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

[HatsEnough]

This has been a question since ebay came around. It is obvious that some people don't bother to look around at what other items are selling for before trying to price their own items. I first started on ebay buying old photos in the 1990s and there is a particular photo of a certain person that you'll be lucky to get $25 for because he is a) not a popular person in his field, and b) his photo is plentiful as heck. Now, I've seen it sold for $5, $9.99 once in a while for $20. But never higher than that. But invariably I'll see idiots come on trying to sell the same photo for $200 or even higher. Often the same photo is up for sale 20 times a month on the bay and no one ever gets more than $20 for it, but there are always a few morons trying to get $200 and more for it.

I have seen it with just about every area of collecting on ebay. There's that guy selling the Stetson cowboy hat, for instance. For years he's been trying to get $399 out of that thing. It might be worth $100 because the crease is a cool horseshoe crease. But he'll never, ever get $399 for it. There's the nitwits trying to get $400 for some average 1900s era top hats, the idiots thinking every Borsalino is worth $200 or more, the fools that think every boater is from the 1920s and automatically worth no less than $150.

I just wish I had 5 cents for every time these idiots wasted their time posting their never-gonna-sell-it auction. I'd be a millionaire.

 

[Lefty]

Yeah, but good luck buying anything with a giant bag of nickels.

 

[mayserwegener]

I recently won this old size 58cm JHS Flexible Melone. It appears to be in good condition too.

 

[MDphoto]

Yeah, but good luck buying anything with a giant bag of nickels.

Coinstar. Duh...winning!

 

[Lefty]

Fantastic Stetson Nutria with Fray sweat, 7 1/8

 

[alanfgag]

Fantastic Stetson Nutria with Fray sweat, 7 1/8

The seller's question mark on whether this oldie was vintage... gave me a good feeling about it.

 

[Lefty]

I thought it might be you. Congrats.

 

[alanfgag]

Thank you Lefty. Been on the road for a while... I was lucky to catch it earlier today.

 

[HatsEnough]

Those photos weren't so hot, either, eh Alan?

 

[alanfgag]

They were nice and fuzzy... but it certainly received its share of love in the bidding.

 

[red71veloce]

Thank you Lefty. Been on the road for a while... I was lucky to catch it earlier today.

Whoa there partner.....I'm pretty sure your words to me were.....Bid without worrying about me...I'm taking the summer off of eBay hats!! Or something along those lines! Seriously Alan, looks like a great hat...to go with your other great hats.....all of them!

Congratulations!

T

 

[T Rick]

Great looking hat Alan, not sure how I didn't see it (but I would not have bid anyway, having been far to busy buying other hats lately, with 3 in the mail and one or two left on the radar screen). IIRC, we're the same size? I am a 7 1/8.

Looking forward to seeing the shot of you wearing it once it arrives, I'm sure it will end up as a bargain, being far nicer than presented in the ad.

 

[Lefty]

not mine (though I tossed in a bid)
incredible deal on this 4x Balbi Super Borsalino, 7 1/2, just needs a ribbon

 

[Lefty]

small, pinless Strat gets lots of love

 

[DJH]

Looks like a new potential customer for the pins, Lefty!
I was (almost) tempted to play in the Strat auction, but decided to be sensible. Looked to be a nice example, to be fair.

 

[HatsEnough]

I was watching that Strat for a while. But I realized I already have two, so what do I need it for? I am starting to feel that way about most auctions at this point.

 

[DJH]

Same here, HE. I watch a lot but rarely bid. I don't have a Stratoliner yet, but I'd rather support Major Moore when his hats are ready, than some opportunist.

Come to think of it, I have about 15 hat related saved searches, but have only ever bought half a dozen hats or so on eBay. Great fun getting a good one though!

 

[HatsEnough]

I have several problems, here on my end. First I have no more room to put any more hats. Second I have every color I ever wanted. Third I have nearly all the major styles and models I was interested in. My needs have dwindled to a tiny number of "wants" at this point. Heck I even have five Whippets (a green, two grays with black band -- one from the 40s and one from the 50s with the 2-1/2 inch brim --, a gray with gray band, and a brown).

I find myself saving hat searches and then just letting them go without a bid at all these days.

 

[Brad Bowers]

I really, really, really wanted this Dobbs trooper hat, as it represents a fantastic missing link in my collection. It was the box that sealed it for me- Hat Corporation of America, Winchester TN - Late-'60s/early-'70s, connects historically to HCA, the current Winchester Hat company, and their affiliate Stratton. Unfortunately, my snipe didn't even register, it was too low. Sucks being on a budget.

Brad

 

[zetwal]

I really, really, really wanted this Dobbs trooper hat, as it represents a fantastic missing link in my collection. It was the box that sealed it for me- Hat Corporation of America, Winchester TN - Late-'60s/early-'70s, connects historically to HCA, the current Winchester Hat company, and their affiliate Stratton. Unfortunately, my snipe didn't even register, it was too low. Sucks being on a budget.

Brad, I'm very sorry for your loss. I know first hand just how painful that can be. Hang in there!