I’m documenting my experience with Wave Global because, from my very first email enquiry, I felt they weren’t being transparent or honest about why my order hadn’t been shipped.
As time went on, that turned into false promises and missed deadlines, and I eventually lost all faith and trust in the company.
The reason I’m sharing my experience is that I believe that if we, as customers, continue to accept this kind of behaviour, customer service will only continue to decline, and product quality is likely to follow.
Wave Trailblazer 3 O Unboxing, Set Up, Features, And First Impressions Review
After a 34-day wait (it was supposed to be shipped in 3 to 5 days), my Wave Trailblazer 3.0 finally arrived. During that time, quite a few people contacted me to tell me about the problems they'd experienced with their own Trailblazers, so I decided to record the entire unboxing as part of my first impressions review.
In this video, you'll see the complete unboxing, setup, and my honest first impressions of the Wave Trailblazer 3.0. It all starts off positively, but things take an unexpected turn. By the end of the review, I'm left sitting there in complete shock and disbelief, looking at a brand-new kayak that's completely unusable before it has even touched the water.
The experience has also left me questioning more than just the product itself. Based on my experience, I've been disappointed by the long wait, what I consider poor customer service, and what appears to be a complete lack of quality control before the kayak was shipped. If this is how products are leaving the warehouse, it raises some serious questions about the checks being carried out before customers receive them.
Watch the video and judge for yourself.
Wave Global Customer Service Review Part 2 - Wheres My Kayak?
As the title suggests, this is Part Two of my ongoing battle with Wave Global to get a straight answer as to when I can expect delivery of my Wave Trailblazer 3.0 kayak.
It has now been 33 days since I placed my order online for a kayak advertised with a 3–5 working day shipping time. In this video, I pick up where Part One left off and take you through the email correspondence to date, along with the responses I've received—or, in some cases, the tales I have been spun.
I don't think I've been unfair in how I've assessed Wave's customer service in either of my review videos. I've stuck to the facts, and every time I've dealt with them, I've stayed calm but firm. If anything, I've been far more patient than most people would have been in the same situation.
Davie (& Bivvy Bus) on the Road Again!
My van, affectionately known as Bivvy Bus, has sailed through its MOT!
After spending more than £1,500 recently on mechanical repairs and essential maintenance, including a new battery, four new tyres, a cambelt, water pump, fuel pump, and a full service, some people would probably say I'm throwing good money after bad on a 2014 Peugeot Partner.
But there's method in my madness.
I've owned this van since 2015, so I know it inside out. It's only done 82,000 miles and served as my trusty work van from 2015 until 2019, when I decided to walk away from my long career as a gas engineer. Since then, it's become my utility vehicle for day trips and multi-day outdoor adventures.
Over the last few years, though, Bivvy Bus has been a bit neglected. I've mostly been driving my automatic Kia Sportage because, with osteoarthritis in both knees, it's simply much easier to drive than a manual van. The downside is that the Sportage is thirsty, costs more to tax and insure, doesn't have much load space, and there's no chance of sleeping in it. At this stage, practicality wins over luxury. So yes, Bivvy Bus has been a little forgotten, but with plenty of TLC and a fair bit of money, I'm bringing him back to life. Mechanically, he's now in great shape. Cosmetically, though, he still has one of those common problems that seems to affect so many white Peugeot and Renault vans: peeling paint.
So, what's next?
To begin with, I'll be giving the interior a thorough valet and using it mainly for carrying all my outdoor gear. Once the Sportage is sold, Bivvy Bus will be getting a full roof and bonnet respray, which should have him looking his best again.
Inside, the plan is to keep things simple. I'll fit a cot bed and use collapsible storage boxes alongside the camping gear I already own, creating a practical day van. These days, the trendy term for it is a modular no-build camper conversion. The beauty of that setup is its flexibility. I can strip everything out in minutes whenever I need the van to carry my kayak or larger camping equipment, then set it back up just as easily for a night away. It suits my needs perfectly for now, although I wouldn't be surprised if, over time, Bivvy Bus ends up fully insulated with a fixed bed. There's no rush, though. I'll be taking this project one step at a time because I need to see how my health issues affect my ability to sleep comfortably and function in such a compact camper. For now, though, it's great to have Bivvy Bus back on the road and ready for his next chapter.
This is a rough mock-up of how I’m planning to fit out the Bivvy Bus to get started. Nothing fancy, just simple and practical. I’ll have a cot bed down the right-hand side with storage boxes underneath, and along the left I’ll have a row of collapsible five-door storage boxes, each measuring 52 by 36 by 36 centimetres. Everything else I need, including my sleeping bag, power station, solar panel, lighting, electric compressor fridge and cooking gear, will all come straight from my existing camping setup, so there’s no need to buy everything again.
I’ll also be removing the passenger-side bulkhead and the driver's side grille to open the space up a bit more, and I’ll be insulating the side walls and rear doors to make it more comfortable all year round. At night, I’ll fit thermal blackout blinds to all the windows to help keep the heat in and give me a bit of privacy.
The whole setup can be packed away really quickly, so I can maximise the space for my kayaks and all my other gear whenever I need to.
Once the roof and bonnet have been resprayed, I’ll be fitting a cargo roof tray for some extra storage as well.
To begin with, the van will mainly be used for carrying my gear and as a day van or an overnight stopover when I’m out exploring. It’s not going to be a luxury camper. It will be basic, nothing special, functional and practical... pretty much like me! 🤣