Wise, or Unwise?

--Ran across what appeared to be a commercial DPM smock today, made by "Survival Aids." They wanted $20.00 for it, and I felt that this was too much, so I passed it up.

Was that a mistake?

If that's the brand smock I'm 99% sure I think it is, you should go back for it, especially if it's one of the older windproof type with the big green cold weather buttons, at that price. Survival Aids had a really nice windproof back in the day, a friend of mine has one, and won't part with it for anything.

And if you absolutely detest it, let me know -- I'm one of the resident DPM fanatics.

That's why I asked.

Left the phone at home... which I almost never do...

Grrrr...... thanks for the head's up.

(And no, I don't detest-- it is a matter of having made some bad decisions in the past. Seems like I just go the wrong way at the wrong time, sometimes).

--Dan

No worries mate, things happen! Case in point -- I'm still beating myself up for passing on a set of almost brand new Rhodesian camo trousers that were being sold for $20 at my local surplus shop back in early 2006.

I was still fairly new to collecting then, and had no idea what they were. Now that I know, I've been cursing myself ever since... and good luck finding Rhodesian camo for that price these days, especially in that condition!

.FAIL

Somebody snatched it up. =[

Oh well. Another day...

Back in the day, Survival Aids made an excellent gaberdine smock. They also made a version in Ventile. Either would have been a good buy for $20.

Bad luck this time but at least you know for next .......

Dave

I think it is time to adapt a new policy for items this inexpensive... buy it, then figure out if you want to keep it. Or as I think of it, "buy now and regret later" instead of "hesitate now and regret later". The logic behind this is that if you purchase something that turns out to be uninteresting, you can always sell it and recover your money to some extent. If you don't purchase it, find out it was something interesting, but now it's sold... you're out of luck. No recourse.

Now, if the item is expensive (and I mean in general monetary terms) you might want to hesitate. Spending $200 on a smock that someone swears is special issue only to find out it is a $35 commercial item... yeah, not cool. But $20 is pocket change for uniform collecting. At that price you could possibly sell it for twice that on eBay even if it is 100% commercial. Or if it's your size, and it's not worth much, wear it as a beater.

Just some advice from a guy who used to have regrets, but for the last 15 years hasn't had hardly any

Steve

Dude... I know. Really, I know. I totally know. I KNOW this.

I have three regrets; one was a folding Beretta bayonet (twenty bucks), a Chinese DPM boonie hat (in red-- WTF? RED?!), and now this.

I know.

It is just those times when the question arises, and you make the wrong decision.

It happens.

But, let's us be frank for a second-- I am NOT the same sort of collector as you, Steve. I am an amateur. It is only by these failures that I can ever hope to become pro. Still sucks, tho'.

Grrr.

My policy is if its cheap as said above buy it,either as cheap everyday wear,for the collection or to sell on or trade,only downside of this is in the last 20 years or so i have now got to the stage that i probably have more stuff than some surplus shops

I think just like steve .


owen

Lesson learned-- this time.

Everybody starts out somewhere, and EVERYBODY makes mistakes. Most "pros" still make a Homer Simpson sound at least once and a while The "buy it and then worry about it" philosophy has caused me to purchase some real CRAP from foreign countries and then cause me to spend more in postage to get it back to the US than it was worth. But I'd rather have a few of those boo-boos a year than to pass up on a single item I might later regret not landing.

The great thing about Forums like this is we can learn from each other quicker than we can learn on our own. Tips and tricks aren't usually covered in books

Steve

No, I've learned more here in two weeks than I ever did thumbing through very expensive coffee table books (which are still cool-- not really slagging on books).

--And even though I sounded a little cranky, I really do appreciate the advice. Thank you all for the help.

=] (winning is good)

I always fancied a survival aids smock , To expensive for me :-S