eBay hats outrageously priced

MondoFW · Dec 11, 2017

Perhaps I'm underestimating the value of these, but I frequently check listings for 1940's fedoras, and a lot of them are VERY expensive, reaching upwards of almost $380. Does anyone know why this is so with these hats specifically?

Frunobulax · Dec 11, 2017

MondoFW said:
Perhaps I'm underestimating the value of these, but I frequently check listings for 1940's fedoras, and a lot of them are VERY expensive, reaching upwards of almost $380. Does anyone know why this is so with these hats specifically?

Some hats, such as Stetson Whippets, rarities such as Flagships or Stetsonians, go for prices like that. It's been a while, but e've seen Whippets go for near $1k.

Which leads to others who think their hat is worth a boatload, even though it's not, so they ask hogh prices they'll never get.

Then there's Timothy's Closet, an eBay seller who always asks way too much for his hats.

Sent directly from my mind to yours.

deadlyhandsome · Dec 11, 2017

Asking and getting are two different things. I hope no one is paying these prices. I've heard that Japanese collectors pay top dollar and then some. Still, this is crazy!

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deadlyhandsome · Dec 11, 2017

Watch, that $1,300 Whippet will belong to a bartender here on the Lounge and I'll be in the grease.

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Edward · Dec 11, 2017

I get the feeling prices on a lot of stuff from the era we favour in these parts are beginning to climb as it gets rarer, 1949 being 68 years ago now.

Wesslyn · Dec 11, 2017

I think my most expensive hat, I paid 90 for.
Typically I'm a thrifter. I think lots of us here are. Maybe someone looking for something very specific will shell out once they've found exactly what they're looking for, or something they absolutely must have, but yeah Timothys Closet is infamous.
If he actually is actually selling hats for his asking prices, I'd be surprised and a little bit...disgusted isn't the right word, but you get where I'm coming from. Maybe.

daddy0d0 · Dec 11, 2017

Funny this thread pops up. I'm trying to decide if I should pull the trigger on a new Stratoliner for 175.00 which includes shipping or order a Campdraft for 130.00 including shipping. Any preferences on the 2?

DOGMAN · Dec 11, 2017

daddy0d0 said:
Funny this thread pops up. I'm trying to decide if I should pull the trigger on a new Stratoliner for 175.00 which includes shipping or order a Campdraft for 130.00 including shipping. Any preferences on the 2?

Don't know about the Stratoliner.I do like my Campdraft for the price paid.

daddy0d0 · Dec 11, 2017

DOGMAN said:
Don't know about the Stratoliner.I do like my Campdraft for the price paid.

Dogman I too have a campdraft and love it. Saw the strat and like the fact that I can get it in a week but not convinced I want to spend 175.00 to do it.

DOGMAN · Dec 11, 2017

daddy0d0 said:
Dogman I too have a campdraft and love it. Saw the strat and like the fact that I can get it in a week but not convinced I want to spend 175.00 to do it.

I have a modern Stetsonian that I paid $190 for when they 1st came out.Don't think I would pay that much again.Don't get me wrong I like it...But for less money.

Short Balding Guy · Dec 11, 2017

If folks pay for the hat it is not over priced. It sells for exactly what it is worth to the buyer. This text may seem coy and is not my intension. If folks pay for it they have a need that was met.

I have paid much more than mentioned in the thread (so far) for a hat, not nearly the listed item in question, and have had no buyers remorse. In fact I have no illusions of re-selling and making a profit, but will continue to wear the hat as long as I can stand upright. The hats are worth exactly what I pay for them. I do purchase to wear. I am ot of the group who wishes to purchase and wear a couple times and re-sell or just purchase to collect or even purchase to re-sell. Not my preference.

Going farther, I have purchased duds. I am certain others have aquired these hats with promise that have appeared and are much less than anticipated. I rationalize it as the price of admission to wearing vintage hats. I generally have distributed them to others or offered them to my local thrift shop. BTW; Offering them to my local thrift shop has made me a prefered phone call away when something I would be interested in comes into the shop.

I do consider surrendering a vintage hat or two when I see the selling prices raise to very high prices. Being as I have more hats than 1 person should have, it is a consideration. But then, which hat do I offer? The gray Whippet, the dark grey Whippet, the brown Whippet, the Australian Whippet or even the chocolate Whippet? Inaction on my part. How in the world can we make such a decision? I help avoid the decisions by keeping a couple hats at the cabin or our vacation property. Spreading the wealth.

Vintage hats; It takes all kinds and prices to satisfy the market.

I hope I have contributed to the conversation. Best, Eric -

Fed in a Fedora · Dec 11, 2017

daddy0d0 said:
Funny this thread pops up. I'm trying to decide if I should pull the trigger on a new Stratoliner for 175.00 which includes shipping or order a Campdraft for 130.00 including shipping. Any preferences on the 2?

I do not think that it is possible to make a mistake here. That Stetson is good quality - as is the Stetsonian. On the other hand, I wear my Akubras every day. I have 4 Campdrafts. Akubra Imperial quality is a good working quality hat. Wears very well in all sorts of situations. It protects you - you do not baby an Akubra. The Imperial quality is not as noticeable at first, but becomes more apparent over time. Feels better and looks better. That is worth the money, but I get what is available in the colors desired. For me that is the BlueGrass Green, Medium Brown and then Moonstone. Silverbelly is not my favorite. Make sure that you insist that they inspect your hat for any defects before shipping. Be clear that Hats Direct look at the pouncing just below the band. Their inspections were lacking for a while and you need to prod them on this. Otherwise, I am delighted with my Akubras from Everything Australian. Never needed to remind Sam of anything - always sent out good hats.

But again, I think you would be happy with any of these hats. I'll bet you wind up owning several. Just take the plunge on one now.

Fed

jlee562 · Dec 11, 2017

Delmonico has a 15% code right now, JJ Hats has 10% off if that nudges you towards a Stetson.

The Premiere strats are nice, I'd skip the blocked in crease version, but that's more personal preference for the hand creased look. Stetson felt generally has a softer feel than Akubra. Akubra hats are generally more durable.

Cornshucker77 · Dec 11, 2017

deadlyhandsome said:
Asking and getting are two different things. I hope no one is paying these prices. I've heard that Japanese collectors pay top dollar and then some. Still, this is crazy!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I agree. But if someone paid me $1300 for a hat I'd take it.

I really can't believe they will get the asking price, but it will be interesting to follow this.

deadlyhandsome · Dec 11, 2017

Short Balding Guy said:
If folks pay for the hat it is not over priced. It sells for exactly what it is worth to the buyer. This text may seem coy and is not my intension. If folks pay for it they have a need that was met.

I have paid much more than mentioned in the thread (so far) for a hat, not nearly the listed item in question, and have had no buyers remorse. In fact I have no illusions of re-selling and making a profit, but will continue to wear the hat as long as I can stand upright. The hats are worth exactly what I pay for them. I do purchase to wear. I am ot of the group who wishes to purchase and wear a couple times and re-sell or just purchase to collect or even purchase to re-sell. Not my preference.

Going farther, I have purchased duds. I am certain others have aquired these hats with promise that have appeared and are much less than anticipated. I rationalize it as the price of admission to wearing vintage hats. I generally have distributed them to others or offered them to my local thrift shop. BTW; Offering them to my local thrift shop has made me a prefered phone call away when something I would be interested in comes into the shop.

I do consider surrendering a vintage hat or two when I see the selling prices raise to very high prices. Being as I have more hats than 1 person should have, it is a consideration. But then, which hat do I offer? The gray Whippet, the dark grey Whippet, the brown Whippet, the Australian Whippet or even the chocolate Whippet? Inaction on my part. How in the world can we make such a decision? I help avoid the decisions by keeping a couple hats at the cabin or our vacation property. Spreading the wealth.

Vintage hats; It takes all kinds and prices to satisfy the market.

I hope I have contributed to the conversation. Best, Eric -

Capitalism in a nutshell. I get things being worth what the market will bear, but it's still hard for some of us to grasp. The collector paying millions for a baseball card that originally sold for pennies or someone paying hundreds of millions for a paining the artist couldn't give away. It's a fact of life, but it's hard to see the value as an outsider looking in. I'm sure that part of our troubles come from a bit of old fashioned envying.

I certainly don't begrudge anyone who has the resources spending whatever they want for any item; particularly when they are such gentlemen and share their finds with the rest of us.

deadlyhandsome · Dec 11, 2017

daddy0d0 said:
Funny this thread pops up. I'm trying to decide if I should pull the trigger on a new Stratoliner for 175.00 which includes shipping or order a Campdraft for 130.00 including shipping. Any preferences on the 2?

I just did a side-by-side comparison of the hats you mentioned.

http://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/side-by-side-hat-comparisons.65983/page-36

I warn you, it's not conclusive.

Feraud · Dec 11, 2017

deadlyhandsome said:
Capitalism in a nutshell. I get things being worth what the market will bear, but it's still hard for some of us to grasp. The collector paying millions for a baseball card that originally sold for pennies or someone paying hundreds of millions for a paining the artist couldn't give away. It's a fact of life, but it's hard to see the value as an outsider looking in. I'm sure that part of our troubles come from a bit of old fashioned envying.

I certainly don't begrudge anyone who has the resources spending whatever they want for any item; particularly when they are such gentlemen and share their finds with the rest of us.

Agreed. Every time I find myself complaining about the price of vintage hats or the amazing selection of repro vintage clothing I try and check myself knowing there's a twinge of jealousy in the back of my head. If money were no object I doubt I'd stand on my current moral high horse about the high price of vintage fedoras and LVC gear.

Frunobulax · Dec 11, 2017

Edward said:
I get the feeling prices on a lot of stuff from the era we favour in these parts are beginning to climb as it gets rarer, 1949 being 68 years ago now.

From my wholly unscientific and anecdotal observations, I'm thinking prices are actually on the decline. I've seen (and won) some nice hats over the past few months that I think would have gone for a decent amount sell for half to two-thirds less than a year or so ago.

Sent directly from my mind to yours.

deadlyhandsome · Dec 11, 2017

Frunobulax said:
From my wholly unscientific and anecdotal observations, I'm thinking prices are actually on the decline. I've seen (and won) some nice hats over the past few months that I think would have gone for a decent amount sell for half to two-thirds less than a year or so ago.

Sent directly from my mind to yours.

Oh, I do hope you're right. I also hope that sizes 7 5/8 and 7 3/4 hats will be the most common sizes and the cheapest hats in the vintage market.

It's Christmas, I'm allowed to dream.

RJR · Dec 11, 2017

deadlyhandsome said:
Oh, I do hope you're right. I also hope that sizes 7 5/8 and 7 3/4 hats will be the most common sizes and the cheapest hats in the vintage market.

It's Christmas, I'm allowed to dream.

eBay hats outrageously priced

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