Worst hat shipping ever?!?

[Snrbfshn]

I bought a 60s-ish straw off ebay that was described well and looked pretty good in its picture.

When I got home yesterday, my wife said, "I think your hat's here, but it must be an awfully small hat," and showed me a shoebox.

"Can't be," I said, "because no way a straw hat fits in that box without crushing it." Then I saw the return address, said "Uh oh," and opened it. To my dismay, this is what I saw:

Unfriggingbelieveable. The seller stuffed this straw with its 5 1/2" crown into a 4 3/8" tall box that was also so narrow it badly curled the brim. And no padding whatsoever in the flimsy box, inviting further damage. I've never had a prior shipper even come close to botching it as completely as this. It's almost like she did it on purpose 'cause otherwise how do you explain a straw hat that ends up looking like this?

The odd thing is she has 99.7% positive feedback on more than 1,170 transactions, so this isn't a nubie or someone who's plain stupid. I've emailed her and asked for my money back, and will hold off posting the ebay listing or her name unless she refuses.

Have you ever had one show up at your door looking like this pitiful thing?

 

[Mr. 'H']

That's a disgrace.

I mean, that hat survived for the last 40 odd years, only to come to a sorry end like that.

Still, I've no doubt you'll try to resusitate it. The panama specialists like Bob and Sharpie should be able to give you some advice. Maybe wetting/soaking the straw and gently plying it back into shape would work.

What a shame!

:rage:

 

[Bebop]

Being the owner of Birkenstock shoes, I can tell you that the shoes that were meant to fit in the Birkenstock box don't usually fit in it. Much less a hat. What could go through someones mind to stuff a hat in a shoebox?? How much could you possibly save by shipping a shoe box instead of a hatbox?

 

[Aaron Hats]

That's too bad but a little steam should bring it back to life.

 

[besdor]

I have won hats on Ebay before and have had this problem happen to me a few times . The problem is some people dont realize how to pack a hat in a box. I once received a hat that was ROLLED up in a small box and wrapped up with tape!! You can imagine the feedback I left . Regulatr hat boxes are not easy to get today and most shipping places are clueless about how to package a hat.

 

[SHARPETOYS]

You can fix it

Like Arron said use steam first. I wear gloves and steam it over a pot of water and then I use my fingers to reform the block of the hat. Most straws have a memory and will fall back into shape. A iron on the brim and the hat is good as new. The price of the hat won't warrant the cost of a hatters reblock. Good luck!

 

[DanielJones]

Ouch!!

Sorry about the hat. Never had one shipped like that before. But I believe Sharpetoys is right. A little steam and some TLC and it should be as right as the mail. Please show us the photos when you're done.

Cheers!

Dan

 

[Snrbfshn]

Transaction resolved...

The seller was most gracious in her apology and refunded my money. She said "keep the hat," so I'll steam 'er up and see how much shape I can return to it.

 

[Mycroft]

The seller was most gracious in her apology and refunded my money. She said "keep the hat," so I'll steam 'er up and see how much shape I can return to it.

Now you know she is a good seller, as the comments on ebay said. This is how everyone should do bussness.

 

[nicolasb]

The seller was most gracious in her apology and refunded my money. She said "keep the hat," so I'll steam 'er up and see how much shape I can return to it.

"Steam 'er up"? You mean the hat, or the seller?