Event Tents Sale Products and Tips

November 18, 2018 Carolyn

An event tents sale is a great opportunity to find both used and new party tents for weddings, commercial events, and even summer family gatherings.

Some manufacturers and rental companies make annual sale events to liquidate their overstock or used merchandise.

I personally like to compare the prices online on a big retailer’s website like eBay and Amazon. Both are featuring new and used items with the convenient option of reading previous buyer’s product ratings.

Although you can find many offerings on Craiglist, and other classifieds advertisement websites it’s important to know the major differences with each model and brands.

Unfortunately, picking the lowest price canopy may lead to some deception.

Also, I’ve reviewed event canopy tents further in this post to help you make an advised choice. Make sure you read until the end.

First, let’s look at some typical event tent models. Simply click on the pictures or ads to see if there are any current sales or discounts.

Octagon Shape Tent

A very good option if you intend to use round tables. The circular shape makes it more convivial and pleasant for the guest. Unlike in a rectangle shaped tent, all guests are less far from the stage, buffet, entrance, dance floor, etc.

Rectangle Shape Event Canopies

These are the most common products sold. They have the weakness of separating the guests into two groups: the ones close to the stage and those in the back.

Fortunately, you can easily accommodate the attendants by adding loudspeakers at the back of the tent so that everyone can hear what’s being said.

If you plan on using a visual support to show pictures or a presentation make sure the screen can easily be seen from everywhere.

Here are some popular dimensions:

10X20

10X30

Is Buying Used Outdoor Equipment a Good Deal?

Chances are you invested in a used car or second-hand household appliances in the past. But is it worth it for an outdoor good like a party tent?

The difference between a good and bad deal can be determined according to 3 variables.

1- The money you pay versus buying new;

2- How long\often you will use it to recover your money;

3- How much money you’ll have to invest over time to keep it usable.

The first variable is known but the 2 others are sometimes hard to predict. Especially when you buy used.

Take into account some characteristics you expect when buying new may not be as effective with a second-hand canopy party tent.

If you finally decide to buy during a used party tents sale event or from someone make sure you consider these aspects at the very least:

Poor water resistance: The PVC cover fibers dry as they are exposed for long periods to sun, rain, snow, and ice. This results in a thinner tarp allowing rain to filter through;

No UV protection: Merchants claim that their covers and sidewalls resist UV rays… only while on warranty and if used with respect to merchant’s maintenance guidelines! Eventually, the tarp will lose its effectiveness especially if it was exposed to adverse weather conditions;

Weaken structure: although most tents are made with solid steel frames, they do have weak points. Angle connectors and anchoring are under a lot of stress on windy days and may bend or rupture;

Seams, ropes, eyelets, and stakes often present signs of degradation and will need to be repaired or replaced sooner.

Finally, inspect these previously mentioned tent characteristics closely. You can then determine what components will most likely need to be change or repair in the next months or years.

Add these to the actual cost you will pay and compare with the price of buying a brand new.

Used Party Tents Sale Events

If you got time to plan ahead, giving a call to canopy tent rental companies can also help you find out if they are having a used party tents sale event during the year.

Finding a $500 used canopy party tent that is priced over a thousand dollars when bought brand new may look like a good deal.

As appealing as it might look at first, it’s better to put aside your feelings and use your critical sense to avoid deceptions.

Some companies sell used tents that have seen better days with visible defects like tarp repairs or discoloration due to weather elements.

It can be worth it, depending on the price and the overall state of the tent. Don’t forget to take a closer look and evaluate how much money you’ll need to spend in the coming months and years to keep it straight.

Carefully Choosing a Used Tent

When you buy a used party canopy tent there is usually no warranty. There are some exceptions e.g. when you buy from a rental company.

They can give you a symbolic 1 to 3 months warranty.

On the other hand, you may be lucky enough to find an individual that only used it for a specific event. This can be the best deal of both as the tent is still probably in an excellent condition.

In both cases, don’t commit yourself without seeing the actual state of the tent.

Manufacturers Recommendation and Warranty

While the used tent you plan to buy may still carry a balance of manufacturer’s warranty it may not be a good reason to pay more for it. As a matter of fact, buying second-hand also means not knowing if the previous owner respected the manufacturer’s maintenance and usage guidelines.

For example, most merchants advise their customers not to leave the tents up overnight at the mercy of strong winds. They also specify that accumulated rain, snow, and ice should be removed promptly.

The manufacturer can decide to void the warranty depending on the type of wear and tear the tent is showing.

Guidelines to Buy Your 10X20 Canopy

From experience, purchasing steps of a party canopy can look quite confusing.

In fact, many merchants don’t provide clear and enough information to make it easy to compare them with each other. Even worst, some provide contradictory information or write evasive specifications.

The following review includes the pros and cons of 2 different heavy duty party tent brands.

Note that, despite searching through the vendor’s official website, questions & answers sections and buyer’s comments, some information was nowhere to be found (e.g.: polyethylene tarp thickness value (mils) and the wind or thermal resistance, etc.).

The models featured here are all classified as “Heavy Duty” quality and are priced between $250 and $400. These prices can vary depending on current discounts.

What They Have in Common

First of all, the 3 models have certain common characteristics.

Therefore, I won’t be repeating these in each model pros and cons section to make your reading experience more enjoyable:

They all provide a good ventilation with 2 zippered doors at each end for better accessibility and cross ventilation;

These canopy designs don’t allow sidewalls to be rolled up. However, they can be removed from the structure to be used as a sunshade;

They are water-resistant and UV protected

Are These Canopies for Temporary or Permanent Use?

These units are all described as “for temporary use” by the manufacturer. A term that is deliberately vague in my opinion. It’s also somewhat contradictory given the fact that the manufacturer encourages to use it as a garage or storage.

Nevertheless, many reviewers seem to use it as a permanent facility in their backyard or as a boathouse in the winter.

The best way to avoid pitfalls is to take advantage of the actual buyer’s experience which is available on the Amazon product page. I detail some of the best advice I found in the “Lesson learn” section.

Quicktent (model: GM1102)

Characteristics:

Size: 10 x 20 x 9 ft.
Material: 160g polyethylene. UV protected, water and rot resistant
Frame: Heavy duty white powder coated steel
Tube diameter: 1.50”
Color: White
Packaging weight: 63.2kg/139 lbs
User guide: Not available

Pros:

Easy to assemble with spring pin frame and elastic ball straps.

Roll-up covers on windows to ensure intimacy and shade;

Rot-resistant;

Large church window design that adds an aesthetic focal point if used for a wedding, outdoor parties, craft fairs, etc.

Cons:

Not build to support snow.

The manufacturer doesn’t mention what is included in terms of anchoring or parts.

My thoughts: Overall, buyer’s who reviewed this product are satisfied with customer service, product quality, and visual aspect.

On a personal note, I find deceiving that this seller does not provide user’s guide for customers to read before buying while other manufacturers do. However, I believe they are willing to send it to you on email request.

Looking at the user’s guide provides complementary information as to what is included in the price you pay. It also gives a good idea of how difficult it is to set up and how much time and people it takes to assemble it.

Abba Patio Canopy Gazebo Collection (model: APGP36PEW)

Characteristics:

Size: 10 x 20 ft. Peak height: 9.4 ft. Sidewall height: 6.5 ft.
Material: 145g/m2 polyethylene
Frame: Steel. Rust-free powder coated, metal connector. 8 legs
Tube diameter: Ø 1. 5 inch
Color: White
Package weight: 132.3 lbs
User guide: Available here
Accessories: 4 x ground stakes(275mm), 36 x ground stakes(180mm), 4 x guy lines, 46 x elastic ball straps.

Pros:

Easy to assemble with spring pin frame and elastic ball straps. Bolt and nuts are only needed to attach legs to the base plates.

Window’s church design makes it suitable for events with certain decorum like weddings, rather than conventional carport square windows. It also provides lots of natural light.

Cons:

Lack of intimacy due to the absence of roll-up covers on windows, unlike Quicktent’s model.

Does not support snow.

My thoughts:

It’s obvious that a canopy tent doesn’t offer the same security as a locked garage or shed would. Still, there is no need to pique people’s (or a burglar’s) curiosity by letting them see what is inside.

Therefore it may not be suitable if you intend to use it to store valuable goods like a boat, motorcycle, vintage cars, etc.

How to Reinforce and Protect Your Canopy Structure

All 3 manufacturers warn customers that their canopy tent is for a temporary use.

As you probably know, many people use it as a permanent installation.

In spite of that, you can’t expect your canopy tent to withstand tropical storms, heavy snowfalls or ice storms. However, you can prevent it from being damaged prematurely by taking a few common-sense precautions:

Install it in a location sheltered from the wind;
Remove any snow, ice or rain accumulation;
Add appropriate anchoring;
If possible, remove and store covers and sidewalls after use or if a storm system is forecasted

Lessons Learn Tips:

Finally, consider the following aspects:

Make sure you have the right user manual for the canopy model you bought to perform all steps in correct order. Some people mention they have forgotten to add the roof cable system at the beginning.

Such details might look insignificant but can make the difference under strong wind gusts or heavy snow.

Verify that the box contains all parts including small ones like elastic ball straps.
Ensure that you have the exact quantities with the user manual.

When assembling your canopy, never leave it unanchored! Especially with the cover and\or sidewalls on.

Ideally, wait for a steady calm weather before building it or it will act like a kite under the wind!

Make sure to add proper anchoring like good quality ropes, tent stakes, and weight bags to secure your canopy to the ground.

Some manufacturers provide basic stakes but some like King Canopy don’t.

Cheap stakes are not enough to protect your tent and what’s inside from being damaged depending on weather conditions.

Use appropriate storage bags or boxes to avoid misplacing or damaging parts. Unfortunately, the shipping boxes in which the units are sent their tent unit are not suitable for storing the canopy after use.

Event Tents Sale and Rentals

Finally, renting your tents may also be a good option. Remember you will need to install, uninstall and find an appropriate storage space and repair any breakages that inevitably occur over time.

Renting is, therefore, less of a hassle and the tents will most likely be as good as new each time.

Hope you have found these tips interesting. I have covered only a small percentage of the topic and would greatly appreciate your feedback to make this article more detailed.

Would you like to know about a specific brand or canopy size? Simply leave a comment in the section below and I will gladly answer and add more information to this article based on your inputs.

♥