panama hats direct?

[frijoli]

Anyone have experience with them? I'm sure this has been asked, but the search engine on this brand of forum software sucks.

Anyway, they have a nice selection of hats. I already have 4 PB's now..
Clay

 

[frijoli]

Just be careful when comparing ebay hats with like product. Our ebay hats are akin or better to his $63.00 hats. Also, his fino fino is not a fino fino. Now, I'll shut up before I upset the gang.

You need to put more hats up then

I just like some of the styles they have, plus the idea of a changeable ribbon on an el cheapo.

Clay

 

[Tom-n-Perris]

Clay,

Wouldn't it be easier to e-mail Panama Bob and tell him what you are looking for that is what I did. Now five Cuencas and one Monticristi later and I am still wanting more Panamas.

I looked at Panama Hats Direct and then I deciding to order from PB I haven't looked back. PB has great hats and something for everybody's price range.

Hats are like potato chips, You just can't have one.

 

[frijoli]

Clay,

Wouldn't it be easier to e-mail Panama Bob and tell him what you are looking for that is what I did. Now five Cuencas and one Monticristi later and I am still wanting more Panamas.

I looked at Panama Hats Direct and then I deciding to order from PB I haven't looked back. PB has great hats and something for everybody's price range.

How does that make sense? I am mainly looking at the cheap hats right now.
I don't know what's available, so I assume what he puts on ebay is what he has for sale in cheap hats. Of which I have four.

Panama hats direct LISTS quite a few styles in all price ranges. I can see the hats and the ribbons, pick what I want and buy it.
My question was "Anyone have experience with them?"

Clay

Clay

 

[Michael Bonner]

Good service, reasonable value

I just received a monticristo from them. I had a question about long oval sizing, and they responded personally within 12 hours. I ordered the hat; my size was not readily available (understandable, I wear an 8, extra extra long oval). Ultimately, the hat was built for me. I got an e mail with the status of the hat every three to four weeks for the eight or ten weeks it took to build the hat. Hat arrived and was exactly what I ordered, in great condition in a very sturdy shipping box. Ulitimatley, I sent the hat to a pro for a new band and ribbon, and an exact custom fit. Nothing really wrong with the hat as received, I just wanted a more unique ribbon, a perfect fit for my odd head, and a custom sweat band. The weave on the hat is beautiful to my admittedly untutored eye, the hat is literally feather weight and feels like cloth!

Bottom line: an A for service, a B-plus for quality, and a solid A for value. I'd have no problem ordering from them again.

 

[duggap]

My experience dealing with Casey was just the opposite. I could not get them to respond to emails after the hat was ordered. I tried for over six weeks and finally cancelled the order. I would definitely NOT use Panama Hats Direct under any circumstances.

 

[indycop]

I ordered 2 cheap hats from them last year a 57 and a 61. I received the 2 hats one being the 57 and the other being something so small I sent it to Bolthead who as you know is not a 61. When I called them, cos email was getting nowhere, He basically said I didn't know what I was talking about and the hat had to be a 61. First he tried to tell me the hat that was actually the 57 must be the 61 and the smaller one the 57.:eusa_doh:
So I then went to Panama Bob after that.

 

[johnnycanuck]

I have a hat from them and am happy with the hat and the service.
<a href="http://s143.photobucket.com/albums/r127/johnnycanuck_01/?action=view&current=review.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r127/johnnycanuck_01/review.jpg" border="0" alt="panama1"></a>
Johnny

 

[BobC]

I've never bought a hat from Panama Hats Direct, but I sure can't say enough for Robert Weber. He will get you what you want, cheap or not. For my money, I'll stay with him.

 

[frijoli]

I've never bought a hat from Panama Hats Direct, but I sure can't say enough for Robert Weber. He will get you what you want, cheap or not. For my money, I'll stay with him.

I can't say anything wrong about PB either! He's not the only supplier of hats though, and I wouldn't want to miss out on another great supplier either. Hey Robert, if you wanted a good value on a straw hat and couldn't buy your own, who would you consider?

Clay

 

[rogerb40]

I have just received my first-ever montecristi hat from Panama Hats Direct and am completely satisfied with their speed, service, communication, the fit, finish & value of the final product.

I was rather surprised to find that it is fully lined, with what appears to be 'rayon satin' ...never seen that in a Panama....but it will be very easy to remove, if I find it not to my liking.

I'll probably get another! Let's see how this one copes with the Spanish Summer!

 

[fedoralover]

That's good to hear, they have had some mixed reviews. Hopefully they are getting some of the glitches in their system resolved. Post some pics when you can.

I just visited their website and I do have to say it's very informative and the prices do seem very reasonable. They also seem to have had many satisfied customers judging by the testimonials. They've been in business a few years now so I suspect they have gotten better in their consistancy.

fedoralover

 

[Davo]

Panama Hats Direct get a good review from me. It's my first hat so I have nothing to compare the quality or value to. However, the amount of work that must have gone in to the fino fino is impressive, it's exceptional. Service was also very good for me.

 

[JimWagner]

I have just received my first-ever montecristi hat from Panama Hats Direct and am completely satisfied with their speed, service, communication, the fit, finish & value of the final product.

I was rather surprised to find that it is fully lined, with what appears to be 'rayon satin' ...never seen that in a Panama....but it will be very easy to remove, if I find it not to my liking.

I'll probably get another! Let's see how this one copes with the Spanish Summer!

I received a montecristi from them earlier this week, too. Maybe the same hat. Sounds like it anyway. Not sure if I'll leave the lining in or not either. I won't decide that until it's warmed up more here and I've worn it in the heat.

I've received two different hats from Panama Hats Direct. I wasn't happy with the ribbon on the first one, but that's an esthetic issue, not a complaint. On the montecristi I specified a different ribbon from the default and I'm quite satisfied with it. I have no complaints at all about the overall quality of either hat as far as the straw, finish, fit, price, etc. and replacing the ribbon on the first hat is a very minor thing.

Communications have been good as well as prompt and I'm sure that I'll order more hats from them over time.

 

[Panamabob]

I'd buy from Art www.vintagesilhouettes.com or Tom www.premierpanamahats.com

No comment on Casey.

 

[rogerb40]

I'd buy from Art www.vintagesilhouettes.com or Tom www.premierpanamahats.com

No comment on Casey.

Well, that's REALLY useful (NOT) .....if you have 'No comment', then you should have resisted making a 'comment'..... it just suggests, IMO, that you 'know something bad' about Casey but are not prepared to stand-up and say it
(Alternatively, you see them as such a strong competitor that you just want to 'sow a seed of doubt' !)

So far, my experience with PHD has been very good, and I don't feel a need to look elsewhere.

 

[Panamabob]

Hopefully, things have improved.

There are plenty of people that don't like me/my hats, too. It comes with the territory.

 

[dogrocketp]

I've bought from both Panama Bob and Casey, and have had very good luck with them. PB sold me a black Panama that always gets compliments, and Casey sold me a natural for my 16 year old that is beautifully made. Then there's the brown and taupe hats from PB.....Damn, just when I thought I was recovering from my addiction! There is another seller in Indiana who sold me a piece of crappola, so I'm sticking with these two.