B&Ms Repricing Tins Higher

[newfie]

I'm curious as to what everyone's opinions are on this practice.
Personally, I think it's lower than low.
I was at a B&M in Vegas this evening, sat and enjoyed a couple of fine cigars and a couple of hours of fine chat with a local who frequents the place. Prices are higher (significantly) than on-line, but still a hell of a lot cheaper than in Canada, so generally I should be happy. But.....................
Upon getting back to the hotel, I noticed the price sticker on a tin of McClelland's #25 Matured Virginia had been carefully placed over another one. I paid $14.98 for the tin and the old price on the original sticker (you can see through the 2nd sticker) was $10.43. Quite a significant mark-up on old stock.
So, because of another issue where I think the tobacco is dry as sand (when gently shaken, the tin sounds like it has about a dozen thumb tacks in it), I'll be going back there Sunday afternoon to return the tin, still unopened, and express my discontent with this practice.
So what say ye folks, with the repricing? Am I making a mountain out of a molehill?

 

[gogosamgo]

Just curious, but what's the date on the bottom of the tin?

 

[pipefish]

Prices are higher (significantly) than on-line, but still a hell of a lot cheaper than in Canada, so generally I should be happy.

So, you're upset that you were able to purchase tobacco much cheaper than if you were in Canada (I assume you live there)?
B&Ms will always have higher prices than online--they have overhead and tax issues. Sometimes they will need to raise their prices due to rising rents, etc.
It is a marketplace and you believed $15.00 was a fair price when you handed over your money. The fact that the tin was originally priced at $10.50 is irrelevant (however, if you believe the tin is dry and therefore the quality has suffered, then that is a different matter).

Am I making a mountain out of a molehill?

Yep.

 

[nachman]

Aged tins of tobacco (several years of age) are usually considered more valuable than new tins. I doubt that was the motivation in re-pricing your tin, but the right tin (say a good Virginia) which is older may actually be worth more. That being said, usually when wholesale prices go up, all stock is re-marked. You can't have three tins at 10.50 and three tins at 15.00 on the shelf.

 

[misterlowercase]

Aged tins of tobacco (several years of age) are usually considered more valuable than new tins. I doubt that was the motivation in re-pricing your tin, but the right tin (say a good Virginia) which is older may actually be worth more. That being said, usually when wholesale prices go up, all stock is re-marked. You can't have three tins at 10.50 and three tins at 15.00 on the shelf.

+1
Good answer.

 

[lestrout]

Yo newfi
If that McClelland is a 100g tin, you have a good price. Even if it were a 50g tin, if the age is 2013 or older, that wouldn't be a bad market price.
If the B&M's cash register is computerized, which is highly likely, the SKU for your tin would be uniformly priced, regardless of the owner's selling philosophy. Modern supply chain mechanics use latest prices across the board. Your best chance of finding dated tin inventory priced individually would be a mom'n pop that doesn't have a computer to run the register. But they would be hurting themselves by not up-pricing, because when it comes time to replenish the stock, they would fall short on cash to get new stuff.
hp

les

 

[mikestanley]

The B&M isn't thinking about the value for aged tobacco, they are thinking about the replacement cost when then re-buy.

My local shops have gone away from stickers and now use a price list. It allows them

to sell all tins of a kind at the same price without pissing people off I guess. I have seen tins with three price stickers stack one on top of another!

Mike S.

 

[mso489]

I feel badly not buying more tobacco from my local independent B&M, but even with shipping, I can get two tins for the price of one buying online rather than at the shop. I do buy an occasional re-supply of bulk tobacco, like McClellands 5100 Red Virginia, but it still costs a little more. Re-pricing isn't an issue with such a price differential before or after any mark-up.

 

[jpmcwjr]

Retailers repricing stock? Pretty normal. Now, if you can find someone that doesn't, and has some 10 year old Esoterica around at 2006 prices, then you've found a gold mine.

 

[zitotczito]

I can see how the feeling of the repricing seems unfair, having been in retail for many years it is done all the time. As stated before replacement cost is the driving factor. But then also since the tin has been around awhile and as long as the tobacco is OK, then the increase does not seem to bad. I have looked at stock in B&M's for this exact thing and search out the repriced ones, age is everything to some blends.
Mountain out of a mole hill, kinda.

 

[peteguy]

Tax increase........

 

[sablebrush52]

Stocking pipes and pipe tobacco is such a money suck for B&M's that are already struggling to make a go of it in an often harsh environment that I'm grateful that any carry the stuff. Cigars and cigarettes are the money makers for most of these places. And if being able to replace stock that has sat on the shelf for a long time makes repricing necessary, that's fair.

 

[cigrmaster]

Here in Florida, that tin new would sell for 24 bucks with the 85% tax on pipe tobacco. An aged tin for 14 change is a very good deal. Doesn't matter what original price was, market conditions have changed.

 

[warren]

The wholesale cost may rise, taxes (as mentioned), rent or lease increase, employee costs (minimum wage increase?), utilities go up, there are a whole host of reasons for price variance and surprising increases. Take it back, bitch to the owner or manager and leave. Trust me, the owner is concerned with business and surviving, you are only concerned with your purchase. The owner has to find a happy medium of profit and customer happiness. With some customers this is an impossibility.
I would refer to you as a "high maintenance" customer. Tobacco cheaper than at home and still dissatisfied. Nothing wrong with that, you're not the only one, just understand it. I can be "high maintenance" also, if unsatisfied. Nothing wrong with that. Just remember that being such reduces the retail options available to you.

 

[bcharles123]

I frequently and purposefully pay more at the B&M. The few places I regularly go to have lounges. I consider this a win win. On the other hand the online retailers almost have to be the lowest price because you surf and research on one site and buy on another. Few people are getting rich in this business. Mostly they are highly competitive and trying to make a living. Think win win.

 

[clickklick]

My nearest b and m has had to raise prices every year due to new taxes and other political nonsense.

 

[newfie]

Lots of great points and a fantastic discussion folks.
I'll respond in length when I get home from Vegas. Damned 'puter is giving me fits here and locks up intermittently at the most inopportune times.
Jamie.

 

[aristokles]

mikestanley nailed the correct reason. Mac Baren's recent horrid increase in the 100gm tins is a good example. That increase was so big the B&M would most likely had to use 100% of the sale at the old price PLUS dig into retained earnings for more to replace the sold tin.
(That example, of course, for those who smoke M-Bs; I quit them because of the increase).

 

[oldtoby]

Good points from everyone here.
That being said, McC #25 is a very fine cut blend of stoved and red Virginias which contain many small hard chunks. Hence the "dry" sound when shaken. The tin is probably still good.

 

[andrew]

Capitalism. Look at something like 3 nuns that's now more than 14 and change online when it used to be under 10. If you don't agree with some practices don't shop there, then don't complain when there aren't any b&m's left.