East Coast Outfitters
14 reviews 2017 Lower Prospect Rd, Lower Prospect, NS +1 902-852-2567 www.eastcoastoutfitters.com suggest an edit
16 August 2023 2:51
Review of East Coast Outfitters with Constructive Criticism
My recent experience at East Coast Outfitters was unfortunately far from the enjoyable outing I had anticipated. While I appreciate the opportunity to explore the waterways with their kayaks, there were several significant issues that marred the experience and left me quite dissatisfied.
Upon arrival, we were greeted by an individual who introduced himself as John, claiming to be 82 years old. While his age is of little concern, the hour-long delay we experienced before even setting foot in the water was quite frustrating. It seemed that his pace and approach to customer service were far from efficient.
One of the most concerning aspects of the experience was John's insistence that we remain in our kayaks for the entire two-hour rental duration, claiming that there was no suitable location for disembarking. This was quite misleading, as we were able to find a nearby beach in less than 30 minutes, where we spent 45 minutes swimming and enjoying the surroundings. John's inaccurate information severely limited our experience and enjoyment.
Furthermore, John's insistence on knowing our intended kayaking destination was perplexing. When we mentioned our usual spot, he adamantly denied its existence and provided false information about its accessibility. Only after involving his manager did he change his stance and offer some guidance.
The lack of effective communication and professionalism was apparent throughout the encounter. John's prolonged speeches, irrelevant anecdotes, and condescending attitude not only delayed our start time but also led to unnecessary frustration. His disregard for our schedule and interests was disappointing, as we were looking forward to a seamless and enjoyable experience.
Safety is of paramount importance in such activities, yet we were not provided with proper safety instructions. Instead, we were subjected to unnecessary comments about our experience level and athleticism. It was evident that John's approach could have been greatly improved by focusing on thorough instructions rather than insults.
Furthermore, the equipment provided did not meet reasonable standards. The kayaks appeared old and of poor quality, and the gear seemed unhygienic and ill-maintained. A broken rudder cable and a cracked paddle were further indicators of neglect in their maintenance processes.
On a positive note, the interaction with a young man named Jason highlighted the potential for a more positive experience. Although he was not given the chance to contribute fully, his efficiency and professionalism were evident. Had he been involved in the check-in process, I believe our experience would have been significantly better.
In conclusion, my visit to East Coast Outfitters was regrettably marred by poor customer service, inaccurate information, and inadequate equipment. The dismissive attitude and lack of attention to customer needs left a sour taste in what should have been an enjoyable outing. I would hesitate to recommend this establishment to others, as the issues I encountered should be addressed for the betterment of future patrons' experiences.
My recent experience at East Coast Outfitters was unfortunately far from the enjoyable outing I had anticipated. While I appreciate the opportunity to explore the waterways with their kayaks, there were several significant issues that marred the experience and left me quite dissatisfied.
Upon arrival, we were greeted by an individual who introduced himself as John, claiming to be 82 years old. While his age is of little concern, the hour-long delay we experienced before even setting foot in the water was quite frustrating. It seemed that his pace and approach to customer service were far from efficient.
One of the most concerning aspects of the experience was John's insistence that we remain in our kayaks for the entire two-hour rental duration, claiming that there was no suitable location for disembarking. This was quite misleading, as we were able to find a nearby beach in less than 30 minutes, where we spent 45 minutes swimming and enjoying the surroundings. John's inaccurate information severely limited our experience and enjoyment.
Furthermore, John's insistence on knowing our intended kayaking destination was perplexing. When we mentioned our usual spot, he adamantly denied its existence and provided false information about its accessibility. Only after involving his manager did he change his stance and offer some guidance.
The lack of effective communication and professionalism was apparent throughout the encounter. John's prolonged speeches, irrelevant anecdotes, and condescending attitude not only delayed our start time but also led to unnecessary frustration. His disregard for our schedule and interests was disappointing, as we were looking forward to a seamless and enjoyable experience.
Safety is of paramount importance in such activities, yet we were not provided with proper safety instructions. Instead, we were subjected to unnecessary comments about our experience level and athleticism. It was evident that John's approach could have been greatly improved by focusing on thorough instructions rather than insults.
Furthermore, the equipment provided did not meet reasonable standards. The kayaks appeared old and of poor quality, and the gear seemed unhygienic and ill-maintained. A broken rudder cable and a cracked paddle were further indicators of neglect in their maintenance processes.
On a positive note, the interaction with a young man named Jason highlighted the potential for a more positive experience. Although he was not given the chance to contribute fully, his efficiency and professionalism were evident. Had he been involved in the check-in process, I believe our experience would have been significantly better.
In conclusion, my visit to East Coast Outfitters was regrettably marred by poor customer service, inaccurate information, and inadequate equipment. The dismissive attitude and lack of attention to customer needs left a sour taste in what should have been an enjoyable outing. I would hesitate to recommend this establishment to others, as the issues I encountered should be addressed for the betterment of future patrons' experiences.
14 August 2023 14:04
Went for my third tour with ECO today. As always, excellent venue, friendly and helpful staff, experienced and capable guides, good equipment. Thanks to Adam, John, and the friendly office staff.
12 August 2023 8:37
We loved the sunset kayak tour! The booking was simple and staff was happy to accommodate us. John is a great guide who was happy to share his experience as well as interesting stories. We’d definitely do another trip with ECO.
11 August 2023 18:54
We have had nothing but great experiences with East Coast Outfitters, renting, joining their evening sessions and BBQ, skills training and Sea Kayak Re-entry and Rescue Clinic.
We rented a few different Kayaks on different occasions asking for information and traits of the various boats with a hope of purchasing the correct boats for ourselves first time. Adam was a great source of information and was very happy for us when we found some good second hand boats.
After our purchase they all continued to be extremely friendly and helpful even though we were no longer renting their equipment. We have joined them on a few occasions now with our own equipment and hope to continue the relationship long into the future!
We rented a few different Kayaks on different occasions asking for information and traits of the various boats with a hope of purchasing the correct boats for ourselves first time. Adam was a great source of information and was very happy for us when we found some good second hand boats.
After our purchase they all continued to be extremely friendly and helpful even though we were no longer renting their equipment. We have joined them on a few occasions now with our own equipment and hope to continue the relationship long into the future!
23 October 2022 23:42
The area is absolutely gorgeous and such a nice place to paddle. The man working the day we went, though, was snippy and unhelpful. Most of our group had never been out before or had minimal experience and he gave zero instruction while making us feel we were wasting his time getting set up and brought in at the end of our paddle. Another group was trying to converse with him and he was the same with them, so I know it wasn’t personal to us. I’m hoping he was just having a bad day but it tainted the experience for sure.
24 September 2022 4:57
Adam is a great guide and the tour was a ton of fun! This is a must if you are visiting the area for sure.
04 September 2022 21:03
Amazing place to kayak and excellent outfitters. Equipment was in great shape too. You cant go wrong!
22 August 2022 8:45
Beautiful area to explore. Lots of different equipment to pick from, from single kayaks to double. Our guide took the time to explain the benefits and cons of both to us, which was a lot of help.
Not sure if we caught him on a bad day, but our guide seemed quite grumpy.
Not sure if we caught him on a bad day, but our guide seemed quite grumpy.
11 August 2021 13:34
Amazing guides and staff! Amazing place to paddle! I look forward to going here every year! If you haven't been you need to check it out!
29 April 2021 23:15
I have been launching from right beside ECO for years now, small spot my old man showed me. I always leave a note saying when I intend on returning and tip for awesome people inside. Really gives me an added level of comfort when i'm out there. If I take longer than noted I ALWAYS receive a call within an hour or so of the Estimated return time.
Extremely friendly and helpful individuals. Although I haven't taken one of their tours, I want somebody who's knowledgeable and concerned for our safety and that's these guys. If you want to paddle beautiful closed and open ocean safely, this is the spot.
Extremely friendly and helpful individuals. Although I haven't taken one of their tours, I want somebody who's knowledgeable and concerned for our safety and that's these guys. If you want to paddle beautiful closed and open ocean safely, this is the spot.
16 April 2021 17:18
Love, love, love ECO. Feel extremely lucky to have this near Halifax. A great escape from the city.
09 March 2021 7:33
This is the best kayaking spot. 20 km from Halifax on the beautiful road to Peggy's Cove. Stop at Shad Bay restaurant for Chowder.
29 March 2020 16:49
Absolutely wonderful half-day kayaking tour. Wish we were still there. Friendly tour guides, the water was beautiful. When can I come again? Not soon enough.
22 June 2019 3:22
Went here for the sunset tour and bbq for my bachelorette party (almost 5 years ago). We all had a blast and it was such an amazing time that I recommend it to all my friends. I had even arranged a group of ppl from work to go one day. Always a great time <3