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

DanielJones

I'll Lock Up
Messages
4,042
Location
On the move again...
I remember when I got my tan/grey Whippet a few years back for $45, the thing was a train wreck, but Art managed to bring it back to life. I remember an argument back then too when I brought up the high price of a vintage lid, and the retort was that a custom lid today is around the same quality as the vintage lids were then so it is reasonable to pay a premium price on a vintage lid that is in mint to near mint condition. Then again, it is an old hat, even if it has never touched some ones head, time is still taking it's toll on it. But, that is not for me to speculate.

Cheers!

Dan
 

zetwal

I'll Lock Up
Messages
4,343
Location
Texas
We have to keep in mind that money isn't the same for everyone. What is 30 minutes pay for a high paid professional may be a week's pay for someone else. And then there is liquid. For those folks the price tag means nothing. They see something they want and they buy it. Price is irrelevant. Times are hard for most right now, but many are very well situated.
 

SteveAS

Practically Family
Messages
841
Location
San Francisco
I believe that I watched one go for $600+ last year.

In that case, thanks for correcting me. I guess some colors sell for higher prices than others. I didn't realize ". . . a medium olive, but in different lighting, it sometimes looks a greenish beige and at times almost gray" (seller's description) would command such a premium.
 

Mobile Vulgus

One Too Many
Messages
1,144
Location
Chicago
This is why these hats have suddenly spun out of my price range. I was buying size 7 vintage for $20, $30 and $40 all day long only a few months ago. Now even size 7 hats are getting to $200!! It is crazy, really. What the hell happened in just a few short months??
 

T Rick

Practically Family
Messages
943
Location
Metro Detroit
This is why these hats have suddenly spun out of my price range. I was buying size 7 vintage for $20, $30 and $40 all day long only a few months ago. Now even size 7 hats are getting to $200!! It is crazy, really. What the hell happened in just a few short months??

What happened, is that they've become more popular, and more new buyers are entering the market to compete for these treasures. Not sure how I have a knack for getting in just behind the curve on such things, but I did the same a bit over a year ago with vintage safety razors. Huge increases in prices just before i got into the market (continued and I watched them climb while I built my collection).

Didn't bid on this one BTW. Wanted to, but it was already above $300 when I first saw it.
 

Lexybeast

A-List Customer
Messages
353
Location
Ireland
What is it about Whippets that makes prices go crazy? Are they actually built differently, or are we in a Whippet bubble economy?
 

Mobile Vulgus

One Too Many
Messages
1,144
Location
Chicago
I say bubble. Heck, the Whippet was popular in it's day but it was a cheaper hat. It was not Stetson's top of the line hat in any way.

I bought a nice Whippet in great shape for $130 last month but it is a size too big for me. I bought it thinking I could sell it or trade it for one the right size. But I think I'm going to keep it even though I have to stuff the sweatband to wear it. I can't touch a Whippet even in size 7 for under $300 anymore.

I mean my Whippet is in really great shape and look great on me even at a bit too large. I'll have to settle!
 
Last edited:

monbla256

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,239
Location
DFW Metroplex, Texas
What is it about Whippets that makes prices go crazy? Are they actually built differently, or are we in a Whippet bubble economy?
I've watched prices do this in the Fountain Pen area. An example, I have a MB Miesterstuck 149 from 1948. The firm still makes this pen and it's current MSRP is $750.00 and I recently saw a 1948 vintage come up for sale at a London dealers for OVER $2,000.00 . I paid a little over $100.00 for mine 25 years ago. As folks with more disposeable income look for areas to spend it, they tend to start driving up prices. I'm sure there are several long time collectors here have noticed this and would concurr :)
Onward thru the Fog:)
 

Rick Blaine

My Mail is Forwarded Here
Messages
3,958
Location
Saskatoon, SK CANADA
Whoa

Tulipomania.jpg


A tulip, known as "the Viceroy", displayed in a 1637 Dutch catalog. Its bulb cost between 3000 and 4200 florins depending on size. A skilled craftsman at the time earned about 300 florins a year.


Tulipomania-Whippet.jpg


:censored:!
 

Lefty

I'll Lock Up
Messages
8,639
Location
O-HI-O
What is it about Whippets that makes prices go crazy? Are they actually built differently, or are we in a Whippet bubble economy?

Laziness? The same guys that want the big Polo logo on their shirts?

The model name is an easy way to know that the hat has a specific style. Every hat company made the Whippet style, before and after there was a Whippet. Not everyone wants to figure out what they like in terms of dimensions, bindings, etc.

I don't like the big horse on my shirt, but I like my ORs to say OR - or I refuse to acknowledge their status as ORs. OR-ness doesn't cut it for me. I stand for the purity of the ONE TRUE OPEN ROAD.

I'm voting conspiracy. Stetson is buying back all of their model names, regardless of price, just to destroy the hats. Once there's nothing left but a foggy memory of them, Stetson will introduce the 7th generation of Whippets, ORs, Strats, etc. without having to hear about how the modern hats miss the mark, the vintage hats are better in every respect, and that they're better off sticking to WalMart cologne and a very specific form of code writing that I've mastered. Translated into Stetson-speak, this message reads:
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXauthentic superXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

whereas, it once read
XXX
:p
 

monbla256

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,239
Location
DFW Metroplex, Texas
Laziness? The same guys that want the big Polo logo on their shirts?

The model name is an easy way to know that the hat has a specific style. Every hat company made the Whippet style, before and after there was a Whippet. Not everyone wants to figure out what they like in terms of dimensions, bindings, etc.

I don't like the big horse on my shirt, but I like my ORs to say OR - or I refuse to acknowledge their status as ORs. OR-ness doesn't cut it for me. I stand for the purity of the ONE TRUE OPEN ROAD.

I'm voting conspiracy. Stetson is buying back all of their model names, regardless of price, just to destroy the hats. Once there's nothing left but a foggy memory of them, Stetson will introduce the 7th generation of Whippets, ORs, Strats, etc. without having to hear about how the modern hats miss the mark, the vintage hats are better in every respect, and that they're better off sticking to WalMart cologne and a very specific form of code writing that I've mastered. Translated into Stetson-speak, this message reads:
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXauthentic superXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

whereas, it once read
XXX
:p


OOOOO! A conspirancy believer :) I've got some smoke from Mt. St. Helens I'll sell you :)

onward thru the Fog:)
 

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