Do You Buy In Bulk Over Tins When Available?

[mso489]

Bulk, for several reasons. Price of course, just compare the cost of 2 oz of bulk with a tin of the same blend. And most or many tins don't even have 2 oz. Then, best practice is to transfer it to a jar anyway, and usually I already have the needed jars. Also, you can buy the bulk in one-oz quantities if you are sampling to see if you want a greater quality. I have never experienced a difference between tin and bulk in the same blend. On the con side, I do like tin art, and I like the sense that a tin is premium tobacco, but both of these are aesthetic and not factual. Tins are easier to store, take up less space, if you may hold or age the blend for a while. But for most purposes, bulk is a better deal on the same tobacco, so usually, if it is available, bulk makes more sense.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

For the most part, I buy bulk when available for 2 reasons. First, it is cheaper. Second, I trust the mason jars far more for longer term storage.

 

[Frozenoak]

For a long time, I only bought bulk from the B&M and smoked it until gone, rarely having more than one tobacco at a time. About a year ago, I decided to try a tin of Old Joe Krantz. I was then hooked on tins, started to cellar tins, and now have over 200 tins in my cellar. Then, November-ish of last year, I bought a pound of OJK from an online retailer and found it to be equally delightful as the tinned version and much less expensive. I have since been buying largely in bulk. In many cases, the bulk comes in convenient boxes, so my struggle now is whether to Mylar seal them in bulk or repackage them into jars. And, whether to vac seal or not.

 

[augiebd]

I have a combination of tins and bulk, more tins than bulk. My purchases are influenced by being in Canada and my slow consumption rate. If I had access to reasonable prices and online sales where Customs duties were a big expense I might buy more bulk. However, I do think liquidating tins after I’m gone will be easier than jarred bulk.

 

[adui]

I would say most of what I buy is bulk, but that may be shifting. I pretty much buy what I like. If its in the bulk jar great! If I have to buy a tin, so be it.

 

[ray47]

For me it depends on the blend. Mostly I'll buy in bulk, but blends like C&D's Haunted Bookshop and Old Joe Krantz taste better from the tin to suit my tastes.

 

[litup]

I buy tins most often.
Reason #1 is that almost all of my favorite blends aren't available in bulk (unless you count 8 ounce tins or 250g boxes as bulk).
Reason #2 is that sometimes bulk blends are different. Star of the East Flake is great from the tin. But in bulk? It's not a flake anymore and I prefer flakes.
Reason #3 is that when I kick the bucket early, my wife can recoup some of our losses if the tobacco is still in the tin. Reason #4 is a stupid one but it's true: I like the way stacked tins look on my shelves.

 

[hymnchimney]

I like the aesthetic of a tin, as well as the knowledge that it's only 2 oz and generally only costs around $15(ish), so it's a good way to try out new blends for me, as a new pipe smoker. That said, when I find something I like enough to make into a regular smoke, I'd certainly buy bulk.

 

[cigrmaster]

Thankfully most of my favorites came in tins. Jars take up way too much space and we all know the best quality tobacco's goes into the tins first. Bulks are red headed step children.