Dropped $40 on a cheap tarp that ripped in one rainstorm

I tried to save a few bucks and bought a blue tarp from a gas station outside Tulsa last spring. First heavy rain came through and the grommets tore right out, soaking my firewood pile and tools. That cheap tarp ended up costing me more in damaged stuff than a proper one would have. Anyone else regret skimping on something that should have been a simple duct tape and tarp fix?

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3 Comments

the_anthony2mo ago

Learned this lesson the hard way too. Used to think a tarp was a tarp but after a cheap one fell apart on me I started spending a little more on the heavy duty ones.

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karencampbell2mo ago

Did you buy the silver one or the blue one from the hardware store?

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hayden_craig952mo ago

Wait, is there actually a difference between the silver and blue tarps? I always just grab whichever is closest at the store but now I'm wondering if I've been missing something. It's kinda like how people get stuck on brand names for things like trash bags or batteries when the store brand works just as good for half the price. But with tarps I've noticed the thicker ones last way longer so maybe the color actually means something about the quality. I've definitely fallen into that trap of buying cheap stuff first and then paying more later to replace it. It's like the whole "buy once cry once" thing but with tarps and random hardware store stuff.

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