Ebay Hats: Victories, Defeats, Gripes & Items of Interest

[TheDane]

Who ever that seller is, he is living in a dream world.

Absolutely! In the real World, companies like Borsalino sell even more expensive hats in a much lower quality

 

[g.durand]

This is the third time that hat has been posted. The first two postings had it listed for a buy-it-now price of $849. Now the BIN price is lower and it has an opening bid price. Some time later this year it may finally fall into a price range closer to the going rate for Stratoliners of that era and in that condition.

 

[Rogera]

It's a higher price because it is a highly treasured and rare fadora. I have to stay with the common fedora if I want a hat.

 

[fedoracentric]

It's a higher price because it is a highly treasured and rare fadora.

Not much "rare" about a 50s era Stratoliner. There was a time when one that size might reach $350 or so, but strats aren't selling as well these days.

 

[fedoracentric]

Absolutely! In the real World, companies like Borsalino sell even more expensive hats in a much lower quality

Sort of a meaningless exposition, though, when vintage Strats, no matter their "quality," aren't selling as high as they once did. The market rules, not necessarily "quality."

 

[carouselvic]

Look at the one that just sold in the classifieds here.

 

[TheDane]

The market rules, not necessarily "quality."

Exactly my point ... and that sounds like a (bad) dream world to me

 

[carouselvic]

Early 40's Strat....large size

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Ste...fgDzBtBIek%2FHGNJ0iNo%3D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc

 

[alanfgag]

A steal on that one.

 

[g.durand]

I was the high bidder, was prepared to go a bit higher but also was prepared for it to hit the Stratolinersphere. I was surprised.

 

[alanfgag]

You're gonna love it.

 

[TheDane]

Wow, congrats! It looks to be in more or less mint condition. A steal, for sure!

 

[fedoracentric]

Exactly my point ... and that sounds like a (bad) dream world to me

Heh. Yep. But, such is life. I mean, after all, the vintage Whippet still sells well past the $200 mark for a larger size and it was one of Stetson's cheaper hats!

 

[rclark]

I was the high bidder, was prepared to go a bit higher but also was prepared for it to hit the Stratolinersphere. I was surprised.

Congrats! That is an awesome looking hat.

 

[1mach1]

Congrats! That is an awesome looking hat.

+1. Nice score!

 

[RJR]

Good score!

 

[Joao Encarnado]

Heh. Yep. But, such is life. I mean, after all, the vintage Whippet still sells well past the $200 mark for a larger size and it was one of Stetson's cheaper hats!

:O :?

 

[fedoracentric]

True tale. The Whippet was a $10 hat back in the day. It was Stetson's lower quality price point. In fact, all the "named" hats in the 40s were the lower end hats (except, I think, for the Flagship which was usually a De Luxe, the next step up). Anyway, I think what stores did was get men in for the $10 model named hat (Bantam, Whippet, Stratoliner, etc.) and then try to upsell them to the more expensive ones if they could. The higher price points rarely had model names--at least by the 40s, anyway. The more expensive ones were De Luxe or Imperials, or 25s, 35s, and 100s, etc.

Anyway, the point is everyone goes crazy for the Whippet and some will pay over $300 for a vintage one and here it was Stetson's cheaper hat back in the day. Meanwhile, no one wants to bid on the De Luxes or the Imperials, at least not at the high dollars they'll lay out for a Whippet.

It all gets back to my note that the market sets the rules. Even though the Whippet was a hat of lesser quality back in the old days, everyone wants one now so the prices go up accordingly.

 

[Joao Encarnado]

I thought the Stratoliner was a better quality hat...
So if the market demands, a Whippet will go higher than a De Luxe. Insane...
Well I saw the same on westerns... No. 1's going higher than 3x...

 

[fedoracentric]

I hope someone will correct me, but I think Strats got up to $12 at one point. I may be wrong on that. Still a $12 hat is NOT a high end hat.