Are pipe prices keeping pace with inflation or outpacing it?

[peter cornbriar]

I can't believe the prices of new pipes, what used to be had for $40 is now 60, what was 60 is now 80, what was 80 is now $100. I reckon we're paying 66.7 % more than in early 2020. Don't even get me started on Estate Pipes, they're priced out of reach - down right criminal.
I think pipe makers are using handy excuses, spouting supply chain problems and not finding good help, for example.
If you believe I'm exaggerating, then chime in. I'd like to be set straight, one less thing to ruminate about when I'm trying to get some sleep.

 

[Peter-CCB]

I buy a lot of pipes monthly and I’d say it’s keeping pace though there are some brands that are jumping a lot faster. That could be just trends though. It’s about double what it was a few years ago as for estates.

 

[Zeno Marx]

Every collectible I watch, which is admittedly short of a handful, is taking advantage of economics. They could teach the multinational corporations a thing or two. I wish it was only 25% jack up. What I'm watching, both in my pipe preferences and other things, is anywhere from 100-400%.

One of the bad things I'm watching happen to estate pipes is the growing number of people getting into the game. I'm assuming fellow pipe smokers thinking they can shave off some costs as they add to their own collection and also make a few bucks for a little discretionary income. It's not a new approach to padding personal collections and costs, but in this case, they're literally jacking up the prices 100% from a couple years ago. And while the argument is made that if these new prices are too high, people just won't buy them, it's not the full story. It only takes 1-3 new sellers with these new exorbitant prices to sell a few pipes, and the entire market adjusts to those said prices. Impatient buyers that don't care about an extra $50-100 bucks make the illusion of that new price become a reality for everyone else. There's every incentive to follow suit for all the sellers then.

I watched a similar thing happen in the late-90s with rental property. Rental homes and apartments were in lockstep with inflation (2-3%). But then people who only owned their own home began to buy up rentals for secondary income. They'd buy a single rental place, but unlike the "slumlords", they couldn't absorb a broken water heater or new furnace//A/C or new roof, so monthly rents started to rise. They got their secondary income, but at the expense of other people in the same income bracket as them. They gained not all that much, while it significantly affected the lifestyle of renters.

 

[mosin1932]

@Zeno Marx hit the nail on the head, I'm actually embarrassed for these people who's first impulse is to capitalize on a perceived profit at the direct expense of their values/hobby/community. Pick any market in the economy and it's obvious that COVID gave people a way to not only excuse their greed and lack of moral fortitude, but claim they were actually doing it out of compassion.

 

[Singed]

There is good reason "Money" precedes "Morality" in any dictionary.

 

[Carlos]

I believe that some very good values can be found with a little bit of searching. To be sure, prices of everything has increased. Shipping is terrible. And that includes briar coming into this country. Not just a pipe to our mailbox.

I know my local B&M's have drawers full of pipes from which to choose and often, the tag on many has not changed in price for years. A good rapport with the owner helps.

It never hurts to check out the Internet retailers for deals. I get emails from Smoking Pipes all the time. Most of them email specials.

A maker that makes pipes of good value would be Mark Tinsky, who comes first to my mind. He's done some great work for the members of BoB Forum over the years and his price increases appear to me to be modest.

Briar Works is doing some very affordable work.

A person can always get a box of old pipes off the auction sites for little or nothing, but shipping. Probably few gems to be had doing that.

Collectables and artisanal pipes, a person might have to pay going rate for those. Does no good complaining. If they have value, they are gonna cost. Anything with handwork is expensive.

 

[Swede]

I believe that some very good values can be found with a little bit of searching. To be sure, prices of everything has increased. Shipping is terrible. And that includes briar coming into this country. Not just a pipe to our mailbox.

I know my local B&M's have drawers full of pipes from which to choose and often, the tag on many has not changed in price for years. A good rapport with the owner helps.

It never hurts to check out the Internet retailers for deals. I get emails from Smoking Pipes all the time. Most of them email specials.

A maker that makes pipes of good value would be Mark Tinsky, who comes first to my mind. He's done some great work for the members of BoB Forum over the years and his price increases appear to me to be modest.

Briar Works is doing some very affordable work.

A person can always get a box of old pipes off the auction sites for little or nothing, but shipping. Probably few gems to be had doing that.

Collectables and artisanal pipes, a person might have to pay going rate for those. Does no good complaining. If they have value, they are gonna cost. Anything with handwork is expensive.

I only have one to compare to my other pipes, but I have found Briar Works out of Tennessee to make a pretty good pipe. Their videos on the process are interesting, and help show how they can price competitively. I was gunning for a new one, but SP had a nice estate for about $40 less.

 

[Craiginthecorn]

I can't believe the prices of new pipes, what used to be had for $40 is now 60, what was 60 is now 80, what was 80 is now $100. I reckon we're paying 66.7 % more than in early 2020. Don't even get me started on Estate Pipes, they're priced out of reach - down right criminal.
I think pipe makers are using handy excuses, spouting supply chain problems and not finding good help, for example.
If you believe I'm exaggerating, then chime in. I'd like to be set straight, one less thing to ruminate about when I'm trying to get some sleep.