Tents with aluminum poles will last you far longer than tents with fiberglass poles. The aluminum pole tents will cost more at first, but will save you money over the long run.
Ditto to that!! I'm a huge camping veteran and have gone thru literally dozens of Coleman tents.. Then one day, I was given a small North Face tent by a friend.. It is the BEST tent I've ever used!! Since then, I've gotten an REI Camp Dome, which is also fabulous.. They both have the aluminum poles, which are FAR superior to the fiberglass poles. True, these brands are a bit more expensive, but most definitely worth the extra cash in the long run.. Also, if you become an REI member ($20 lifetime membership), they will let you return it, no matter what. Seriously, if anything at all happens to your REI tent (even 5 years down the road), they will glad let you return it, no questions asked!! Their customer service is second to none!!
~ They also have decent sales on a pretty regular basis..
Good luck on your tent search!! Hope I was able to help..