My new panama hat from Casey

[Russ]

My new panama hat from Panama Hats Direct arrived today. It arrived one month after I placed the order. I ordered the Plantation, and it came with a black pugaree band which I immediately removed since I have had a nice black grosgrain waiting for it to arrive. The pugaree was attached by hot glue which was a surprise.

I had requested they make the crown 5.5 to 6 inches, a request which they apparently ignored. At just under 5 inches the crown still looks nice, and I won't send the hat back to Ecuador for that, although I'm sure a lot of folks would be very upset by this oversight.

The hat had a silk type liner which also came as a surprise. I had not expected a liner at all since this is a hot weather hat.

I ordered the Fino and I recall some had asked about the weave count on these, so here are photos about half way up the side of the crown next to a ruler.

Maybe I got a good deal, and maybe I could have gotten a better deal from the resident Panama hat vendors here. Still, I'm happy with what I got.

I was happy to see how soft and pliable this hat was. With a few squirts of water I was able to make a nicer pinch, and it looks like a light colored fedora from a distance. It's my first real Panama, and I have no experience with this type of hat. I will wear it proudly this summer.

I'm also very happy to be able to use this hamburger icon; I've been wanting to use it for weeks. :hamburger

 

[Harry Lime]

Russ,

I'm not sure what you paid, and it sounds like you're happy with what you got, but it doesn't appear you got what you ordered. The glued ribbon is just not right, the crown height oversight is a pretty big one, and that is not a fino. That's the problem with internet straws - they are rarely the grades advertised. Others can weigh in on this and there have been other threads about this as well.

Harry Lime

 

[Panamabob]

Isn't a hairy lime a kiwi?

 

[Russ]

I paid $ 145.00 for the hat and an extra 25 dollars for shipping from Ecuador to Japan where I live. I have received a personal message that indicates this wasn't the best deal I could have gotten. I'll keep that in mind when I'm shopping for my next one.

On the other hand, I could have done a lot worse. I hope.

 

[Hemingway Jones]

Russ,
How is it styled? Do you have a picture wearing it?

 

[TOM BLAINE]

Panama hat from Casey

I bought my first panama hat from Casey as well. I love that hat but it was not the quality that I expected. It was suggested to me that the lining could be to cover poor workmanship. Remember, this is a worm climate hat. By the way, the lining was hot glued instead of stitched. Since then I bought another panama with a 700 thread count from one of our local venders. This will be my dressy panama and Casy's will be my casual hat. 700 thread count isn't the greatest but I am on a budget so I am happy with it. Every day is a learning experience. :cheers1:

 

[SHARPETOYS]

Get your money back.

Russ,
Please send the hat back and get your money back. The only way to stop this is for people like yourself to say this is not ok!! I would bet alot of folks would just keep it and say its to much trouble and then the seller has won and I would bet alot sellers bank on that. Since you did not get what you ordered ask for return shipping!! Good luck.

This is from his web site.

Return Policy: 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed!
If your panama hat was damaged in shipping;If it does not fit, or you are just not happy, return the Panama Hat for replacement, if available, or refund.Please Contact me first before returning. The buyer is responsible for shipping.

 

[photobyalan]

Unless you're very well experienced in things like Panama hats, you are never sure you got a good deal when you buy one from someone you don't know. However, after seeing what was posted above, I feel much better about the hat I got from Panamabob last year. I paid $5 more, but the WPSI is about 100 more, and the ribbon, while not the best, was at least sewn on. I'd be very unhappy with the hot glue on the ribbon. One other thing, did they charge you extra for the higher crown that you requested? If they did, then you should definitely complain. If they didn't then I'm not surprised that the hat doesn't have it. A higher crown, like a wider brim, requires more hat, more work by the weaver, and is always more expensive. I don't know if I would recommend that you return the hat, though, because of your location and the cost of shipping.

Oh, maybe you could have saved a little money or gotten a nicer hat buying from someone else, but you are the final judge of whether you got your money's worth. I think this has been mentioned on this forum before..."If you love the hat more than you loved the money you spent on it, then you got a good deal."

 

[Panamabob]

I feel much better about the hat I got from Panamabob last year. I paid $5 more, but the WPSI is about 100 more, and the ribbon, while not the best, was at least sewn on.

This is exactly why I let members here know that there hats are being done in Ecuador and if they want the USA styling it will cost more.

We've had several hatters block our hats and they do a fantastic job. As you all know, I like Art's hats the best, then Gary White's. They are both spectacular gentlemen to work with.

 

[SHARPETOYS]

You got it!!

Russ's hat looks very nice and I reckon he is happy with it. I count 16 weaves across and ten vertically. Now, how do you figure WPSI? Is it 16X10 for 160, or is some other way?

cb

That is exactly the way to do it.

 

[Fedora]

I had requested they make the crown 5.5 to 6 inches, a request which they apparently ignored. At just under 5 inches the crown still looks nice, and I won't send the hat back to Ecuador for that, although I'm sure a lot of folks would be very upset by this oversight.

Yeah, the same thing happened to me a couple of years ago. I did not want the short crown and was assured he would find me a crown as you listed. I just resolved to take my business elsewhere. Any new Monticristis will come from Bob. I guess I could have sent it back, and I never complained, so he may have made it good. I just chunked that short crowned 400 dollar hat in a drawer and forgot about it. But, I had made it very clear that I did not want a short crowned hat. That he just ignored my request and sent me exactly what I railed against in our correspondance was enough for me. Fedora

 

[photobyalan]

This is exactly why I let members here know that there hats are being done in Ecuador and if they want the USA styling it will cost more.

We've had several hatters block our hats and they do a fantastic job. As you all know, I like Art's hats the best, then Gary White's. They are both spectacular gentlemen to work with.

I'll vouch for that. Robert was upfront in saying the Ecuador blocks and materials were not quite as nice as what is done in the U.S., and he was able to give me an accurate estimate of how much it would cost to have the blocking done at a later date when my finances would allow(and that hat is at Art's shop right this minute, BTW, having that exact work done).

 

[gdkenoyer]

...I just chunked that short crowned 400 dollar hat in a drawer and forgot about it...

holy crap! need any spare drawers...?

 

[Russ]

To answer a few questions, I did not pay extra for the extra crown height, but will confirm that when I get the credit card statement. I did, however make it clear that I wanted the crown anywhere from 5.5 to 6 inches. And I expected them to contact me about the extra charge.

The hat in the avatar is not the Panama hat; that one is an Akubra Federation. I need to take a photo of me in this Pamana hat some time soon.

I already changed the band, so returning the hat is not an option. Besides, I don't want to pay the shipping, and if the truth were known I do like the hat more than the money I spent on it. It's still cheaper than a similar quality hat in a Tokyo hat shop if I could find one here. Posting comments here and educating many potential buyers may have more impact than one customer returning this hat anyway.

Oddly enough, when I placed my order I told Casey I would post my comments here on the Fedora Lounge, and I thought that would have the effect of assuring everything got done properly to my specs.

Hey, we all got an education thanks to this purchase. So we all win. :cheers1:

As for the style, it's the Plantation model, and looks like a C-crown fedora with very relaxed pinch and slightly curled brim. The brim width is 3 inches from the sweat band to edge by my measurements, and the crown is 4 3/4 inches at the highest point of the crown pinch, about 4 7/8 inches when I punch out the bash and measure from the highest point. The crown sides are straight, even slightly mushroomed, but that could be from my modification of the pinch. The back of the crown is actually the shape of my head, and flares back out at the top, and I think I may have put that shape there since my head is a long oval and the hat probably conformed to my head.

The hot glue is gone now since I yanked it out (carefully) and it has a new 1 1/8 inch black grosgrain hat band ribbon installed by me. It looks very nice. If Panama Hats Direct were the only game in town, I admit I would be satisfied with what I got for the price, although still annoyed at not having that higher crown. But we all know they are not the only game in town, don't we? Next time I get a Panama hat, judging from the comments here, it sounds like Panama Bob is a better bet. It sounds like he at least listens to his customers, and I'm sure I would have gotten the taller crown with him.

In case you're wondering where I got the 1 1/8 inch grosgrain ribbon, I found it on eBay, one 50 yard roll of brown and two 50 yard rolls of black (the first black roll didn't arrive so the seller sent a second, then the first roll arrived after all). They are rayon/cotton and say HAT BAND" on the label. I was more than happy to use it on the Panama since I only needed enough ribbon for a few hats in the first place, and have way too much of the stuff now!

 

[Art Fawcett]

I know someone that could use it Russ...any thoughts on shipping it stateside?

 

[Russ]

I might consider that, after I keep a yard or so of each color for myself just in case.

I'll PM you for details.