pop-up requires no assembly other than "undo velcrose"

I do like that it keeps the base of the unit about 6" off the ground that is different than your typical tent - $500 worth :headshake

Whoa, where did that come from? What makes you think he made anything off those charities? Fill us in. :confused:

:sweat: :biggrinlo

The best analogy for one of these things is a shopping cart. This is basically a shopping cart that unfolds into a tent. The cost isn't just in the canvas tent, it's in the convertible cart.

Just by way of example, the smallest folding Magliner hand truck costs $299 in my 2002 Grainger catalog. The cheapest non folding wire mail room cart costs $268 in the same catalog. They go up to $400 when you get them with the good wheels. If you are just buying the individual medium duty swivel locking caster wheels, you'll pay about $20 each. So it's about $80 just for the wheels. Remember that this thing is intended to be pushed all over the city by homeless dudes. It's got to be durable. It's intended to hold lots of empty bottles and cans for scroungers. Not to mention personal belongings. It's got to be durable, otherwise there is no point. A cheap Walmart tent will break its zipper after a season or two of light use. This thing will be used every day for months, at a minimum.

$500 seems like a lot of money, but the Army would design this same tent for $50,000.

Look at that frame.

I think one of the big differences between the EDAR and a Walmart tent is that the EDAR is elevated off the ground. There must be some advantage to not having your ass lying directly on the, in many cases, freezing cold hard ground.

It's nice to be off the ground when it is wet and/or cold. Plus, creepy crawly things are less likely to come inside when you are off the ground.

See, I couldn't be homeless because of creepy crawlies. Fearless except for creepy crawlies. :shudder: ;)

WOW. Some very harsh Merkin opinions here.
Two countries divided by a gulf of immense proportions.

Yes, $500 is a LOT.
But for goodness sake, these are PEOPLE we are talking about. Sentient cratures? You know? Dogs & whales & cows & all that shite... No, people. Your States don't like them killed by abortion, but is happy for them to die of hypothermia?

Sheesh.
Get a school to sponsor a hobo.
Buy them a $500 shelter. Keep them in the drug of their choice. After all, humans are so important. Oh, I forgot, some of your States like to kill them too.

PS - we're rubbish re the homeless too, so I'm not trying to take the moral highground. But at least we have the Big Issue :rolleyes:

eh hem - see post #17 :cool:

great minds think alike

the issue i have with it is not the idea of providing tents....my issue is that there is clearly $450 of profit margin in each tent for the jerkoff in the suit and the people he has to bribe to get this through.

Ooops, pardon my tail, um, ,post.

Wait a minute, he's not making $450, he's not making anything. He's paying the $500 and giving them away. Why do you have a problem with Peter Samuelson, Jim???

he's paying the $500?

personally?

Now you're on the trolley ;)