What is Your Worst Pipe Buying Mistake?

[frozenchurchwarden]

It's been a month since my custom pipe came in and I'm still stewing over the experience.

To cut a long story short: The maker did a great job but the price was 60% more than what you'd pay on the open market, I felt obligated to pay it anyway since I neglected to get a firm estimate beforehand.

Even though what I paid is barely into "collector" territory, the idea of having over-paid won't leave.
Hopefully some perspective can help correct for a narrow mind.

 

[Sonorisis]

Education costs money. There is no shortcut to knowledge and wisdom.

My biggest disappointment has been a Scottie era Castello. Nothing like the current engineering of the brand.

 

[captainsousie]

Most of my early estate purchases fall under this category. Later, after I knew what I was doing, that trend changed.

 

[fireground_piper]

By over paid, do you mean you paid 60% more because it was a commission vs. if the maker had made it on their own and put it up for sale publicly for the exact same pipe?

 

[ChuckMijo]

I understand feeling obligated under those particular circumstances. Only advice is don’t stew over it, no good can come of that. Next time you will be more prepared and have a clear price upfront. So enjoy your pipe. That’s my 2cents.

 

[kcghost]

Stewing over it is a waste of time as the money is spent. Funny thing about experience is that it has to be paid for in one form or the other.

 

[ashdigger]

Not to be trite but……..

If you want to dance, you have to pay the fiddler.

Having said that, I’ve been disappointed, burned and bummed on a few purchases…. But I don’t regret one of them. I have a PhD in a pipedia, pipephil and Silver Hallmarks education. I’ve learned the hard way.

It’s also why I only use one artisan carver for any pipe I have made. It’s all dialed in. No surprises.

 

[sandollars]

When I first took up pipes, I loaded up on Petersons. Not one of them were worth a hoot and I have since sold them all off.

I understand they are bringing back their quality of yore, but in the late 90's they were pretty poorly made...

 

[frozenchurchwarden]

By over paid, do you mean you paid 60% more because it was a commission vs. if the maker had made it on their own and put it up for sale publicly for the exact same pipe?

I think so yes.
Half the problem is these days my mindset is firmly rooted in cutting out retail margins.
Of course the makers have to sell to retail for far less than the list price, but that's the price of getting someone else to hold your stock. Buying direct from manufacturer is already giving the maker a big bonus.
I'd even be happy paying 10% or 20% over retail prices just to keep relations good between retailers and makers, but this felt egregious, at least from my perspective.
Meanwhile I'm sure a lot of people will tip $100 on a good meal, value is all skewed depending on your expectations.

 

[telescopes]

I feel the same about my estate Dunhills. I won’t get into a bidding war because every time I do the idiot on the other end of the bidding war is prepared to over bid by huge amounts just to win. Buying at a set price seems high but it escapes the crazy bidding. I have one mire Dunhill to go after but I am content to wait until the economy crashes.

 

[captainsousie]

A comission comes with a premium for specifying things. Expecting a discount below retail when choosing options is not a thing in any product that I can think of. Also, a pipemaker gets to sell personally and make full profit or they get to sell to a larger company at a lesser profits to allow the larger company to profit too. Expecting to get a discount by "cutting out the middleman" is not a thing in pipe making either.

 

[PaulTheScandinavian]

Over the years I have probably spent $ 1000 on 'wrong pipe purchases, specifically, been acquiring mid range and mediocre brand new factory made pipes,mostly Petersons&Savinellis, instead I perhaps could have been better off getting refurbished made estate pipes or very few those of higher end ones..or commissioned Meerschaums

 

[karam]

All my mistakes are around NOT buying various estates I've seen, for trivial amounts, say having a mental benchmark of up to 50 euros but missing out on the one being 51 euros. Yes I'm OCD like that...

 

[frozenchurchwarden]

A comission comes with a premium for specifying things. Expecting a discount below retail when choosing options is not a thing in any product that I can think of. Also, a pipemaker gets to sell personally and make full profit or they get to sell to a larger company at a lesser profits to allow the larger company to profit too. Expecting to get a discount by "cutting out the middleman" is not a thing in pipe making either.

I keep hearing about guys selling pipes exclusively through posts on Instagram and apparently they're quite successful.
If that sort of business model were more common then you probably would see the difference in retail markup vs. direct sales. As-is the makers just rely on retailers for convenience.

 

[LikeDadDid]

I purchased a Bestoval stummel just because I thought it was an interesting shape and brand. ..
and when it arrived I was shocked to see how small it is. The shank is the size of a drinking straw. And the seller had posted a crystal clear picture of the bowl alongside a tape measure!

My plan was to make a stem for it, so that's what I intend to do, but it's going be microscopic.


So, maybe not a mistake. Just a dimwitted surprise. It will be a good conversation piece.

 

[Law]

Buying many acrylic pipes before trying vulcanite. I am fairly new to pipe smoking ( a bit over a year into it) and have made many mistakes that are costly.

First, buying pipes where I live is very, very overpriced. Basically paying double the prices flat. I bought 4 pipes (nearly all costed over around 250 US dollars). I later realized this and oughted to purchase pipes online. When I did, I never thought about pipe stem materials. I bought another 4 pipes, that where acrylic, and thought I hit a jackpot since they where way cheaper than buying locally. Later on I ordered a savinelli punto oro with an acrylic stem, and it was advertised as acrylic by the ebay seller, but it was vulcanite. I was, at first, not happy. But when I tried it, it was way softer on my teeth. finally now I can clench pipes for a prolonged period without my teeth aching. Now, I have, in total, 3 punto oros with a vulcanite stem. I use them very frequently. th eunfortunate thing is I can’t justify buying many more pipes anymore. but this is life, you live and learn. I do use my other pipes with a pipe bit though. So there is that. But nothing beats the comfort of the vulcanite stem in my opinion.

 

[Olkofri]

Buying a MacQueen pipe. Heck of a waste of money.

 

[OzPiper]

I have posted this previously. Bought in the '70s while on holiday and with funds from my first well-paid job. I keep it as a reminder that good looks and function don't necessarily go together. This is the worst drilled pipe in all my experience

 

[tobefrank]

I would have asked the price before agreeing the commission, but more importantly as the pipe maker I would have asked if the price was acceptable prior to starting the commission. Nothing worse than not agreeing things up front and being left with a nasty surprise for the customer.

 

[Sweet Home Alabama]

There a several buyer types. Some buy up recognized brands like an old Electrolux floor model. Some take their time and accumulate hundreds over decades.

Most of us have paid for education in one form or another. Just consider your experience tution. And please. smoke and enjoy that custom pipe. Wear it out.