Used Tents For Sale

One way you can save money on your next camping trip is to purchase a used tent, instead of paying full retail price for a brand new one. Especially if the tent has been used only a few times, you can get some great deals buying used.

Yard Sales
One place to find used tents for sale is at yard sales. Often times, people selling their "stuff" at yard sales just want to get rid of it, but want a few bucks in return. Here are a few things to keep in mind when finding a good tent at a yard sale.

First of all, ask questions. How old is it? How many times has it been used? Is it torn or broken? There's no point buying a $200 tent for $50 if has holes all over the place. You may even want to ask the seller if you can inspect the whole tent before you buy it.

Secondly, consider size. How many people will need to fit into your tent? Make sure you get something that everyone can fit into. Or you could be creative and get two tents, and then a few people could sleep in each one.

Another thing to keep in mind is the neighborhood in which the yard sale resides. If possible, try to get to yard sales in well-to-do neighborhoods, as there are better chances of getting higher-quality items for good prices there.

eBay
Another obvious place to look is eBay. Of course, eBay offers a much larger variety of items, so you have more to choose from. However, since you can't physically inspect what you're buying or bidding on, make sure you study the pictures, read the description thoroughly, and ask the seller any questions you have.

Facebook
One place that is not quite as obvious is Facebook. You can post a simple message like, "Hey, looking for a good used tent for our camping trip. Anybody want to get rid of theirs?" and see who responds. The advantage of buying from people on Facebook is that they are probably already your friends, or at least people you know well enough to trust.

A Few Other Places
Also, remember to check your local newspaper or penny saver to see if anyone is trying to sell their used camping equipment. Remember, buying locally can save on shipping costs, and it allows you to see what you're buying before you buy it.

There are numerous other websites where you can find used tents for sale. A few include GearTrade.com, Craigslist.org, and Uuzed.com.