Adventures at an Outdoor Specialty Store

[Midorikawa]

This was relayed to me by my wife. This guy falls into a certain kind of stupid that makes me fear for his family. The guy in this story is a regular. He ONLY buys the cheapest of the cheap stuff that the store my wife works at offers. This isn't k-mart, it's a really nice outdoor specialty store that carries high end camping gear, climbing gear, etc. The really cheap stuff is just that: really cheap, and anyone with more than 2 functioning neurons in their brain wouldn't want. The knockoff water bottles below look like they MIGHT hold water with a layer of duct tape, and the tent looks about as waterproof as an iPod.

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CS: Cheapskate
W: Wife
M: Manager

CS: *walks up with an ad for a Nalgene bottle knockoff for less than $5* Where are these?
W: Right over here *shows him, they're under the better bottles.*
CS: *scoffs at a Nalgene bottle* Are these priced as marked?
W: Yes.
CS: Who would pay $10 for a water bottle?!
W: Actually, I and most around here swear by them. *list reasons wife and I never would buy another bottle.*
CS: *shakes head, puts real bottle back, buys cheap knockoff*

She also told me about another encounter a manager had with him (small store, so managers are salesmen, cashiers, and everything else):

CS: Where can I find this tent? *shows $40 tent I wouldn't buy for an enemy*
M: Right over here.
CS: Don't you have anything cheaper?
M: Trust me. You don't WANT anything cheaper. You really don't even want THIS tent. *shows tent he owns, and I really want*
CS: I'm a family man! I can't buy this overpriced crap!
M: So am I. I have a wife and 2 kids. I want the best for them, not some $40 tent that MAY last for one camping trip, if that.
*CS buys $40 tent and leaves in a huff*

[chainedbarista]

he kind of sounds like my dad, but my dad actually bought middle of the road gear (was cheap with other stuff though).

i bet trips with him are beyond fun...

[Magpie]

Seriously? He doesn't have the money for that? I don't have the money for $40 tents. Buying disposable stuff is almost always more expensive .

[Shalom]

*CS shakes head, puts real bottle back, buys cheap knockoff*
*CS buys $40 tent and leaves in a huff*

And then he's going to be grumbling all through the resulting disaster of his trip with the rain dripping on his nose through the cheap tent and the water bottles leaking all over the place. "That damn store, nothing they sell is ever any good, I shoulda gone to Kay Mart..." You know it, don't you.

[underemployeed]

I truly believe you get what you pay for, I tend to by cheaper stuff but I have no expectations of it being grand, it is just what I care to afford right now. However, some things you really should just spend a little bit extra and get something that is going to last significantly longer, else your going to spend more money than just doing it right the first time.

Exception the $5 knife I picked up at walmart 6 months ago and think I lost at my friends house, luckily i bought a backup. I have a habit of outright losing knives after 6-15months. Think one was stolen but at any rate, why by something expensive when I know it is a matter of time before it is gone. Do have a $100ish SOG but its a tactical knife that really isn't the legalist to carry all day especially at work. Compared to a standard "tool"

[CruiseShipGirl]

CS: Who would pay $10 for a water bottle?!
W: Actually, I and most around here swear by them. *list reasons wife and I never would buy another bottle.*
CS: *shakes head, puts real bottle back, buys cheap knockoff*

When I first started working at my outdoor adventure store, I balked at some of the prices as well. Now I only have Kleen Kanteens and Nalgene. Even my toddler uses Nalgene sippy cups.

I brought cheaper ones, and they didn't last, leaked or both.

I can relate on the tent thing. At least my store doesn't even sell a tent for under $100 - not even a single person one. We only get customers who walk out when they see our prices.

[Android Kaeli]

I tend to buy cheap stuff as well but if I'm going on camping trips, I want something that's going to last me longer then just a trip to my car and back.

[BlaqueKatt]

Seriously? He doesn't have the money for that? I don't have the money for $40 tents.

damn my tent is $150 and sleeps one person-however it does only weigh 3 pounds, straps to my bike, and uses my bike frame instead of poles....

[Irving Patrick Freleigh]

I used to use a Nalgene water bottle. Then I got a cheapy metal water bottle from the swamp for about 5 bucks.

It's got an assortment of small dents and the design on the outside has worn off from repeated washings, but it's held up just fine and it keeps my drink cooler than the Nalgene bottle ever did.

I've been eyeing up Sigg water bottles at Target, but they're expensive for what they are (25 bucks for a bottle only slightly larger than my current one) and I don't like the patterns and colors they come in.

[protege]

damn my tent is $150 and sleeps one person-however it does only weigh 3 pounds, straps to my bike, and uses my bike frame instead of poles....

I'm not sure what my ancient dome tent cost. But it too weighs very little. It's since been modified with heavier zippers, and a plastic underlay. It's supposed to sleep 3, but it's a bit too small. Even so, it's roomy enough...considering I'd usually strap my 'pack to a tree

You don't always get what you pay for though. Many times, I've found that the 'freebie' water bottles from the car show (thanks Subaru!) work just as well as the more-expensive ones. If they don't, they get recycled.

[Midorikawa]

I used to use a Nalgene water bottle. Then I got a cheapy metal water bottle from the swamp for about 5 bucks.

I've managed to kill 1 nalgene bottle in all my years of exploring the outdoors. Dropped one off a 30' cliff. Picked it up at the bottom, knocked the dust off, and used it until I lost it in a move. The one I killed, I used daily for 2 years, dropped it down a 200' incline in a mine, dropped it down a 50' shaft, and eventually destroyed it by the cap rubbing up against the walls of caves and mines for 2 years before finally giving up the Ghost. Between the wife and I, we have 4 Nalgene bottles, and use them daily. They're the best water bottle I could buy, and will never buy anything else again.

[Cat]

damn my tent is $150 and sleeps one person-however it does only weigh 3 pounds, straps to my bike, and uses my bike frame instead of poles....

Nice!! I'm looking to find a nice lightweight tent. I *may* splurge and get a Hennessy Hammock with my year-end dividens..but using a bike frame instead of poles is really a nice feature. The bf and I have a tent, but it's heavy...good for car camping, but no extended hikes

I have quite a collection of bottle, some Nalgene, some metal. Most were gifts

Speaking of "pricey" outdoor gear, EMS and REI are havin sales this weekend...I made need to shop. Not that I "need" anything....

[Magpie]

damn my tent is $150 and sleeps one person-however it does only weigh 3 pounds, straps to my bike, and uses my bike frame instead of poles....

Not sure if you missed my point, but what I was saying is that I can more easily afford a $150 tent than a $40 one, because it would cost a lot more to buy a new $40 tent every time the old one died. And any extra costs that would be incurred by having a cheap tent.

[crashhelmet]

I'm going on a big camping trip in August, so I'll be depleting part of my bank account on gear soon.

OP, your manager needs to be careful about disparaging the product you sell. In some places there are laws against it, not to mention you never know when someone who works for the manufacturer may be in there.

CH

[Midorikawa]

I'm going on a big camping trip in August, so I'll be depleting part of my bank account on gear soon.

OP, your manager needs to be careful about disparaging the product you sell. In some places there are laws against it, not to mention you never know when someone who works for the manufacturer may be in there.

CH

This isn't my manager. My wife works at the store, not me.

As for this environment, this guy's a regular old cheapskate, during a quiet part of the day. The only other people there besides cheapskate was staff. As for laws against it, I have no idea, and only relayed what the wife told me. :-)