[This is a companion piece to the previous HAT FACTS article entitled "Panama Montecristi Fino Letter To Customers" where I discuss the pros and cons of purchasing a fine Panama hat in an unblocked state.]
If you've ever walked into one of those stores with big signs reading "Persian Rugs: 50% to 75% Off" and tried to get a handle on the value of these "fine works of art" and "products resulting from months of labor by great artisans" where "knots per square inch" and "quality of the material" were touted as evidence of great value and where the upshot was that this $5,000 rug could be yours for $1,800 (followed by "make me an offer"), then you can understand the potential discomfort in purchasing a Panama hat. Before getting into some of the particulars, I'll begin with my conclusion - If you don't know Panama hats, know your Panama hat seller. Said another way - Flim-flam is too easy and runs amok with these hats so be very careful.
Now, here are some things to consider when shopping for a Panama hat:
Without the experience of comparing one hat to another, much of what is discussed above will have limited service to the novice Panama shopper. When someone comes into one of our Village Hat Shops and wants a quick education with regard to these hats, we simply line up a half-dozen or so hats in various qualities and much of what is discussed above becomes readily apparent. Because, however, each hat is hand woven and unique, quality is therefore always different from one hat to the next. This exercise in relativity is not the last word on value and fair price. Most people need to see many hats and know this fluctuating market well before feeling comfortable with a purchase that may run hundreds, or even thousands, of dollars.
Therefore - if you don't know Panama hats, know your Panama hat seller.
Fred Belinsky
www.VillageHatShop.com
www.Panamas.com
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