Went to the Orvis Warehouse Sale today...

...and I'll try to be kind. It was basically a waste.

This is the 3rd year in a row I've went when it hit the Philly area, and there just wasn't a lot of good merchandise to pick through this year. I'm thinking it most likely has to do with the economy. Being in retail, I know most retailers have kept inventories tight this year, unwilling to "go deep" on buys due to unpredictable consumer spending patterns. Also, a lot of the stuff at the show seems to be catalog/internet returns (ie TONS of dog beds with a dog's name already embroidered on it), so less people buying stuff in 2009 also means less returns.

There was a lot of summer clothes, especially in size medium and large. Shamrock shorts anyone? Not much in cold-weather wear - basically no fleece or outwear. I was hoping to stumble upon a wading jacket, but no luck. The fishing equipment was also slim-pickins, with most rods and line being heavy (6-wt and above). From what I could tell the only reels were gigantic saltwater Vortex reels the size of dinner plates. There were quite a bit of fishing accessories to be had, but a lot of it seemed almost like it was purchased especially for the warehouse sale - Rapala multi-tools and small Plano boxes?

After playing some seek n' find, I did find a good deal. A 4-wt Superfine trout rod for $200 (catalog list $575). Unfortunately, I didn't want or need a new rod so I passed. Probably could have played the eBay game...but not interested in sending a fishing rod through the mail.

I did end up spending money; purchasing a $10 raffle ticket from some folks from Perkiomen Valley Trout Unlimited to help support their Trout in the Classroom & stream restoration initiatives. I guess not all was lost.