Paths, Peaks and Paddles

I have shopped and rented from this company on numerous occasions and I am very surprised at a few of the reviews here. I have never had anything but favorable experiences with these people, and I consider myself to be a discerning, even demanding customer — far from a «sycophant». One of the reviews is highly suspect in my opinion, it smacks of being from a competitor. The other, well, that is something I never saw myself. Yes, the prices are slightly higher than chain stores, but the quality of the merchandise is very much higher. The staff (Orren and Christine) are extremely knowledgeable and you will have good service on any concerns about the products you bought. Their sunset paddles at Wilson are really beautiful and contemplative in my view. As a small business they can get short handed in a rush, but a little courtesy and patience goes a long way toward having a very good experience on the water. Wherever you go, you bring yourself.

I will never return to this company because of their incredible rudeness and bullying. I can’t believe this is how people run a business. Rude when calling to make a reservation, Rude when signing in, rude getting us set up with the kayak, and yelled at us for not knowing how to properly enter the kayak. They have no patience, hate their jobs, and seem incoinvenced and burdened by the customers. My friend actually fell in the water and they screamed at her about listening to directions. She was already embarrass and now was being punished like a child while soaking wet bobbing in the water. It’s sad that the company and employees are such horrible people because the actual adventure was great.

I have rented from here a few times.
Service: Great. They set you up, show you a map, and you’re ready to go
Prices: Fine, especially if you’re up for a longer paddle
Equipment: we rented kayaks and canoes. They were fine.
Experience: I love the water. Ellicott Creek is not paradise by any means but it’s very close. Within 30 minutes from leaving home, we were paddling away from the dock and leaving our troubles behind. If we had wanted to take the kayaks to another place, we could have. But walking across the street and getting in the water is just too easy.

3.5÷5
Hubs and I took a long bike ride to «the candy store for outdoor people». Hubs found this store randomly. He was looking for a place that could supply the canoeing materials that we needed and could provide information on various places that we could «put in.»
The guy at the store was very helpful. He didn’t have the materials that we were looking for and or they were ridiculously overpriced (according to hubs.) We came with a list of 3 things but we ended up leaving with a book on the local paddling areas in WNY. When hubs questioned the guy about places to put in, he kinda didn’t answer the question.
The store rents, sells and does group paddling, snowshoeing and hiking treks. So it does seem like a locale for outdoors folk to get together.
Overall hubs was looking for a local place with info and we didn’t get what we came for. I don’t know if we’d trek out there again.