Example of needing advice

[Neil]

I am quite glad I started reading the material on this lounge before making purchase decisions.
The other day, I went into The Hattery, in the Georgetown Mall in Washington, to have a fedora I bought in Rome several years ago blocked and cleaned.
The fellow behind the counter, sensing a potential customer (correctly), started showing me new hats. I told him I was really only interested in a pure beaver felt.
A week later, when I returned, he steered me toward a fedora he said was "best in the store. . .pure beaver. . .doesn't get any better." It was a Selentino Galaxy. He wanted $300 even for it.
So I went and did a little research. The Selentino Galaxy is advertised on the Selentino website as "pure fur felt." It is not included in the beaver felt section. It is widely available for $100-$125.
Caveat emptor and all that. But I'm just saying, you know?

 

[carldelo]

That would make me want to print out a page advertising the hat for its actual cost, then hand it to him and telling him he lost a customer for good. But I suppose that would be petty and vindictive....

 

[Neil]

No kidding. . .

You're right about one thing. I am not likely to ever set foot in that store again. But handing him the printout would involved driving to Georgetown, parking in their expensive underground lot, and then listening to the guy's BS. (" No, no, this is a SPECIAL Galaxy. Everything's changed at Selentino. This is stock made just for my store, blah, blah, blah.")
Fact is, caveat emptor. It's hard to overstate the need to do a little research and get a little advice. It's like buying a carpet in the Middle East. It's REALLY easy to get fleeced.

 

[Not-Bogart13]

Here's a thought; mail a print-out to the store with the price circled in marker. No return address, no note, no signature. The message will be understood.

 

[handlebar bart]

That goes to show you, that despite the great example set by the vendors here there are still bad ones out there. Good thing you did your research and didnt get taken.