This will be comprehensive as I will discuss every point so far in my experience. (apologies in advance)
I placed my order and didn't hear anything for 4 days other than confirmation of order. I called on the 5th day to ask if it's shipped. The automated phone menu was easy to navigate and the customer service rep looked my order up and said it was going out that same day and it'll take maybe 3 days from eastern Canada to Los Angeles which is really fast. A few hours later I got an email confirming shipment via UPS international.
Throughout the next couple of days I got regular updates from UPS confirming shipment, receipt of package, clearing customs, and then driver out for delivery. Upon delivery to my house, UPS and A2Z both sent me emails confirming delivery. It was delivered on time on the date promised.
The item came in a cardboard box with tape securing the edges. It was a little crushed but not that bad and much better than expected from a package that traveled so far. The charger cord extension was wrapped in bubble tape on both ends to cover the plugs and it had 4 velcro straps on the straps to keep it wrapped up.
Initial impressions was that the item is very heavy in weight. The cord itself is very thick and solid. The plug that goes into the wall charger is standard feeling plastic, not any different from what any other charger plug feels like.
The other end that goes into the car however, felt like it was premium material. The cover is white plastic with a shine and looks like one of those Tesla plugs and it also has a rubber cap that is attached to the cord so you can keep it covered when not in use if you leave your plug outdoors. I keep mine indoors so I don't need it but it's good to have. While I like the white plastic cover that makes it look nice, I personally rather have it be a normal dull black plastic like the other end so I wouldn't care if it gets scratched up or if the white gets dirty or dull later and starts looking cheap, but it looks great right now!
The first time I plugged it in the car to charge, it felt sort of off when attaching to the car but I unplugged it and plugged it back in and then it felt normal. I think the plug and spring on the latch on top of the plug just needed to be worn in the first time to adjust. It works great now and clicks in like a factory charger. The other end that you plug the factory charger into was fine from the start.
I checked the charging rate and it's the same as before, no drop in charge rate. The thick cord doesn't bind when you pull it out and then coil it up for storage. I checked a few times during the charging and noticed no buildup of heat after 10 hours of charging. The attachment to the car felt solid, no wriggling or looseness.
Last night it rained. The car kept charging. It wasn't a heavy rain, but at least I know this will stand up to light rain and keep charging and not short or break.
I picked this because the price was right. A2Z is pretty well known and recommended by people on both the EV forum and EV subreddit when I inquired about A2Z. One person said the same thing, this is heavy and the alternative is more expensive but lighter and he thinks the A2Z is fine. Walmart and Amazon both sell similarly priced extension cords but I don't trust those as the brands are some weird name hinky looking cord and I need something with a track record behind it and A2Z has that with people who have used it in the EV community that I am in.
I give it 5 stars (with a caveat) but like another reviewer here said, it was missing a case which was shown in the pictures when I ordered. When I ordered it there were 5 pictures and 1 did show the coiled up cord next to a black textile zip up case. It didn't mention the case in the description, and they sell a case separately online. It just wasn't clear in the description that the case wasn't included. Now they corrected it and there are only 3 pictures of the cord only.
The other thing is that there were no included instruction pamphlet or book, not that you really need one since it's pretty straight forward... but another reviewer mentioned he got instructions with it which mentioned a case. So maybe they took out the picture of the case and the instructions which mentions a case at the same time? Wish I could give it a 4.8 or 4.5 at least but it won't allow that.
In summary, I recommend this item. It's solid. It's very heavy duty and solidly built. For the same price as some no name Amazon brand that could be actually a fire hazard or fry your car, or Walmart which is still a no name brand, might as well get something that you can believe and has a history behind it. Your house and EV are worth the peace of mind. I know I wouldn't feel good about using no name stuff being plugged into my house and EV.
