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Post by zambini on Jan 7, 2018 19:21:57 GMT -5
" living in the Great Lakes States + Missouri!" I would say more like Texas, Ohio, and the east coast.  Maybe, it probably depends on what we mean. The stats I saw are for the pipe smokers as a percentage of total smokers but in terms of total smokers it may be that a state the size of Texas has a greater number of total pipe smokers. Leaving stats aside, from reading different forums and personal experience, my working theory is that southerners are more heavily into smokeless tobacco products than the rest of the US whilst blacks and hispanics (over represented in the south in comparison to the whole of the US) favor cigarettes and cigars leaving little room for pipe tobacco. At the same time antique stores in the northeast seem to carry a lot of pipes whilst I don't see more pipers there than in other regions which makes me think that a generation of pipe smokers recently died in the northeast and wasn't fully replaced. At the same time, the Bos-Wash region is so heavily populated that it may well have more total pipers than upstate New York or Indiana. The north of the US is pretty unpopulated and midwest states like Iowa and Oklahoma have few large metropolitan regions that could support the B&M stores that promote pipe smoking, the mountain states suffer from the same plus are full of non-smoking mormons, and the pacific states have low rates of smoking in general. |
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Post by trailboss on Jan 7, 2018 19:27:03 GMT -5
Thanks for that post Zambini, I definitely fall into the hoarder category. As soon as I picked up the pipe after a couple decades hiatus, I recognized that compared to cigarettes (which I have never smoked), pipe tobacco was a great value, and prices would never go lower, and regulations less restrictive.
As Davein LAX alluded to, there is the possibility of changing tastes leaving one with too much tobacco that doesn’t suit you down the road. I ended up with several blends that I don’t care for from the pipe tobacco of the month club, but I reckon that I can sell off some of them down the road for a bit under what the current prices are at that time, or gifting them to those that enjoy them.
There are certain blends that are pretty solid to cellar for my tastes, Escudo, Dunhill Navy rolls, Capstan blue, Warhorses, Brown Bogie, etc... too many to name. Pretty much done with aro’s, and I am set with English blends.... I could be content with what I have left though.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 7, 2018 19:36:26 GMT -5
In terms of pipe smoking demographics, I have bought a fair percentage of Estates out of Pennsylvania. It may no longer be a hotbed of piping, but going by my experience and the many Ebay listings I've seen, it once was.
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Post by zambini on Jan 7, 2018 19:53:33 GMT -5
Wow! That's quite an analysis! Of course, many smokers smoke more than one bowl per day, so the purchase amounts would need to be adjusted accordingly. But, accepting that your sums are accurate it's clear that pipe smoking is on a downward trajectory. I did pick up a few items at the WCPS as a seller there was selling some vintage blends that I had been hunting for very reasonable prices. A couple of items I bought appeared on a secondary tobacco sale site at between 200% and 600% of what I paid for them, and they sold out in a heartbeat. The big buys are done. I may add a tin or two of something new, but really, I have a great selection from which to choose. All buying stops next year, after I retire. No money for this kind of indulgence. I'm surprised to hear how much reselling is going on, I wonder if it explains the recent lack of Skiff and Presbyterian? I get what you mean about having no money for indulging, whilst I'm no where near retirement, earning in MXN and spending in USD is not a long term strategy! I've been attempting to buy cheaper bulk brands but even then it adds up. I bought 17-20 tins last year and can't imagine increasing the amount in 2018. Smart of you to have the foresight to buy ahead all those years ago. From what I've read pipe smoking is on a big downward trend! My theory is that the average age of pipers is increasing (i.e. slowly dying out), new smokers as a total are decreasing, the rise of smokeless tobacco + hookah + vaping is balkanizing the non cigarette market, and the move away from B&Ms to internet sales is limiting the potential encounters necessary to gain new pipers. Apparently the number of marijuana and crack smokers is increasing, maybe the pipe community can siphon some of them towards itself? |
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JDunbar
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"By all means, make friends with the dog....but do not lay aside the stick!"
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Post by JDunbar on Jan 9, 2018 9:35:52 GMT -5
Is it cellering or is it creating a cache for when the zombie apocolypse happens? Actually, yes. Bartering will be one of the main sources of survival during the zombie apocalypse. Toilet paper will be at the very top of the list list along with canned food and Tang instant breakfast drink. Then, Cigarettes. Rolling papers, loose cigarette tobacco, pipe tobacco and pipes. Whiskey! Stock up on the smaller airplane bottles as they are much easier to carry and thus will have a higher trade value. Firearms and ammo of course is a no brainer. .22 and shotgun ammo will be most trad-able. All these items will will most likely do you no good because if things end up getting to this point... someone will have most likely killed you to take whatever you have or, you will have been reduced to whatever you can carry in a back pack or garbage bag. I just woke up so I haven't given this much thought. Good morning!!  |
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