After years of waiting, AntarcticSurplus is excited to announce that we are ready to begin our presale auction of genuine surplus United States Antarctic Program “Big Red” Canada Goose Parkas!
We have an extremely limited supply of parkas available, and expect that demand will significantly outweigh supply for these extremely rare parkas. We are offering subscribers the first chance to guarantee a parka by submitting an exclusive sealed bid offer to buy the first Big Red parkas of 2024.
“Big Red” Parka Pre-Sale Sealed Bid Auction
We will be using a style of sealed-bid auction called a Vickrey auction. Each bidder will make his or her best bid for a parka of his choice. Three parkas of each condition (Fair, Good, and Very Good) are available for sale in this pre-auction.
Rather than the top three bidders for each condition receiving the parkas for their bid, the top three bidders for each parka condition will be able to purchase a parka at the third-highest bidder’s price. This bidding style encourages participants to bid the amount that the parka is actually worth to them, and ensures that all winners are happy with the final price – some winners will pay even less than they bid!
Bids will be accepted until Thursday, 11/28/24 at 11:59PM EST
Please note:
- You must specify your preferred parka size and condition (FAIR, GOOD, or VERY GOOD) as well as your sealed bid for the specified parka
- Only ONE bid per parka condition is allowed
- You may submit bids for multiple conditions ONLY if you wish to purchase multiple parkas
- Winners will be charged shipping in addition to their submitted bid
- Bids are accepted solely via completing the Google Form
- If we receive fewer than three bids for a category of parka, we may, at our sole discretion, contact bidders to offer a parka at their bid
Losing bidders and other members of the mailing list will be able to purchase parkas at retail price on a first-come-first-serve basis when inventory is made available to the public (very soon).
Pre-Auction Winners Receive Guaranteed Parkas
Winning bidders will receive first choice of our available parkas, and we will do our best to accommodate your choice of parka and features (parka age, style, condition, etc) in the best condition available (subject to availability). Winning bidders will be contacted and provided with photos of a parka fitting their criteria for their approval. Winners may also have the opportunity to pre-buy other Antarctic surplus goods available in our warehouse.
If we do not have a parka fitting your size / condition requests, we can either provide an alternative, or wait for a suitable parka to become available (we have parkas still undergoing repairs).
The parka will be shipped upon payment by PayPal or credit card. Shipping to the USA ($35), Canada ($60), Europe ($100), and Oceania ($120) is available. Buyers are responsible for any import taxes and fees.
Not a Subscriber?
If you would like to participate in the auction but you are not subscribed to our email list and did not recieve an email with a link to the auction page, it’s not too late! Subscribe now by submitting your name and email address, and send us a message requesting a link to the form on the ‘Contact Us‘ page.
You MUST reach out via the contact page with an apropriate emaiol address! New subscribers who don’t do so will not recieve a link to the auction form.
About Antarctic Program Canada Goose “Big Red” Parkas
These are a used Canada Goose down parka, made exclusively for the official United States Antarctic Program and affectionately named “Big Red” by Antarctic researchers. This parka is an Antarctic Program exclusive version of the popular Canada Goose civilian model parka, the Canada Goose 4565M “Expedition Parka”, which sells new for $1,950.00 USD.
“Big Red” is issued by the US Antarctic Program to all scientists and staff serving at the two largest American research stations in Antarctica, McMurdo Base and South Pole Station. The parkas for sale here have been sold as surplus by the Antarctic Program, and were sourced from their New Zealand clothing warehouse and an Emergency Cold Weather Gear cache at the South Pole.
These parkas have experienced some of the harshest conditions in the world, and will have varying signs of wear depending on how many seasons they were worn, what Antarctic bases they served at, and who wore them. We have professionally refurbished these parkas by fixing all major defects, dry-cleaning where necessary, inspecting each one, and ensuring that each parka is 100% wearable and functional.
Parka Condition Grading
We have graded the parkas as Fair, Good, and Very Good depending on the overall wear and fading of the parka, and have priced them accordingly. The grades are described as follows:
- Fair – The parka may show color fading and obvious wear from service in Antarctica. Scuffs, stains, or small rips may be present, and there may be evidence of field repairs done by the Antarctic Program as well as one or more visible patches from our tailor. All major flaws have been fixed.
- Good – The parka is in good condition, without major tears or damage, but may have general signs of wear, fading, visible (but not excessive) patches, repairs or minor stains/imperfections.
- Very Good – The parka is in excellent condition, with minimal fading, minor signs of wear, and no major patches or signs of repair.
