Estate Pipes on eBay

[Johnkelly55]

I just received an Estate Dunhill on eBay. I have picked up a few recently. All state they have been cleaned, etc. This person claimed the usual stuff- cleaned, etc. Even reamed it! I assumed it had been cleaned and didn't run a pipe cleaner like I might ordinarily do.
It just didn't smoke great. Why?
So I cleaned it after lunch- it was filthy! It took me about a half hour to clean it. (It is possible this guy sells a lot of pipes and got confused!)
I learned- ask questions first.
JohnK

 

[Chasing Embers]

I just received an Estate Dunhill on eBay. I have picked up a few recently. All state they have been cleaned, etc. This person claimed the usual stuff- cleaned, etc. Even reamed it! I assumed it had been cleaned and didn't run a pipe cleaner like I might ordinarily do.
It just didn't smoke great. Why?
So I cleaned it after lunch- it was filthy! It took me about a half hour to clean it. (It is possible this guy sells a lot of pipes and got confused!)
I learned- ask questions first.
JohnK

Never take it at face value that an ebay estate has been "cleaned and ready for out of the box" enjoyment. I've had to clean every one claiming such.

 

[jpmcwjr]

Even from a trusted seller I hot water flush a pipe new to me. Just cautious!
And new pipes, too, in case there's anything in the airway from manufacture.

 

[Johnkelly55]

Never take it at face value that an ebay estate has been "cleaned and ready for out of the box" enjoyment. I've had to clean every one claiming such.

Didn't someone once say, "Stupid is as stupid does." That would be a good movie quote.
Next time, it's on me!

 

[cigrmaster]

There are plenty of guys who claim they clean a pipe. My idea of a clean pipe is much different than most peoples so I got used to cleaning all my ebay pipes to my level of clean when I get in an ebay pipe. I will email them and tell them they don't know shit about cleaning a pipe. I still give them a good rating as I don't want to be banned from buying from them as some guys will do that to you.

 

[philobeddoe]

I clean EVERY pipe I purchase, new or estate. You don’t know to what standard the previous owner cleaned an estate and ”new” pipes may still have dust and whatnot in the shank. It doesn’t take much time and I have the confidence that all of my pipes are up to my standards of clean.

 

[captainsousie]

Hence so many people disliking pipes from shinypipes...similar thing.

 

[sablebrush52]

I don't care who the seller is. I clean everything when I get it.

 

[ashdigger]

You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy ~ eBay Won Can’tBelievIt

 

[sablebrush52]

You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy ~ eBay Won Can’tBelievIt

Oh, so now you're praising them...

 

[ashdigger]

EBay spelled backwards is Caveat Emptor

 

[smokeymo]

I sell pipes on Ebay and I clean my pipes pretty well before I send them out. That said, I'd agree that it is best to clean the pipes you buy to your own standards. I don't ream the pipes I sell for that reason. Everyone has their own cake preference and "cleanliness" preference. It's always best to do it yourself.

 

[LikeDadDid]

EBay spelled backwards is Caveat Emptor

Agreed. But my two biggest pipe-buying blunders were glaringly obvious in retrospect. I got in a hurry both times.

 

[telescopes]

It is Ebay. Nothing you read in the description or see in the pictures will either be accurate or based on accurate knowledge. If you proceed in this manner, you will be assured that a low bar of expectations never disappoints. That said, yes, there are decent sellers. But it is a swap meet in the middle of Arkansas for all purposes that matter. Prepare to be surprised. The pipe might exceed expectations and... it might not.

And seller ratings... mean very little. Almost everyone has an either perfect or near perfect rating. What gives with that?

 

[telescopes]

I will email them and tell them they don't know shit about cleaning a pipe. I still give them a good rating as I don't want to be banned from buying from them as some guys will do that to you.

So the old adage, Fool me once, shame on me, fool me twice..." doesn't apply? If I am disappointed from a seller and it can not be rectified, low ratings proceed and I ban them from ever buying from them again. I doubt that I would use profanity and think that would somehow "school" them for the better. YMMV

 

[OzPiper]

Never take it at face value that an ebay estate has been "cleaned and ready for out of the box" enjoyment. I've had to clean every one claiming such.

Sadly my experience too, with the majority of Ebay vendors.
I've been pleasantly surprised on a couple of occasions by very clean pipes, but that is the exception.

I now examine the shank and mortise of every estate pipes received with a very strong light. If there are decades of concreted gunk, a pipe cleaner will not reveal the extent of the muck lurking.

 

[jpmcwjr]

"Fool me once, shame on you! Fool me twice, shame on me!" Is how it usually goes.

While raised close to the Show Me State, I am of that ilk. One reason I love pipe shows!

 

[Johnkelly55]

Next pipe in my collection will be a new birthday pipe from my wife- safe and sure

 

[saltedplug]

When I bought estates I smoked up first and asked questions later, which didn't gain me much but was consonant with my general habit of never ever cleaning, never ever.