Some moving into tent cities looking for more tent than they can afford

Some of the same Americans who overspent on their homes are now coughing up $99 of their last $100 for a tent when there are plenty of $49 tents available; more greed? Tent salesman Ned Riccio thinks so. The 19 year veteran has seen the market trend towards larger, upscale tents being bought by people with poor credit and not enough income to support such a large tent, and he finds the pattern alarming. "We have people asking for bathrooms, things like granite countertops. I have to explain to these people, 'this is a tent. There's no bathroom, no countertops. It's just got a few zippers'. Then they want the biggest one we have. People with two kids come in and immediately they're looking at the 12-Man Zodiac Deluxe made with a bear repellent Kevlar lining and with built in extension cord storage. And I'm thinking, you live in Florida? Where are the bears?"

If this trend continues, some forecasters see the bottom falling out on the upscale tent market. Economists suggest that tent manufacturers are making too many tents and eventually the tent bubble will burst. A clear sign of the top will be when people are buying second tents in vacation tent cities. One ironic consensus among economists is that, while the tent bubble may burst, the bubble tent industry should thrive due to people seeking additional headroom.