Sad state of my local B&M situation

[Timbo]

Just a post to lament the poor state of tobacconists in Australia. I live on the outskirts of Sydney and decided to take a trip into town to get some tobacco as my last three shipments have been caught by our overzealous customs officers.

Out of the ten I'd looked up, four where shut down, another three were closed for Sunday and of the three open stores, only one stocked pipe tobacco. Guess which exciting blends they had! Go on guess!

Three different Borkum Riff pouches and that was it and no the owner would not order other stuff in.

I will have to get on the blower first next time so I don't spend an hour on the train to find out that there is no decent tobacco to be had for love or money.

Anyone know any decent online/phone order tobacconists in the antipodes?

Cheers all

Tim

 

[Stick]

Sorry to hear that Tim, especially considering your journey. It isn't going to get any better either which is why our American Brothers are squirrelling away large quantities. Fast forward 20 years and baccy may only be available through home growing (which will then probably be illegal) and through the black market. Faced with that, your 3 blends of BR doesn't sound too bad! Hope your situation improves somewhat though...

 

[Timbo]

Thanks Stick, I've been trying to catch up with our American buddies, only started smoking a pipe seriously in September last year and already have a few pounds cellared. I think my frantic ordering may have alerted our wonderful border control friends.

Thinking I may have to hold up my TAD for a couple of months or start paying the insanely excessive excise they charge here.

Cheers

Tim

 

[DireWolf]

Can you order, and have a friend send it?

Maybe the fact that they are coming for suppliers is raising a red flag?

A friend sending a box of "books" may have an easier time with a hand written address, and a smiley face on the box.

 

[monbla256]

Your situation B&M wise is not all that different from over here at least in my part of the country. I live in a major metro area of almost 3 million people that back in the early 70's had OVER 12 REAL pipe shops and sadly today barely has 4 and of those NONE are really pipe shops as they used to be. They are mostly cigar imported cig stores with a smattering of tinned blends available. Even the lone Edward's store left , there used to be 4. is mostly cigars with under half of the Edward's blends available as they used to have. We are a dying breed with a slowly dying habit in reality though most of us don't want to admit it !! :twisted: I haven't bought any tobacco at a B&M in probably 10 years now, with what's available on the web, theirs no need !! :twisted: :twisted: Onward Thru the Fog :twisted: :twisted:

 

[tslots]

Yes, same story here in California. Back in the 90's, there were many B&Ms and places to smoke pipes and cigars. These days there are very few cigar shops and many don't want much to do with pipes or pipe smokers. Some have even converted to "head shops" or more lucrative medical marijuana dispensaries.

I know nothing about tobacco shops in Oz, but I'm sure and afternoon with Google and the blower would be a good use of your time.

 

[monbla256]

'Nother thing is that I would imagine that probably over 90% of the Bro's here on the Forum are getting most if not all their 'baccy by way of the 'net as opposed to going to a stand-alone B&M. I can't quote any hard numbers but feel certain that that is probably the most used way of acquiring 'baccy over here these days. in fact I really can't recall ANY B&M back in the day that had the variety of choices tobacco wise as any of the bigger e-tailer's have available these days! :twisted: :twisted:

 

[Stick]

... and that's why there's such a poor choice in the B&Ms; it simply isn't economically viable for them to hold large quantities of stock as everyone's buying online. I wonder if there was community of pipers who approached a B&M to discuss their needs whether things would change. Apart from the convenience of shopping from the arm chair, I much prefer to wander into a shop, have a chat, sniff a few blends and make a purchase.

 

[eklektos44]

I'm one of those lucky folks that lives close enough to a B&M to be able to drop in from time to time. Plus they have a large selection of store blends, and the more traditional tins. It's convenient to order online, but I still enjoy the experience of being able to walk into a B&M and sample a bowlful. Milan Tobacco is a great store that's been around forever.

 

[monbla256]

I'm one of those lucky folks that lives close enough to a B&M to be able to drop in from time to time. Plus they have a large selection of store blends, and the more traditional tins. It's convenient to order online, but I still enjoy the experience of being able to walk into a B&M and sample a bowlful. Milan Tobacco is a great store that's been around forever.

Consider yourself one of the lucky FEW!! I do remember and would still enjoy the personal aspect of the "good old days" of the actual pipe stores but I have to live in the world of TODAY so I keep those times as MEMORIES and live with, and appreciate what I can about TODAY !! I'm not much of a wisher of old times as they WON'T happen!! :twisted: So I enjoy what's TODAY and as always, Onward Thru the Fog :twisted: :twisted:

 

[eklektos44]

I'm one of those lucky folks that lives close enough to a B&M to be able to drop in from time to time. Plus they have a large selection of store blends, and the more traditional tins. It's convenient to order online, but I still enjoy the experience of being able to walk into a B&M and sample a bowlful. Milan Tobacco is a great store that's been around forever.

Consider yourself one of the lucky FEW!! I do remember and would still enjoy the personal aspect of the "good old days" of the actual pipe stores but I have to live in the world of TODAY so I keep those times as MEMORIES and live with, and appreciate what I can about TODAY !! I'm not much of a wisher of old times as they WON'T happen!! :twisted:  So I enjoy what's TODAY  and as always, Onward Thru the Fog  :twisted: :twisted:

Did I pee in your Wheaties or something?

 

[Richard Burley]

I'm one of those lucky folks that lives close enough to a B&M to be able to drop in from time to time. Plus they have a large selection of store blends, and the more traditional tins. It's convenient to order online, but I still enjoy the experience of being able to walk into a B&M and sample a bowlful. Milan Tobacco is a great store that's been around forever.

I used to drive I-81 quite a bit. I'd almost always take the spur into Roanoke just to visit. Not an insignificant detour, but the break in the grind was worth it. Great staff, compared to some.

 

[eklektos44]

I used to drive I-81 quite a bit. I'd almost always take the spur into Roanoke just to visit. Not an insignificant detour, but the break in the grind was worth it. Great staff, compared to some.

Parking on the other hand...

 

[monbla256]

I'm one of those lucky folks that lives close enough to a B&M to be able to drop in from time to time. Plus they have a large selection of store blends, and the more traditional tins. It's convenient to order online, but I still enjoy the experience of being able to walk into a B&M and sample a bowlful. Milan Tobacco is a great store that's been around forever.

Consider yourself one of the lucky FEW!! I do remember and would still enjoy the personal aspect of the "good old days" of the actual pipe stores but I have to live in the world of TODAY so I keep those times as MEMORIES and live with, and appreciate what I can about TODAY !! I'm not much of a wisher of old times as they WON'T happen!! :twisted:  So I enjoy what's TODAY  and as always, Onward Thru the Fog  :twisted: :twisted:

Did I pee in your Wheaties or something?

Did I hurt your feelings ? I'm sorry :twisted: :twisted: I aknowledged you're one of the lucky few :twisted: :twisted: I'm not one who lives in what it WAS, I try to live in the PRESENT and my PRESENT doesn't include any of the "old style" B&Ms/ So be it. You're lucky to be able to have access to one. Count your blssings !! :twisted: :twisted:

 

[eklektos44]

Did I hurt your feelings ? I'm sorry :twisted: :twisted: I aknowledged you're one of the lucky few :twisted: :twisted: I'm not one who lives in what it WAS, I try to live in the PRESENT and my PRESENT doesn't include any of the "old style" B&Ms/ So be it. You're lucky to be able to have access to one. Count your blssings !! :twisted: :twisted:

The post wasn't directed at you in particular. I merely expressed my opinion. Sounds like something else to me...

 

[monbla256]

I'm one of those lucky folks that lives close enough to a B&M to be able to drop in from time to time. Plus they have a large selection of store blends, and the more traditional tins. It's convenient to order online, but I still enjoy the experience of being able to walk into a B&M and sample a bowlful. Milan Tobacco is a great store that's been around forever.

Consider yourself one of the lucky FEW!! I do remember and would still enjoy the personal aspect of the "good old days" of the actual pipe stores but I have to live in the world of TODAY so I keep those times as MEMORIES and live with, and appreciate what I can about TODAY !! I'm not much of a wisher of old times as they WON'T happen!! :twisted:  So I enjoy what's TODAY  and as always, Onward Thru the Fog  :twisted: :twisted:

Did I pee in your Wheaties or something?

When you ask whether " ...I pee in your Wheaties.." in reply to the previous post I'd say it was pretty directed :twisted: :twisted:

 

[eklektos44]

When you ask whether " ...I pee in your Wheaties.." in reply to the previous post I'd say it was pretty directed :twisted: :twisted:

That was directed, the original post wasn't. I hope a nice B&M opens near you, I truly do. Nuff said.

 

[DrumsAndBeer]

Sounds just a touch worse off than the little shop that I frequent, who has a nice cigar selection but a ever-dwindling pipe tobacco inventory.

It's an utter celebration when they stock a GLP tin or something from McClellend. They mostly deal in Dunhill blends and a few other STG offerings. I try my best to support them and I buy my tins of London Mixture from them every other month or so, even then half the times that I go in they're not carrying what I am after.

Still, they fight the good fight here in California, so they get my business. Them and a few other B&M's..

 

[Timbo]

I'm trying both a different delivery address as well as using a different vendor. Next trick is getting the parcels gift wrapped.

If I can't get these through I might have to try something desperate. :shock:

We did have a fantastic and knowledgeable pipe store in town up until November last year, Sol Levy. They had a good range of Petes and some yummy house blends but sadly all gone now due to lack of custom.

Thanks for the suggestions one and all.

Cheers

Tim

 

[Thomas Tkach]

... and that's why there's such a poor choice in the B&Ms; it simply isn't economically viable for them to hold large quantities of stock as everyone's buying online. I wonder if there was community of pipers who approached a B&M to discuss their needs whether things would change. Apart from the convenience of shopping from the arm chair, I much prefer to wander into a shop, have a chat, sniff a few blends and make a purchase.

It's a chicken and egg thing. My guess is that before people started buying online, pipesmoking was just not prevalent enough for a local store to make enough money from it to pay rent. I'm guessing it's not so much about all the pipesmokers buying online as there aren't enough pipe smokers. But once that is the case, they have to decrease selection, and then the current pipesmokers have to go online to get what they want. Then it becomes a vicious cycle.

I'd bet that many if not most decent pipe shops these days can afford to stay in business because they have a mail-order wing that keeps them afloat.

I'm trying both a different delivery address as well as using a different vendor. Next trick is getting the parcels gift wrapped.

If I can't get these through I might have to try something desperate. :shock:

We did have a fantastic and knowledgeable pipe store in town up until November last year, Sol Levy. They had a good range of Petes and some yummy house blends but sadly all gone now due to lack of custom.

Thanks for the suggestions one and all.

Cheers

Tim