Tarp measurements have been that way for a while, and yes it is misleading
and not the way it used to be.  My experience is that the ones from harbor
freight are at least pretty clearly labeled with a "size" and then a
"finished size."  I feel good about my house, built in the 1950's having
actual 2 inch dimensional lumber, rather than that newfangled "2 inch
unfinished size, 1 and 3/4 inch finished size" lumber they use nowadays.
Edward

On Fri, Apr 17, 2015 at 11:13 AM, Jim Felder <jim.felder@gmail.com> wrote:

> I also love "contents may have settled during shipping" and
>
> "Serving suggestion"
>
> and
>
> "Simulated reception."
>
> Jim
>
> On Fri, Apr 17, 2015 at 10:06 AM, Don Hanson <dhanson928@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> >   I recently bought a plastic tarp from one of the local Big Box junk
> > stores... I'm re-doing the roof shelter on a pair of chain link dog
> > kennels...
> >
> >   So the space I wanted to shade and shelter is 12' x 8'...and it is
> quite
> > windy around here.   I measured carefully and exactly, planning to use
> the
> > doubled-edges and perimeter grommets of the tarp to help keep it mounted
> to
> > some 2 x 4 'rafters'...   I finished the framing and unfold the tarp,
> brand
> > new out of the package, the tarp that was branded " !2' x 8' "  only to
> > see, in a few seconds, that the tarp is NOT actually 12 x 8'....it is
> > actually 11'6" x 7'6".....then I see on the label in the package, way
> down
> > on the last line, in small print..."not actual finished size".....
> >
> >    My father called people who engaged in these kinds of sleazy business
> > practices "Chislers"....The world seems to accept this type of behavior
> > with the simple shrugging off of the basic principal of honesty..."It's
> > just Business" seems to be totally acceptable as an excuse to screw over
> > everyone else....I really hate that phrase.
> >
> >    So if you go buy a plastic tarp, make certain you aren't getting
> screwed
> > out of a couple of inches all around...I guess the DOW chemical company,
> or
> > whoever makes those tarps, figured that by cheating everyone who buys all
> > those they would make a few million more $, world-wide, by lying about
> the
> > size....
> >
> >    Chislers....My Dad hated them...and so do I..
> >
>