FoggyLog

Sat Sep 12th 2009 11:32:05: SphereMania Harness Sphereing Review

Helen and I were given a "Harness Sphereing for 2" experience as a joint present (I believe this is another name for Zorbing?). We were really excited to receive this present as it sounded fun and was something we'd not done before. It was booked through EX Element and our first challenge was to redeem our voucher. This required a visit to EX Element's website, registering etc and then in the end they sent me an email telling me to go to Sphere Mania's website and book there. So I went to Sphere Mania and registered again, selected a time etc etc and finally managed to make a booking. Of course it didn't end there as I then had to post my voucher to them (I really didn't understand why they needed me to post them a piece of paper with a number on it, which I'd already typed in online??)

As a side note I was a bit disappointed to read their Ts&Cs which seemed to suggest that if either of us were ill on the day they would not rearrange your booking and it was tough luck, however if they randomly cancelled on you it was down to you to call them within so many days and rebook. Seems slightly one sided.

Anyway we headed off to their London North site in Ware for our "roll". Initially we were quite disappointed with the hill as it was very short and the rolls were over in a few seconds. When it came to our go we realised why. The whole experience is actually pretty uncomfortable (I was on the head first side of the sphere and kept getting my head bashed every time we bounced down the hill). In fact I'd class the experience as more of a uncomfortable chore than an adrenaline filled excitement. You are quite glad when you reach the bottom!

This leads me on to the price... £55! what? why? ouch! It's stupidly overpriced! There is no discount if you want to book a second roll on the day and I can't believe someone had to pay £55 for Helen and me to have an uncomfortable ride down a hill that lasted just a few seconds.

Whilst there we also saw some people Aquasphering and that doesn't look much better. It looks more comfortable as you just sit on the bottom of the ball and slide along it as it rotates, however you get just the same experience from going to a swimming pool and going on a big water slide!

To top it all, Sphere Mania emailed me later to ask for feedback. I told them what I thought and only gave them 2 stars and strangely enough it didn't appear on their website. Looks like you need to give them good feedback, else you don't get published.

In the end we had a nice day out, as after the sphereing we went into Hertford for lunch and then went to Scott's Grotto in Ware and then a sculpture park in the middle of nowhere on the way home!

Comments (6) | Permanent Link

Very dissapointed, paid extra for the camcorder, but to find the staff were in to much of a rush to push people through they didnt switch it on, they refunded the cost but they would not give me another ride, lost all memory of our day, my advice is dont bother the service is dire.

Comment by Colin morton at 21:58 on Tue 19 October 2010

I went to a different company to do this experience and it was brilliant (Haywood Oaks Activity Centre in Nottingham) - we had to cancel our trip due to the bad weather and it was no trouble to them at all, they just booked us in again at no extra charge or effort - they were really helpful.

The staff were brilliant and the ride was really comfortable - didn't feel the ground at all as there seemed to be enough cushioning. It also only cost £45 for 2 of us so much more reasonable. I would definitely go back there and urge anyone else to do the same

Here is their website if anyone is interested

http://www.haywoodoaksactivitycentre.co.uk/

Comment by Sheila Thomas at 13:50 on Mon 24 January 2011

Re: Spheremania. Never even got to try it. Nightmare web-booking system. Wasted most of a whole day trying. Eventually managed to speak to a person two days later. Only one person there, Jen, seemed to use own initiative and common sense. Manager was just rude and a real jobsworth.

I am really glad we did not bother to complete the booking and turn up. Rather lose my fees than go through the hell of the experience with them.

Never ever want to have anything to do with this company.

Comment by Taff at 11:15 on Fri 11 March 2011

Never book with SphereMania! Customer service is appalling.

Comment by Russell at 13:07 on Tue 31 May 2011

We heard about the reviews of spheremania and choose instead to drive to Brighton for Orb360 or orbing as their guys called it - a brilliant day, apparently its the biggest venue and looked amazing. We did both types of orbing and the crew there were all really friendly and proffesional, there was a dj loads odf seating around their cool marquee and the cost was a lot less than spheremania - try orb360.co.uk i rate them 5stars and a stunning venue

Great effort chaps - loved it!

John & Sally Hammond

Stoke

Comment by John Hammond at 13:26 on Fri 24 June 2011

As described in paragraph 1.

The booking system is a complete shambles, that aside my story is just as unhappy.

We booked to go to London South on 6th Aug 2011. This happened to be the day after a huge crash on the M25 which had tailbacks of up to 15 miles at one point.

On the day it was just as bad and all of the diversions were grid locked.

We called the centre direct and got a answer phone. We left a message giving all the details and a phone number to call. No response.

We then called spheremania call centre. They were particularly usless. We were told as we had not taken out traffic delays insurance at £20 or cancelation insurance at £20 that its just tough luck!

We were then given another number to call and it was a answer phone again. Neither time did someone call us back.

This experience cost us £65 and we didnt even get to the go. Just sat on the M25 for 6.5 hours.

So thanks spheremania, for sweet F.A.

A complete waste of money. Do not book.

Comment by Si at 20:26 on Tue 9 August 2011

Add New Comment

<< Back