No, I’m done with them. It’s nonsense. We shall agree to disagree on this Sir. But , I do appreciate your two replies. Stay Smokey.
Drops
- Thread starter St. David Pipes
- Start date
I agree with this - it’s better to alert people of the planned release time than not. Especially with peoples’ ability to easily write search & alert scripts, because those of us that do not do that would be completely SOL without being informed of the date/time.
I would be less frustrated with the experience of purchasing if this were not an issue, but it hasn’t prevented me from participating yet.,. I also wish there weren’t lines at the grocery store
Seriously though, even with the pain of the servers crashing and waiting and clicking, I’m usually still finished checking out in less time than driving to a brick and mortar store to buy a release.
It's increasingly hard to make money selling tobacco. Especially pipe tobacco. If this helps pad their bottom line and keeps them in business, more power to 'em. You have the choice whether or not to buy and are free to ignore.
I can certainly understand the frustration, but one is frustrated only if they allow themselves to be. I do agree that it seems there is a new "release" of some type of limited blend almost weekly. I choose not to be frustrated. I have a few readily available blends that I enjoy and am satisfied with that. If there is a release of something that I think may be enjoyable, I may try to obtain some. If I don't obtain it, oh well, life goes on. I don't get worked up in a frenzy over it and I don't get angry and post on message boards about it. Blenders/manufacturers are free to do as they please and I for one am happy that we still live in a time where the freedom to offer these blends is still available.
The limited edition fad is mostly a marketing gimmick and an easily ignored one. Stick with readily available blends that you like and ignore the circus.
Some people love the circus, so the often unremarkable tobaccos being output thrill them with the power of suggestion, there being no actual track record. People will extol the virtues of any crap if they're manipulated into thinking it's special.
And frankly, if these companies gave a fart, much less two, about their clientele they could offer a pre-subscription, which would tell them how much they need to produce, and guarantee that customers would get their orders. But, you're just not worth that effort, apparently.
I've cellared better than what's now available, so none of this means diddly squat to me. I'm so, so done with buying tobacco.
Some people love the circus, so the often unremarkable tobaccos being output thrill them with the power of suggestion, there being no actual track record. People will extol the virtues of any crap if they're manipulated into thinking it's special.
And frankly, if these companies gave a fart, much less two, about their clientele they could offer a pre-subscription, which would tell them how much they need to produce, and guarantee that customers would get their orders. But, you're just not worth that effort, apparently.
I've cellared better than what's now available, so none of this means diddly squat to me. I'm so, so done with buying tobacco.
I myself am not too interested in unicorn blends anymore. Limited or "small batch" blends are interesting to me when something like BOAF which although not all the blends use special leaf the entire line is unique. The small batches from c&d I've learned are good to grab a few of each release because you never know which year is gonna best like the Carolina Red Flakes I have them all but enjoy 2022 most. So if I would have been satisfied by the first year and never bought the next releases I never would of known. I guess we all have our issues with certain aspects of life but pipes and tobacco shouldn't be 1 because it's ment to be a relaxing thing
"Drops" are a smart marketing technique for today's smart phone/social media/internet savvy way of doing business.
I wouldn't consider WCC Rougaroux to be a "drop" per say, but a seasonal offering, much in the same way a POTY or holiday pipe is. Those are different animals.
I do understand the frustration the OP is expressing about the seemingly monthly "Limited Edition" and "Small Batch" releases from various manufacturers. But again, I'll tell you that it's a smart marketing technique.
If they can create FOMO (fear of missing out) in the customer base, it will naturally generate conversation (much like it does here) and increase sales. Those that miss out will either try harder next time, or pass. The goal of any business, is to get you to try harder next time.
"Drops" are done all throughout the business world. They were especially popular in Hip-Hop music in the 90's & early 2000's. A rapper would put out a single, with a message... My new album drops on xxx date. For now, buy my single. Today because of digital media, music is for the most part consumed a la carte. The music industry has changed the way it does business to keep up.
I'm sure @JimInks and @sablebrush52 could share far more interesting stories about the evolution and consumption of media than I can. But, returning to the OP... drops are the way of the world now. Sadly, the old ways of doing B&M and catalogue business are dying.
Just my .02
I wouldn't consider WCC Rougaroux to be a "drop" per say, but a seasonal offering, much in the same way a POTY or holiday pipe is. Those are different animals.
I do understand the frustration the OP is expressing about the seemingly monthly "Limited Edition" and "Small Batch" releases from various manufacturers. But again, I'll tell you that it's a smart marketing technique.
If they can create FOMO (fear of missing out) in the customer base, it will naturally generate conversation (much like it does here) and increase sales. Those that miss out will either try harder next time, or pass. The goal of any business, is to get you to try harder next time.
"Drops" are done all throughout the business world. They were especially popular in Hip-Hop music in the 90's & early 2000's. A rapper would put out a single, with a message... My new album drops on xxx date. For now, buy my single. Today because of digital media, music is for the most part consumed a la carte. The music industry has changed the way it does business to keep up.
I'm sure @JimInks and @sablebrush52 could share far more interesting stories about the evolution and consumption of media than I can. But, returning to the OP... drops are the way of the world now. Sadly, the old ways of doing B&M and catalogue business are dying.
Just my .02
I love to try “some” of the new ltd releases and drops. I don’t care for Esotericas and the WC stuff just doesn’t hit what I’m looking for… but C&D (some of their releases) pique my curiosity enough that I’ll play…
I just avoid the ones I don’t care for and play when it looks good.
I mean, I don’t complain about Esoterica drops. I also don’t complain about some stupid music some people like. Or bad art. I just stay out of their “thing.”
But, I am happy that C&D changed the time of their drops to make it easier for older folks to join in.
These things can’t hurt me in any way. So, I just don’t play. No harm done.
But, I get it. It makes the rock and roll kids look cooler when they complain about country music. And visa versa.
I just avoid the ones I don’t care for and play when it looks good.
I mean, I don’t complain about Esoterica drops. I also don’t complain about some stupid music some people like. Or bad art. I just stay out of their “thing.”
But, I am happy that C&D changed the time of their drops to make it easier for older folks to join in.
These things can’t hurt me in any way. So, I just don’t play. No harm done.
But, I get it. It makes the rock and roll kids look cooler when they complain about country music. And visa versa.
As a bourbon/scotch drinker, one thing I have had to do, as I love the hunt, is purposefully find the cheapest, most unknown, "sleepers": the bottles everyone else passes up because it doesn't say "Lot 12" or "Barrel Proof". In the hobby, there's nothing more satisfying than grabbing a $20 bottle which punches up into the $100 category, and is my little secret.
Same can be said for this hobby. Perhaps this is my existential rebellion; this is my way of fighting the scalpers, the gimmicks, and hypes. Nevertheless, I'm still subscribed for some aged burley flake, we will see if I ever get to enjoy a tin!
Same can be said for this hobby. Perhaps this is my existential rebellion; this is my way of fighting the scalpers, the gimmicks, and hypes. Nevertheless, I'm still subscribed for some aged burley flake, we will see if I ever get to enjoy a tin!
Exact
Exactly!! my only issue with tobacco stuff is that, I wasn't born sooner. As well as being too dumb to understand tobacco as a minor and smoking Prime Times (rum), cigs, and cheap cigars as a way of ingesting nicotine instead of high quality pipe tobacco. I've been making pipes since a young age out of random wood and a pocket knife but never new about this great world of pipe tobacco. When I first started smoking I was envious of the older fellows who stocked up cellers with the best of what was available at times long gone. But now I'm completely satisfied with what I have, what I have tried, and I can honestly say most of the best is readily available. Patience is key, being to hasty is 1 reason pipe smoking isn't as popular as it used to be.
Similar to taking the band from a nice Cuban cigar and putting it on a $2 non-Cuban dog rocket and listening to the newbie sing the praises of the wonderful depth and complexity of Cuban tobacco. The subconscious power of suggestion. Or possibly the "hey, look at what I got, don't you wish you had some too?"
I made friends with my local ABC store manager. And, he helps me avoid waiting in line for special release bourbons. I just call the day before a release of something I’m curious about, and he holds it for me. They already will hold back a few cases anyways. He knows that I don’t mind dropping a few Franklins to try a single barrel. So, he keeps me happy, and I keep shopping with him.
I’m sure that the same arrangement can be made with a B&M tobacconist.
I guess "bold" is better than all caps, lol.
I enjoy the retread, late to the party, rants, like many I suppose, especially when I agree, lol, but not this one.
Seems like a rant for rant's sake.
Small market blenders drop all the time because, I assume, they put out more when they have a sufficient quantity of what they need to preserve the integrity of the particular blend and have enough to satisfy some demand without running out too quickly. I see this with KBV and WCC, maybe I'm on the right track with that, and they don't make it a "contest" but it's still a drop.
I'm not getting up in the middle of the night for any tobacco or staying up for it, but the recent trend on the larger supplier releases seems to be at a more convenient time of day. Maybe the "midnight" helps with the buzz, I don't know. I did get a kick out of reading a review from @JimInks for something with a South African name and calling WCC and getting Ernie and him very nicely laughing, "that ship has sailed", haha, and never coming back. Didn't bother me a bit, I get it.
I'm not going to rail on about any supplier "dropping" because I guess it's hard to believe a blend I've never tried is a "must have", but experiment enough that I'll pick up new stuff to see what it's all about. Even after just two years, with the relatively moderate amount of pipe smoking I enjoy, I've now got enough put by to last as long as I foresee enjoying a pipe (but that's also because I'm not 28 years old, haha).
I enjoy the retread, late to the party, rants, like many I suppose, especially when I agree, lol, but not this one.
Seems like a rant for rant's sake.
Small market blenders drop all the time because, I assume, they put out more when they have a sufficient quantity of what they need to preserve the integrity of the particular blend and have enough to satisfy some demand without running out too quickly. I see this with KBV and WCC, maybe I'm on the right track with that, and they don't make it a "contest" but it's still a drop.
I'm not getting up in the middle of the night for any tobacco or staying up for it, but the recent trend on the larger supplier releases seems to be at a more convenient time of day. Maybe the "midnight" helps with the buzz, I don't know. I did get a kick out of reading a review from @JimInks for something with a South African name and calling WCC and getting Ernie and him very nicely laughing, "that ship has sailed", haha, and never coming back. Didn't bother me a bit, I get it.
I'm not going to rail on about any supplier "dropping" because I guess it's hard to believe a blend I've never tried is a "must have", but experiment enough that I'll pick up new stuff to see what it's all about. Even after just two years, with the relatively moderate amount of pipe smoking I enjoy, I've now got enough put by to last as long as I foresee enjoying a pipe (but that's also because I'm not 28 years old, haha).
Or perhaps a way to get the minimum posts to sell something. I’ve never seen a new member post so much so rapidly.
And advertise his channel from the outset.
As someone who wasn't around to cellar the greats decades ago or even a decade ago, i just play the game if I want the product. Sucks but it's the nature of the beast. Most of these drops are genuinely a result of a dearth of leaf. And cornell and diehl are dropping more and more tins as the years go on. For instance, carolina red flake was initially released in a wave of maybe a few thousand tins. In the last couple years though it's been I believe 10000 or so. Numbers aren't exact here but point is they do try.
I keep on hearing from the men of renown, that we are currently living in the greatest age pipe tobacco has ever seen.