Damn, missed it...

[Snrbfshn]

I'd never heard of a Stetson Bantam til I saw it up for bids. Looked awful nice, though, and obviously a lightweight, linerless summer felt.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=8243275468&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&rd=1

Anybody else got a Bantam; what can you tell me about them?

And is it just me, or do y'all that have been at it longer than me also see the pool of desirable-hat-seekers getting deeper, and prices going up?

 

[Pilgrim]

I don't have a Bantam, but that is a very nice hat and a great color...and the price is just about what I paid for my grey Whippet a month ago. So perhaps the ante is going up. The good news is that even at that price, a hat of that quality is a good buy. (Unfortunately I can't afford too many of those "good buys".)

 

[fedoralover]

No kidding!!!

A vintage borsalino just sold for $334.77 on ebay. If you haven't already got em, you are really going to be paying for them. So if you see one below $65.00 you better jump on it, as most are going higher than that. Occasionally one goes lower but not as often as they used too.

fedoralover

 

[Bud-n-Texas]

The prices are going up, and I do understand the disapointment of loosing out in the final seconds. I have lost several in the past few weeks after being the only bidder for days, only to have someone jump in at the last second and overbid with zero time remaining to counter bid. Ahh the way the game is being played, I do not agree with it, but we are all subject to the same pifalls of an eBay auction. JMHO

 

[SHARPETOYS]

Snipe that hat.

I use the free service it bids the last 10 seconds or so. You put in the max you will pay and it bids for you.

https://hammertap.auctionstealer.com/secure/signup.cfm

 

[Solid Citizen]

Ebay Snipper Bidding

Snipper bidding in the last 5 seconds or less with some $$$ behind it is the only way to go IMHO. Its easy to do & you don't even need a program to do it Peter
.

 

[Not-Bogart13]

I saw the bantam, but...

...I was disappointed by the size. I see so few vintage hats in my size, and even fewer that look in decent condition. So, waiting for similar finds to come along that nobody notices is not much of an option for me. So, I snipe (yet, rarely with success). I have to say, though, even with the prices going up, I wouldn't mind paying high for a good vintage. Especially with the pick-up in the market, since I might actually be able re-ebay a hat that I ended up not liking, but not taking a loss (or much of one). And I'd rather pay $100 for a vintage in good shape than a new one that might be shabbier for more money.

 

[jamespowers]

I actually have one of these. It is super light and feels like you don't even have a hat on. Geez, I wish they still made hats like that now. Did I mention it is also waterproof?
That hat was well worth it. I am not that hot on the ribbon width but it is a Bantam weight so I guess the ribbon has to be light too.

Regards to all,

J

 

[Marc Chevalier]

That's a nice hat, James! Do you know how old the "Bantam" is? From the '40s? Or the '50s?

 

[Twitch]

It's actually part of the problem with any special interest item on Ebay. There are lots of goofballs with more money than sense and they just don't care if they spend way over what something is worth. I'm in the classic cars hobby and have often seen idiots bid 30-50% more than a showroom #1 condition car should go for on a #3 condition car.

Ebay is a love/hate thing for that reason. Too much descrectionary income and too little homework on values of any items results in people of casual, passing interest grabbing stuff that knowledgeable afficianados would like to own but aren't stupid enough to pay.

People have this warped idea that EVERYTHING is collectable and therefore worth big bucks to somebody. These are the jamokes that have assinine reserves on items that no one will normally approach...except for the idiots who don't know better.

 

[jamespowers]

That's a nice hat, James! Do you know how old the "Bantam" is? From the '40s? Or the '50s?

I have an ad for it but I can't find it at the moment. I am pretty sure the ad is from 1951 so you can guess around there somewhere. I think mine came open crown as well. It was too small when it started but it isn't now.

Regards to all,

J