Ebay Hats: Victories, Defeats, Gripes & Items of Interest

[jskeen]

Got this one in hand on Saturday, but just now got time to look at it closely.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1940s-STETSON-PREMIER-Mans-GRAY-FELT-Dress-HAT-Size-7-CLEAN-Condition-/311177403282?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2047675.l2557&nma=true&si=a6k7%252BP5e75AZoHfzAytG2dYGOB0%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc

It's in pretty sweet condition. A little rumpled, but otherwise all original and little used. All it needs is some steam, a brush, and a head about two sizes smaller than mine to sit on.

Nice dark black mid ribbon, not the funky purple from the auction pics.

Crown imprint with no protector?

Great vintage Stetson sweat. Thicker than more modern leather, but still soft and flexible. Impressed detail just below the top edge just because it was worth the extra time I guess.

Ivory cardstock keyhole size tag

And the original reorder and block tags

I'd be interested in any info on the manf date and the style that these new pics provide Is Premier a quality designator for the felt, like zephyr or imperial, or a style name for the hat, like weekender or stratoliner?

The sweat is obviously unreeded, which pretty much killed my original idea of pulling it out, adding in a little extra in the back then reinstalling it, As I have no clue how to sew a unreeded sweat back in.

I suppose I could stitch the sweat onto a reed from a new sweat, then add a little length, and sew it back in as usual, but that just don't seem quite pukka to me. Not doing much good as is, unfortunately. Thoughts?

 

[carouselvic]

small but lovely Stetson panama was pulled

I liked it for the liner, oh well.

 

[oak1971]

This will be ebay#4 when the mail arrives. Its a dobbs and seems almost unworn. will see when it gets here

 

[carouselvic]

mid 40's would not be too far off in either direction, leaning more the latter side JMHO

 

[jskeen]

Vic;
If you were replying to my request, thanks. To clarify, probably 40's but definitely post war?

 

[alanfgag]

Vic;
If you were replying to my request, thanks. To clarify, probably 40's but definitely post war?

Definitely not definitely. Is the size label gold or manila paper stock? Is there a LOTXXXX stamp in the front reverse side of the sweatband? The triple stitch brim detail was used in the late 1930s and early 1940s.

ps: Carouselvic, your inbox is overflowing.

 

[jskeen]

Thanks Alan; The label is manila, no gold. there is a number inside the sweat but it's directly under the Stetson crest, left side. There is a block # written on the tag, but it's impossible to decipher, let alone photograph. I thought I had uploaded all the pics, but this one seems to have temporarily evaded me.

 

[tommyK]

here's a curious tactic; If it didn't sell at $225 relist at $325!
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Roy...004?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4ae11f0f2c
Will it work?

 

[alanfgag]

Yes, this stamp corresponds to the reorder number on the orange tag. Likely war era or after. Thanks for sharing the photos.

 

[1mach1]

here's a curious tactic; If it didn't sell at $225 relist at $325!
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Roy...004?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4ae11f0f2c
Will it work?

lol

 

[tommyK]

Another curious one;
http://www.ebay.com/itm/191430060594?_trksid=p2060778.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT
I could have sworn this hat was starting at $99 a few days ago, now it's $199 and still no bids! I think it's worth it, it looks really nice but with no bids I'm not sure how raising the price helps?

 

[hatophile]

Seeing these prices makes me glad I did most of my buying in previous years. It also makes the customs look even more attractive.

 

[randooch]

Another curious one;
http://www.ebay.com/itm/191430060594?_trksid=p2060778.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT
I could have sworn this hat was starting at $99 a few days ago, now it's $199 and still no bids! I think it's worth it, it looks really nice but with no bids I'm not sure how raising the price helps?

Maybe someone informed the seller that $99 was too low, and the seller decided not to risk a low final bid. It's a nice hat.

 

[tommyK]

Maybe someone informed the seller that $99 was too low, and the seller decided not to risk a low final bid. It's a nice hat.

On that note I just had a seller cancel on me after I won the hat and paid.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-195...O0OetNaoO3Pw7WF1TE5Uk%3D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc

He refunded my money but I suspect he didn't like the price he got or got a better offer on Etsy or somewhere else.

 

[Lotsahats]

Time to ruin that 100% positive he has; maybe even file a grievance. Let him know first, of course. That's really bad form, though. Sorry, Tommy.

 

[g.durand]

I had a similar experience once. I won the auction and decided, rather than send payment right away, to contact the seller since he was nearby. I was hoping for a local pickup and to save some $$ on shipping. The seller sent back notice that the item was no longer available. I reminded him that it was bad form and he responded by telling me I didn't know how Ebay worked. This was before Ebay made it impossible to give a buyer negative feedback and I was afraid if I gave him negative feedback he would retaliate with negative feedback. I filed a complaint against the seller with Ebay and got no response.

 

[RJR]

I'm wit Lotsahats,I'd file a grievance.

 

[tommyK]

Could be some kind of honest mistake but if i see it relisted ever, I'm not going to be nice

 

[tommyK]

And because he refunded my money I can't leave feedback now

 

[Mystic]

I'm wit Lotsahats,I'd file a grievance.

I have had the same experience with "hat no longer available".

However, I decided an unscrupulous seller on ebay is the same as an unscrupulous politician. They have the upper hand just because they are unscrupulous.

If you force them to send the hat you could get a damaged hat. You complain to ebay again and win a full refund. You will still be out the return shipping for all your time and frustration. [huh]