Pipes Magazine » General Pipe Smoking Discussion

1. 

   rmbittner
   

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   I have a nice pipe I've considered selling on eBay. . . But I don't have the equipment necessary to give the bowl and stem a great shine (and remove some of the scorching on the top of the bowl), and I don't have any experience sanitizing pipes.

   If you saw a listing for a pipe that required the above -- and didn't come "ready to smoke" -- would that be an immediate turn-off? Is it in my best interest as a seller to take the time to prepare it for the next owner?

   BTW, I don't want to overstep the forum guidelines regarding the prohibition against promoting eBay auctions, so I don't want to go into any more detail about the pipe or the possible sale, should I decide to move forward. I just wanted to hear what this community thought. (And, although I've bought a number of pipes on eBay, I've never bought one myself that required sanitizing/refurbishing.)

   Thanks!

   Bob

   Posted 4 months ago #
2. 

   captainprophesy
   

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   I know of lots of people who prefer to buy estates that way... there are allot of people that dont know how to properly clean a pipe and end up screwing it up, especially during the reaming process.

   I am one of those that prefers to do the cleaning my self

   Good luck.

   I carry a gun... because a cop is too heavy!

   Posted 4 months ago #
3. 

   Chris
   

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   Not a turn off at all...folks on here including myself do this everyday. Concider what the pipe is worth to you and the time and money reqired to get the tools and whathaveyou to restore and go from there.
   Once you get it all the info you need to restore is on this site already. Good luck

   The most important things in life are good friends and a good bullpen...not necessarily in that order

   Posted 4 months ago #
4. 

   nsfisher
   

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   No it is not a turn off, although alot depends on the asking price and or minimum bid. One does need equipment at all to bring an old pipe back to life. As far as build up etc. on the rim, one needs only a rag, moisture, and a little elbow grease.

   If at first you don't succeed, have another bowl.

   Posted 4 months ago #
5. 

   foggymountain
   

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   I sometimes sell pipes on Ebay. They are not sanitized , and not polished except the silver. I make no claim that they are sanitized. Most people who get estates have their own procedures for cleaning the pipes.

   Posted 4 months ago #
6. 

   cigrmaster
   

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   If you want to get the most money for your pipe then it would behoove you to clean it up and make it look as nice as possible. Pipes that are in the shape you describe do not get the money that a well cleaned pipe will get. Depending on the pipe it could bring 3 to 4 times the price of a dirty pipe.

   Harris

   Posted 4 months ago #
7. 

   rmbittner
   

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   Thanks, guys. I'd definitely try to make it look as good as possible, since this is the kind of pipe that would need a minimum bid of at least $150.

   But I keep going back and forth about selling it. Some days, I love it; it's my favorite pipe brand and it's a different shape from all of the others I have of that brand. Other days, it's too big for my hand, takes too long to smoke a bowlful. . .

   It doesn't help that my strongest memory associated with that pipe is smoking a lot of Haddo's Delight in it before I discovered that perique and I just do not mix. So it's also the pipe that's made me the sickest I've ever felt after smoking! (Maybe we just both need to go into couples counseling. . . )

   Bob

   Posted 4 months ago #
8. 

   rothnh
   

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   I think either restored or unrestored is fine, but as Harris states, you'll likely get less money for an unrestored pipe, even less if it needs a lot of work.

   I think your description is important, regardless of whether the pipe is ready to smoke or needing a lot or a little work. A well written, honest presentation, with as much information about the pipe as you can provide is always best IMO.

   Good luck!

   Posted 4 months ago #
9. 

   rothnh
   

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   Bob, why not try posting your pipe on BriarBid? I know a lot of puffers here check it out daily.

   Posted 4 months ago #
10. 

    shaintiques
    

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    And you could try it on briarbid and give us first crack at it

    I know what I need, smoke, I can't recall the last time I tasted it....Gandalf in the mines of Moria.
    
    "we shall have to share pipes, as good friends must at a pinch'....'I keep a treasure or two near my skin, as precious as rings to me. Here's one: my old wooden pipe. And here's another an unused one...He held up a small pipe with a wide flattened bowl, and handed it to Gimli. 'Does that settle the score between us', said Merry. 'Most noble hobbit, it leaves me deep in your debt."

    Posted 4 months ago #
11. 

    rmbittner
    

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    You know, I'm open to BriarBid. . . but I've only just heard of it. And I was surprised that when I looked, there were only, like, six pipes for sale. So I'm kind of wondering why that site gets preference here over eBay. . . ?

    Also, I could swear that I saw mention in one of the stickies here that there's a forum for trading pipes. But it has never shown up. Is there one? If not, is there a reason why? I'm curious because we have a pretty active tobacco-trade forum; it seems like there would naturally be a similar option for pipes. Or am I missing/overlooking something?

    EDIT: I just checked BriarBid, and they have exactly four pipes for sale! And they range in price from $10 to $25. Doesn't seem like the kind of place to try to sell a $100+ pipe.

    Bob

    Posted 4 months ago #
12. 

    Teddy
    

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    I only buy estate pipes that are clean and ready to smoke.
    The only place i trust for this is The Pipe rack. http://www.thepiperack.com/

    Posted 4 months ago #
13. 

    rmbittner
    

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    Teddy:

    The Pipe Rack has a great selection of pipes and, sometimes, vintage tobaccos. Usually outside of my budget, though.

    Bob

    Posted 4 months ago #
14. 

    numbersix
    

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    I am one of those who would recommend that you clean it as well as possible.

    I don't think its necessary to do a full retort and claim it's been sanitized since most people will sanitize it anyway. But the better it looks, the more money you will get.

    I can say for certain that I have passed on estates because I wasn't certain I'd be able to clean it up well enough. Especially when it comes to rims. If a rim is blackened, it might clean up quite well - but if it's burnt wood (can't always tell), it might not be fixable without sanding it down to bare wood.

    So it pays to get it as nice looking as possible.

    FWIW: the other thing I would recommend is pointing out any issues, like teeth chatter, etc. When I see those kinds of things in the description, I gain much more trust in the seller (as opposed to those sellers who warn to look at the photos for any issues). Good luck.

    "Be seeing you" —Number Six, The Prisoner
    
    
    

    Posted 4 months ago #
15. 

    Uberam3rica
    

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    I think it should be somewhat clean, but not perfect.

    As long as I got a pipe full of baccy and a nose full of snuff, I'm a happy camper
    Cigarettes are an addiction, cigars are a hobby, pipes are a religion

    Posted 4 months ago #
16. 

    shaintiques
    

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    Briarbid is run by Kevin who also runs this site. It is just getting started and will perhaps blossom in time. The thing about it is that you can freely advertise your pipe sales on that site, here. And if there is any interest from the guys on here it is a good place to start. My practice from now on with pipe sales, will be to post pipes there first and let the guys on here know whats what and then if they don't sell go over to ebay. And on Briarbid you can choose the option in the midst of the sale page to accept trades. That took the place of the pipe trade thread on this site.

    Posted 4 months ago #
17. 

    kcghost
    

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    The pipe needs to be presentable or you will take a price hit. Just think if two identical pipes were side by side but one had been cleaned up a bit and the other had not then which do you think will command the higher value. I don't know of any reseller who "sanitizes" his offering. Just a decent clean up and buffing being careful not to remove any of the marking son the pipe.

    To remove the light blackening around the top of the bowl is no big deal.

    Posted 4 months ago #
18. 

    numbersix
    

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    riarbid is run by Kevin who also runs this site. It is just getting started and will perhaps blossom in time. The thing about it is that you can freely advertise your pipe sales on that site, here. And if there is any interest from the guys on here it is a good place to start. My practice from now on with pipe sales, will be to post pipes there first and let the guys on here know whats what and then if they don't sell go over to ebay. And on Briarbid you can choose the option in the midst of the sale page to accept trades. That took the place of the pipe trade thread on this site

    That makes a lot of sense. The other benefit is that if you are in good standing on the forum then you've built up trust.

    As well, many people on this forum, while not the large audience ebay can bring, are enthusiastic buyers of estate pipes. So if you think there's likely to be interest, you can make a quick sale.

    Posted 4 months ago #
19. 

    instymp
    

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    Maybe you could find out how much Walkers or some people here would charge to to fix it, then figure out if the cost is worth it to sell.

    Posted 4 months ago #
20. 

    captainsousie
    

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    One thing you might think of is that a bit of spit and a rag will clean up the rim nicely. Add to that a stem restore kit from Walker Briar Works ($20) and a pipe cloth from one of our sponsors ($15-20), you can restore and sell quite a few pipes.

    Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines.

    Posted 4 months ago #
21. 

    billbearcat
    

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    From one of your other posts you are up in the air about selling it. If I were you I would clean it up (wash away that single bad moment) and try a different blend in it. Plus, you said it was "your favorite pipe brand and a different shape the other ones," based on that I would keep it and revisit the pipe in the future.

    Posted 4 months ago #
22. 

    instymp
    

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    I have the same problem with Pernod, sp? French Liquor, made me sicker than **8 after a half of bottle, never drank it since, but I still like stuff that comes in glass bottles.

    Posted 4 months ago #
23. 

    rmbittner
    

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    Shaintiques:

    Thanks so much for the explanation re: BriarBid. Makes perfect sense now.

    Thanks, everyone else, for all of the helpful feedback. I appreciate it.

    I didn't mean to give the impression that this pipe is in bad shape. It's just not up to what I've found when I've bought cleaned/sanitized estate pipes myself.

    Finally, I thought it might be helpful to just share a quick iPhone photo of the pipe I'm talking about. For the record, it's a Charatan Special, Lane-era, with a six-sided shank, the "Made by Hand in City of London" stamping, and the original Double Comfort stem (which has the CP insignia, although it's faded a bit). I'm guessing this is a 70's-era pipe, but I really don't know. In case the perspective is off, it's a straight pot, 6" long, with what I can only call mixed grain. (I just wanted to give you all a shot that showed the top of the bowl as well as the whole stem.)

    

    Bob

    Posted 4 months ago #
24. 

    Greg
    

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    My practice from now on with pipe sales, will be to post pipes there first and let the guys on here know whats what and then if they don't sell go over to ebay. And on Briarbid you can choose the option in the midst of the sale page to accept trades.

    +1

    Just like a used car, one that is detailed will bring more money than one that isn't: one that's tuned up and inspected will bring more money, too. If you don't need the cash right now for PAD or other needs, I'd hold onto it from the "unsure" sound of your post as to if you really want to sell it.

    Greg

    Posted 4 months ago #
25. 

    rmbittner
    

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    Greg wrote:
    

    
    Just like a used car, one that is detailed will bring more money than one that isn't: one that's tuned up and inspected will bring more money, too.

    Agreed!

    If I have anything in my favor for selling it as-is, though, it's the fact that it is a one-of-a-kind handmade pipe by one of the great English pipe companies.

    Bob

    Posted 4 months ago #
26. 

    numbersix
    

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    If I have anything in my favor for selling it as-is, though, it's the fact that it is a one-of-a-kind handmade pipe by one of the great English pipe companies.

    This pipe and others like it (i.e. ones that have rabid followers) will often go for high prices (even more than they may be worth) regardless of how clean it looks. That one looks to be in good condition, so IMHO, whether you cleaned it or not, probably will bring in close to the same money.

    Posted 4 months ago #
27. 

    rmbittner
    

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    numbersix wrote:

    This pipe and others like it (i.e. ones that have rabid followers) will often go for high prices (even more than they may be worth) regardless of how clean it looks.

    Well, that would be my hope!

    I just have to add that I picked this up on eBay for a price that seemed way below its true value. And the seller knew it. It was the only time I've ever received an angry note from an eBay seller complaining about how low my winning bid was! (I don't know if he expected there to be a lot more bids or not, but he should have set a much higher opening bid.)

    Bob

    Posted 4 months ago #
28. 

    numbersix
    

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    (I don't know if he expected there to be a lot more bids or not, but he should have set a much higher opening bid.)

    Funny. I actually feel kinda bad for sellers who lose an item on a low bid (except of course when I win the bid!) Ebay is funny like that - sometimes a great item falls under the radar and those are the ones you hope to win.

    I was able to snag a beautiful 835 ODB Dunhill for a fraction of its value —just $7 over it's starting bid—there were only 3 other bids on it (all snipers like me).

    I am sure the seller was thinking "WTF"?!

    Posted 4 months ago #

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