New Era to close its Derby, NY plant

[FiddySicks]

On 12/5/2018 at 5:25 PM, Marlins93 said:

Can anyone attest to the quality of the "retro classic 59fifty" caps that Lids sells? How similar are they to New Era's field-worn wool caps?

 

Meh. I have a bunch, and they’re better than anything coming from overseas. Wool (no matter where it’s produced) is WAY more forgiving than the made in the USA with imported materials caps they’ve been pushing out, but they still have their own set of issues. Mainly when it comes to color and overall logo accuracy. The navy is atrociously dark. Shape leaves a bit to be desired, but they’re salvageable with a bit of work. 

 

I do do appreciate the availability on those, though. It’s a great concept (stolen from Hat Club a bit, though).

They would be so much better if the guy who commissioned them wasn’t a completely arrogant douche. Almost all of the problems these caps have come from him not caring to pay even an ounce of attention to the details. He’s easily the biggest clown Lids has working for them, and it shows with everything he has his hands on. 

 

Overall, even the worst caps Hat Club puts out are miles better than any of that Lids garbage. Those guys actually take the time to listen to their customers, and their overall mentality is pretty similar to the vibe here. Accuracy and quality over all else. The guys making these decisions for Lids are nothing but corporate schill :censored:s who think they’re God’s gift to the industry when in reality they’re almost all complete morons. 

[FiddySicks]

WELP. Hats we’re fun. 

 

Cancer doesnt know know it dies with the host, either. 

 

https://footwearnews.com/2018/business/mergers-acquisitions/genesco-sells-lids-sports-group-fanzz-1202717834/amp/?__twitter_impression=true

[bosrs1]

Was this their last US plant?

 

If so it's a shame. The caps made in the US have always been better quality and had better size consistence for the fitteds. 

[dont care]

20 hours ago, bosrs1 said:

Was this their last US plant?

 

If so it's a shame. The caps made in the US have always been better quality and had better size consistence for the fitteds. 

They still have a plant in Miami, but they will now be only making onfield products to fulfill their contract that says they have to be made in America.

[MattMill]

And the Made in USA part is a farce when 90% of your product is now imported. I guess labor wise, yeah, it's made here. But now with inferior polyester. 

 

2016 was the beginning of imported materials. You still saw fuzzy imported poly crowns. Stitching was solid. Crown heights were good. You couldn't really tell the difference between a complete USA made product and one that had imported materials.

 

Today's imported poly has less fuzz and compares more to Chinese made than ever before. 

 

The imported move was gradual. Now they're going all out. Sadly it makes sense. 

[Cosmic]

8 hours ago, dont care said:

They still have a plant in Miami, but they will now be only making onfield products to fulfill their contract that says they have to be made in America.

I don't think they actually own the Florida plant, though. Part of their rationale was to be more like the big boys and not being owner/operator of their own factory.

 

Quote

"This is extremely difficult for me," said New Era CEO Chris Koch. "I grew up in Derby and worked in the facility, which has a long, productive history with the company. Even as other sports apparel brands moved away from running their own manufacturing plants, we continued making caps at our facility in Derby. But I have an obligation to our employees, partners and customers to ensure the long-term success of this company and we need to keep pace with changes in our industry."

 

[imawalkingcorpse]

On 12/1/2018 at 8:57 AM, Marlins93 said:

I'm not a cap collector so I'm genuinely curious...was there ever a period when New Era had decent quality control?

 

I wanted to pick up a Marlins 25th anniversary cap and I was aghast over how defective the 30 or so I sorted through were.

 

I also have never forgiven them for striking a deal to include their logo on field worn caps, but I suppose MLB is more to blame for that one.

The 1990's were great in that regard.

[tp49]

1 hour ago, Cosmic said:

I don't think they actually own the Florida plant, though. Part of their rationale was to be more like the big boys and not being owner/operator of their own factory.

 

I thought I read somewhere, maybe The Buffalo News, that they do own the Florida plant through their purchase of 5th and Ocean but that it is smaller than the one in upstate New York.

[Cosmic]

16 minutes ago, tp49 said:

I thought I read somewhere, maybe The Buffalo News, that they do own the Florida plant through their purchase of 5th and Ocean but that it is smaller than the one in upstate New York.

5th and Ocean seems like they have a variety of products, and that could be what the "one product production line" quote was about.

[THRILLHO]

On 11/26/2018 at 2:30 PM, Bucfan56 said:

So I figured out in the past few years that if you want a US made on field cap, you pretty much have to order it the minute that they’re released, as the first run is almost always US made on new caps. They do this to get product out quicker after a release before they get bulk orders coming from China. I ordered the new Marlins cap pretty much the minute it was released for this very reason. I just got it today and it’s Chinese made garbage. That’s an AWFUL sign. It’s already repackaged and in the mail to be sent back. 

 

 

man, this SUCKS. 

 

My new Marlins cap is exactly how you’re describing. Ill fitting stiff and uncomfortable.  It is the first Chinese 5950 for an on field MLB cap that I’ve ordered.  Not happy.  I have the 25th Anniversary teal from the later batches and I actually don’t have a problem with it. The band is comfortable.  The band on the new caps are stiff.  The sizing is all over the place.  I’ve ordered five and none of them fit right.  Major problem.  

[FiddySicks]

I kinda think New Era May be dead. They just closed their last remaining US factory and their absolute top vendor just sold for a valuation that’s maybe 1/10 of what they claimed for years that it actually was. I can’t tell you how many times I heard “We’re a billion dollar company!” While working for the idiot higher ups at Lids. We all knew it was a lie, but holy crap. That’s not just a fib, that’s borderline criminal. 

 

Snag what you can now. You may not be able to later on. 

[TheOatsMustFlow]

2 hours ago, THRILLHO said:

 

My new Marlins cap is exactly how you’re describing. Ill fitting stiff and uncomfortable.  It is the first Chinese 5950 for an on field MLB cap that I’ve ordered.  Not happy.  I have the 25th Anniversary teal from the later batches and I actually don’t have a problem with it. The band is comfortable.  The band on the new caps are stiff.  The sizing is all over the place.  I’ve ordered five and none of them fit right.  Major problem.  

 

 

 

Went to Hatclub to check out the new Marlins cap. Really like the design and look of the logo and wouldn't mind picking one up. But, I've been spoiled by all of the MUSA polyester which is by far superior in every way. That being said, that made in China Marlins hat was bad. Sizing seemed consistent but the overall fit and construction seemed to be poor quality and extremely stiff. I can't believe that is what New Era is putting on the retail market and still charging the same price.