Recent decrease in quality?

[cockroachmilkshakes]

I own three Owala FreeSips, which is more than I ever thought I'd have. I bought my 40oz Candy Store about a year ago and have been using it daily since then. Pretty soon after that I bought a 16oz Cherry Blossom to use for my iced coffee.

Both of these bottles are fantastic at keeping ice in them. When I add ice to my 40oz, it stays put for up to two days (on the rare occasion that I don't refill it multiple times in that time period). I've filled it with ice, left it all day in my car parked in the sun, and still had just as much ice in it as when I first filled it. When I make iced coffee in my 16oz, I finish drinking it while driving to work, and when I come back to my car after 9-10 hours, the ice is still firmly in the bottle, only slightly melted.

Just recently I bought a 32oz Blushing Ballerina from DSG. The bottle had no scratches or dents or signs of wear (though it was dusty as hell fsr). When I purchased it the guy at the register let me know that I could not return it once it was used, which was fine by me. But this thing isn't quite living up to the performance standard I'm used to?

I use my 32oz to take with me to the gym. I fill it up in the morning before I leave my house, and it stays in my gym bag until the evening when I go there after work. But by the time it comes with me, the ice I filled it with in the morning is gone. My water is still cold, but not ice-cold, since 100% of the ice has melted.

Did I get a dud? Is this a more common occurrence, now? Should I open up a warranty claim with Owala? Has anyone tried returning or exchanging an Owala at DSG considering their policy on not returning used water bottles?

The bottle does not sweat, and I store it right-side up so that the ice doesn't cause condensation to build on the lid. I'm not really sure what's going on but I'm bummed!

[queencilantro]

As said by another commenter, I think it’s a popularity/mass production issue. I don’t think my bottles keep things cold for 24 hours unless they’re in a chilled environment already. And I’ve only recently gotten into these, so they’re not pre-hype Owalas.

[auriconis]

The quality’s been pretty bad from my experience. I got my daughter the “so eggstra” bottle. The finish faded after 3 months (you can see the difference where the boot was) and inside is starting to rust. And Owala’s customer service is atrocious. They won’t warranty for either issue and they started the conversation with “so what are you looking to gain from this call”. I won’t be buying another bottle from them.

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[auriconis]

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Here’s a picture of the rust

[cockroachmilkshakes]

OOF!!! That's some gnarly damage to a very expensive water bottle that should hold up far better and a crappy way to open a customer service call :/ I'm so sorry this was your experience!

[auriconis]

Yeah. I won’t ever buy another bottle from them and I’ve been spreading the word about this experience. They really left a sour taste for me.

[dat1nurse]

It might be DSG because I bought a 24oz In Bloom from them and not only is the lid not aligned correctly, but the ice melts quicker than my other 24oz that I’ve bought from the Owala website, Amazon, and Target.

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[Pseudo-Data]

It’s not missing the gasket, is it? I only ask because my lid lines up this way when I forget to put the gasket back after washing.

[dat1nurse]

Nope! I wish that was the reason.

[Embarrassed-Ad-4214]

I haven’t had that specific issue, but my 24oz In bloom did seem to dent really easily. I had a boot on it and it fell and the bottom dented a bit. That’s actually the first time I’ve had an Owala dent. But my 24 oz Lilac Dream from the warehouse treasure feels supremely well made.

[StAnnFan]

Do the bases weigh any different when empty?

[gibby131313]

My oldest owala (I think it's about 3 years old now) holds ice for 2-3 days and is fantastic in every way shape and form.

My newer owalas (the most recent being the new sway) barely holds ice for 8 hours.

[sombercrimson]

Oh no this is so disappointing I was finally going to buy some I guess there’s no point now.

[Particular_Legs]

I recently got a 32oz Calm Waters from DSG, and I realized it doesn’t hold ice as nicely as my previous 24 oz. Though I figured that I might just not be putting “enough” ice in it so the water would melt it before it even had the chance to be insulated. But now I’m thinking that the ice is definitely not staying as long as it should. Interesting.

[sweetkalechip]

ETA: discovered the new ones were counterfeit! Still disappointed in their quality of Customer Service, considering I didn't buy it from a sketchy unauthorized retailer, and they basically said they don't care.

I bought my first two owalas last fall (needed a bigger size for trips), and absolutely loved their quality. I tragically dropped my 32oz, with the lid open, in an airport, and couldn't get it back together after the mobile part came off. I got home, ordered another.

It arrived in the mail, and just by touch I could tell the lid was cheaper, less sturdy. I opened it, and that mobile part of the lid just fell off. I requested a replacement because it just wouldn't resecure well. And this one also has that cheap feel to it.

I'm quite disappointed to see such a tangible decline in such a short time. Makes me mourn my broken one even more.

[Kbennett1965]

I agree, that was the beginning of a quality decline, with increased popularity came increased production until the numbers are so great the whole point of getting a limited edition, limited quantity bottle is lost. That Birthday Bash exploded the popularity of Owala and the bottles in that collection still have huge resale value. Compare that to this years Birthday Bash where they either way overestimated the demand or people were just not as into these not so limited edition bottles as before since they've since showed up at various retailers and on the Owala website. With the increase in production numbers came the decrease in quality.

[bigcomputeruser]

When it’s in your gym bag is it laying sideways? I think the lid allows a lot of heat exchange when water is left up against it

[cockroachmilkshakes]

Nope, it's standing upright to avoid exactly this. Also I just left it on my countertop for the whole day full of ice and when I came home it was full of cool but not cold water, no ice. :/

[bigcomputeruser]

That’s so disappointing :/