Worth the Drive to the Tent Sale?

[Finzean]

Probably already mentioned on here but the Dover Tent Sale starts this Friday at the Raleigh, NC store. Planning to take a field trip with a friend from the barn. It’s 2.5 round trip for us so not too big a commitment but, of course, there isn’t really anything either of actually “needs” (isn’t that a relative term!).

For those who have hit the Dover tent sales in the past, what are your thoughts? I love a good “picker’s paradise” type sale. But I’m not so hip on just racks of the same stuff that’s usually in stock in the stores. I’d love to find a few pairs of britches that I see in the catalog but have never seen in the Dover store.

So is it worth an afternoon? What are y’all’s experiences?

[Starhouse]

Not really, unless you go very early on the first day. The only really GOOD deals are very limited. The rest of the stuff is garbage that they ship in especially for the tack sales: cheap plastic stuff made in India and China, stiff leather tack that cracks after a few uses, cheap-y McAllister blankets, and Dover brand stuff that you’ll get for the same price during their regular sales. They also have things from their returns section that are embroidered incorrectly or something similar, but in my personal opinion, most of them are overpriced. Sometimes they have great deals on Kerrits shirts/pants, Irideon clothes, Ariat boots/half chaps/hunt coats, etc, but as I said, they have limited stock of those products and once they’re gone, they’re gone!

[Sail_Away]

I agree with Starhouse. I only live 20 minutes from a store and didn’t find too many great deals. I needed fly spray and a fly sheet and got the sheet at a lower cost but not anything to jump for joy over the savings. Still, since I was on a budget it was nice to get it lower than normal price, whether great or not.

[comingback]

I’m closer to a different Dover store, and I don’t find their tent sales to be too over the top regarding savings.

Now Rick’s tent sale…that gets me every time

[Snowfox]

I’m near the Dover that use to be Dominion Saddlery in Chantilly, and man what a disappointment after what Dominion use to do. I use to fill up the fan with my students and we would go make a day of it. I don’t even bother going anymore at all.

[melody1]

I’m not too far from the Plaistow location. I’ve had good luck at the sales. I found brand new Petries for $100, perfect fit. A friend got a great deal on Ariat Monaco field boots this fall. I often come away with a nice saddle pad or two, horse boots, breeches, and I stock up on vetwrap that goes on sale for $0.99. Sometimes I’ll find a good deal on a very lightly used or new name-brand blanket. Worth the drive if you haven’t been.

I don’t usually buy my tack from dover anyway… Better quality for better prices to be found elsewhere.

[Starhouse]

[QUOTE=melody1;7249697]
I’m not too far from the Plaistow location. I’ve had good luck at the sales. I found brand new Petries for $100, perfect fit. A friend got a great deal on Ariat Monaco field boots this fall. I often come away with a nice saddle pad or two, horse boots, breeches, and I stock up on vetwrap that goes on sale for $0.99. Sometimes I’ll find a good deal on a very lightly used or new name-brand blanket. Worth the drive if you haven’t been.

I don’t usually buy my tack from dover anyway… Better quality for better prices to be found elsewhere.[/QUOTE]

Plaistow has the best tent sales of all the locations, because they get the bulk of the returns through the warehouse in Littleton. If you don’t mind slightly used stuff, that’s your place to go. Personally I’d rather go to local tack sales where people rent tables and sell their used tack/blankets/equipment. Much better deals, bargaining power, and usually I get shoved around less.

[melody1]

Good to know! I’ve always wondered how other stores compare… I so badly wanted to stop by in Lexington VA while I was showing, but I didn’t have a moment to spare, and they have weird hours!

[superD]

I agree with comingback- I have gone to the Delaware Dover tent sales and have not had much success. Ricks Heritage of course has the best tent sales ever so I may just be spoiled.

[Simbalism]

If I go, I go to the one in Charlottesville(closest to me of the 3 in Va). It is kind of hit or miss. This last spring, I did get some good sales on a couple of fly sheets, some breeches, a halter, and some no turn bell boots. The bell boots were the best sale, no real pairs, but all basically the same for $1 each. The breeches were an off brand, but very nice quality full seats for around $20. Fly sheets were around $24. The halter(leather) decent quality for $17.

[melody1]

Our tent sale always has a ton of the TuffRider white full seats with charcoal pseudo suede, my favorite show breeches, for $20-$35. Worth it just for those IMHO!

[Nickelodian]

I had great luck at the dover tent sale in Parker, CO. Picked up a pair of ariat volant paddock boots and half chaps for 100 total for both. Also got a great deal on some other odds and ends.

[Trixie]

Sadly, never had much luck. Bought a few things like buckets, fly spray and vetwrap or whatever. I have much better luck in other places.

I have dreams about going up to that alleged Smartpak special room where all the toys hide though.

[DMK]

Dover Tent Sale - defined as an opportunity to stand in line to pay same price for inexpensive stuff that is on sale for same price many other times during the year.

And it is mostly inexpensive stuff, which is fine if you need to stock up on buckets, snaps, cheaper blankets/sheets, clothing, etc. but not if you were looking for a nice price break on that expensive mattes pad you have been coveting. I live about 5 minutes from a Dover and I go over on the last day and grab a couple rolls of co flex tape and himalayan salt bricks that are always on sale, then wander through the bins and never find much of anything I want (granted, I pretty much have it all at this point, but that is because I am weak when it comes to tack stores/purchases).

[comingback]

@DMK;7252472

Dover Tent Sale - defined as an opportunity to stand in line to pay same price for inexpensive stuff that is on sale for same price many other times during the year.

Well, that just about sums up my experience. lol

[pattnic]

[QUOTE=DMK;7252472]
Dover Tent Sale - defined as an opportunity to stand in line to pay same price for inexpensive stuff that is on sale for same price many other times during the year.[/QUOTE]

This. Though I did get a few of the Dover trunk covers last year for $20 each. Other than that, I’ve never purchased (and have never seen) anything spectacular.

If you are gonna go, go early.

[PaintPony]

[QUOTE=Snowfox;7249679]
I’m near the Dover that use to be Dominion Saddlery in Chantilly, and man what a disappointment after what Dominion use to do. I use to fill up the fan with my students and we would go make a day of it. I don’t even bother going anymore at all.[/QUOTE]

I REALLY miss Dominion. Those tent sales were awesome!

[findeight]

Once lived near, in miles but not drive time, their original store west of Boston. Drove over exactly once. Outside of store brands, they really didn’t have anything special you couldn’t find anywhere else for the same price-and they did not carry some of the bigger and more popular brands in tack I was specifically seeking.

That said, I did several hundred worth of damage in sheets, blankets, polos (had just leased my first horse in 8 years) and grooming tools…at the same price the closer, usually more expensive, store offered such basics for.

I always have liked their catalogue service for blankets and stable items but would not drive 5 hours round trip for them. No guarantee you find what you want at a lower price and that’s a lot of gas-plus lunch.

Now, if Farm House had a tent sale? That I’d drive for.

[Donkerbruin]

[QUOTE=findeight;7252639]

Now, if Farm House had a tent sale? That I’d drive for.[/QUOTE]

Right? LOVE Farm House.

I’ll be at Dover Raleigh’s tent sale tomorrow…hoping to find some paddocks for my mom.

[Nickelodian]

In Gulfport, they’d put a few items out on the sale rack every day, worked like a fly to honey for me. I just had to check that rack every. single. day.