Wurkin Stiffs Alternative

[frost Varsity Member Find all posts View Profile Close frost]

Gents:


I'm not one to shy away from the occasional splurge. I own 3 (soon to be 5) pairs of Allen Edmonds, 5 custom shirts from Ratio, J.Crew Ludlow jackets, etc etc etc.


I could not bring myself to pay $40 for 3 collar stays with magnets by Wurkin Stiffs. I don't understand how the manufacturer can even begin to attempt to justify that kind of markup.


That being said, I wanted to try them out. I was on the verge of buying the Wurkin Stiffs before doing a little bit more research, and finally decided to make my own.


I purchased the following:


http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004L8J0C6/ref=oh_details_o02_s00_i00


and searched ebay for "rare earth magnets"


I received them today, after paying a total of $21 and could not be happier. Hopefully some of you will find that information useful.

[runners n jeans Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close runners n jeans]

I don't understand how the manufacturer can even begin to attempt to justify that kind of markup.


How? Because they're not selling rare earth magnets--they're selling trademarked "Power Buttons", hahaha...


I've got the same collar stays from Amazon and use them with the same neodymium magnets from eBay. I will say that I prefer larger magnets over the smaller ones.

[LosRockets Dappered Veteran Find all posts View Profile Close LosRockets]

I'll have to consider this. The Wurkin Stiffs cost is wholly unpalatable to me.

[xctmiz Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close xctmiz]

im glad i came across this before purchasing wurkin stiffs

[Chareth Varsity Member Find all posts View Profile Close Chareth]

I came across a single pair of Wurkin Stiffs at Nordstrom Rack for $15. At that price, it was low enough to just get them.


As it turns out, I don't wear them all that often anyway.

[BrownCow Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close BrownCow]

So with Wurkin Stiffs or this DIY system, the magnet is on the other side of the cloth, against your chest? What stops it from getting knocked away by, I don't know, your neck or collarbone during the regular day? I wouldn't want to be fishing around the inside of my shirt or my pants for a tiny magnet in the middle of the day...

[nicholascrawford Varsity Member Find all posts View Profile Close nicholascrawford]

The magnetism is powerful enough to keep it from falling off during use. The only time you'll drop a magnet is when you're getting dressed. When you do, be careful to not drop them on a hard surface like tile or they'll chip (easily).

[frost Varsity Member Find all posts View Profile Close frost]

the rare earth magnets are **stupid** strong. I placed one next to the box of stainless collar stays roughly 3.5 - 4" away and the thing zipped right over to the metal stays. They are not moving unless you intentionally lift your collar with the intent of popping them off.

[BrownCow Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close BrownCow]

Interesting... This might actually have to be something I look into now!

[tomservo Member Find all posts View Profile Close tomservo]

I went this route as well and it works those magnets are not moving. Would never pay for the wurkin stiffs.

[nicholascrawford Varsity Member Find all posts View Profile Close nicholascrawford]

frost - It's very addicting! Once you start wearing them, you get accustomed to that precision control. =)

[pitseleh Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close pitseleh]

Man, I don't really think Wurkin Stiffs are all that expensive. I mean, is $40 kind of a lot for collar stays? Yeah, I suppose, but if you buy a pack of three with the intent of rotating them in and out of whatever dress shirt you're wearing for the day then it's essentially the cost of a fairly cheap dress shirt or a v-neck sweater to ensure that every single one of your dress shirt collars behaves itself. I think in terms of the value added, it's a good deal.


That said, if you can replicate on your own with more than three pairs for a fraction of the price, all the better. But I don't think the amount they charge for them is particularly objectionable.


P.S. Why is the Amazon page you linked listing those collar stays as unavailable? I'd totally buy a pack for that price!

[nicholascrawford Varsity Member Find all posts View Profile Close nicholascrawford]

Amazon is a little quirky about products and availability. But here: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...w_bottom_links

[pitseleh Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close pitseleh]

Yeah, that's what I went with! That plus some magnets ended up coming to about $35 after shipping, which isn't much less than Wurkin Stiffs charges, but you're also getting four times the amount of stays. Since about half my shirts are oxford collar/sports shirts, 15 pairs of stays will probably cover just about every dress shirt I actually wear. It'll be nice not to have to continually swap out the "good ones".

[Big_Scooter Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Big_Scooter]

Someone pipe up if you find a cheaper way to get the polo ones: http://www.wurkinstiffs.com/p-276-polo-stay-16-polo-stays.aspx


These ones you actually need a larger number, since they stick on with adhesive. I don't really wear polos, but they would be pretty useful for casual button-up shirts.