Oversold stories (was) RE: [at-l] Goretex - a scam?

[greyowl at rcn.com (greyowl@xxxxxxx)]

The most oversold story out there.  It is easy "Cotton 
Kills".  Never was any evidence though one time my t-shirt 
got wrapped aound my neck.  Cotton doen't kill STUPIDITY 
KILLS.  You can carry all the high tech equipment in the 
world and still freeze to death.  More people have died 
climbing Denali than has ever died on Mt. Washington, and 
none of the former were wearing cotton.  Rumor has it that 
the slogan Cotton Kills was a brain child of GoreTex.

Grey Owl


---- Original message ----
>Date: Mon, 14 Jul 2003 09:58:57 -0400
>From: William Neal <nealb@midlandstech.edu>  
>Subject: Oversold stories (was) RE: [at-l] Goretex - a 
scam?  
>To: "'Jim and/or Ginny Owen'" 
<spiriteagle99@hotmail.com>, "AT-L List (E-mail)" <at-
l@mailman.backcountry.net>
>
>((This is going out in two replies since I am interested in 
two threads.))
>
>I have never thought I was the only one who got "scammed".  
I included the
>story just as an example -- mainly for newbies, wantabes, 
lurkers, etc.
>
>Now, besides my story and Jim and Ginny's, what 
other "oversold" stories are
>out there?  Why was it an oversold?  Was it at a real 
backpacker store or
>one of those discount wantabes?  This is the kind of thread 
that I am
>looking for.
>
>William, The 1,000 mile extenstion cord Turtle
>
>PS	I had someone try and sell something that I have 
forgotten what it
>was.  He was going on about how great it was and how many 
people bought it
>and loved it.  
>
>The store sold lots of outdoor stuff (camping, running, 
etc.) and had great
>prices.  And was handy for my shopping that day and that 
near my take-off
>date.  So I was prepared to buy a lot.  And even to replace 
a couple of
>high-ticket items.
>
>I had mentioned that I was hiking the AT.  Then this person 
tried selling me
>either a stove or a light or something that a state park or 
commercial
>camper might find handy  -- it was electrical.  I already 
knew it was a
>wash-out, but a nice couple pipped up and said "But he'll 
need to go across
>the parking lot to ACE and get a 1,000 mile extension 
cord."  
>
>All three of us ended up laughing and the salesperson stood 
there as if they
>did not know why.  Some are just greedy, and some are 
clueless.  I think
>this person was an ethusiastic clueless.  Either one is a 
danger to your
>pocketbook.  
>
>Since then, I have never bought on first sight.  Even if it 
is a "Today
>only" special sale!  Better to spend a bit more later than 
to end up with a
>down filled sleeping bag with built-in heater and air 
conditioning and
>vanilla scenting that requires a 1,000 mile extension cord 
that is ON SALE
>TODAY ONLY!
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Jim and/or Ginny Owen 
[mailto:spiriteagle99@hotmail.com]
>Sent: Sunday, July 13, 2003 3:43 AM
>To: nealb@midlandstech.edu; at-l@mailman.backcountry.net
>Subject: [at-l] Goretex - a scam?
>
>
>William wrote:
>>Sort of like the Emperor's clothes?
>>
>>QUERY: What other BRAND NAME items do y'all consider 
Emperor's clothes?
>>
>>Speaking of which: When I planned my AT hike, I was sold 
some junk from a
>>pretty reputable store.  Turns out the sales person was a 
relative of the
>>family who owned that outdoor store and several other 
retail businesses.
>>
>>One of the junkers was a multi-task knife.  I sent it home 
at Suches.  Used
>>a couple of GI can openers that a trail-magic friend gave 
me.  And a
>>plain-jane big knife: I think it was my pig-sticker knife 
or an old
>>butcher's knife.  Did better than the big fancy brand name 
knife.  And
>>handled more chores than the brand name would have.
>
>
>Yep - so do you think you're alone?  Go read Trailjournals - 
one of the guys
>
>wrote about how he had to completely re-equip at Neels Gap 
because of the 
>HEAVY crap that his local outfitter had sold him.  One of my 
partners in '92
>
>did the same thing.  A LOT of people have been caught the 
same way - that's 
>one of the major reasons why Walasi-yi has survived all 
these years.
>
>LOL!!!  A few years ago Ginny and I were in a large 
outfitters store in 
>Tucson and the manager was trying to sell an 8# tent to a 
customer on the 
>theory that if he split it with his wife, it was "only" 4# 
each.  He about 
>had a cow when Ginny and I interfered with his sale, telling 
the customer 
>that a 4# tent would equate to 2# each if they split the 
load - and he could
>
>carry it himself if he were alone.  Duh.
>
>We've spoiled more than one sale like that.  But not 
everyone gets the idea 
>that lighter is better.  Some people, including too many 
outfitter 
>personnel, still think the 70# pack is "necessary."
>
>Walk softly - and lightly,
>Jim
>
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