Dunhill Prices - Al Pascia

[stanlaurel]

As someone who is new to this game, I have a question about the difference between the price of a Dunhill at Al Pascia (and other euro sites too) and the price at smokingpipes.com.
Why would I pay $780 for a 4124 Chestnut Panel that I could get for $475? Or $645 for a 3421 Bruyere Zulu that I could get for $400? These comparisons hold across the board and Al Pascia has a much wider Dunhill selection too.
Am I missing something? How does Smokingpipes justify this premium?

 

[ssjones]

Right now, the exchange rate for the Dollar in Europe is a big help to pipe prices. You will pay an additional $20 or so for the Customs tax (Fed-Ex sends a bill a few weeks later). Still, you won't find a cheaper Dunhill anywhere else. If you are in the market for a Dunhill, now is the time to make that purchase.

 

[maxx]

I agree on the price disparity leading one to purchase from Overseas.

 

[newbroom]

Just another example of outsourcing our economic viability. However, I'm not an economist, nor do I pretend to understand how an economy can remain viable if there is no balance between production and consumption.

Probably some economist will point to some statistics to show that the US has maintained production numbers enough to remain powerful within the value arena, but that value accrues to the few while the rest of us feed off of cheap labor, lax environmental practices, and disposable imported goods, with less and less value at our 'disposal'.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

It's the cost of the Smokingpipes boxes. They run a couple of hundred a piece. Oh, and the cost of those air bags inside the box, don't get me started...

 

[elpfeife]

The exchange rate is the driver. Take advantage of it while you can. After vowing to never buy a new Dunhill I recently bought one from Al Pascia and saved OVER $200 on the SPC price. And , of course, it was at my door less than two days after I ordered. As a first time buyer I also received a 10% discount! But I ramble. The exchange rate fluctuates and isn't quite as favorable as it was, but still leads to a good deal.

 

[menuhin]

As someone who is new to this game, I have a question about the difference between the price of a Dunhill at Al Pascia (and other euro sites too) and the price at smokingpipes.com.
Why would I pay $780 for a 4124 Chestnut Panel that I could get for $475? Or $645 for a 3421 Bruyere Zulu that I could get for $400? These comparisons hold across the board and Al Pascia has a much wider Dunhill selection too.
Am I missing something? How does Smokingpipes justify this premium?

Here we are paying the price at Al Pascia +21% tax for within EU purchase, but still sounds much better than the price at SPC. What is with how a retailer would usually do when setting the price, knowing this discrepancy I'm also quite perplexed.

 

[buroak]

I am not sure how much exchange rates have to do with the fact that Al Pascia Dunhill prices are lower than Smokingpipes.com prices for the same pipes. The Dollar has been generally getting stronger relative to the Pound and Euro, which surely helps, but I think Dunhill pricing agreements may be the more important factor. Smokingpipes.com, Iwan Ries, and Cup o' Joes all seem to have the same pricing for Dunhill pipes. That commonality makes me wonder if they are hamstrung by Dunhill.

 

[elpfeife]

My memory is vague but before the dollar strengthened I think I would have saved @$100 on the same pipe. Also, I think it has been mentioned that the SPCs of this world are not allowed to offer the discount on Dunhills that they typically offer on other brands. So there is some pricing disadvantage for the American retailers.

 

[wyfbane]

People weren't whining about the strength of the dollar when I was a kid. It's nice to go vacation elsewhere and afford to eat well... and buy dunhills, apparently.

 

[foggymountain]

There is a minimum price for Dunhills sold in the USA. They also do not always send the best pipes here. Those go to Europe. Normally a UK dealer such as James Barber is the least expensive source. Right now, because of a depressed Euro, Alpascia offers the best buys. I have bought dozens of pipes from them using Paypal. They have been absolutely reliable.

 

[settersbrace]

When I was a lad I asked my father, "father, should I look a gift horse in the mouth?"
He promptly struck me in the head with a shovel and said "NO son, no!"

 

[seacaptain]

When I was a lad I asked my father, "father, should I look a gift horse in the mouth?"
He promptly struck me in the head with a shovel and said "NO son, no!"

I thought it was - You can lead a gift horse to water, but you can't look him in the mouth. :D
And yes, Al has the best prices, I just bought a 4407 for about $375 delivered. And, they ship them FedEx express. From the time you click the buy button until it's in your hand is about 36 hours. Incredible.

 

[mcitinner1]

Even with the huge price advantage of buying from Al Pascia, it's still too much for me, especially for a pipe that isn't going to smoke much better than my Lorenzetti's.

 

[daimyo]

Al Pascia has always had better Dunhill prices even when the Euro was strong, the declining euro simply makes their prices even better. One thing is for sure, I'm not paying an extra 200-300 to buy a foreign made pipe by a foreign company from an American business. I'm wearing American made jeans, t-shirt and coat right now but you have to draw the line somewhere.

 

[cortezattic]

Like seacaptain said above, from the time I pressed the enter key on an order until the time Fedex rang the doorbell was 33 hrs. (to Chicago).

Al Pascia is impressive for price, attention to detail, and service.

 

[buroak]

I like Dunhill pipes, but even with the Al Pascia pricing gently used eBay specimens still strike me as a better deal. Plus, misterlowercase's recent experience (the thread pertaining to which I can no longer find) steers me towards purchasing options that allow a hassle-free return.

 

[cigrmaster]

Back in the day I was able to buy Castello's and Radice's from a company named Agide. The Euro had just came out and it was .83 to a US dollar and I was able to steal these pipes. Dunhill is probably like Davidoff where if you discount something below a certain price point you can lose your franchise. That is probably why SP's prices are where they are on Dunhill's.

 

[buroak]

I would hope US-based Dunhill dealers are becoming aware of business lost to non-US Dunhill dealers. A renegotiated relationship between American dealers and Dunhill would be good for the dealers and US pipe smokers.