B&M Ripoff?

[trudger]

I have to drive around because shops are few and far between in my area. Some have product I can’t get online but isn’t cheap, or I can smoke inside if I buy something and don’t break anything. It’s taken time to find the places I go but it’s been part of the overall adventure. I have to figure in more than the tangibles when buying at the brick.

I don’t suffer fools for long so if I don’t like the place, I leave.

 

[mau1]

Anthony, I had to laugh out loud. You're one funny dude.
Cosmic is right,things need to lighten up. He's one of the few that will stop and revisit what he said, provide more context and even adjust his position at times. I don't see that on here too often. Go with the flow, people.

 

[scloyd]

If the original poster's B&M is in Ann Arbor near the University of Michigan...then $10 an ounce doesn't seem that unreasonable. In the fall during Michigan games isn't Ann Arbor a bit of a tourist destination? May not be Ann Arbor...just saying.
If my memory is correct I think there was a member months ago that posted the outrageous prices at a B&M in Gatlinburg, TN. I would expect to pay more in areas where there are a lot of visitors especially if they're the only tobacconist in town.
edit - It might not of been Gatlinburg. I remember a post about a tourist telling his wife that he had to buy a certain pipe (over priced) because it's a hard to find model.

 

[tkcolo]

I was right with Cosmic. The argument that B&M stores gouging prices over the internet is tiresome in general, and subject to snippy answers anywhere. For all things, not just tobacco. I sometimes fall into the trap myself. It's easy to get aggravated at the parts store selling a part I can get for 20% less online. But they pay no sales tax, and generally a 6-10 day wait for me to get the part. The closest tobacco shop is 2 hours away for me. I always buy something from them out of general principle.
Once online sales are required to collect and pay the same state and local taxes nationwide, retail B&M will come back somewhat. Tobacco B&M's in Colorado have to pay an additional 40% excise tax on everything, that they have to build into their sales price. We all love a deal, but the internet is killing local commerce, and really hurting the community.
Have you seen some of those areas where Walmart killed all of the smaller stores, and then they pulled out? The idea is troubling. Of course, I live 10 miles from a town of 1500, and two hours away from actual civilization. So, I use Amazon and Ebay all the time. I buy local for everything I can.

 

[dochudson]

Shop I've been going to lately has large leather chairs, multiple large screen TVs, free coffee, free donuts on weekends, decent parking. They stock hard to find GLP, out the door is $19 and change. Which IMO is a bargain considering their overhead.

 

[bnichols23]

In the main, I kinda side with the OP. After all, he *was* talking about just one shop & was asking if we the group thought they were exorbitant or not. A sawbuck for an ounce? Yeah, I'd say $10 for not even half a small ziploc is high; touristy area, overhead, or no, even *considering* it's customized with perique. OTOH, $40 for basket pipes [discounting the cobs, & no, Cos', I'm not yanking your chain this time! }] isn't so bad. It's about that, give or take a buck or so, in most of the B&Ms I usually hit, & in fact exactly that at my fave local shop.
(Even on some of the online places I frequent too; cupojoes, for example, runs $30-45 for baskets, depending on the line you want.)
I know we all get lit up some times & there're times when even laid-back moi can stand to chilleth. That said, I think jp got it right:

'e's not DEAD!! He's just sleeping.

He's joined the bleedin' choir invisible!! THIS IS AN EX-PARROT!!
:mrgreen:
Bill

 

[bnichols23]

BTW, two other comments, strictly off-topic:

Anthony, I had to laugh out loud. You're one funny dude.

That he is, mau'. One crazy mohf--uh. Him AND Jay, which is part of why we get along so well on board the Frigate!
And t'other, johnm, please do forgive me if I'm telling you something you already know; I honestly do really-truly hate it when I do that. Michael (Cosmic) has this thing about people he calls "cob thugs," & occasionally I'll pull his leg on it just for grins. He really is a good guy & it's all in fun; he's right about tone, of course. Don't mind him; he's just got decided opinions about things, as do we all.
Except woodsroad, of course. [grin, duck, & run like holy perdition!]
Bill

 

[mau1]

Humour in life is a necessity, just like air and water. The more, the better!

 

[wolflarsen]

Pipe tobacco is so ridiculously cheap compared to other things I consume. With the number of smokes I get from a tin a really don't care if it costs me 10 or 30 dollars. It's all worth it to me when it comes to the dollars (or pennies) spent per smoke ratio. One thing I do like about B&Ms is when I walk in and see tins of Esoterica and other blends that are always out of stock online or difficult to find elsewhere. They're a great resource and I'm thankful for the ones hanging in there despite the higher prices.

 

[wolflarsen]

It's also really nice to hold a pipe in your hand when considering buying it. Pictures online just aren't the same.

 

[jpmcwjr]

Good points above.
Mr. Browning. Please don't be off put by one or two o.t.t. posts. It happens; don't take it personally, please!

 

[ashdigger]

Pipe tobacco is so ridiculously cheap compared to other things I consume. With the number of smokes I get from a tin a really don't care if it costs me 10 or 30 dollars. It's all worth it to me when it comes to the dollars (or pennies) spent per smoke ratio.

^^^^^^^THIS
I went to lunch the other day with a client. We had chicken wings and couple of beers while discussing a case. The tab + tip was about $60.
Lunch lasted 1 1/2 hours. Two bowls of tobacco. Done.

 

[ophiuchus]

If the original poster's B&M is in Ann Arbor near the University of Michigan...

Maison Edwards? Hmmm?
Their basket pipes and refurbs were about $40 back in the 1980s, so at least they're not raising prices. (Loved that place.)