Dirty Estate Pipes

[OzPiper]

Disclaimer: I buy a lot of estate pipes

A lot of the estate pipes I buy cost less than USD$50, and a few more than USD$300 (which I categorise as expensive, being an estate)
The pipes arrive in all conditions - from pristine condition to having 50years of cake in the bowl and a mortise and stem totally gummed up with tar and unmentionables.

When a pipe costs less than $50, I don't expect to receive a "professionally" cleaned specimen, and I'm prepared to spend some hours getting it up to smoking standard. I've received quite a few "low cost" pipes where the time and effort spent on cleaning them must have worked out more than what I paid for them.

What upsets me is getting a pipe that I've paid north of $300 and receiving a pipe that looks great on the outside, but with an interior (bowl, mortise and stem) looking and smelling like a sewer. Obviously well-loved and utilised pipes that have NEVER seen a pipe-cleaner in their previous life. Worse, when I mentioned this in my feedback, the vendor(2 pipes from the same vendor) had the temerity to say he has sold X000 pipes and NEVER had a negative comment. He won't be getting further sales with me.

I wonder what are your experiences with estates.

 

[ashdigger]

When I buy an estate I assume the worst for internals. All estates, whether they are “ready to smoke” get a good cleaning. I’m not a germaphobe, but there are some weirdos out there that smoke Ennerdale and other “grandma’s panties” blends that need to be exorcised.

If the exterior is as advertised and the pipe is packed appropriately in a box, the seller gets a high rating.

 

[samuelgawith01]

When I buy a "Ready to smoke" pipe from a reputable website, then that's what I get. On Ebay,you're taking a gamble.Could go either way.

 

[OzPiper]

Yes, irregardless of how clean they may look, they get an alcohol treatment.

it’s when the vendor DOES NOT disclose that they haven’t bothered to even run a pipe cleaner through that upsets me - especially if the item was expensive.

 

[Chasing Embers]

I always give them the full makeover.

 

[philobeddoe]

Anytime I buy an estate it gets at least a cursory cleaning with everclear, even from SPC. If I buy an estate off of eBay I just assume it’s going to need the full monty, no matter the cost, cleaner is always better though. The only time I get angry is when a pipe arrives and it’s not in the condition as advertised, if the seller was hiding damage in the pics, etc..

 

[bent1]

Re estates, I ask for clear pictures, and an accurate description to detailed questions.

 

[pruss]

Worse, when I mentioned this in my feedback, the vendor(2 pipes from the same vendor) had the temerity to say he has sold X000 pipes and NEVER had a negative comment. He won't be getting further sales with me.

I wonder what are your experiences with estates.

That’s a poor response from the vendor. If he/she is even remotely interested in repeat business it would have cost nothing to say, “I’m really sorry to hear that. Thanks for your feedback. I’ll make sure I double check better in the future.”

When I buy estates from eBay, I assume the worst and am frequently surprised by the condition of the pipes I buy when they arrive (for the good).

I’ve had pipes arrive with undisclosed damag, like cracked bowls and whatnot. In these instances I resolve the issue via eBay.

Like so many others, always clean up any estate pipe I buy to my satisfaction on arrival.

99% iso is my friend.

 

[trouttimes]

I rum the stems and then smoke one bowl of Haunted Bookshop. I don't think anything could live thru that.

 

[jerseysam]

Two points that grind my tender gears in this vein:

1. A seller actively hides or misleads on condition of the pipe. This is a a biggie.

2. An estate seller makes a big ol' deal about their 10 step, 100 point, 7 herbs and spices full-tilt cleaning process and the first pipe cleaner you put down the stem comes out as black and tar-laden as midnight. I'm not talking about taking an alcohol retort to it and quibbling about "deep clean"...just a flat dirty pipe that had nothing done than run a cloth over the rim and a dry pipe cleaner down it before sending along. This is no where near as serious as misrepresenting physical condition, but don't talk up some value-add/time-save process to your sales when you aren't doing bunk. I've seen this a lot over the last year, even from sellers I really dig otherwise. Again, this is in the "annoyance" category and not something I blow up with the seller on.

Now, if an estate seller does not make any specific claims as to a high-grade clean job.......a buyer should be expecting to have to put some sanitary elbow grease into the deal as par for the course.

 

[OzPiper]

All the above points taken.

My gripe was the equivalent to buying an expensive used car eg a Merc, and finding the “trusted 5 star” dealer had detailed the exterior so it looks sparkling, but hadn’t bothered to change the oil or filters, let alone check the brakes.

If I was buying a beat-up Toyota at a giveaway price, then my expectations would be lowered accordingly.

Of course in reality, IF I was on the market (not too likely)for a Merc, I would bring along a friend who knows something about cars - I’m totally at a loss with anything mechanical (my wife looks after our lawn-mower !)

 

[pruss]

All the above points taken.

My gripe was the equivalent to buying an expensive used car eg a Merc, and finding the “trusted 5 star” dealer had detailed the exterior so it looks sparkling, but hadn’t bothered to change the oil or filters, let alone check the brakes.

If I was buying a beat-up Toyota at a giveaway price, then my expectations would be lowered accordingly.

Of course in reality, IF I was on the market (not too likely)for a Merc, I would bring along a friend who knows something about cars - I’m totally at a loss with anything mechanical (my wife looks after our lawn-mower !)

I hear you, mate.

At this point, as long as they aren’t photoshopping out fills or labelling every pipe as “straight grain” I am unlikely to take umbrage.

But I totally get the frustration.

 

[OzPiper]

My take-home messages are
1) caveat emptor - buyer beware. Ask questions and for more photos
2) despite all vendor descriptions, be prepared to clean the shit out of every pipe received
3) do not be tempted by any offerings from THAT vendor, no matter how appealing they look

 

[pruss]

My take-home messages are
1) caveat emptor - buyer beware. Ask questions and for more photos
2) despite all vendor descriptions, be prepared to clean the shit out of every pipe received
3) do not be tempted by any offerings from THAT vendor, no matter how appealing they look

??

I find that a stiff drink helps with the rage cleaning.

— Pat

 

[captainsousie]

There is a certain vendor of pipes that are shiny that had similar issues for many of us. Sadly it's a case of "fool me once..." as most won't give a crap and soon will start the parade of idiots dismissing you with the phrase "first world problems."

 

[captainsousie]

??

I find that a stiff drink helps with the rage cleaning.

— Pat

Best advice so far.

 

[OzPiper]

??

I find that a stiff drink helps with the rage cleaning.

— Pat

Pat, I use a 42% fruit brandy as my cleaning alcohol of choice (won’t clean with anything I’m not prepared to ingest) and I DO enjoy a nip or two during the process

 

[pruss]

Pat, I use a 42% fruit brandy as my cleaning alcohol of choice (won’t clean with anything I’m not prepared to ingest) and I DO enjoy a nip or two during the process

I use 99% Iso, as it’s highly evaporative and I don’t worry about the other 1%.

For the pipes...

I’m partial to single malt Scotch for the humour.

— Pat

 

[pruss]

There is a certain vendor of pipes that are shiny that had similar issues for many of us. Sadly it's a case of "fool me once..." as most won't give a crap and soon will start the parade of idiots dismissing you with the phrase "first world problems."

That lady was loopy.

— Pat

 

[ashdigger]

That lady was loopy.

— Pat

You spelled bat shit crazy wrong.