Hopefully I will have a better experience than this...

I am VERY excited about hammock camping! However, the customer service and quality I received with my Claytor hammock could have been better.

I dove in and bought what I thought to be a great quality hammock as recommended by my friend and avid outdoorsman. I made the $180.00 purchase of a Claytor jungle hammock. I was stoked to go on my first overnighter with my hammock. Upon set-up I noticed two things: 1- a foot long fringe near the zipper and the v-shaped hole sequence I predict was made by a mistaken sew which was ripped out and re-sewn.

My friend, who has had a great experience with Tom, prompted me to email Tom with a written description and pictures when I got home- which I did. His response was NOT what my friend thought it would be.

Tom gave me two options: 1- singe the fringe with a lighter and ignore the dot sequence as it was not a structural flaw OR 2- return it for another one.

I have now inquired three times about pre-paid shipping because the first two times of inquiring about the company paying for shipping I only received an email response with an address. I feel the company wants ME to pay for THEIR mistakes. I dont feel I should incur any additional costs to receive a non-defective hammock nor incur shipping costs to return the hammock.

With such poor customer service, unless Tom does a complete turn around, I will look the receive a FULL refund which includes shipping costs.

My confidence has run thin with this comapny. I will keep you posted as to Tom's final verdict. I am holding onto a thin piece of hope that this comapny will make this right.

Thanks for listening.

first post on HF.......too bad its super negative.....

don't worry too much...there are some great hammock craftsmen out there...it will probably take a while to find the ones that work for you anyway....

That's too bad. You should get a refund and buy a Warbonnet Blackbird. :)

i didn't mean ...don't worry at all ....just worry till you get a refund...and then get a -----> WB traveler/WB bugnet ....

Hey - I've had similar experience with a different hammock dealer named Tom. I know nothing about this Tom, but maybe he's just not good at Customer Service? It took me three months to get a response from my dealer... But that said, a lot of these folks are running the biz, making the products, trying to support a family AND trying to help you.

No doubt you are paying good money for their product, and No doubt they are grateful for that. Some folk are good at doing stuff with their hands, some are good at doing things with their voice - maybe he's just good at doing things with his hands :mellow:

Give the guy a bit of slack - try to work with him, give him the benefit of doubt; Maybe he's skimming the emails and just saw "address" - who knows -
point is, keep on trying - at the least you'll frustrate him enough to work with you to your satisfaction... :lol:

So are you saying you did not inspect this hammock upon receipt? You just loaded it up and went camping and set it up for the first time and it was then that you discovered the flaws? Not trying to be negative but it sounds suspect to me. Most people I know always pre-flight there gear when it is depended upon. Yeah too bad your very first post on HF is super negative. Great bunch of folks here and some awesome dealers too.

I feel a good company Would double check before sending it out. If I buy something brand new, I should be able to take it out and use it. I try gear before i take it to make sure I know what I'm doing, not to check for frayes or mistakes.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Subsammich

I feel a good company Would double check before sending it out. If I buy something brand new, I should be able to take it out and use it. I try gear before i take it to make sure I know what I'm doing, not to check for frayes or mistakes.

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Nah - I'd have to agree with Bondo on this - you should always pre-flight your gear, be it a plane or a hammock - 'cuz when you end up on the deck... it ain't nobody's fault but your own...
I just hope there's somebody else around so we can get some bad-azz pics :lol:

Well, I just don't see why you would sell a product that needs to be "flight tested."
Maybe it's the youth in me, but, if I buy something, it should be 100%. I want to use it out of the box, not have to double check the quality.

Agree to disagree. Regardless, don't pay for return shipping, that's shenanigans.

It should be 100% out of the box. But that is not the case sometimes. When I purchase an item at a store I check it for defects. Especially when they are manufacturing them by the thousands mistakes are made. When I buy something sight unseen via the internet I always inspect it for craftsmanship and quality. I never assume it is going to work as advertised. Maybe that's just my age showing. But I do believe that Claytor should do the right thing and take responsibility for there product and cover all cost for shipping.

Nothing is perfect. In the realm of hammocks (especially the higher end stuff) you are looking at hand crafted items. 99% of the time they will be a million times better than the production line stuff flowing out of China, but there will always be some error.

So you got a bum item. Sorry, it happens, but you cannot expect the seller to completely drop obligations to his other customers in order to accommodate you. I'm still new at all this but this is the first negative thing I have heard about Claytor, and frankly, it just seems like you are a bit impatient.

Tom seems to be having some quality control issues.

I had a JH that had a bad zipper and had to have it replaced.

I paid for the return shipping and Tom promptly refunded me the shipping once he got it.

And he shipped the replacement right away, didn't wait for the bad hammock to get back to him and the re-ship.

I'd just send it back, he can be trusted to refund the shipping.

But Tom really needs to do better eye-balling before shipping. Crocodile Sanders recently had an issue with a no net from Tom.

I'd think sucking up so many shipping costs would nip it in the bud.

I love my JH. Its worth the wait to get it right.

" As it says on the webpage, you can shipnit back, and i will refund your payment. Less shipping."

Thank you
Tom

Awesome right!?!

I do NOT recommend the Claytor hammock.

I don't think the issue is with the defects in the hammock - rather it is with Tom's negative response with regard to the defects.

When she discovered the defects is also irrelevant. Finding the defects on the day of receipt versus a few days later wouldn't have changed Tom's response, which is the real issue.

A first post is always going to be about something. Her's is negative about a particular product. In that regard it is a lot more informative than first post that say things like "Hi, I just love the idea of camping in a hammock.. Can't wait to get started. Hope everyone is having a lovely a day...signed...Mr. Rogers...."

Imagine what the first post would have been like had he responded with "ship it back, I'll ship you another and reimburse your shipping cost", or if the return of the defective hammock wasn't worth it to Tom then "Thanks for bringing a slip in my quality control to my attention, a replacement is on its way, do what you want with the defective one..."

The negative aspect of the post arises from Tom's poor response, not from the messenger relaying that poor response.

One of my first post-college jobs was an underwriter for Hartford Insurance. I was being trained to do oil underwriting in New Orleans. Part of the training was to spend a week in all the other departments.

The week I was in the claims department I went with a claims adjuster to take a claim from a senior citizen in a small town who had suffered a break-in. One of the items taken was a TV. When asked to described the item Mrs. Folger got out a Sears catalog and pointed out a large console remote controlled TV. The adjuster said fine, and add the price of that TV to the claim.

On the way back to the office I commented that I doubted she had such a TV, given the small size of the table in the living room on which her actual TV probably sat before it was stolen. The claims adjuster agreed, then said "Do you know how much it would cost for a billboard advertising Hartford Insurance on the road into that town? A lot more than a large console remote TV. And a billboard would be a lot less effective than Mrs. Folger's repeated statements to her church group about how satisfied she was with our service. We've collected premiums from her for almost 30 years. The cost of that new TV isn't the issue."

Hmmmm. Upon getting my Claytor, I set it up at home, several times, getting a feel for it. I also had some fraying nylon by the bugnet, but was and still is a non issue. Does not in no way affect my hammock. Just one of those things. Have wrote Tom before and was always quick and polite. Don't know why you received such a different response. ???


All in all, I love my Claytor. Kept me high and dry on a 2 week outing. Most comfortable nights I ever spent in the woods were in this hammock.

Claytor is not a huge hammock maker like Hennessy or Warbonnet but they do make a great product.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Meat Hunter

Hmmmm. Upon getting my Claytor, I set it up at home, several times, getting a feel for it. I also had some fraying nylon by the bugnet, but was and still is a non issue. Does not in no way affect my hammock. Just one of those things. Have wrote Tom before and was always quick and polite. Don't know why you received such a different response. ???


All in all, I love my Claytor. Kept me high and dry on a 2 week outing. Most comfortable nights I ever spent in the woods were in this hammock.

Claytor is not a huge hammock maker like Hennessy or Warbonnet but they do make a great product.

---

In addition to the fraying edge, there is an issue with an obvious stitching error. Take your hammock, make a random pleat in the body of the hammock, stitch the fold together, now pull out the stitches leaving two lines of needle holes.

Now put it up for sale on hammockforums without mentioning the errant stitch holes. Think a purchaser upon discovering the holes might have a legit complaint? I think so.

"Oops...don't worry..." isn't the right response.

If you like Claytors with frayed edges and errant stitch holes, make the OP an offer.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by nogods

I don't think the issue is with the defects in the hammock - rather it is with Tom's negative response with regard to the defects.

When she discovered the defects is also irrelevant. Finding the defects on the day of receipt versus a few days later wouldn't have changed Tom's response, which is the real issue.

A first post is always going to be about something. Her's is negative about a particular product. In that regard it is a lot more informative than first post that say things like "Hi, I just love the idea of camping in a hammock.. Can't wait to get started. Hope everyone is having a lovely a day...signed...Mr. Rogers...."

Imagine what the first post would have been like had he responded with "ship it back, I'll ship you another and reimburse your shipping cost", or if the return of the defective hammock wasn't worth it to Tom then "Thanks for bringing a slip in my quality control to my attention, a replacement is on its way, do what you want with the defective one..."

The negative aspect of the post arises from Tom's poor response, not from the messenger relaying that poor response.

One of my first post-college jobs was an underwriter for Hartford Insurance. I was being trained to do oil underwriting in New Orleans. Part of the training was to spend a week in all the other departments.

The week I was in the claims department I went with a claims adjuster to take a claim from a senior citizen in a small town who had suffered a break-in. One of the items taken was a TV. When asked to described the item Mrs. Folger got out a Sears catalog and pointed out a large console remote controlled TV. The adjuster said fine, and add the price of that TV to the claim.

On the way back to the office I commented that I doubted she had such a TV, given the small size of the table in the living room on which her actual TV probably sat before it was stolen. The claims adjuster agreed, then said "Do you know how much it would cost for a billboard advertising Hartford Insurance on the road into that town? A lot more than a large console remote TV. And a billboard would be a lot less effective than Mrs. Folger's repeated statements to her church group about how satisfied she was with our service. We've collected premiums from her for almost 30 years. The cost of that new TV isn't the issue."

---

You and rookierocker want us all to feel bad for you, and to take up arms against a vendor - what, because he wants to you pay for return shipping?
Is that really all that much to ask - especially when he's already informed you that none of the issues presented affect structural integrity of the device purchased, AND it clearly states his return policy on the website.
It's not like he's saying one thing and then refusing to do it - He's already stated his policy, you agreed to that policy by giving him your money.

It's well documented that the vendor in question is not great in the Customer Service Department. Get over it, move on - you've said your peace, the both of you, so move on.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by nogods

In addition to the fraying edge, there is an issue with an obvious stitching error. Take your hammock, make a random pleat in the body of the hammock, stitch the fold together, now pull out the stitches leaving two lines of needle holes.

Now put it up for sale on hammockforums without mentioning the errant stitch holes. Think a purchaser upon discovering the holes might have a legit complaint? I think so.

"Oops...don't worry..." isn't the right response.

If you like Claytors with frayed edges and errant stitch holes, make the OP an offer.

---

Really... with close to 500 posts you should know the value of DIY gear around here - and you really think any of that gear gets sold with absolutely zero errant stitching holes? (granted, your friend didn't by a DIY piece, but still - it didn't affect the quality of the product!)


Life's a journey, you make it what it is, and you decide how and where it takes you - ;) ~ good luck on yours :shades:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by bob2guns

i didn't mean ...don't worry at all ....just worry till you get a refund...and then get a -----> WB traveler/WB bugnet ....

---

Or a Blackbird :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by WetRivrRat

You and rookierocker want us all to feel bad for you, and to take up arms against a vendor - what, because he wants to you pay for return shipping?
Is that really all that much to ask - especially when he's already informed you that none of the issues presented affect structural integrity of the device purchased, AND it clearly states his return policy on the website.
It's not like he's saying one thing and then refusing to do it - He's already stated his policy, you agreed to that policy by giving him your money.

It's well documented that the vendor in question is not great in the Customer Service Department. Get over it, move on - you've said your peace, the both of you, so move on.



Really... with close to 500 posts you should know the value of DIY gear around here - and you really think any of that gear gets sold with absolutely zero errant stitching holes? (granted, your friend didn't by a DIY piece, but still - it didn't affect the quality of the product!)


Life's a journey, you make it what it is, and you decide how and where it takes you - ;) ~ good luck on yours :shades:

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Lol...you sound like a front man for Tom Claytor.

The issue is way past the $60 loss my friend will take on returning the hammock. I've already told her that I'll pay her the $60 because I'm the one who put my credibility on the line by recommending she buy a claytor. Unlike Tom, I value my reputation.

Look through those 500 posts and you'll see a lot of praise and promotion of Tom and his products. I didn't hear you complaining when I was praising the guy and his products.

Now that he has let me down and impinged my reputation I'm letting people know just like I let them know of my personal satisfaction with his product.

Or maybe you think this forum should be one big promotion fest for all things hammock. No negative experiences allowed to be posted, just praise and glory to hammock salesmen.

Had I read a similar post like this before I purchased my Claytors I would have looked elsewhere for a hammock. The integrity of the seller is just as important as the quality of the product.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by nogods

Lol...you sound like a front man for Tom Claytor.

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:lol: ... if only... hey, maybe I'd get paid for it... or worse, I'd be treated like ever-other-one of his dissatisfied clients... :lol:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by nogods

{...}I'm the one who put my credibility on the line by recommending she buy a claytor. Unlike Tom, I value my reputation. {...}Now that he has let me down and impinged my reputation I'm letting people know just like I let them know of my personal satisfaction with his product.

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If your friend is truly a friend, she will never question your reputation - in fact she'd know your position on the matter and reputation would never be an issue. Stuff happens -

Quote:

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Originally Posted by nogods

The integrity of the seller is just as important as the quality of the product.

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100% Agreed -

I tend to trust razor blades though I do give them a look over before dragging the sharp thing across my face and head, everything else I tend to test. It seems rather silly to go out for a fun overnighter and have that turn into a possible life threatening event because a key piece of gear wasn't checked out. I know that's a little extreme to say your hammock wasn't sewn pretty and it became life threatening but what if you got out in the middle of nowhere and your underquilt and overquilt didn't have any down in them? Ooops. and it's 15 below? OUCH!!! And your in the deep woods past the narrow rocky gorge filled with trolls that feast on blood. NOW you're in trouble. There's no going over that at night because the Goblins will tip you off the path.

So see, ALWAYS check your gear when you get it BEFORE you become a Gnome Sammich!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by nogods

Lol...you sound like a front man for Tom Claytor.

The issue is way past the $60 loss my friend will take on returning the hammock. I've already told her that I'll pay her the $60 because I'm the one who put my credibility on the line by recommending she buy a claytor. Unlike Tom, I value my reputation.

Look through those 500 posts and you'll see a lot of praise and promotion of Tom and his products. I didn't hear you complaining when I was praising the guy and his products.

Now that he has let me down and impinged my reputation I'm letting people know just like I let them know of my personal satisfaction with his product.

Or maybe you think this forum should be one big promotion fest for all things hammock. No negative experiences allowed to be posted, just praise and glory to hammock salesmen.

Had I read a similar post like this before I purchased my Claytors I would have looked elsewhere for a hammock. The integrity of the seller is just as important as the quality of the product.

---

I see no problem with what you guys are doing. You are reporting a factory defect and, far more importantly, what seems a rather poor response to the reporting of the problem. At least compared to what people are used to around here. And compared to previous dealings with this vendor by people here.

In case I am missing it: you have to pay return shipping, like I had to recently when Golight sent me the wrong sized pack. But is TC then going to refund your shipping sense it is his error, like Golight happily ( far as I could tell anyway) did for me?

And I think that obsessively checking all your critical equipment is a great idea BEFORE you get deep into the wilderness, but I'm not sure what that has to do with the subject of the OP?

He has a sub forum here that he's not responsible for and doesn't even participate in (unless he's an extreme lurker), it's been here for at least 3 or 4 years that I know of and all these people are here every day. Plus all the other things the internet has him doing.

He must be doing something right!
I wanna be Tom! :D ;)

Final verdict: This subject has become nothing but a power struggle and I am done with it.

I realize ya'll spend hundreds of dollars on hammocks and that is fine but a $180.00 purchase for me was a big deal and it came down to trust in the company. When I purchased the hammock, I trusted it would be 100%. When I found it wasn't and I had to pay return shipping for someone else's mistake I lost my trust in the company.

I feel if I am in the wrong, I am to make it right. Since the company was in the wrong, I feel they should make it right. BUt the company does not feel it was an issue.

I felt pushed into the corner: (1) deal with it or (2) pay more money for US to fix OUR mistake. I don't understand how that is OK but again, Tom "wins" as I am done with the power struggle.

Next time I will not trust in the quality of a product until I can see and touch it. One thing said, I do feel people should learn from my experience. BE CAUTIOUS. However, the cost of word of mouth may be more than Tom paying return shipping. I guess we can both Tom and I can learn from this issue.

I can see times where people would take advantage of a small business and run them into the ground paying for returned shipping on items that weren't bad or that weren't manufacturer defects. Several of the places I order model airplane parts from will have me pay return shipping then if it is in fact their problem, they'll reimburse me and perhaps that is the standard for Tom as well.

Shame your item had a problem. Hard time to find out in the field. I'm not you and don't know how I'd particularly would have handled it, but if I felt I was getting screwed I would probably have complained openly and maybe someone could have explained it better to me. Don't know. But, I guess now you do. At least we learned to always check our equipment before going somewhere. Heck, a moth may have eaten my WBBB in the last two months. And we have learned the return process on your hammock. What happens from there I haven't learned yet.

Good luck.

After having gotten treated like I did I can only conclude Tom doesn't agree that there is a problem with the hammock.

Personally, in my mind if you aren't happy he should make it right. The money lost on making right would be less in the long run from doing it like he is.

Instead of buy with confidence it is more like buyer beware and that's a shame.

The hammock should have never been shipped with the defects, case closed.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Yukon

The hammock should have never been shipped with the defects, case closed.

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tom doesn't close cases...they stay way open...


i got screwed out of about 60 bucks...so heres maybe 60 bucks of bad PR...maybe a lot more if it deflects a few prospective buyers...

DD has about the same style hammocks...they ship ultra fast..and i had no problem with a replacement tarp sent out...sent a few pics and it was on its way..

like i said before , i think he's a remote manager...things don't always get inspected it seems..



i read complaints a while ago, i think from GB, he told someone that had a problem with a tarp , if they didn't like it to use it to cover their tractor...

I would like to share ma experience with Tom Claytor Hammocks.
After I read this and the other threads where few people described bad experience with Tom, I decided put my order anyway and wait what direction things go.
I have to say I am pleased with the service (from Thailand to Czech), with shipping time (ordered/paid 10.8., shipped 16.8. delivered 24.8.) and with condition of hammocks. I bought camouflage and for a friend olive type and they both looks great. Camouflage type is really amazing. I cant wait to use it in the woods.

Overall I am satisfy with Tom Claytor Hammocks and I would recommend it.

Album: http://www.hammockforums.net/forum/a...p?albumid=2292

In all the years I have been "hanging" around this site, I have to say this is one of the few threads that really need to be capped off. Nothing more can be said to change opinions and all in all it just serves to subvert the principles on which this forum was founded. Play nice!!!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by gstepclassical

In all the years I have been "hanging" around this site, I have to say this is one of the few threads that really need to be capped off. Nothing more can be said to change opinions and all in all it just serves to subvert the principles on which this forum was founded. Play nice!!!

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It isn't about changing opinions but rather it is about sharing experiences.

This thread hasn't been a Claytor bashing thread. People have shared a wide variety of experiences in response to the OP.

People sharing both good and bad experiences with a hammock seller and that seller's products can only increase the knowledge of forum participants.

That's a good thing isn't it?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by nogods

It isn't about changing opinions but rather it is about sharing experiences.

This thread hasn't been a Claytor bashing thread. People have shared a wide variety of experiences in response to the OP.

People sharing both good and bad experiences with a hammock seller and that seller's products can only increase the knowledge of forum participants.

That's a good thing isn't it?

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Yes!

If I decide I want to order another, or recommend for a friend, one of my all time favorite hammocks- the Claytor No Net, possible customer service problems need to be added to the equation. I might well risk it any way just to get a hammock that works so dang well in general and with a Speer Pea Pod in particular and at such a great price. But I would want to know about any possible problems going in.

Some are super picky. Many are great customers. If someone can't live with/repair a one foot frenge or live with a few needle marks in nylon fabric I can't imagine the issues they would encounter sleeping in the woods for a night.:confused::rolleyes:

Where'd he go?

Lets see some pictures.

well for me.....i want my gear 100% + new + perfect....thats what i'm paying for anyway ......and then wreck it all by myself..

Quote:

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Originally Posted by BillyBob58

and at such a great price.

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thats the way it used to be...40 bucks shipped...for a nonet...

now its not much different than a WB....so why not get a US made warbonnet or wildernesslogics

Quote:

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Originally Posted by bob2guns

thats the way it used to be...40 bucks shipped...for a nonet...

now its not much different than a WB....so why not get a US made warbonnet or wildernesslogics

---

Yep, that is a big change, think I paid $15. Or actually, did $45 include shipping? Not sure, but it was far from $40. So there is no price advantage now compared to other hammocks of this type. Still, I would consider this hammock if I needed one, as it works better with my PeaPod than any thing I have tried, I think mainly due to it's narrow width. My WL Light Owl/WB BB or even my Speer are not as slick as with a Pea Pod as the Claytor. Plus the Claytor has been, for me, a really comfy hammock. Rarely any calf pressure or knee problems, good side comfort legs straight or fetal. 23 oz with stock suspension and double layer, less sag/stretch than any other of my hammocks, and least sensitive to amount of or lack of sag- pulled fairly tight or hung like a big banana, good to go. Unlike some of my hammocks where the RL length seems so critical. And all at only 10 feet long.

So, $80 now with shipping compared to $75 ( + shipping ) for a Traveler. I'd get the Traveler every time, Unless:
1: I thought the NN would be significantly more comfortable. Never tried the highly rated Traveler, but the NN is near the top for me.
2: I was looking for the best hammock for use with my Pea Pod. Though, for all I know, the Traveler would work just as good. But it is a good bit wider.

But again, perceived customer service would play a part in any such decision. But without a specific desire for the No Net, I would go with Brandon, a young man - an American manufacturer - who communicates with this forum.

fifteen bucks ???? when did you get it ....the 60's ????

i kno just what your saying ...i got a few nonets...the size and shape is what makes it float...not the suspension...i did my own redesign on that...and it cost more than the hammock itself... but i liked it..its original , and it worked.

but the reality is, its an easy design to DIY .. i'm sew machine illiterate , or i might try..but i gave up redheads and moved on to brunettes

Quote:

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Originally Posted by hang em high

Some are super picky. Many are great customers. If someone can't live with/repair a one foot frenge or live with a few needle marks in nylon fabric I can't imagine the issues they would encounter sleeping in the woods for a night.:confused::rolleyes:

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now don't take this the wrong way....but i wonder sometimes if hang em high could really be tom c. ?? the avatar sure looks alot like him.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by bob2guns

now don't take this the wrong way....but i wonder sometimes if hang em high could really be tom c. ?? the avatar sure looks alot like him.

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Not taken the wrong way but I wish,......Nope, thats Clint Eastwood from the movies. That ones from Hang em High. :D

I just like his hammocks (and a good deal). I liked my first one so much I have two spares in case one gets lost, stolen, or catches on fire.:mellow: I just mean if I can get past the crappy suspension and replace it, a few wayward freys and needle holes in nylon wouldn't bother me. Then again I get a kick out of seeing a pair of sneekers hanging from a power line.

But I might start a fan club.:)

Let's see some pictures of the issues.:shades:

I'm going to send tom a check for $147 for a Jungle mosquito hammock and fly. I know it isn't the "perfect" amount, because he really wants $150 + $30 for shipping, but hey, what's a little difference from perfect.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rookierocker

I am VERY excited about hammock camping! However, the customer service and quality I received with my Claytor hammock could have been better.

.... I made the $180.00 purchase of a Claytor jungle hammock. ... Upon set-up I noticed 1- a foot long fringe near the zipper 2. v-shaped hole sequence by a mistaken sew ... ripped out and re-sewn.

Tom gave me two options: 1- singe the fringe with a lighter and ignore the dot sequence as it was not a structural flaw OR 2- return it for another one.

I have now inquired three times about pre-paid shipping because the first two times of inquiring about the company paying for shipping I only received an email response with an address. I dont feel I should incur any additional costs to receive a non-defective hammock nor incur shipping costs to return the hammock.

---

Ok to wrap it up I sliced the Opening Post and distilled both sides.
Above is the complaint... about quality...

Below is from http://www.mosquitohammock.com/

IMPORTANT - We ship EVERY FRIDAY. ..... If you are not happy with your Mosquito Hammock, please return for a full refund (less our shipping cost). If you have any comments or questions, please email me -- TOM

I would say.. that mfg issues happen... however how far this post has gone... I am starting to align with Tom's approach... Before we talk about what is wrong.. lets see the hammock... That is a very good (put your money where your mouth is approach.. When we look at the cost for shipping vs value of the repair.. Personally I would be a bit bummed myself.. but do I want to spend x amount to cosmetic fix the hammock? Not so much due to I squeak when I walk...
TO suggest people on HF are front men to try to rabble rouse a linch mob does not help either.
I have purchased my Claytor JH from the Forum and an am quite happy with my second hand JH. Its a good product at a good price its camo and Mosquitos don't bite me... It sounds like you need a higher level hammock to meet your needs .. After getting a couple nano biners .. I am pleased as punch with how the Claytor JH works.

So why should Tom trust you that there was a mfg error till he see's it himself? What If i don't like how a Hammock lays... and want to get out of the sale? Should he bequest to the free return shipping demand? before inspecting it... what if it was perfectly fine? you may need to look at it as a way to weed out nit-picky people by having a customer put a bit of their own capital down to make it right...

We can do all kinds of comparatives.. but why is it ok once you buy a new car and find there is an issue... to drive to the dealership.. then wait for them to "fit you in" to tell you if there is a issue or not.. .
Tom's approach is no different.. I am sure you can deliver it to him by hand and save the shipping.

obtw.. the part about trolls and goblins are very good points when choosing a hammock...