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The Dangerous Art of Buying 2nd hand tents..........

lol

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Sitting here whilst the weather closes in (snow, wind, cold...you know:snow-wink:) I thought I'd relate my recent experience in trying to find a tent......

I have been searching for a Blacks of Greenock Good Companions Major for a while now.......I have one with extended fly and am a huge fan of these aged tents of various sizes. However I am searching for a better condition extended fly than mine currently has, and I appreciate it may be a long search.....

Anyway one of the long standing ads has been on a site ending in .."loved" and is quite specific and detailed.....I think. But the responses have, quite often, been somewhat bizarre:alien1:, most commonly a message pings to me along the lines of,
"what do you want to pay?" That's it, nothing more. Now I hope I'm not alone in realising that that question is a question alone, and doesn't relate to any specified thing, thereby rendering it an impossibility to answer?:lol::eek:

That has happened more than once, and when I raise the dichotomy it presents me................. nothing. Zip..........
Help me out here, if I'm missing or misunderstanding something?:confused:

More recently, I had a couple of more hopefully constructive responses, one of which asked for an email address to send photos and details..................weeks later, nothing again. Even despite messaging through the portal. Nothing

Yet another, I just cannot get ANY details of the alleged tent/fly for sale, and that has gone on for over a month :sad:

And I thought it would all be so simple, along the lines of,

"I have x for sale, condition so and so, and want y for it. This is what it looks like, and this is what (if anything) is wrong/missing/damaged"
Exchange agreed amount, and deliver. Simples. Have sold a couple of tents myself :D

Oh well, it's all an education :), Keep warm!
 
Was quite lucky on my adventure on second hand tents managed to get 8 Vango Force Ten Tents for free the two pictured have just been re-waterproofed
Vango force 10.jpg
 
Aaaargh! Just recently sold one (under strong advice!:whistle:) that I had only just bought and it was SUPERB....mint and a brilliant design:fedup::crying: :poo:

...and you get eight? I must change my soap....................
 
Vango Force 10 tents are brilliant.
I have used them in horrendous weather conditions and they have not let me down.
Clive
 
Hi Rob

Take a gander at these 2 Backpacker Kestrel III tents of mine. Both have to be pre 1980....
They are bomb proof.... 4 seasons / high tech - quick drying ripstop material.

Once had to spend 4 days in one in the mountains <Drakensberg, google that> when the mist rolled in... Mist turned into buffeting winds and rain squalls... Not a drop and not even a murmer of "getting near my limits here".....

Wonder if backpacker got their design from them?
 

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A Good Companion Standard with extended fly has just sold on ebay for...…….£220 !!!!
 
Just a suggestion, but would it be worth finding a decent seamstress/ tailor and ask them if they know anyone talented to make you one from a pattern?
 
I have...……….er ……..2......Majors with extended fly.

Have indeed thought about that with the extended fly, but would cost as much as that Standard. A couple? of years ago I sold a beautiful little Standard with extended fly for £150 and that was about right....I've never heard of one going for anything like that £220, no matter how spec'd! Or any 50 year old tent?
 
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