Gift Warning: Pocket Hose an Out-of-Pocket Bust

It was supposed to fold up all bright green, cute and practical and out of the way. It was fun the first time it filled with water and grew to 50 feet, so much better than the old standard boring green garden hose. 

But for me, the Pocket Hose  became an out-of-pocket hose, a waste of space. How many of you have bought the highly touted Pocket Hose? How many had luck with it? 

There was a big display of them at Bed, Bath and Beyond over the summer and for $20, I couldn't resist. It looked cool, portable, practical. After three uses, mine began shooting water out the middle, not the end. Useless.

I finally took it back to the store this weekend. I'd put it off because I no longer had the receipt. They started laughing when they saw me coming. 

"Have other people had problems?" I asked.

"Yours looks like it's in the best shape of any we've seen recently."

Lovely. 

They were flying off the shelves during the summer and one BBB employee told me it was their most successful product. What a difference a few months makes. They no longer carry them. 

I first asked for an exchange, because I feared mine was the only one. I had paid in cash and didn't keep the receipt, so they just gave me a $21 store credit, which was fine with me. 

What's been your experience? 

Here are some reviews I wish I'd read on Amazon: 

1.0 out of 5 stars Two hoses burst on first use, February 6, 2013By Lynn Hock (MENLO PARK, CA, US) -I bought 2 - 50 ft pocket hoses. The first hose blew out the second time I used it and the second hose blew out the 1st time I used it. I was only using it to water my flowers. I tried to get a refund and they wouldn't give me it to me but would send me another hose. If 2 hoses blew out right away there has to be something seriously defective with them. I wanted my money back. I finally had to get VISA involved. They agreed with VISA that they would refund me the money for the hose AND would repay the shipping fee ($11.75) so I could send the hoses back to them. They did refund the money for the pocket hose but did not pay me for the shipping fee. When I called they absolutely refused to pay for the shipping even though their manager promised VISA. I never followed up with VISA because it was just taking up too much of my time.

Piece of JUNK!, February 19, 2013By David S. Neroda "Grandpa Duck" (Phoenix, AZ) It wouldn't let me rate this as "NO STARS" so I had to put one star on it. ZERO STARS is the correct rating. This product should be banned from sale to anyone! It is a worthless piece of equipment that leaks upon first use from both ends of the alleged "hose". It wouldn't even make a good "soaker" hose as the water never reaches the body of the hose. Do not waste your money on this product! It does not work any where near close to what is advertised. Run away from this product!

 leaks, February 23, 2013By LOCO "blackcat72" (Union City, CA) I should have listened to the other reviewers..but didn't. Hose leaks where it connects to the faucet and also leaks at the nozzle connection - got me wet on a cold day. Totally useless. I thought it was like the Rumford hose..but I was wrong. Stick with the Rumford....not a single leak.