Akubra Overload

[ShadowXY]

Akubra Boss replacement in round tag 56 just came in today. That's two black Akubras in one day.
Excellent Cond! Fits great! Wow, Scored in Akubra.

Wasn't sure if I wanted to invest in the boss again as it's distinctive but it's a hat that gets noticed.
It's nice when a hat fits & I''ve been really lucky with Sz 7

Boomerang is a thicker softer felt. Boss is firmer & a deeper black. Both are nice

 

[ShadowXY]

A is for ACUBRA! Commemorative Dollar coin....2021
View attachment 579112 View attachment 579113 View attachment 579114

Cool, missed it & flew out of Australia Nov 2021.

 

[One Drop]

I think Akubra is doing a fantastic job with their new Heritage releases. The Old West is a beautifully conceived and executed hat, and the latest drop, the Kempsey Whiskey, is another. I'm seriously lusting after this one, as a winter hat. Kudos to them for taking a chance on a Grizzly finish, this one really appeals to me due to it's relatively short pile, compared to some vintage ones I've seen that are a bit too long for my tastes.

Not crazy about the price to order from them and ship to Switzerland, so will probably pass, but man is it a nice hat. The proportions are so nicely balanced, and I can see it going really well with woollens and flannels, denims and other casual clothing. The 89mm (3 ½") brim is very versatile as well.

edited to add : I forgot to mention how much I appreciate the grosgrain ribbon. I wish more of the Akubras offered them.

https://akubra.com.au/products/kemp...VVE21BOJsbMZcAwWtxcJ1Jx6JnBv9JfXI0MWuU.Xub3Lv

 

[Zombie_61]

I think Akubra is doing a fantastic job with their new Heritage releases. The Old West is a beautifully conceived and executed hat, and the latest drop, the Kempsey Whiskey, is another. I'm seriously lusting after this one, as a winter hat. Kudos to them for taking a chance on a Grizzly finish, this one really appeals to me due to it's relatively short pile, compared to some vintage ones I've seen that are a bit too long for my tastes.

Not crazy about the price to order from them and ship to Switzerland, so will probably pass, but man is it a nice hat. The proportions are so nicely balanced, and I can see it going really well with woollens and flannels, denims and other casual clothing. The 89mm (3 ½") brim is very versatile as well.

edited to add : I forgot to mention how much I appreciate the grosgrain ribbon. I wish more of the Akubras offered them.

https://akubra.com.au/products/kemp...VVE21BOJsbMZcAwWtxcJ1Jx6JnBv9JfXI0MWuU.Xub3Lv

I like the hat, but it's waaaayyyyy out of my price range.

 

[One Drop]

I like the hat, but it's waaaayyyyy out of my price range.

Their foreign prices are ridiculous, with a huge built-in mark-up over their local prices, then have shipping added, making them unreasonably expensive. besides the UK they seem to have no outlets or resellers outside of Australia, making buying new ones for most non Australians a non-starter. What a pity.

I don't know how they can justify a USD $110 per hat markup for foreign direct online customers, a small amount to account for currency fluctuations and the extra paperwork for international sales (minimal, in any scenario) is reasonable but this just leaves a bad taste in the mouth, and is very hard to comprehend. I can only assume they are maintaining higher international prices in anticipation of not undercutting what will inevitably be higher prices in international resellers' shops once distribution is set up in other countries.

I've written them an email asking what their rationale is for this, I'm curious as to how they'll respond.

 

[Hurricane Jack]

Akubra Woomera

 

[Edward]

Their foreign prices are ridiculous, with a huge built-in mark-up over their local prices, then have shipping added, making them unreasonably expensive. besides the UK they seem to have no outlets or resellers outside of Australia, making buying new ones for most non Australians a non-starter. What a pity.

I don't know how they can justify a USD $110 per hat markup for foreign direct online customers, a small amount to account for currency fluctuations and the extra paperwork for international sales (minimal, in any scenario) is reasonable but this just leaves a bad taste in the mouth, and is very hard to comprehend. I can only assume they are maintaining higher international prices in anticipation of not undercutting what will inevitably be higher prices in international resellers' shops once distribution is set up in other countries.

I've written them an email asking what their rationale is for this, I'm curious as to how they'll respond.

It'd be interesting to compare it with different places. They don't seem to be preventing anyone shipping them internationally, though it's a bit more involved that it was. I've still be able to buy them from HatsDirect, I just have to deal with them by email now. The purchase price from Aus is markedly cheaper, even adding shipping. Once it gets hit with import tax (which, ironically, has become a lot stricter, and a much slower process, than was the case before the current UK trade deal with Aus was signed), much of the saving against buying from the UK supplier has disappeared to the point it's more or less the same price. Hard to say just how much since Akubra started preventing Australian suppliers from publishing prices online, though they feel pricey. My last Federation cost me the guts of £200 by the time it arrived in my hands two years ago (my first one in 2008 was about £80), but comparable hats on the UK suppliers' website today are nearly £300, which feels like a serious reach. Aside from the fact the UK supplier doesn't do Federations (obviously),it doesn't carry much of a range, either. Limited in number of models, and also colours - khaki or maybe a brown is your limit, the sole exception being the Stylemaster, offered in grey as well as brown, at £242. The UK supplier, Elm of Burford, is very much a countrywear supplier, and it appears they're only taking models that fir with that rather than the wider range. A shame, but there we are.

The upshot of all of this is I'm less likely to buy a new Akubra, even if the UK outlet does carry the model and colour I'm looking for. I still very much enjoy Akubras, but it seems the new owners are trying to reposition them in the market in terms of price. The UK retail prices now put them at closed to double the cost of an equally good hat from the Hat Centre, which does not endear me to them. It'll be interesting to see how Christys fare in the market once they get fully onto the direction the new owners with to take them. Otherwise, Bates look less expensive by comparison to these new prices from Akubra. I wonder if all this is why HatsDirect are developing their own Wentworth Hat Co line? Those, of course, they're able to sell via their website without any problem.

 

[One Drop]

It'd be interesting to compare it with different places. They don't seem to be preventing anyone shipping them internationally, though it's a bit more involved that it was. I've still be able to buy them from HatsDirect, I just have to deal with them by email now. The purchase price from Aus is markedly cheaper, even adding shipping. Once it gets hit with import tax (which, ironically, has become a lot stricter, and a much slower process, than was the case before the current UK trade deal with Aus was signed), much of the saving against buying from the UK supplier has disappeared to the point it's more or less the same price. Hard to say just how much since Akubra started preventing Australian suppliers from publishing prices online, though they feel pricey. My last Federation cost me the guts of £200 by the time it arrived in my hands two years ago (my first one in 2008 was about £80), but comparable hats on the UK suppliers' website today are nearly £300, which feels like a serious reach. Aside from the fact the UK supplier doesn't do Federations (obviously),it doesn't carry much of a range, either. Limited in number of models, and also colours - khaki or maybe a brown is your limit, the sole exception being the Stylemaster, offered in grey as well as brown, at £242. The UK supplier, Elm of Burford, is very much a countrywear supplier, and it appears they're only taking models that fir with that rather than the wider range. A shame, but there we are.

The upshot of all of this is I'm less likely to buy a new Akubra, even if the UK outlet does carry the model and colour I'm looking for. I still very much enjoy Akubras, but it seems the new owners are trying to reposition them in the market in terms of price. The UK retail prices now put them at closed to double the cost of an equally good hat from the Hat Centre, which does not endear me to them. It'll be interesting to see how Christys fare in the market once they get fully onto the direction the new owners with to take them. Otherwise, Bates look less expensive by comparison to these new prices from Akubra. I wonder if all this is why HatsDirect are developing their own Wentworth Hat Co line? Those, of course, they're able to sell via their website without any problem.

Thanks, I wasn't aware I could still order from Australian outlets - I suspect customs and duties to be a lot lower to Switzerland than to the UK these days. I just had a look at a few sites and they all do mention they can take phone or email orders - they just all seem to not be carrying much new stock, and none of the new Heritage series, unfortunately.

 

[Edward]

Thanks, I wasn't aware I could still order from Australian outlets - I suspect customs and duties to be a lot lower to Switzerland than to the UK these days. I just had a look at a few sites and they all do mention they can take phone or email orders - they just all seem to not be carrying much new stock, and none of the new Heritage series, unfortunately.

I ordered a new Federation from HatsDirect.com after the Akubra changes. Slower process (especially with the time difference), but very easy. The main thing to be aware of is that you're sort of going in blind, as the Akubra rules dictate they can't advertise the price online, hence there isn't the same opportunity to price match if that was something that mattered to you (in my case, with the Federation being an exclusive, it wasn't an issue).

I imagine you're right about Switzerland; here in the UK, if the total cost (item plus shipping) is over a certain amount, we pay something like 4.5% import tax on the whole, and then 20% VAT on the total.

 

[jkingrph]

I splurged today and ordered a new Akubra from the Hattery. They had a limited edition Fern colored Banjo Paterson that I have had my eye on for a while. I ordered the last size 60 today, I checked after I ordered and it said 60 was out of stock now. Looking forward to this one.
View attachment 659970

Just got a david morgan catalog a couple of days ago. Spotted this one and they had my size in stock a 58 so ordered one. Prices really going up, never paid this much, $380 for and Akurbra. I have one in Heritage Fawn and Graphite, along with several other of their styles, but this is my favorite.

 

[NorthmostAustralia]

My new Akubra Sombrero with the Bush Tucker man bash that Les Hiddins used. I removed the cow skin band and replaced with Kangaroo leather strap. Now I am starting to brake it in.

 

[Zombie_61]

Just got a david morgan catalog a couple of days ago...Prices really going up, never paid this much, $380 for an Akubra...

This kind of goes hand-in-hand with my eyesight getting worse as I get older--I just can't see spending that much for a single hat.

 

[EL-Jimenez74]

When I ordered a Stylemaster (about 6 weeks ago) Hats by the Hundred had by far the best prices. The Hattery @ Katoomba was second, and in retrospect I would order from them in the future. Either option is much, much cheaper than Akubra or David Morgan. The benefit to the Hattery @ Katoomba is their inventory and shipping times. I'm almost at 60 days and my hat still hasn't arrived ath Hats by the Hundred to be shipped to me. Hope you find something that works for you, good luck.

 

[One Drop]

When I ordered a Stylemaster (about 6 weeks ago) Hats by the Hundred had by far the best prices. The Hattery @ Katoomba was second, and in retrospect I would order from them in the future. Either option is much, much cheaper than Akubra or David Morgan. The benefit to the Hattery @ Katoomba is their inventory and shipping times. I'm almost at 60 days and my hat still hasn't arrived ath Hats by the Hundred to be shipped to me. Hope you find something that works for you, good luck.

Very useful and welcome info, thanks!

 

[HatsBySam]

When I ordered a Stylemaster (about 6 weeks ago) Hats by the Hundred had by far the best prices. The Hattery @ Katoomba was second, and in retrospect I would order from them in the future. Either option is much, much cheaper than Akubra or David Morgan. The benefit to the Hattery @ Katoomba is their inventory and shipping times. I'm almost at 60 days and my hat still hasn't arrived ath Hats by the Hundred to be shipped to me. Hope you find something that works for you, good luck.

Co-sign on The Hattery, have ordered twice from them. They are super friendly and I’m always shocked how quickly they can get a hat from Australia to Missouri. Both times under 2 weeks.

 

[One Drop]

Co-sign on The Hattery, have ordered twice from them. They are super friendly and I’m always shocked how quickly they can get a hat from Australia to Missouri. Both times under 2 weeks.

I ordered my Sombrero from them, and previously another Akubra that was delivered to the wrong address here in Switzerland, and unfortunately was accepted by the receiver. The Hattery very graciously refunded me the total cost in spite of Swiss Post not officially taking responsibility for the error.

I contacted them last week and had a fantastic exchange with them about pricing and availability of a few models, they deserve to be singled out for how helpful and considerate they are.

I wanted to share here that their prices are indeed extremely reasonable, and they'll make special orders for certain models and colours upon request. In my case, they added a Territory in Khaki to their expected January order for me, which I'm really looking forward to receiving in the new year, to add to my 2 Smoky Mountains, 1 Bushman, and a Sombrero, all of which get regular wear and have never let me down whatever the weather or occasion.