Buying Pipes - What you love or what you can afford?

[bentbulldog]

Needing a new pipe, I've taken a look around a few pipe shops and have already picked out shapes that I like. Now I stuck within my budget of $50 - $150. I checked online for the shapes at cupojoes and pipesandcigars and found them for much cheaper with exception to one. There is a brebbia pipe that I absolutley fell for but that shape is rare even on the net. Now I would prefer to not reach my max, but this pipe seems to be close @ $113 Shipped but I am so into this shape.

While I have one good pipe that I love already, I don't see myself having a huge collection, but when buying pipes is it important to buy One of what you love or consider the costs and buy two of what you like?

 

[Hermit]

I don't see myself having a huge collection...

That's what they all say. :lol!:

Just wait. :twisted:

 

[puros_bran]

Just my opinion, take it as worth what ya paid for it...


Don't buy that particular Brebbia...
Go out and shop estates.. www.smokingpipes.com and frenchys pipes (google it) are excellent places to do business....

Starting out its very easy to accumulate a lot of pipes that you may or may not like... If you buy estates you can get most if not all of your money back...

 

[Winslow]

PB is telling you right,you can get pipes that are lightly smoked and have been
restored to like new condition for half the cost of the same pipe new.

Winslow :sunny:

 

[Anonymous]

It depends at what point of your life/pipe-smoking life you are at. For most of my life, my collection was a 7 pipe roatation, not a one over 40 bucks. It was all I could afford. So at this point, I would buy what I could afford moreso.

Here is the problem, I"ve been smoking for a long time, so I have collected a ton of pipes. At the stage that I am now, 1 quality pipe that I like trumps 5-7 lower end pipes.

If you have enough for a rotation, I would say save up for a month and get something you really want.

I need to fix my camera so that I can put some pipes up for sale. I have Savinellis that I will probably never smoke again.

 

[mark]

I don't see myself having a huge collection...

define HUGE :lol!: :lol!: :lol!:

the problem is, now you've got a hankerin for that Brebbia pipe, will you feel regret in the future if you pass on it and buy two other "ok" pipes,,,,,will you resent those two pipes in the future as the two that kept you from the one you love,,,,,(just messin with ya)

I think most people settle into a certain style pipe after smoking for a while, for umpteen different reasons,,,you've got to figure out if you're going to explore the estate market, (as PB and Winslow suggest) to determine what works best for you,,,or start buying new pipes. I've given or passed about 7 pipes I bought when I started cause I didn't reach for them anymore, for whatever reason. I settled into a couple specific styles and chances are you might too. It's all a mess and when you figure it out maybe all that will change as your taste in tobacco changes. Some style pipes smoke certain tobaccos (flakes, Virginias, etc.) better than others, and consequently you may explore different shapes and sizes to enjoy these tobaccos more. Clear as mud?

 

[Dillon]

Pretty much what I can afford. I focus on best quality for the lowest possible prices--as much as I'd like a drawer of Petersons, as long as something 1/2 the price works I'll buy it instead.

 

[Sasquatch]

My second pipe was a bank-breaking il ceppo, purchased as a teenager with what I had scrimped and saved. 127 bucks, and I had 130 to last a whole summer. And I still love that pipe 20 years later.

 

[Centurian 803]

Don't take this as advice that needs to be followed, but rather as something worth considering. Personally I would buy the pipe I ached for rather than two that I just liked. I have a bunch of estate pipes and several brand new pipes and I find I keep returning to the ones that really caught my imagination and I bought them over lesser expensive ones that I just liked. :study:

 

[Anonymous]

The first time I spent more than 100 bucks on a pipe, I remember telling myself, "what the hell did I do?"

Then I smoked it... It was like a splash of water on a 100 degree day...My pipes make me a better employee too. Used to be, if the boss asked me to stay late, I had the attitude, of "aw ****." Now I secretely say, "Yes, another Tinsky for my collection!" My entire prespective has changed.

If you have enough smokers, I would still save for an extra month and get the pipe you really want. It will even be more rewarding when you do get it.

 

[alfredo_buscatti]

I note that most of the replies to this question talk of "saving up," and that's what I do now. But in the beginning if a credit card would take it, I'd charge it. Ran up a lot of debt that's taken years to pay off.

Yep, have the cash in hand before you pull the trigger.

Oh, and buying estate is definitely the way to go: twice the bang for your buck. A good place to buy estates is The Pipe Rack.

 

[jlong]

It depends at what point of your life/pipe-smoking life you are at. For most of my life, my collection was a 7 pipe roatation, not a one over 40 bucks. It was all I could afford. So at this point, I would buy what I could afford moreso.

I'm still in the mode of building a collection for rotation. I do around 6 bowls a day so 7 pipes is not quite enough I think. Stay in the $50-$80 range when I can afford one. Nording, Stanwell, and Savinelli make great pipes in this range. I also refuse to spend 200 bucks on a pipe at this point because I am not seasoned enough with proper pipe care and smoking.

B&M's are where I prefer to buy pipes in my price range because I can inspect for flaws such as bad drilling. Plus pick up and feel an assortment.

 

[Anonymous]

B&M's are where I prefer to buy pipes in my price range because I can inspect for flaws such as bad drilling. Plus pick up and feel an assortment.

I feel you there. I think I've only bought 5-6 at a shop, and nothing beats being able to inspect a pipe; however, you pay sometimes as much as 3 times what you would from online retailors. Plus, I have selected a couple of online ships that I know are honest and would correct any issues.

My local shop used to have Petersons for 120. When I found the same pipes for 60 to 80, I went nuts.

But your point is well made.

 

[Anonymous]

One thing I dislike about buying from local shops: you are limited to what those that order think is good. My local shop believed in the Big 3. We just had a Tinderbox open up who believe Ascorti is the best pipe in the world and stock mainly that and Peterson.

One shop in SA claimed Nording is the best pipe in the world. All that is cool, but sometimes it's cool to make up your own mind.

BTW, I disagree with all of them as I mainly smoke Rad Davis, Tinskys, Wileys, Roushes, and Ruthenbergs.

 

[jlong]

I am fortunate to have a local B&M that carries a good variety of mid range popular brands and his prices are around 20% higher than on line for identical pipes which is fine by me because the difference is offset by shipping plus hurry up and wait. With exception of Uhles blends, his tobacco selection is very limited and I buy most of that on line.

The Tinderbox is too franchisey for my tastes. I like some of their aromatics such as Norse Gold or Captain Spice. Their english blends however just don't hold a candle to the likes of C&D, Gawith, Esotercia, etc.

As far as who makes the best pipes. I dunno. That's like a Ford verses Chevy thing and can be argued till pigs learn to fly.

 

[Centurian 803]

I buy my pipes almost exclusively from my local B & M, Smoky's in Montvue Center in Knoxville, TN. Dave has an excellent selection at a good price and will order anything I see on line that I like. I prefer to support his shop (even though it costs a little more) because he gives friendly personal service, I can see what I'm buying and he provides a nice place to go once a week and sit and relax while puffing away. You just don't get that from an on-line store. Of course if Dave can't order what I want I go with the on-line purchase. ipe:

 

[Mikem]

When I started out the first pipes that I purchased were in the $50 to $75 (late 1980's) and all from local pipe shops. Even then I purchased what appealed to me (shape and finish) in that price range. Some say I have more pipes than I need (just ask the wife). Nowadays I don't purchase near what I use to but on average I probably spend in the $200 to $300 price range unless of course I see something that appeals to me :lol!: in shape and finish (i.e. my recent meerschaum purchase or the couple of Mike Brissett pipes I've gotten this year) which were in the $100 to $200 price range. About 90% of my recent purchases have either been estates from the Internet or friends, or new pipes from a direct purchase from a carver. My biggest problem is that I tend to keep what I have purchased and don't play the estate market. For this reason I think I have in the vicinity of 130 pipes.