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

[ScottF]

1950's Open Road

This one is beyond me. Same hat, same size, condition...same EXACT liner, stampings, etc...went for $65 a week ago:

$317 Open Road on ebay

 

[Lefty]

Downside? They call that "patina" on Antiques Roadshow.
With these guys, it's all about patina (and dovetails, and secondary woods).

 

[Lefty]

This one is beyond me. Same hat, same size, condition...same EXACT liner, stampings, etc...went for $65 a week ago:

If you're working on a collection of hats from every state (which I'm not), North Carolina might be a tough one. Otherwise, that's just nuts.

(I now expect JtL to inform us of his purchase and explain why it's not nuts. )

 

[Inusuit]

This one is beyond me. Same hat, same size, condition...same EXACT liner, stampings, etc...went for $65 a week ago:

$317 Open Road on ebay

WOW! That's $100 more than I paid for a 7XXXXXX Clear Beaver OR 7 1/2 LO a couple of months ago. The 7X had a couple of minor spots, no box, and was of more recent vintage, but still.... over 3 C-notes for a 3X? Someone really wanted an 7 3/8 OR.

 

[jimmy the lid]

(I now expect JtL to inform us of his purchase and explain why it's not nuts. )

Next up, North Dakota...

Cheers,
JtL

 

[babs]

Yeah I watched that one and figured as much. Is it my fault? Newbs like me have driven up demand? Ok, I'm boycotting the bay for at least a whole week. hehehehe

 

[Inusuit]

Yeah I watched that one and figured as much. Is it my fault? Newbs like me have driven up demand? Ok, I'm boycotting the bay for at least a whole week. hehehehe

GOOD! Because I'm watching an aution that ends tomorrow.

 

[babs]

GOOD! Because I'm watching an aution that ends tomorrow.

... Ooooh wait.. I might have to look. hehehehehe kidding.

 

[ScottF]

Yeah I watched that one and figured as much. Is it my fault? Newbs like me have driven up demand? Ok, I'm boycotting the bay for at least a whole week. hehehehe

You only need two bidders who wear that hat-size and who are looking for a 3X quality Open Road in that condition. They both put in a snipe for the maximum amount they would pay, and voila - you have $317.

I bet there's more than one of us who put a snipe in for $200-300 for a hat, and won it for $75 or less.

Anyway, this auction shows how important good photos and feedback are. To be fair, the other one I mentioned had only one unflattering photo:

Open Road 3X 7 3/8LO

 

[carouselvic]

$100.00 per X. In this world of rising prices, isn't it nice to know that writing paper has remained stationery?
I think JtL got a brand new 55+- year old hat in the original box. Try and go down town and buy one. TLH

 

[babs]

Wow.. Yeah I think also it depends on the week.. Literally.. One week there might be four guys same size and same hunt. Next week, they're wearing their new lids and uninterested. Ebb and flow.

 

[gtdean48]

$100.00 per X. In this world of rising prices, isn't it nice to know that writing paper has remained stationery?
I think JtL got a brand new 55+- year old hat in the original box. Try and go down town and buy one. TLH

Right Victor - about same price as a custom for a pristine vintage Stetson with a vintage original box...seems like a deal to me. My 1940s 3X Open Road felt is as nice as the customs I have. I know it is not 100% beaver but some very NICE felt.

 

[tortswon]

Wow.. Yeah I think also it depends on the week.. Literally.. One week there might be four guys same size and same hunt. Next week, they're wearing their new lids and uninterested. Ebb and flow.

I have to agree with babs on this one. The vagaries of the auction market surely have random aspects. For example, I have gotten some very good deals just before Father's Day and Christmas when intuitively prices should be at their highest.

I think that if I could ever figure out the psychology of eBay and be able to predict when prices will be at their lowest, I would probably have been better off spending all that time figuring out how to predict the prices of commodity futures. Best, Sam

 

[ScottF]

I have to agree with babs on this one. The vagaries of the auction market surely have random aspects. For example, I have gotten some very good deals just before Father's Day and Christmas when intuitively prices should be at their highest.

I think that if I could ever figure out the psychology of eBay and be able to predict when prices will be at their lowest, I would probably have been better off spending all that time figuring out how to predict the prices of commodity futures, Best, Sam

The real key is: what are you willing to pay for a particular hat you are looking for? If you see a hat go anywhere from $70 - 200, and you aren't in a hurry, then put a snipe of $75 in each time you see that hat, and at some point you'll get one.

 

[ScottF]

Anyway, this auction shows how important good photos and feedback are. To be fair, the other one I mentioned had only one unflattering photo:

Open Road 3X 7 3/8LO

Whoops - the $68 Open Road had the circular 3X logo in the liner, not the 'last drop' logo. It could be that the two bidders were looking for that particular hat/liner combo for collecting purposes.

 

[gtdean48]

$317 Open Road on ebay

I think mine is a little older than this once since my has STETSON on the size tag in a Times Roman type font. Mine is a Long Oval, so the tag is yellow with Long Oval written below the size. It has stars in the crest with the more straight back beaver pose.
They both are 3" brims which is pretty western in my book.
I did notice the box crest had the leaf instead of stars.
It surely appears "unwore". NICE lid, great find. :eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap

 

[ScottF]

I think mine is a little older than this once since my has STETSON on the size tag in a Times Roman type font. Mine is a Long Oval, so the tag is yellow with Long Oval written below the size. It has stars in the crest with the more straight back beaver pose.
They both are 3" brims which is pretty western in my book.
I did notice the box crest had the leaf instead of stars.
It surely appears "unwore". NICE lid, great find. :eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap

Yeah, sounds like you have one of the earliest ones. I have one like that also, but it's in pieces

 

[Herzen]

Just arrived today...

Stetson 3x Selv-Edge

 

[CRH]

Stetson 3x Selv-Edge
....

Nice one, Herzen! I like the brim up look on you.

I don't understand sniping. I just decide what my limit is for an item and I'm done. Win or loose [huh].

 

[Spats McGee]

Nice one, Herzen!

:arated:

Good score!