Customers' Comments |
Letters, we get letters . . .
Updated June 22, 2009One neutral place to see many of our hats is The Fedora Lounge and search the Hat section for Montecristi or straw. You'll see dozens of our hats there with honest opinions.  Robert, The color and weave consistency are very nice. The 58.5 size seems perfect, it has just a little room to shrink to fit. There is NO brim distortion. I like the quality of the sweatband. The weave is only slightly more coarse as compared to my fino. It's lighter and cooler, probably due in part to the lack of a liner. Can't believe this is a $70 hat! I am very pleased. I think I will send my Fino out to be re-blocked to the proper size. The sweatband has begun to separate a few mm at the seam. Who do you recommend? (Contact Art Fawcett at Vintage Silhouettes or Gus Miller of Batsakes in Cincinnatti — Robert) Regards Hi Robert, The new hat is great. It like you said better than the first one. Thank you! Regards, From your website, I was expecting 6–8 weeks. But it came in 4 days. It fits perfectly, looks good and the quality is a lot better than the hat it is replacing. An excellent value. Thanks a lot. Eric, MA
The Alarcon hat is in my hands. But wow. It is a great deal finer than his $650 offering, and the weaves are just as consistent. Set beside one another, the difference is striking. In one, the weaves are obvious. In yours, the consistency is like cream. Great job, Robert. Absolutely great. I will be ordering another Alarcon hat later this year for next spring;
hope it's as nice as this one.
Robert, My Monte Christi arrived Saturday! It is wonderful and fits me well. I think you had said you hoped I liked the Monte Christi 10 times more than the Cuenca. . . Yes, it is just great! That blocking is just spectacular and the weave. . . WOW. . . so fine and supple. I have started wearing the Cuenca (which is still great in itself) to do light work outside, while using the Monte Christi for dress. I really appreciate you time and efforts and look forward to doing business with you again. Thanks again, The hat arrived yesterday, super fast shipping. The hat fits great, really, it is like it is made for my head, perfect fit. I couldnt be more happier with it. The hat is very good quality, it reminds me of the older panama hats I have seen with the patina look with the more yellow in them. I also like how it isnt stiff like other panamas, I love hats and this one I can see being one of my favs in my colelction. Thank you so much I love this hat. Peggy G., Carlsbad.
Robert, Hat arrived today. Fits great. I like the color. It is a definite keeper. Barry, North Carolina
Hi Robert & Diana, Just to let you know that my Cuenca arrived today. I have won a few things in my life but I have to confess this hat is the best and probably most valuable, thank you again for the opportunity to own this through your monthly draws, it will make a perfect partner for my Montecristo which if we have a better summer this year will actually get the wear it deserves. Regards, Robert, Got the Cuenca today. That was fast! Hey, it's great. Good fit . . . is this one a 7-1/4 or 7-1/8? Love the leather sweatband and I believe the ribbon is nicer, too. Nice bow. You have really done more than right by me and I truly appreciate it. Excited about the upcoming Montechristi! Thanks once again, Robert & Diana Received the hats they are very nice the grueso ortega has a massive 5-1/4 inch brim which will be great for the australian summer and the sub fino rio plata is beautiful the feel and patterns are great the brim is 2-1/4 inch very stylish i'll be wearing that with suits & casual dressy clothing in summer, great work by the youngsters thanks. Regards, Oooooh Robert! I came asking for a beach beater and you send me this, this . . . gem. Nevermind wpi and all that stuff, this hat looks better on me (or I look better under it) than any hat I own — and it fits like custom. The lesson: Ask PanamaBob for a great hat, and he sends one. Ask him for a kick around hat and he sends you another great one. Still, my wife says I have to wear it on every weekend summer day whenever I leave the house no matter what, including in crowds . . . although it sure looks smashing with a coat and tie . . . So . . . thank you. John, Maryland
The hat arrived today and it is terrific. Thanks and best regards, Bob, AR
Hat arrived 3/9/2009. It is a fine hat-well worth the wait. Thanks. Jess,
Hi Robert, I picked up the hat today and I am very happy with the way it looks. Regards, Guys, I am thrilled to tell you my hat is here, and it looks wonderful and fits perfectly. Thank you so much for your help and patience through the saga! I can't wait for a day when I can wear it — we may even reach the 70s here in MD this weekend-spring is coming! Kevin, Maryland
Hi, Robert! I received the hats yesterday - thanks! They fit perfectly and are amazingly light and comfy — much softer/pliable than I expected. Should be perfect for tropical wear (10 months out of the year here!). — Joe
Robert, I did compare the Montecristi ($99 Calado) that I just received from you to the $800.00 and $1000.00 Montecristi hats (from Hawaii) . . . The quality of work is definately comparable to the hats. New Customer Robert, I received my hat today and am very pleased with it. I marvel at the weaving. It's so small I had to get a magnifying glass to count it. Hard to believe someone actually did that by hand. I counted 567 wpsi. In our phone conservation you estimated 500+ wpsi — pretty close call old boy! — Roy Mr. Weber: I received the hat today, as you said. Thank you. It was worth to wait. Is a beautiful hat, fit perfectly and looks wonderful. You are a serious an honest business person. I was a pleasure do businees with you. I wish you well and happiness. Fernando Robert, Thanks for the great hat. It is truly a work of art and I am sure I will get many years of pleasure from wearing it. I will definately be a repeat customer and will praise your business to everyone who enjoys looking at it as much as I enjoy wearing it. — Sam    Indiana Jones Inspired Hat. This was a commissioned hat that takes 3–5 months generally. I'm hooked! My hat almost feels like cloth the way it is woven. The hat fit me right out of the box. Robert and the crew of Panama Hatworks of Montecristi were the first I could find to offer an Indiana Jones inspired version of the Montecristi hat. Because of the taller crown, this is the first straw hat that has ever looked good on me. Here is a photo of my hat.  Shipping from Ecuador takes longer than it does in the states. With weaving, blocking, shipping, my hat took 4 months to receive it. So, order early and be patient. The hat is worth the wait.
Thanks to Robert, his family and crew. I'll be in touch again.
High Regards, Hey, The hat arrived this morning! It looks great, fits well and I am very pleased. Thanks for all your communications and please tell the folks in Ecuador how much I appreciate their craftsmanship. (Hat blocked in Ecuador) Yours in Christ, Hi Robert: Just wanted you to know that I finally received my hat...and I'm totally thrilled with it; I've worn it nearly every minute since its arrival. It is a very fine hat, indeed. (Hat blocked in USA.) R. K.  Robert: I just received the hat. It's beautiful — the nicest straw hat I've ever seen. The size and style are also perfect. I've been buying my hats from high-class dealers in New York. No more. Thanks! Art, in NY. (Hat blocked in Ecuador) Robert! I got the hat today at work and it was right out of a movie; coincidentally I wore my Guayabera shirt today and so when I lifted the hat out of the box, my office-mates laughed and offered to buy me a box of cigars to complete the outfit. I am VERY pleased with the hat; I can't tell you how happy you've made me and I CANNOT WAIT to wear it next weekend for my "we're-old-now college-guys trip to Mexico" Joe C. (hat blocked in Ecuador) Hi Robert: Just got my hat. Left you an excellent feedback. The hat is great! It is really beautifully made. As I said earlier I have owned several other Panamas and this one by far is the best made!! Thanks again. (hat blocked in Ecuador) Hello Robert, I received the hat on Tuesday. It is a fantastic hat (is that the initial of the weaver inside the hat?). Now I have a problem of choosing the style for this beautiful unblocked hat. Thanks, (hat blocked by buyer independently) Hi Robert. The hats arrived and they look great. The quality looks super . . . better than I expected.
Mahalo, Dear panamahat*net, Fantastic hat which exceeded all expectation Thaks very much Thank you, (blocked in Ecuador) Received my hat today and all I can say is WOW! Your Select 0 grade is far superior to the "Fino Fino" I bought several years ago for almost twice the price from a well known dealer somewhere in mid Pacific. . . . the quality of the weave is exceptional and the fit was spot on. Many thanks. Glenn Ashmore From Fedora LoungeThere are a few reviews on Fedora Lounge. Here are some excerpts: "I ordered one of the standard Fino Finos in late Fall, and have been pleased. The hat doesn't have any visible pinholes or obvious flaws. There are very, very few straw stubs on the interior of the hat; the finish and trim of the straw splices in the crown are very good. "The backweave on the brim is well done and has only one or two very small straws sticking out. The hat comes with a dark brown leather sweatband; it's slightly thicker and stiffer than the hatbands on my felt Akubras, and comparable to some of the 1980s Stetsons that I have. The sweatband is carefully sewn in with white thread, and was done by hand; there are no broken straws or other signs that the hat was damaged in the course of installing the sweatband. The ends of the sweatband are butted together; there isn't a bow or other finish at the rear of the hat. The hat comes with a black elastic hatband which is not attached to the hat. "The hat was sized correctly — I wear a 58 consistently in various Akubras, ordered the Fino Fino in a 58, and the fit is fine.
Is the hat absolutely perfect? No. But it is a very, very nice hat, and definitely worth the $399 I spent for it. It is, however, as nice as some of the straw Borsalinos that I've seen."
This is an unblocked hat that was blocked in USA.   Another Fedora Lounge Excerpt: "I got a very good quality hat body, came fast, and was priced very fairly. Thanks again Robert."
Love my hat, Best wishes and good luck, Patrick H. After having purchased numerous hats from numerous dealers (internet and face to face), I can say without qualification that you offer the best article at the best price anywhere!! The last hat you sent me is simply incredible! (Almost a 1400 weave count per inch). It is one of the best works of art (not just hats, but ALL works of art) that I could ever hope to own! New York K. RE: My hats.... They are 100% A-OK. Thanks Jim
Hawaii USA Received my Panamas' in Post today. Am very happy . . . They created quite a stir in our small PO with all the stamps from Ecuador. The hats were in the safe, they were sent registered mail. They probably thought they were something else I imagine. Jack USA Excellent hat, quick delivery from Ecuador, the real 'thing' D.T in UK REAL MONTECRISTI THIS IS THE 4TH HAT I HAVE BOUGHT FROM THIS HONEST SELLER I have received the hat. It's very nice and people are envious. Thanks, Riccardo Thank you. It arrived last week. I love the hat. Yours, Brian
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