VINTAGE PIPE VALUES

[KevinM]

I've never seen anything that looked like a used pipe blue book and doubt I will anytime soon, because the market is small and distribution varies from garage sales to high-end Internet Ye Olde Pipe Shoppes. If there is such a thing it is probably limited to a few pips of premium brands. I'd also guess that the perceived value of some pipes is easily manipulated by sellers, simply because the market is so small.

So it I were going to test the market, I'd Google the pipe and see what value estimate might come from that. I'd also check the price of the pipe new and start the bidding, condition considered, at fifty percent. Or (much) less, depending on whether it's a premium pipe or utilitarian smoker.

If you find a pipe you gotta have, I wouldn't sweat $10 one way or the other. But as in any transaction, the buyer's strongest weapon is always the willingness to walk away from a sale.

FWIW, I've noticed that MSRPs for refurbished pipes sometimes approach the asking price of the same pipe new at other shops. "Better briar," says the seller of the refurb.

 

[lb]

I understand your point. I may suggest to to check old estate pipes lists like the ones from Barry Levin and other estate pipe sellers and auctioners back from the 80's and 90's.It may give you an idea.However i agree with you on the constant change.My guess is that if you want a cheap pipe,then you better go with an out of fashion brand.High end american carvers are the rave now,so i avoid them due to their high cost.When i look for pipes that were popular before but not that much now,usually i find a good buy.Check for the old Ser Jacopos,Grenci,Talamona(just to name a few italians) and you'll find good buys.Check for americans brands like Wally Frank white bars and Webers gold bands and you'll find the same price than 40 or more years ago(deflation).Check for several made in england like Redman and you'll also find price deflation.Avoid the inflation of the names wich are in vogue.With good information and knowledge,ebay is a great place to buy.

 

[PeterD]

...I've been a pipe smoker for 51 years...I've seen prices all over the board when it comes to vintage pipes...the first quality pipe I bought was a Charatan smooth straight billiard in 1962 for $12.50 USD in New York...the second quality pipe I purchased or my father purchased for me, was a new 1951 group 4 Dunhill from I. Ries in Chicago...for $21.70 because it had been sitting around for 10 years...Unfortunately, all my pipes were stolen in 1971 when I was a college student, and while I would pay a reasonable price for a 1951 Dunhill to replace my original...I wouldn't go overboard at all. As some have stated, the value of a pipe to me comes from me and not what the market says...

Also, careful study about pipe manufacturers in whatever period, should be understood as well, for some, even the high quality vintage pipes, have had years where their products were less than stellar... :?:

 

[cigrmaster]

I have been buying estate pipes on Ebay since 2000 and I have learned plenty in that time. I have a price structure I go buy in regards to newer estates say like a Winslow E grade. That pipe retails for approx 400.00, that means cost is 200.00, once it is smoked I value it at 100.00. My last Winsow E I bought last month on ebay, I paid 84.00. That to me is a good deal. Now when dealing with older British pipes like a Dunhill or Chartan, that formula doesn't work. For those kind of pipes, I look at the pipe and ask my self what is it worth to you, I put a number on it and never go above it. If I win I win if I lose, no big deal. I never get caught up in a price war.

Now recently I have been buying Rad Davis estate pieces, now my first formula doesn't work for those because of supply and demand, his pipes are in way more demand than the supply on the market. So I have to go to my second formula and ask myself how much do I want to spend on that pipe. I set the number and stick to it.

There are some incredible deals on ebay if you understand the market and know which sellers to keep an eye on. The people who sell with a reserve price or blatantly call their pipes rare when they are just an average pipe aka Mr Can, I stay away from. I like buying from the no reserve sellers so that way if I win, I know I am getting the pipe. A couple of months ago I bought 2 sandblasted Lane Era Charatans that were in excellent condition, one I paid 35, the other 46.00, both are great smoking pipes that will be in my collection for a very long time. The guys who list their price and then say make an offer is also a good source if you know your prices. I bought a Upshall P grade that had a retail of 675.00 for only 200.00. Now going by my first formula I should have only paid 168.75, but I wanted the pipe and it was very close to the bottom line number so I pulled the trigger. If you approach ebay or on line dealers with a system and stick to it, you can get some great deals.

 

[rothnh]

Great philosophy, Harris.

I particularly empathize with the point you make about adjusting one's "set price" when that certain pipe comes up because, in the end, it's all about what a pipe is worth to the prospective buyer.

I can see where eBay isn't for everyone. One has to enjoy the whole process and it's too stressful and/or too much work for some people.

That said, it's critical to do the research and know the pipes and the prices which can take a lot of time and effort and can be pretty daunting, especially for anyone fairly new to our hobby. It just amazes me when I see people at on line cigar auctions "winning" an auction but paying more than double the value ... happens on eBay as well.

 

[cigrmaster]

roth, I totally agree that ebay is not for everyone. It takes time and research to know the market. I look at pipes for an hour a day to know the trends of what things are going for. I keep a list of favorite sellers and check their auctions daily. I favorite a lot of listings so I can see what things have sold for even though I have no interest in that particular pipe. To me it is fun, I love getting great deals there so don't mind putting in the effort.

I remember when those cigar auctions started, I felt badly for those people who were paying double than they needed to. The sellers are smart, they know people are too lazy to do their homework and thereby profit from it. All it takes is a few clicks to find what cigar prices should be.

 

[Anonymous]

With few exceptions, there is no such thing as fixed, predictable pipe values. Especially where used pipes are concerned.

There are tendencies, but these are in fixed market niches.

Mr. Can, IMO (I wasn't going to mention him by name, but since the ice is broken) is a good example of a seller who wants ridiculous amounts for much of what he has. And the same is true of some other niche wheeler-dealers. He has his clientele, and sells pipes.

Smokingpipes gets high prices for estates. That's another niche & clientele.

Marty Pulvers sells the same pipes (as they come along) for considerably less than SP and way less than Mr. C. And he (a knowledgeable merchant) has bought the pipes he sells from knowledgeable sellers.

etc.

Then, as has been mentioned, there's the Flavor-of-the-Month syndrome that's been bouncing pipe "values" around like soccer balls for 20 years.

High prices on Flea Bay are generally either, at the bottom end (reference preceding post) lazy people paying the tax on greedy laziness (like used Stanwells for far more than identical new ones at Smokingpipes) or, at the top (greedy collectors who don't care what they spend).

In the middle, prices realised are all over the place. Sometimes within fairly tight limits. Other times, not.

Shiny stuff sells. (As LL pointed out long ago, Apes like shiny things). It doesn't seem to matter that some vandal with a buffing wheel has obliterated the stampings and reduced the stem button to near nothing. The same pipe, in the Attic Condition any collector almost automatically prefers* (if you want a job done right, you do it yourself) that's dirty, needs reamed &c. often goes for a fraction of a shiny one's realisation -- sometimes a surprisingly small fraction.

*which introduces another factor : who cleaned it up and what clientele he has. Pipestud gets way more for stuff than Joe Sixpack can dream of. Partly because he does a fine job of rejuvenation, partly because he's Pipestud. People love to spend money in order to affiliate with high-profile names. That's why Dunhill could always get more than Barling or Sasieni or Comoy could.

Then there's the pure "like" factor. There are truly fine pipes languishing at Marty's site, at Briar Blues, & elsewhere that people just don't like. These are the homely girls lining the gym walls at the highschool dance. They often wind up at Flea Bay going for pittances compared to what "the same" maker's work in the same grade fetches on other occasions.

:face:

 

[Zeno Marx]

Shiny stuff sells. (As LL pointed out long ago, Apes like shiny things). It doesn't seem to matter that some vandal with a buffing wheel has obliterated the stampings and reduced the stem button to near nothing. The same pipe, in the Attic Condition any collector almost automatically prefers* (if you want a job done right, you do it yourself) that's dirty, needs reamed &c. often goes for a fraction of a shiny one's realisation -- sometimes a surprisingly small fraction.

He's offensive in many more ways than just his revisionist "refurbishing", though the destruction of the pipes is the worst of them. If I was a canine and him mentioned, my back hair would be standing tall from skull to tail.

EDIT: I misread you. I thought you were talking specifically about Shiny Pipes on eBay.

 

[riff raff]

You pretty much nailed it Yak.

 

[plumbernater]

AS said Yak nailed it. I always looked for the oxidized stem.crusty bowl, that looks like its sat for years pipe on ebay. now even those are going for too much.

 

[rothnh]

Pontifications, while interesting to read, on rare occasions, actually nail it. Good job, Yak.