So, I think I made a decision. It may cost a little more in some cases unless you order a bunch and get the free shipping, but I've decided if I can get it at my local B&M, I'm going to shop there. I want the place to stay in business. I like knowing Jerry and him knowing me. I like that he has a good idea of what I like to smoke in what kind of pipe and can guide me and recommend new things. While everything is moving to box stores, bad customer service, and lack of human contact, I think it's important to support local business and even though I know I didn't get the cheapest price on something, I feel good by buying there.
Also, another thing happened there last night that shocked me. I've been eying a few of the higher end pipes he has and so he called me and told me he was having a sale the next day on pipes but if I came in the night before, he'd give me the sale so I would have pick of the lot. How awesome is that? So, I went in. I don't really need another pipe, but I had the $$, it was extra slush money, and I can't think of a better use for it (don't tell my wife.) So, I looked at this higher end pipe that I really liked the looks of. You'd think for the price (which was comparable to what I saw online if not cheaper, actually) that it would be well drilled. However, it wasn't. I was shocked and saddened. I looked at some others and they were meh, ok. The buttons on some were weird, the drilling wasn't quite what I was looking at, etc. So, then I looked at this cheaper La Rocca simply because the stem was interesting. It wasn't the prettiest and was less than I thought I was going to spend. It was drilled perfectly. The button was just what I liked and feels comfortable. It was a slight bent rhodesian which was one of my favorite shapes. I went home with it leaving the pretty and expensive one on the shelf and an extra $60 in my pocket.
There are a few morals to this story: I would have never known had I ordered online. There's nothing compared to being able to walk in, touch the pipes, pull em apart, and look. Sometimes, I fall into the trap that thinking if a pipe costs more, its a better pipe; or if it's pretty, it's going to be good. Well, I have an ugly pipe now that smokes wonderfully and didn't break my bank. I learned a good lesson last night. Thought I would pass it along.
Also, another thing happened there last night that shocked me. I've been eying a few of the higher end pipes he has and so he called me and told me he was having a sale the next day on pipes but if I came in the night before, he'd give me the sale so I would have pick of the lot. How awesome is that? So, I went in. I don't really need another pipe, but I had the $$, it was extra slush money, and I can't think of a better use for it (don't tell my wife.) So, I looked at this higher end pipe that I really liked the looks of. You'd think for the price (which was comparable to what I saw online if not cheaper, actually) that it would be well drilled. However, it wasn't. I was shocked and saddened. I looked at some others and they were meh, ok. The buttons on some were weird, the drilling wasn't quite what I was looking at, etc. So, then I looked at this cheaper La Rocca simply because the stem was interesting. It wasn't the prettiest and was less than I thought I was going to spend. It was drilled perfectly. The button was just what I liked and feels comfortable. It was a slight bent rhodesian which was one of my favorite shapes. I went home with it leaving the pretty and expensive one on the shelf and an extra $60 in my pocket.
There are a few morals to this story: I would have never known had I ordered online. There's nothing compared to being able to walk in, touch the pipes, pull em apart, and look. Sometimes, I fall into the trap that thinking if a pipe costs more, its a better pipe; or if it's pretty, it's going to be good. Well, I have an ugly pipe now that smokes wonderfully and didn't break my bank. I learned a good lesson last night. Thought I would pass it along.
