Club Obi Wan

With all due respect to Fedora, I'm not trying to start a huge fire here, but with the issues of taper, unbashed hats, brims not shaped properly, and people saying their hats are arriving in questionable shape, what kind of boxes are being used to ship the hats? Are the hats being secured in any way? Or are they just bouncing around in a big box? I've ordered a few hats through the mail in my time and never had a problem. They are always secure and come exactly as described. The Beaverbrand hats in particular come in a box with a foam "cushion" on the lid which holds the hat in place. Anyone who's ever ordered a Kepler can attest to this. It is impossible for it to move anywhere to mess up the crown or the brim. It also comes with a foam ring around the crown (over the ribbon) to keep it snug. Also, what company is being used for the shipping? Are they a little over-zealous with the packages ? Maybe Fedora should look into a company that demonstrates a little more care of the package than what is currently being done.

This is just an inquiry, maybe you individuals that have purchased them(I have not, but am thinking about it) can shed some light on the matter. As with some others, I am beginning to be a little unsettled by some of the information coming up lately.


have a nice day.

I'm actually glad someone brought this up. MY AB was shipped in a big white box, inside the hat rested upside down in a circular cardboard holder, then the hat was held in there by a piece of yarn.

When my first hat came, it was shipped through normal mail. It took about 2 weeks or so, and dispite the fragile markings on the box it was pretty beat up. The box had obviously had something heavier put on it, the sides were pretty dented, and it had been opened by customs and pretty poorly re-taped.

I have no doubt that somewhere in that two weeks it got jarred, and bashed around some.

Personally, I would have liked to spend an extra $5 or something and had it packed a little better. The top and bottom of the box could stand a thin layer of foam to help the hat from bumping up against the top and bottom, but I think what would be more important would be some sturdy cardboard X's placed around the hat, so, if it had something heavy placed on top, then the cardboard would take the pressure, and not the hat.

My second hat however, was sent via UPS, 3-7 day service. It arrived in slightly better condition (the box that is) but I think a few packing precautions might have helped.

more foam I say!!

Of course, I am always open for suggestions. My packing methods are fairly primitive, but from what I can tell, highly effective. I have shipped 283 hats to date, and so far, not enough have been hurt to warrant an added expense. But, if it is warranted, I will do so. All that I did was to copy some old vintage boxes that I had got with vintage hats from ebay. I make the circular cardboard rest for the hat, so it is suspended inside the box, and the crown does not touch the bottom. Instead of using a shallower box, so that the box itself holds the hat in place, I use a deeper box and run a retaining piece of soft yarn over the hat to hold it in place. The shallow box, or even the elegant hat box that Optimo ships in, work great for snap brim hats, but if the hat is sent with the brim downturned in front, a deeper box is essential. Like I said, if warranted I will make some changes, but the point almost seems moot to me. You buy someones hat, open the spaceage box , and the hat is absolutely perfect. You then pull it on your head, and get dragged behind a truck. A terrific waste of packing materials to me. Fedora

Steve, How did you like the petersbrothers box that I sent my Herbert Johnson in ? I can't imagine it would cost that much more and I think the boxes they use would work great.

Maybe you could get a climate-controled titanium box and a team of hat moving experts to accompany it on its journey... I am sorry for the sarcasm, but I am amazed that this is even raised as an issue. It's a hat, not a 16th century Ming Vase!

If the bash pops out, push it back in with your finger.

Steve is a small scale custom hat maker. I have received three shipments from him and each time things were fine. One of those times one of the bashes popped out and I pushed it back in with my finger. It took about a milisecond. I have received hats from other hat makers or private sales where they were stuffed into USPS boxes. I pulled them out, straightened them out and wore them. No problem. Geeze.

I have an idea that MIGHT help...

folks buy their own boxes and send them to Steve when they order a new fedora.

Seriously... If I had the time I would see what I could find for sending fedora's through the mail rather then take time away from our buddy who only has 24 hours in each day.

I've had no problems with the packaging. Steve sent my Akubra back better then the one I shipped it to him in.

Let me just make it clear my hats were fine....the boxes weren't....and that is sad, I really wanted to wear the boxes!

Here is my two cents worth...
I have ordered many items,USPS,UPS,DHL,Fed Ex.No matter what company does the delivering, at some time you are going to get one that is miss handled. No matter what kind of packing materal is used;if several hundred pound items, are placed on top of a hat box . Guess What? It's smashed. Oh! Well!!
I have ordered two hats from Fedora; both came in a white box.they were fine. That's not saying anything about the Delivery folks. Bad Handling does occur.

Have a Great Day!

IndianaWill

" I really wanted to wear the boxes!"

LOL

Put THAT on the AB Fedora Testimony page!

Fedora,
So, can I order a box separately, or do I have to buy a hat first. I didn’t see boxes on the web sight and was just wondering maybe you hadn’t updated it yet.

Make 'em a deal. Sell the boxes for $175 and get a FREE hat!

I will say this. If anyone can source me the PB box, I will use it!!!!!!! I have always loved their shipping box. Trouble is, I have not been able to source them, and other hatters are generally close to the vest with info, that is, except my buddy Jim from JW Hats in Salt Lake. I am using Tharco, as that is what he uses and he does the same that I am doing with the cardboad tube. Even told me where to get the cardboard for the tube. Since he has been in the hat making business all his life, I figured he was giving me good info. But, I am all ears. Fedora

Steve , I'll start working on that for you.

With the beaver fur felt and no stiffener, you can just roll the hats in a ball and put rubber bands around them. Shipping will not hurt them and it is not rocket science to make it look decent again. I do not get the fuss over the box. In fact, stick some stamps and an address label right on that hat and ship it out like that. They are not that fragile...

Steve , Here you go .

Bates containers, inc.
North Richland Hills , texas

Steve , Found the web site.

http://www.batescontainer.com

Steve, I find the boxes you use to be fine. My AB arrived just fine. Just FYI I got mine open crown and bashed it myself.

Come on guys the hats' called an Adventure Built I'm sure it can take alittle tossing around.

All I know is when I get ready to order mine (which will be very soon... counting the pennies everyday)... It better be shipped in this!





-Doc

DUDE!! That would be so awesome!!

Yeah, a cardboard box just printed up like that would be ultra cool

Don't take me the wrong way, both my AB arrivd just fine in the boxes steve sent them in. I just gave a suggestion and he seemed to like my Idea ( just wanted to help him out).

... It better be shipped in this!

Yeah, except when the swastika gets burned off the box it might singe your hat!

If anyone can source me the PB box, I will use it

Actually, I think your hat boxes are better. I don't like the way the hat cradle is designed in the PB box, it makes it hard to get the hat out. :junior: -IJ

To date, I have recieved two shipments from Steve, and not once were my hats or boxes damaged. I guess maybe that's because it is being shipped within the United States, and not having to go through customs.

If someone really feels like this is an issue, I suggest paying for extra packaging, and alternatively, a higher shipping method than regular USPS. Perhaps FedEx or UPS will handle the boxes better than the USPS.

When I sent my PB Hat away to someone I sold it to on eBay, I used the box that I got my Keppler fedora in. Really great box for the purpose, and the buyer was happy with it, too.

Regards,

Actually, I think your hat boxes are better. I don't like the way the hat cradle is designed in the PB box, it makes it hard to get the hat out. -IJ

I really can't understand how you couldn't get a hat out of a petersbrothers box.

the little tabs that point down and inward get a grip on the felt making it difficult to pull out. :junior: -IJ

I agree, I don't like the PB box either. It is certainly built like a brick house, but it is hard to get the hat out. I've found the Kepler box to be the best I've seen.



have a nice day.

I have three of them and had no problem at all.

I don't think we're saying it's impossible to get the hat out, those tabs just make it to where the felt and ribbon is snagging a bit, ya gotta wiggle it back and forth, squeeze it a little bit ,etc. Yes, it comes out eventually, undamaged of course, but with others, you just lift the hat out, no issues. You just pick it up.


have a nice day.

Exactly. :junior: -IJ

To get those boxes you need to order 500 min. The cost is way over the top then Steve would need a large warehouse to store them. I can see if he did that some of you would also complain about that box.

You are buying in most cases a 100% pure beaver hat. Check around most custom hats with a rabbitt blend hat body is $400.00 and up.

I just don't think you folks realize what a deal you are getting!! I have 3 of his pure beaver hats and I could not be happier.

you are buying a hat not a box.

I think the box that fedora sends his adventurebilts in is perfect. I have the PB box, and that particular box marks up the side of your hat where the little cardboard tabs are. I can't think of a better way than Steve's.

There is nothing anyone can do about humidity. About the time my Adventurebilt came, we had very high humidity and temp here in Texas, so I think it caused the top of the hat to shrink up and taper a little bit. Steve does send his hats USPS, and you all can attest to those open, non-airconditioned jeeps. Perhaps the big brown UPS truck might be better, but I can only speculate on that.

I think the only way to combat taper when sending hats to the south is to pack up the hat block and the hat maker in the box along with the hat. Might cost a bit more in postage, though!

Texas Jones wrote:I think the only way to combat taper when sending hats to the south is to pack up the hat block and the hat maker in the box along with the hat. Might cost a bit more in postage, though!

And never mind the problems caused when you try to ship yourself by means other than established passenger modes. Remember that kid who shipped himself home for the Holidays by UPS a year or so bacK?

Let's all try to remember that he lives in Mississippi, so he probably "enjoys" the same kind of humid weather that we get here in the Metromess, if not more so if he's closer to the Gulf. Any way you look at it, the hats are going to get a blast of moist air on both ends of the journey this time year (unless he's shipping one to Mojave Jack!).

FYI, Fedora informed me last night that he's shipping mine out today. I'll report on what comes out of the box when it arrives next week, but at this point I'm more worried about whether it will fit my head comfortably than about the shape of the crown. And my fears will probably be just as groundless as as they were when I was sweating out the arrival of my Wested a week or so back.

Cheers!

I'm sorry to sound like a mad man but, I have no idea what tabs you are talking about. I have three boxes from Petersbrothers and you just lift the hat right out of the box with no trouble at all. I personally have no trouble with Steve's boxes at all ( I have two AB both came out fine).

Of course, I am always open for suggestions.

I will say this. If anyone can source me the PB box, I will use it!!!!!!! I have always loved their shipping box. Trouble is, I have not been able to source them,

This is why I post a suggestion on the Petersbrothers boxes and where to find them.

Then I would suggest looking in your PB box again. They're the part that come in direct contact with the sides of the hat. :junior: -IJ

Sorry no tabs , maybe they changed them.

well that's odd. How recently did you get your PB? I got mine around November of 2003. :junior: -IJ

Unless Peters Brothers has changed their hatboxes in the last month, they still have the tabs. This is a picture of a hatbox picked up just last month. Notice the tabs in the "crown hole". However, out of all 6 PB hatboxes I have and the four my wife has (all 10 dating between early 2003 and present), all of them have the tabs and none of them give us any problems. Our hats come out perfectly fine. The tabs do not get caught on the ribbons or bows. Make sure you have them pushed out of the way enough. They should not be touching the crown. They are there to limit movement side to side, not to stop it completely. There should be some room between the tabs and crown.

Thanks for the pic BDJ! Removing the hat the first time wasn't much trouble, but last summer when I went to sleep-away camp I was gonna store the PB in its box. I tried it the night before I left and found I had to struggle to take it out again, so when I left for camp I put a plastic bag over my PB before storing it. Maybe I'll just cut the tabs out.
See what we're talking about when we mention the "tabs", JP? :junior: -IJ

Yes I do and thanks for clearing that up. I have three of those boxes ( just like the on in the pic). I never have a problem with getting them in or out of the box.

I guess its just a problem some of us have, then. :junior: -IJ

Well, you know what they say about pictures!

One solution to the PB hatbox is to remove the tabs. They are semi-perforated, so taking them out shouldn’t be difficult. This would solve the problem (if it is that big of a deal).

Why does everything start a debate around here? It's simple, some of us don't like the PB's box, some do. Do we really need to hear "well I have 14 Peters Bros hats, and not one of the boxes has caused me any problem" "oh, yeah, well I have 72 AB's and not one of them came with taper and the boxes were all pristine when it arrived".This wasn't meant to turn into a "who ownes the most hats" thread, I just thought I would start this post to try and SOLVE a minor issue that I thought was recurring in posts, not to start a box-debate. Nor was I questioning Fedoras quality, craftsmanship, or customer service- I'm certain they are ALL outstanding, but since he has such a spectacular product like he does, why not grace it with an equally outstanding shipping box. I know if I ordered a stradavarious, I wouldn't want it coming in a sub-standard, standard , or even a good box. I'd want it secured and safe in a GREAT box. By the same token- I personally, if my business was creating a special product to sell and ship to people, I would be OVERLY sure that the shipping carton was so the item was received EXACTLY as it went out the door(yes I know about moisture and heat and the like . Put a flippin dessicant in the box for Pete's sake!). Bottom line, it would probably be overkill, cause as someone once said "it's better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it" And no, I wouldn't mind paying 3-5 bucks more for a VERY sturdy box and secure packaging. Small price to pay for peace of mind. I don't think I'm being overly cautious for "just a hat". It's a brand new product , just like a new pair of Aldens or a new Wested. How many of you would be gripey if your Wested Raiders came loosely in a box, wadded up in a ball? Not neatly folded ,with the nice "Certificate of Authenticity" packed inside. This is exactly the same. Part of the price we are paying for is precisely "the bash". A lot of us don't think we can or possibly just don't want to hassle with rebashing the hat- that's what we paid Fedora for, so that's what we would like to get. And believe me Fedora, I'm in no way bashing you or your business, I have all the respect in the world for you, and hope to get one of your lids in the future. Please don't be offended, I'm just trying to talk shop here.

but that's just me. please keep the stoning to a minimum.



have a nice day.

Dude, relax get some sleep! I'm sorry if you took my post that way, it was not the intent. It was to 1) offer a visual example of a PB hatbox (which is the second best out there, and the best is not Steve's either) 2) offer my experiences with the PB hat box (which is what this forum is about - to offer experiences) and 3) offer advice on how to fix the problem. Now granted, this was not purpose of your original post, but like 90%+ of all other threads, this one has gone off on a tangent. However, it is still related to the original question of how they are shipped and what kind of boxes are used.

But to address your original question, when my AB was sent, it was sent in a large plain white box. It was suspended in the box by four strings in a "tic-tac-toe" type grid (the best way I can describe it). Now imagine the crown going through the "center-square" and two strings running across the brim to hold it down. That was it. No cardboard ring was used at this point. Then again, I got mine early December, just after Steve went into full production (obviously, the hatboxes have developed further). Even with nothing touching the crown, and very little touching the brim, I had to do a little reshaping. Of course, this is due to the stiffness (or lack of) in the felt. It wasn't hard to do, and the shaping when right back to where (I assume) it had started (on of the dents came out and the brim was a little flat in the front). This is the nature of the hat/felt. It is soft and pliable. It will loose some of its shape until it is "trained" to stay put. A hatbox will not solve this problem. More stiffener will. Out of all the hat I own, the only hats that didn't have to be trained are the stiff hats. The softer ones all (bother modern and vintage) all had to be "trained" to stay in their shape. And just like dogs and kids, training felt takes time and patience. That is just the nature of felt.

BTW, I used Steve’s hatbox (the one my AB was sent in) up until last month when I switched to a PB box for stacking/storage purposes. Steve’s box was of different dimensions that the PB box, causing problems in my closet. And, the best box I’ve seen if the Akubra box. I don’t know if they still use this box (the last one I have is from January 2003), but it is it very sturdy and very well designed.

No big deal, BDJ. I'm better now




have a nice day.

If anyone would like my PB box, I would be happy to send it out to someone who would make use of it. Just let me know!

I really like the AB box. It seems to be made for the hat. The PB box is definately made for cowboy hats. If you've ever been to PB Hats, you will see that cowboy hats probably consist of 80-90% of their business.

PM sent.

I'm moving in a couple weeks and can use all the good hatboxes I can get!

bink

And, the best box I’ve seen if the Akubra box...

Really, I thought you were gonna say the Optimo box, seeing as how much people rave about their hat boxes. :junior: -IJ

IndianaJones wrote:

And, the best box I’ve seen if the Akubra box...

Really, I thought you were gonna say the Optimo box, seeing as how much people rave about their hat boxes. :junior: -IJ

I've never seen one in person, that is why I didn't say it. However, in the pictures that I have seen it looks like your standard vintage style box. A nice design, but doesn't look very sturdy. I could be wrong on that since I have no first hand knowledge of it.