period but the level of rust you have is severe.

I can see that you do live near the coast and the sea air can exacerbate rust, but I would not expect it to be this bad in such a short time at all. Unfortunately, as the rep advised, you are outside of the warranty period however I would like to offer to replace the run door on this occasion due to the severity of the rust you have.

From what I can see on the images you have shared, both the top and bottom doors need replacing, so I will have a whole new door assembly sent for you. I will also include some pots of paint for you to help prevent any rust spots from worsening in the future.

The order will be shipped from our UK warehouse so it might take a little longer than normal to arrive, but it should leave the warehouse in the next 24 hours and you can track the delivery here: https://www.omlet.us/misc/tracking?orderno=1735598&postcode=32347

Please let me know if there is anything else I can do to help you.


Omlet Customer Service Team Leader
Monday - Friday, 7am - 7pm ET
Phone: 646-434-1104

 

[azygous]

You're right. This shouldn't happen. Making a profit using inferior materials is despicable.

 

[nuthatched]

I honestly don't expect much out of a company that makes plastic playhouse coops.

 

[LaurelC]

For anyone dealing with rusting issues in the future, knocking the loose paint off with a wire wheel or scraper and then coating everything in a rust convertor like POR15 (and then a UV stable top coat) is really the best way to keep things from failing in the future.

 

[woodworm]

Surely the paint is there to protect the poles from the rust. Honestly, if they think that's acceptable 30 miles from the coast maybe they should be stating their products aren't suitable in these areas.

Not sure why they would expect you to buy another door from them now that you know it won't last.

 

[Dee Dub]

I do LOVE my EGLU coop. Low maintenance/easy to clean. As it is connected to the large run with a smaller run, I do leave the door to the coop open at all times to allow more ventilation. I've never had an issue with the coop being too hot or too cold. Between the skirts & my dogs, I haven't had any issues with predators. I know the size limits of the coop. I have 4 small hens so space is adequate. I don't need a large coop...the smaller wood coops rot pretty quickly.

Due to physical limitations, I am unable to build my own coop/run & when I purchased my items, the prices were not nearly as high as they are now (but yes...still expensive).

*I was raised on a farm...and do not utilize social media platforms.

 

[nuthatched]

Nuthatched - this is a public forum & companies selling products to this audience should be in-tune to current and potential customers, a review here is more likely to have more impact than a review on their website that they control (companies often delete or bury negative reviews). I apologize to anyone who takes offense to me sharing the thread.

Not offended, just wondering why.
You might as well send them every other thread on omlet products on here.
Byc isn't really their audience, though, most bycers stay away from prafabs.
Prefab companies make their money off of the inexperienced or newbie chicken people and always will since their products look interesting or cute. Unfortunately, prefabs are known for their issues: they're undersized, underventilated, insecure, and overpriced.
And, frankly, 2 years is a completely reasonable amount of time for any company not to warranty their outdoor products anymore.

 

[K0k0shka]

Companies that sell chicken equipment absolutely do need to read these forums, in my opinion, so they can see what the actual needs of the animals and their people are, and try to meet those needs. Manufacturers, of coops especially, either don't know animal needs, or don't care, because those little dollhouse coops and the large numbers of chickens they advertise as fitting, are grossly inadequate. And they do extra damage because they perpetuate the inadequacy among uninformed newbie consumers who buy those tiny coops and then argue on the internet about how they are "just fine" because "that's what it said on the box". Then more people go and buy them and the ignorance spreads. It's in the companies' interest for it to spread, since that's how they make their money, but maybe if they read more forums like BYC and see the pushback (which is costing them lost purchases and bad reputation), maybe they'll change...

 

[StinkyAcres]

Wow, what a rip-off. If it's not galvanized or stainless it won't last long anywhere, even if it's painted.

I honestly don't expect much out of a company that makes plastic playhouse coops.

Ditto. Make that tiny plastic playhouse coops that cost a fortune.