I have finally found a vintage bowler in a size that fits me - 7 3/4!

MattJH · Sep 30, 2008

I know that this could belong in the eBay auctions thread, but I think this is something exceptional so I'm making a thread of its own. Pardon me for being presumptuous! This is seemingly a bowler from the 40's in a 7 3/4 size! Due to its extremely poor listing in virtually every sense, I was only competing with one other person on this. I was still at the opening bid of $25 until just a few hours ago. Even at the cost I got it for, I still think I won out. I emailed the seller and they confirmed that it's a true 7 3/4 size hat.

And here I thought carter would grab EVERY quality large-sized hat away from me!

I really never thought I'd find a true vintage bowler in my size. I've seen two 7 5/8 bowlers listed in the past 3 years and zero 7 3/4 bowlers.

I have no idea what I'm going to do with it. I think this is more on the level of a collector. Outside of Halloween, I can't think of any situation where I'd wear a bowler. I'll post pictures when I get it.

carter · Sep 30, 2008

I ahve too many Bowlers already!

Nice one, DJ! I hope it's a good fit and that you enjoy wearing it.

We need to use this a s a starting point for a Bowler thread!

Levallois · Sep 30, 2008

Dumbjaw - beautiful bowler you have there. I would love to see photos of the liner, etc.

and Carter - good idea.

My Stetson "1900 Worlds Fair, Paris" bowler in 7 1/2 LO

tortswon · Sep 30, 2008

Bowler

Congratulations on your new bowler, DJ. I could never wear one of those given my face shape. I would wind up looking like Mr. Saito, the old wrestler. I'm sure it will look better on you. Best, Sam

Colby Jack · Oct 1, 2008

Very nice DJ! Congrats!:eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap

carldelo · Oct 1, 2008

Nice

I barely even look on ebay anymore, there's almost never anything in 7-3/4. That bowler looks pretty much the cats pyjamas - if you don't care for it once it arrives, I volunteer to take it off your hands for cost plus - I'd love to have a bowler for formal dress a few times a year in NYC. Ditto the earlier request for photos of the liner and brim treatment details. Cheers, Carl

MattJH · Oct 3, 2008

Alright, I'm absolutely, completely fed up with this kind of garbage. Email I just sent to the seller:

"I am extremely disappointed, to say the least.

You had listed this as a 7 3/4 hat, which is 24 3/8 inches in inside circumference, or a metric measurement of 62 centimeters. When I emailed you to confirm, you confirmed.

I just got the hat today. It's a wonderful hat. It's also 22 1/2 inches in inside circumference, which is a size 7 1/8 or a metric measurement of 57 centimeters.

It is a full FIVE sizes below what it was listed for. As you may or may not know, larger sized hats sell significantly higher than average sized hats. The $71.00 I paid would have been closer to $25.00 had it been listed with the proper size.

I understand that you did not intend to deceive me, and I apologize if it sounds like I am pinning you to a wall, but I really am frustrated about this.

I need to return this hat for a full refund + shipping it back to you. I paid $71.00 + $7.00 for shipping. It will cost me $7.00 more to ship it back to you. Please PayPal me $85.00.

Thanks,
Matt"

Seriously, folks, I'm getting significantly discouraged. Even if a seller confirms a size, sometimes it's still not the size. OBTAINING ACCURATE MEASUREMENTS IS NOT SUPPOSED TO BE ROCKET SCIENCE.

Good GRIEF. More time and money wasted. I guarantee you this guy will not agree to pay for my shipping which means I'm going to have to go through yet ANOTHER PayPal dispute.

Lefty · Oct 3, 2008

I'm sorry to hear about that.

Good luck with getting your money back.

MattJH · Oct 3, 2008

If it weren't for the posting guidelines here, I would've used much different, much more descriptive language.

He has no choice but to refund me because I'm not offering alternatives. I fully intend to be relentless. I'm tired of this. This is the third hat in the past month that was improperly measured. I cannot stand it when my time and money is wasted, and I especially can't stand that let-down when you realize it after pulling it out of the box.

feltfan · Oct 3, 2008

Been there, don't like it. I hope you light a fire under that seller.
I thought it was very nice of you to say, "I understand that you did
not intend to deceive me" and I think a seller with whom you exchanged
clear size-oriented email and THEN sent you that hat deserves to be
pinned to a wall.

There were some clues in the listing- the hat type is
spelled "durby" and it says 7 3/4", not "size 7 3/4".
These days, when I see a listing by an obvious knuckle dragger
unless I can make out the information I need from the photos,
I bid very low or pass.

Maj.Nick Danger · Oct 3, 2008

Levallois said:
Dumbjaw - beautiful bowler you have there. I would love to see photos of the liner, etc.

and Carter - good idea.

My Stetson "1900 Worlds Fair, Paris" bowler in 7 1/2 LO

I have that exact same hat! Only in a 7-1/8,...tried selling the wretched thing innumerable times on greedbay to no avail.

So odd how a style that was ubiquitous for about 30 years or more, is now almost universally scorned, even in rare not-completely-roached condition.

(If I ever find a 7-3/4 in good shape, I will offer it to ya Dumbjaw.)

tonyb · Oct 3, 2008

This certainly doesn't excuse the seller's behavior, but keep in mind that most people selling hats on eBay don't know diddly.

Really, I have come to the conclusion that most have very little understanding of anything to do with hats, especially sizes. They apparently think there's no significant difference between a 7 1/8 and a 7 3/4. It's as though their little minds are thinking something along the lines of ... well, they're both size 7's, right? If the guy's head was much larger, it would be an 8 or a 9, right?

Maj.Nick Danger · Oct 3, 2008

Remedial math courses are needed then.

Barz51 · Oct 3, 2008

Very well written letter, be sure to keep us updated!

MattJH · Oct 5, 2008

The seller did not respond after 24 hours, so I've escalated this to PayPal's Resolution Center.

If I don't receive a response within 48 hours, it will be escalated to PayPal's Claims. They'll only refund me the amount I paid: $78.00.

When they do, I'll email the seller letting them know that they have 24 hours to send me the $7.00 to ship it back to them. If they don't, then they don't get the hat back. I will NOT lose a single penny on this. There's no reason I should be paying to send it back to them. Why should I lose money for a mistake I did not make?

Call it merciless, call it intolerant, calling it making a mountain out of a molehill, call it cheap, call it unnecessarily aggressive, but I've lost ALL patience for this and I refuse to enable this sort of activity any longer. If you can't measure, you get punished. Eventually, there will be enough punished people out there that they'll just stop trying altogether.

Crane's · Oct 5, 2008

Dumbjaw said:
When they do, I'll email the seller letting them know that they have 24 hours to send me the $7.00 to ship it back to them. If they don't, then they don't get the hat back. I will NOT lose a single penny on this. There's no reason I should be paying to send it back to them. Why should I lose money for a mistake I did not make?

If you make a claim with PP over an item not described and get reimbursed for the auction send the hat back regardless of whether or not the seller pays to ship it back. Failure to do so can result in a reversal or worse yet the seller can file a mail fraud complaint against you if they shipped USPS. Right wrong or indifferent, doesn't matter, that's the way it is.

carldelo · Oct 5, 2008

Crane's said:
If you make a claim with PP over an item not described and get reimbursed for the auction send the hat back regardless of whether or not the seller pays to ship it back. Failure to do so can result in a reversal or worse yet the seller can file a mail fraud complaint against you if they shipped USPS. Right wrong or indifferent, doesn't matter, that's the way it is.

Yeah, and if you use a rolling pin, you could probably fit it in an envelope and save a little on the shipping cost...

GWD · Oct 5, 2008

A little more patience may be needed.

While I completely agree with your position, this is a weekend and a lot of people get away on weekends. I'd give them a few more days before lodging a dispute.

MattJH · Oct 5, 2008

Thank you for your warnings and suggestions, everyone.

Colby Jack · Oct 5, 2008

Matt...I feel your pain...Everytime I watch a hat...I read...reread...read again the description...Then I wonder if the size they list is accurate...sometimes they'll even post a picture of the size tag...and say there is no size listed...and they have a different size listed....and being a 7 5/8...it drives me nuts...Then like Matt...you finally get one...and it's the wrong size. Those wonderful feelings you get of looking and finding that special hat are dashed with a visit from the postman...

:rage:

I've taken to believing that I won't ever find a really classic hat for a good price...and that I will become Hats Directs best customer...and DM's and eventually Art's...

I have finally found a vintage bowler in a size that fits me - 7 3/4!

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