QUALITY Camping , Hiking , Backpacking and Outdoor Sports Gear at the LOWEST PRICE

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS :

GENERAL QUESTIONS THAT APPLY TO ALL ITEMS
# 1 Question : WHEN WOULD IT ARRIVE ? ..OR.. CAN IT GET IT BY _____ ?	Surprisingly, this is the most frequent question we answer. When you read the question and think about it, you will realize that YOU know WHERE you are and you KNOW what you mean by the term ' IT ' . WE , on the other hand, have no idea WHERE the item is to be shipped and WHAT the item even is. That makes it impossible to answer this types of incomplete question. You can get a good idea of delivery time by checking the UPS Delivery Time Estimate Map at the bottom of this page. When you e-mail us, always include your TOWN NAME, STATE and ZIP CODE as well as a description or name of WHAT the item is.  That way, we can quickly look up delivery time for your item(s) and get back to you right away with your answer.
How long is your shipping time ?	We ship every business day ( as determined by UPS and/or the Postal Service ) Shipments often go out the same day the order was received....depending on what TIME the order was received. Orders that come in late (after 1:00 PM Pacific Time) we process and get ready to go out on the next BUSINESS day. NEVER CONFUSE SHIPPING TIME WITH DELIVERY TIME ! Although our shipping time is usually only HOURS ... DELIVERY TIME is days. DELIVERY TIME depends on the CARRIER ( UPS / Postal Service ) and is affected by distance, weather, holidays, weekends, traffic and other factors. NO Retailer has any control over these factors...so the best WE can do is get it boxed, labeled and in the Carrier's hands and on it's way to you RIGHT AWAY....so, we do. We have placed a UPS Delivery Time Estimate Map  at the bottom of this page. You can look up YOUR location and get a good idea how long DELIVERY TIME will take.
How long has your business been on the internet ?	We have been marketing quality products on the internet for over 12 years.
Why are your prices lower than other sites ?	We have low overhead and pass that savings on to our Customers.  This also brings our Customers back for more items because now they KNOW the quality, service and low prices we offer.
I have a large family.  Do you sell items by the CASE ?	Sure do.  See our site for purchases of full CASES of products at : http://blue-mtn.com/case/index.html
I am shopping for a Scout Troop / Church Group / Club.  Do you have discounts on volume purchases ?	Yes. See our site for purchases of full CASES of products at : http://blue-mtn.com/case/index.html
Do you also sell on other sites such as eBay , Amazon or Bonanzle ?	Yes we do but prices on eBay , Amazon or Bonanzle have to be HIGHER than we can offer on our web site. eBay , Amazon and Bonanzle all charge the Seller FEES on each sale.
Where are these products made ?	Unfortunately, these items are also made in Asia. The MANUFACTURER is here in America but the actual assembly of the products is in Asia. After some research, we don't believe that ANY outdoor gear is made here in America any more.  This includes the "Brand Names" such as Kelty and The North Face. Many companies will represent that their products are American products.  That means the MANUFACTURER is here in America but they IMPORT their products too....often from the same factories as the less-well-known manufacturers do.
Do you have smaller / larger items than you show on your web site ?	We often have access to smaller capacity backpacks or "junior size" sleeping bags.  We do not usually put these on our web site because they are usually available only in smaller quantities. E-mail us at Sales@Blue-Mtn.Net with your requested information and we will tell you what we have available.
Do you have an affiliate program ?	Not yet.  We're still considering one now.
I have seen on other web sites that the size of the (whatever) is supposed to be (whatever by whatever).  Why are the measurements you show different ?	Many Retailers will simply order a few cases of items and go by the information put together by the people in charge of making a catalog.  The Retailer sells the items and moves on to something different. WE, on the other hand, KNOW the products because we have handled them every day for years and have measured them for accuracy in our ads.    Plus, we own and have used most of the products we carry. Catalog makers aren't always that concerned with accuracy.  They just want the pictures to look good and don't have to deal with a disappointed or frustrated Customer. WE WANT to avoid any disappointments or frustrations and WANT you to have accurate information.
Why don't you carry products from MORE manufacturers ?	Simple : Trial and error. We have carried products from different manufacturers in the past. "Brand Name" items sell slowly and often don't live up to what our Customer expected..for the price. "Low price" items ( also known as "entry level" items ) usually fall apart on the first or second use.  That makes a PROBLEM not only for our Customers but for us too. Years of experience has taught us that the smartest choices for our Customers (and thus, for us ) , are "upper medium" products. The "upper medium" products offer years of service, great features and huge savings over the "brand names". Remember, if we don't believe an item is good quality...for the price.... we don't carry it. We're always open to suggestions but we try and do our research BEFORE we carry any items to offer our Customers.   Yes, WE DO CARE.
I have read some bad reviews about  ____ Why don't I find more GOOD reviews ?	For the most part, "bad reviews" are written by that one-half of a percent of people that are unhappy.   Bad reviews are often a form of "venting" frustration. Additionally, MOST of the time their frustration would have been removed by simply contacting their Retailer and explaining the problem. Happy people are BUSY with camping, hiking, horseback riding or crossing the continent on their new Harley..... They don't write reviews. GOOD reviews that you see are often "paid reviews" or "compensated reviews" in which the writer (or magazine) received something in exchange for the good review.  Always consider the SOURCE when reading a review and see how the review may benefit the writer. But then.... you probably already knew that.
Do you ship to Alaska or Hawaii ?	Shipping to Alaska or Hawaii must be by MAIL.  We cannot offer Free Shipping to Alaska & Hawaii. Please e-mail us for a shipping quote that will be a REDUCED rate but not quite Free. Tell us WHICH ITEMS and include your ZIP CODE.
Do you ship internationally ?	Not at this time...at least not through our web site. We are not set up to accept credit cards from banks other than those issued by banks in the United States. We can accept a wire transfer directly into our bank for larger international orders. Wire transfer fees apply.  Contact us for information   Sales@Blue-Mtn.Net
I am just tickled with my new __________  .   Where can I write a review ?	At this time, we do not have a "do it yourself" form for reviews or testimonials. Simply e-mail us your comments and give us permission to put the comments on our Testimonial Page .   There aren't many there yet since we have not solicited any reviews or testimonials and are still experimenting to see if our Customers feel these are useful or helpful.
Are other colors available ?	No. Usually not.  If color choices are not shown on our site, they are not available. Why ?  When a product is designed, fabrics are purchased for that particular product. Obviously, textile suppliers give the manufacturers a break on pricing when they order in large quantities...OF THE SAME COLOR. We WANT you to look good...even outdoors...but don't want to have to charge you more just so we can have dozens of colors available.
So, then, what is the best product on the market ?	Whoa !  Super Simple Answer for that one : THE PRODUCT THAT YOU ARE HAPPY WITH...FOR THE PRICE YOU PAID . IF it is important to you to show your peers a "brand name" , so they can oooh and aaah about the price you paid.....our products are probably not for you. We sell good quality products that do NOT cost you an arm and a leg. Alas, but the price you paid may not impress any of your friends ... EXCEPT THE PRACTICAL ONES.
Do you have a store somewhere near me so I can look at and try on the ____ ?	We are an INTERNET ONLY company.  We don't have sales people to stand around on the sales floor nor do we have a huge showroom for YOU TO PAY FOR. Instead, we trust that you are an intelligent person that can READ the information we supply and make a rational decision based on information ...not sales hype. But...we all make misjudgments from time to time.  That is why we offer our Money Back Guarantee.
My friends all shop at ____ . Why should I buy on the internet from YOU ?	Again, if one of your main purposes for getting specific items is to impress your friends, you may just want to follow the crowd and hope the "leader" didn't make a mistake.
WHERE do I get more information about ___ ?	Isn't the internet wonderful ?   E-mail us.  If we didn't include information that is important to you, we probably should include it since OTHERS may want the same information. Sales@Blue-Mtn.Net
I want to buy SEVERAL different items.  Do you offer a discount on shipping ?	MOST of our items ( including our Combination Packages ) already have FREE SHIPPING. It is impossible for us to discount something BELOW FREE . For the large TREK TENTS, we cannot offer a shipping discount because more than one item cannot be boxed together.  They are too big and UPS would charge "oversize" penalties...thus, costing MORE money than shipping each tent separately. The exception to this would be when you order a full CASE of the lighter TREK backpacking dome tents....Then, shipping is FREE. Currently, ALL High Peak products ship FREE .
What if I have a problem ?	Contact us by e-mail right away.  We will try and help solve your dilemma quickly and effectively.
When is the BEST time to buy from you ?	Well, certainly BEFORE you need the item. Allow time for us to get it in the hands of UPS and allow UPS time to get it to you.  AND... ALLOW YOURSELF SOME TIME to get familiar with the item BEFORE you head out for the top of Mt. Everest.
I bought a ______ a couple of years ago from another Retailer. Where can I get parts ?	Contact the RETAILER.  Most manufacturers do not deal directly with the Customer.  They depend on the Retailer that SOLD you the item to interact with the Customer and take care of their problems and/or questions.
QUESTIONS ABOUT SLEEPING BAGS
You use the term "Girth" when describing the maximum size a sleeping bag will fit.  What do you mean by "girth" ?	Girth is the measurement around something.  In this case, the measurement around your chest and shoulders ( with your arms down at your sides) is usually the most important.  You will need a helper to measure your overall girth ( because your arms will be down at your sides ) .
I can't seem to get my COMPACT sleeping bag back into it's stuff sack and compressed as small as your ad says it will compress.  Did you exaggerate the compactness of these bags ?	Not at all.   Most of the time, when a person cannot get their compact bag as small as it should be, it is because they are working too hard at it. There IS  an easier way.  Please see our page for help on this at: http://blue-mtn.net/compress.html
Will the sleeping bag fit in my backpack ?	ALL of the sleeping bags we have labeled "COMPACT" will fit in the lower sleeping bag compartment of any backpack we sell. All of the SUB-ZERO sleeping bags we sell are too bulky to fit in any backpack's sleeping bag compartment and would need to be either carried in the main compartment or attached to the outside of the backpack.
You sometimes refer to "hot sleepers" and "cold sleepers" .  What do you mean ?	That is tough to define but, for lack of better terminology, the two terms mean just that. The best way to define each is to cover a few of their behaviors: A "hot sleeper" is a person that kicks the covers off at home. A "hot sleeper" tends to want to turn the thermostat down all of the time. A "hot sleeper" unzips the bottom of the sleeping bag to let cool air in to their feet and legs. A "hot sleeper" often is seen in a T-shirt while others are wearing a jacket. A "cold sleeper" is a person that cannot seem to find enough covers at home. A "cold sleeper" tends to want to turn the thermostat up all of the time. A "cold sleeper" often relaxes at home wearing a long sleeve sweatshirt while others do not. A "cold sleeper" tends to complain of feeling cold in nearly ANY sleeping bag when the outside temperature drops below 55 or so. If you are a "hot sleeper"...and you are using a 20 degree bag with a pad...and the temperature inside your tent is 20 degrees, you may end up unzipping the foot area of your sleeping bag to let cool air in. If you are a "cold sleeper"...and you are using a 20 degree bag with a pad...and the temperature inside your tent is 20 degrees, you may end up thinking you are freezing and that the sleeping bag is no good.
What makes the difference between "hot sleepers" and "cold sleepers" ?	We're sure TONS of research has gone into that one. Many factors affect the SUBJECTIVE feeling of being cold or hot when you try and sleep. Among them are: Age : Younger people tend to "run hotter" than older folks. Gender : Women tend to "run colder" Genetics :  This one is "iffy" but is seems some FAMILIES tend to sleep colder than others. Digestion :  Most of us "feel warmer" when our stomachs are full. Metabolic Rate :  Do you know ANYONE that is cold after running a mile ? Evaporation :  Of course, sweat or condensation evaporating from the skin cools the skin.
How do I know WHAT temperature rating to order since I am going to use the sleeping bag in temperatures that are expected to be ____ ?	We ALWAYS recommend that you order a sleeping bag with a temperature rating LOWER than you expect to encounter. The reasons for this are multiple: (1) You never KNOW exactly when it is going to get colder than you THOUGHT it would, and shivering through even one night is miserable.... plus, you are cranky the next day since you had no deep sleep.   You NEED your sleep if you are going to have fun the next day. (2) You THOUGHT you were a "hot sleeper" but somehow the cold, moist night air feels COLDER than the thermometer shows. (3) The pad or mattress you took is crushed and flat and does not offer much protection from the cold ground. (4) You are camping in the meadow tonight but your NEXT outing may be to the top of an 9,000 foot mountain....and it WILL be COLD there. (5) You can always UNZIP either the chest & shoulder area...OR... the foot & leg area to let in cool air.
Why are my wife's feet so cold when I am hot ?	THAT question is beyond the scope of a simple FAQ page. Maybe you should just offer to warm them up.
What do the temperature ratings really MEAN ?	As shown above, HUMANS DIFFER in whether or not they feel comfortable in a sleeping bag at a given temperature. While one person is "freezing" the other is sweating.  HUMANS experience a SUBJECTIVE sense of hot and cold. THAT is why temperature rating are obtained NOT by humans but by instruments and calculations. We think all reputable manufacturers submit their sleeping bags to LABORATORIES to obtain a temperature rating....They don't just line up a bunch of people in sleeping bags in a freezer and ask them if they feel hot or cold. SO... a temperature rating is similar to a gas gauge in your car.  It doesn't tell you HOW MANY gallons of fuel you have left but functions ONLY as a REFERENCE... to compare where the needle is to where it was ( or where you think it should be ). Sleeping bag manufacturers give you a "temperature rating" so you can COMPARE one bag to the other only.  NO manufacturer (in their right mind) can guarantee you will be comfortable at a certain temperature.  That's impossible.
Who temperature tests these sleeping bags ?	Our main Manufacturer of sleeping bags is High Peak.  High Peak uses a testing company called IFTH .  This company is used by many sleeping bag manufacturers.
Can the 20 degree bag zip together with the minus 40 degree bag ?	No.  The zipper lengths (and size) is probably different.
Are the sleeping bags machine washable ?	YES. ..but... CAUTION !  NEVER put your sleeping bag in a regular wash machine with a vertical agitator.   It will pull the quilting stitches loose and bunch up your fill material = a ruined bag. Use ONLY the large TUMBLE STYLE (front loading) washers such as you find in a laundromat. Use cool or warm water only and use VERY LITTLE of a mild detergent. Dry ONLY on air-dry or low dry setting.  When the sleeping bag is about half dry, take it out of the dryer and hang it somewhere to finish drying. Avoid the need for frequent washing by slipping into some clean clothing BEFORE you get into the sleeping bag.  This helps keep skin oils from getting on the inside of your bag and collecting dirt.
QUESTIONS ABOUT BACKPACKS
All of the backpack information pages state a "torso length" .  HOW do I measure my torso ?	See our help page at : http://blue-mtn.net/sizing.htm
What are "stays" ?	Stays are the main part of the internal frame.  They are the upright "stiffeners" that give the internal frame it's overall shape.  Quality backpacks have aluminum stays that are pre-bent to roughly conform to the shape your back.
Do you carry any EXTERNAL FRAME backpacks ?	Not at this time.  MOST of our Customers want the convenience , comfort and stability of the internal frame backpacks.
You show a backpack as 70 Liters but 5,000 cubic inches.  70 Liters is only about 4,270 cubic inches. Why the difference ?	Most backpack manufacturers include pockets when stating the capacity in CUBIC INCHES. This would include side pocket, top lid pockets, zip-off pockets and all other areas that can be used to store and carry gear. It seems the " (whatever) LITERS " is usually the capacity of the main compartment + the sleeping bag compartment.
QUESTIONS ABOUT TENTS
Should I seam-seal my new tent ?	We recommend that EVERY purchaser of ANY new tent (regardless of what brand) take the time to seal the seams.  You can use roll-on , spray-on or paint-on sealer....it doesn't make much difference as long as the sealer remains flexible for a long time. No matter what brand or how much you pay for a tent, manufacturers do NOT bother to seal the seams. Double-stitching and taping of seams helps but.... when the needle(s) that sews the pieces of fabric together penetrates the fabric, it makes holes.  These holes get elongated with use and can eventually let water in where you don't want it.  THAT is the purpose of sealing the seams. It's just easier to seam-seal a tent when it is brand new and clean....then, every few camping seasons thereafter.
Can one person set up the tent ?	The dome style tents can usually be set up by one person very quickly and easily.  The large CABIN style tents almost REQUIRE at least two people.  That's why we call them "family tents".
Is the _____ tent a four-season tent ?	This depends on WHERE the four seasons occur.   If you are in Arizona, the answer is probably yes.  If you expect snow or strong winds, read each of our description pages for the tent(s) you are interested in. Generally speaking, a four season tent has aluminum poles....and CABIN TENTS are strictly three season tents.
MORE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS TO COME	E-MAIL US WITH ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE.  WE MAY NEED TO POST THE QUESTION AND ANSWER HERE. Sales@Blue-Mtn.Net

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