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Post by Dramatwist on Feb 6, 2018 1:41:31 GMT -5
There exist several tobaccos that are (presumably) still made, yet are rarely available for retail purchase. Sometimes one comes across a container offered at *substantial* markup from the MSRP.
Some scoff.
If a tin of well-loved tobacco that normally sells for $15 is offered for $60 (for instance) and I am able to afford it, I remind myself of the following:
1. It is currently unavailable at retail.
2. It may be aged and possibly *better* than new.
3. If I can enjoy 10 bowls @ (in this example) $6, is the pleasure and joy I experience not worth $6? (That's less than a fast-food meal.)
Opinions, derision, random thoughts?
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Post by Deleted on Feb 6, 2018 2:02:57 GMT -5
Most of my criteria for a 2 ounce tin is will I be able to buy it continually. In the Exotic Orange, because I love orange, I wanted to try it. I bought a half pound of Ramsgate (Esoterica) and realized it is probably the worst of the brand and came sopping wet. So, I have made those mistakes.
In old OTC brands I have been lucky with Pipestud. I got some John Surrey Snow Apple. I paid for it, not unreasonably. It was an 8 ounce tin, so I will have it for quite a while. I cannot think of any 2 ounce tin I would pay more than 20$ for. There's just too much good stuff out there.
I got the Exotic Orange at regular price, btw. But I would rather stock up on Holger Danske Orange, knowing I can get it whenever I want.
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Post by Darin on Feb 6, 2018 6:31:04 GMT -5
$60 bucks, huh? What would you like to buy?  |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 6, 2018 7:38:22 GMT -5
3. If I can enjoy 10 bowls @ (in this example) $6, is the pleasure and joy I experience not worth $6? (That's less than a fast-food meal.) Opinions, derision, random thoughts? Still a whole lot cheaper than cigars. |
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Post by crapgame on Feb 6, 2018 9:24:09 GMT -5
60 bucks will buy me a whole lotta whole leaf and I can then make my own flakes and twists!
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Post by zambini on Feb 6, 2018 10:30:12 GMT -5
I'd wager that there is a lot of 'hoarding' among pipe smokers partly as a result of artificially low prices on key blends. I don't know whether this will negatively affect the hobby in the long term like it did with comic books back in the early 90s but cutting resellers in on the profits can't possibly induce blenders and growers to make any more of the stuff. I agree with @cosmicbobo that while tempting, I'd rather not get into blends that I can't trust will be there (almost) on demand. |
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Post by Wolfman on Feb 6, 2018 10:41:30 GMT -5
There exist several tobaccos that are (presumably) still made, yet are rarely available for retail purchase. Sometimes one comes across a container offered at *substantial* markup from the MSRP. Some scoff. If a tin of well-loved tobacco that normally sells for $15 is offered for $60 (for instance) and I am able to afford it, I remind myself of the following: 1. It is currently unavailable at retail. 2. It may be aged and possibly *better* than new. 3. If I can enjoy 10 bowls @ (in this example) $6, is the pleasure and joy I experience not worth $6? (That's less than a fast-food meal.) Opinions, derision, random thoughts? What tobaccos are you looking for? I will pay a premium for various reasons. I'm currently buying McClelland X-Mas cheer. Why? I love their VAs and it's no longer produced. I used to scoff at the cost of vintage/aged/rare blends. Then the following was pointed out to me: If I pay $ 100 for a 50 gm tin (approx 15 bowls), it works out to $ 3 a bowl. $3 is less than a cheap cigar. Now, I'm not going to pay $500 for a 50g tin of Original Three Nuns (Va/Per), at least not presently. It's not the 'high cost', but current economics. When cash flow is flowing, I wouldn't hesitate to pull the trigger. |
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Post by lestrout on Feb 6, 2018 13:34:09 GMT -5
Yo Wolf
My math is a bit different, since I use 3 grams as an average sized bowl, maybe a Gp4. Still, your logic fits mine. I must admit that $100 is a round number that tends to cap my desire. I've noticed a sharp uptick lately in vintage blend pricing.
hp
les
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Post by Deleted on Feb 6, 2018 14:46:04 GMT -5
Some of my favorite blends are from Esoterica, Germain etc. But some of my other favorites are from Samuel Gawith, McClelland, Boswell, and yeah I'll admit it - Sutliff! I'd miss the Germain stuff if it disappeared forever, but not enough to pay through the nose for it.
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Post by PhantomWolf on Feb 6, 2018 15:11:21 GMT -5
When it comes to these.. unicorn blends, I am willing to pay premiums (B&M Prices) for the stuff I really like, but would even pay a little more for something I know is no longer in production just for the experience. Reading a thread where everyone is reminiscing on something you missed is pretty dull.
As far as spending a hundred dollars per 50g tin- You guys are Ahab chasing a tinful of something more than tobacco. haha To a man in my tax bracket anyway.
Then again, I just started smoking a year ago and I have a pipe collection and cellar to focus on, so my priorities clearly differ from some of you gentlemen who have been suffering from like levels of PAD/TAD for 20-30 years. I guess it doesn't take much imagining to see myself in my forties when I have a full rotation of Ardors and lifetime-supply of all my regular smokes- I will likely be sniffing out old tins FrogMorton and Dunhill.
Capital! Lee Van Cleef is on this episode of The Rifleman!
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craigmillar
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Post by craigmillar on Feb 6, 2018 16:25:21 GMT -5
Some of my favorite blends are from Esoterica, Germain etc. But some of my other favorites are from Samuel Gawith, McClelland, Boswell, and yeah I'll admit it - Sutliff! I'd miss the Germain stuff if it disappeared forever, but not enough to pay through the nose for it. I believe a lot of JM Boswell's brands are highly under rated. |
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Post by Dramatwist on Feb 6, 2018 16:29:06 GMT -5
Some of my favorite blends are from Esoterica, Germain etc. But some of my other favorites are from Samuel Gawith, McClelland, Boswell, and yeah I'll admit it - Sutliff! I'd miss the Germain stuff if it disappeared forever, but not enough to pay through the nose for it. I believe a lot of JM Boswell's brands are highly under rated. Agreed. |
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Post by trailboss on Feb 6, 2018 17:15:05 GMT -5
If I see an aged tin for the right price and it strikes my fancy, I will pick it up, but I have so many blends that I really enjoy, chasing unicorns aren't in the cards for me.
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Post by Matthew on Feb 6, 2018 22:53:10 GMT -5
Since my income level is considered sub-poverty,it doesn't matter
how much of an unicorn-blend it is.I have to rely on really great
sales or trades.Currently I have already blown my tobacco budget
for the year,so I will be looking for that extreme sale that the
Mrs agrees with.
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sablebrush52
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Favorite Tobacco: whatever is in it
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Post by sablebrush52 on Feb 8, 2018 1:12:40 GMT -5
There are a few blends that I absolutely love and would pay a premium for, an example being Haddo's delight from the first few years of production. But there's a clear limit regarding how high I'm willing to go, and it's WAY below $100. There just isn't a blend I've smoked, and I've smoked many of those unicorn blends when they were in production, that I like that much. I've got plenty of great blends to choose from and can skip being scalped. As for Esoterica, I've never had to buy on the secondary market. Nothing Esoterica makes is worth, to me, the prices being asked on eBay or any other secondary market source. YMMV.
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Post by zambini on Feb 9, 2018 0:47:32 GMT -5
There are a few blends that I absolutely love and would pay a premium for, an example being Haddo's delight from the first few years of production. But there's a clear limit regarding how high I'm willing to go, and it's WAY below $100. I agree that a hundred is too much but I would pay maybe USD 20-25 for some tins. I'm thinking particularly those that have such good reviews that you'd almost think they cure cancer like Edgeworth Ready Sliced, Penzance, Bohemian Scandal, and original run 965. |
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Post by Dramatwist on Feb 9, 2018 4:54:57 GMT -5
...I did pay $50 for 2 oz of Penzance recently, and considered it a bargain compared to eBay prices...
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Post by zambini on Feb 9, 2018 9:24:45 GMT -5
...I did pay $50 for 2 oz of Penzance recently, and considered it a bargain compared to eBay prices... I think I bid USD 20 in that same sale. I'm glad to read what the winning bid was and gain some perspective on the market. |
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Post by herbinedave on Feb 9, 2018 9:46:48 GMT -5
No such thing as unobtainable. If you put forth the effort any tobacco can be found at retail. Five years ago when Germain, Esoterica and Sam Gawith where tough I always found. Still have a bunch in my seller. All I am saying if the stuff is still made and you are paying a premium, shame on you. Get off your duff and make a ton of calls!
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