Bencraft Hatters — Local services in New York

Seems Good Prices, Horrible Experience

This place has some great stock and decent prices online, but the buying process was an absolute nightmare. Here’s what happened:

I bought two Borsalino hats, paid online, and immediately asked for an ETA. No response.

After a week of radio silence, I opened a PayPal dispute for a full refund since I never got tracking or any updates.

Two weeks later, a package finally shipped—but with only one hat inside.

I updated my PayPal case to only request a refund for the missing hat (since at least one showed up).

The shop owner, Steven, sent tracking to PayPal—but never told them he only shipped half my order, never apologized, and never offered to fix it.

Despite me explaining the issue, PayPal closed the case in his favor since he provided tracking.

I had to reopen the dispute under "item not as described" since I only got half my order.

Another two weeks passed—still no response from Steven, no explanation, nothing.

Thankfully, PayPal ruled in my favor this time and refunded me for the missing hat.

If you enjoy being ignored, getting half your order, and fighting for weeks just to get what you paid for, then by all means—shop here. Otherwise, I’d strongly recommend buying...

Absolutely scandalous Internet transaction. Bencraft Hatters deliberately avoided a refund transaction even after confirming USPS Tracking and contacting them by telephone speaking with "Steven". Steven has a long and well-known presence on Fedora Lounge.

Welp, Steven made excuses, which mirror some of the complaints from other 1-Star Reviewers citing, "the person that takes care of that has been away." Ha! What a spurious joke. Fact is, Steven was available to "entertain" my telephone call. So, there's no excuse... I spoke DIRECTLY to him about this hat transaction, shipping return and refund. He failed to honor his (professional) word.

I was left with no respectful and decent choice but to open a PayPal complaint and shortly after, escalate ... Which was the only way to receive what was rightfully mine.

I'll NEVER purchase from Bencraft Hatters, Brooklyn, N.Y again. Not in this matrix of a lifetime....

I ordered a Stetson Whippet online from Bencraft Hatters. I placed my order over the weekend while they were closed. They shipped it out on Monday morning with free delivery included and I received it today which is Saturday. Brooklyn, New York to the middle of nowhere Texas in less than a week. The hat was packed very well inside a nice hat box which was inside of another box with some foam packing strips to prevent any damage. I am very pleased with the speed of service and the care taken to make sure that it arrived quickly and free of any damage. I have several hats that I wear but this is the first one I have bought from Bencraft and I will definitely be shopping online here again this spring when it’s time to get a new hat for summer, prices are the best I found and their inventory seems to be pretty...