Adventurebilt hats status update (read if you have an outstanding order)

[jlee562]

Heck i'm about ready to apprentice myself!

 

[Rogera]

Heck i'm about ready to apprentice myself!

Me too! Thats an excellent idea! If I lived near a hatter he would probably have to run me off

 

[hatsRme]

Me too! Thats an excellent idea! If I lived near a hatter he would probably have to run me off

:eusa_clap

 

[theinterchange]

I don't know, to me it seems like he desperately needs to hire someone to help fulfill orders. I think he should strongly consider taking on an apprentice.

All he'd have to do is find a high school kid who'd like to learn a new trade. I'd think there'd be plenty who'd jump at the opportunity to learn hatmaking from the man who made the last Indy Fedoras.

Then just pay them a small commission from every hat they help make. That way he could dramatically cut down his lead time and entice new buyers and also get to work fulfilling his back orders.

Steve HAD a young lad working for him a few years ago... It... ahhh... didn't go well. The kid stole money from him, wasn't a pleasant situation. I doubt he wants to go back down that road again.

Randy

 

[Rogera]

Steve HAD a young lad working for him a few years ago... It... ahhh... didn't go well. The kid stole money from him, wasn't a pleasant situation. I doubt he wants to go back down that road again.

Randy

Thats too bad. That kid had the chance to get into something really great.

 

[bendingoak]

Its very easy to monday morning quarterback what Steve should do but you are not in the middle of it. Also it's not that simple to just grab someone off the street and train them and then his list magically disappears. It took me hundreds of hats over the course of a year and a half to get to the point to where I felt like I could charge for my hats. I know there have been a few people try making hats and after a few they started selling them but they are no where near the league of a Steve Delk Adventurebilt hat.

That list of back orders that people have been waiting for some time is not that long anymore and Steve is doing everything possible to finish that list off. He works every day he feels up to it. He never takes a day off except to work on new orders to raise money to fill those back orders. I have helped Steve to get him kick started but he is not a young man nor is he in good health but his single most thought in his mind is to honor those orders. thats before his own well being.

 

[bendingoak]

Thats too bad. That kid had the chance to get into something really great.

Do you really think he should trust anyone else????

 

[Rogera]

Do you really think he should trust anyone else????

What I was saying was that it is too bad for that kid to have wasted such a great opportunity to learn a really cool trade by being dishonest. My comment was not an attempt to armchair quarterback.

 

[ofcoursemyhorse]

If he had somebody else helping him produce hats, he could absolutely fulfill his orders quicker. I don't think thats a particularly outlandish statement to make.

Sure, he had a bad experience with a previous worker. Why on earth we he would never take anyone else on as an apprentice? There isn't a business in existence that hasn't had to deal with a dishonest employee. Its unfortunate he picked a rotten apple, but there is a competent and honest man just waiting to be offered the opportunity.

How is it a better option to let a man who just suffered through an incredibly debilitating illness put the stress of fulfilling all these orders on just his shoulders? Not too mention if he doesnt teach his trade to someone, then all his knowledge and years of experience just fades away.

 

[facade]

We are talking about a man who has literally lost everything just short of his life. He is living hat to hat. I seriously doubt he has the means to invest in the training of a new employee let alone the money to pay one. If I were on the back order list, and could afford it, I would order another hat and write the old one off as a charitable donation.

 

[ofcoursemyhorse]

We are talking about a man who has literally lost everything just short of his life. He is living hat to hat. I seriously doubt he has the means to invest in the training of a new employee let alone the money to pay one. If I were on the back order list, and could afford it, I would order another hat and write the old one off as a charitable donation.

That makes sense, I understand he more than likely can't afford to go through hat bodies attempting to train someone completely green, or pay someone an actual salary. I just can't help but think theres a person who'd sacrifice pay for the chance to learn how to make a fedora with Steve Delk.

 

[gtdean48]

... I just can't help but think theres a person who'd sacrifice pay for the chance to learn how to make a fedora with Steve Delk.

Location may be a factor too.....

 

[DJH]

Facade - well said. I agree 100% with you.

Unlike the Aero Leather situation, there was no attempt to rip anyone off here, just extreme misfortune.

 

[bendingoak]

What I was saying was that it is too bad for that kid to have wasted such a great opportunity to learn a really cool trade by being dishonest. My comment was not an attempt to armchair quarterback.

The monday morning quaterback comment was a general statement and not directed at you. I was using your statement to make a point, thats all.

 

[bendingoak]

We are talking about a man who has literally lost everything just short of his life. He is living hat to hat. I seriously doubt he has the means to invest in the training of a new employee let alone the money to pay one.

Thank you.

did anyone read my post????? again, its not that simple. You just cant grab someone off the street and bang. You have a hatter on Steve's level. Steve did share his secrets with someone (as not to leave his craft die). That person is me. Even with his help (and Marc Kitters) it took me hundreds of hats and a year and a half ( and a truck load of money) to be able to even think about selling one. I have done things to help get Steve going again but even I am limited to time. distance and money.

Even in his remission of cancer, there is side effects that makes him feel horrible and when he has a good day he is working. He's not joy riding or parting.

 

[bendingoak]

Facade - well said. I agree 100% with you.

Unlike the Aero Leather situation, there was no attempt to rip anyone off here, just extreme misfortune.

thank you.

 

[djd]

The other issue is that people ordering a hat from Steve probably want a hat made by Steve... not his assistant

 

[DJH]

Good point - that's why I bought one.

 

[djd]

Good point - that's why I bought one.

Me too.....

 

[99999]

Glad I found this thread, but makes me skeptical about my recent order. I am leaving for Africa in 3 weeks, and 2.5 months ago I ordered a new hat from Mr. Delk based upon the promise that he could have it to me before I left. he said it would be 6 weeks, which puts it at a few weeks over due. wouldn't be a problem, but although Steve was quick to reply to my emails when I was looking at placing the order, he has not responded to a single one since, nor any voice mails. nothing. In the mean time, I really want/need a nice hat for Africa, going on Safari, up Mt. Kilemanjaro, as well as doing some humanitarian stuff. I really want a nice hat for this big adventure. I am also considering a Brent Black Safari hat, but now I am afraid I can't buy anything nice that can be delivered in 3 weeks... any ideas?