Funny Story From the Chatt Show

[shaintiques]

So I'm sitting at my table and this old codger walks up and begins to look at my pipes. I have a nice variety of pipes and I price my pipes very reasonably as I hope the guys will attest, especially considering the time it takes to restore a pipe. I had 2 Petersons for sale. One was from the Zippo set, it had only been smoked twice and is a very nice pipe. I had it priced at $50 bucks. So the old codger says, "I'll give you $20 for it." To which I replied, "no thanks." He then asks me about my cleanup process and when I explain it to him he tells me I'm doing it wrong and need to use acetone on the stems. I was like ok, never heard of that, and he basically told me I was doing it wrong, but to be honest I try not to use any harsh chemicals because somebody is going to put this thing in their mouth. He then offered me the $20 bucks for the Pete again. He said he sells a lot of Petes. To which I replied "funny thing so do I, but I'm not selling it to you for $20 bucks." He told me he would come back at the end of the day and it would still be there. I'm very thankful that Pete03 took it off my hands just to save me the next conversation. The funniest thing is, here he is offering me $20 bucks for a basically new Pete and then he goes over to one of the other sellers and buys all of their estate Dunhills, one of which was priced $2000 and I know those guys didn't budge too much. Anyway it was just funny, I mean everybody is looking for a deal, but $20 is insulting.

 

[petes03]

Wow, talk about looney tunes! Dave, I was glad to pay you the $50, that's a more than fair price for any "like new" Peterson! I still haven't smoked it yet, but I'm sure it'll be a great burner!

 

[voorhees]

People are strange. That is a given. I bought the "Old England" (Saseini second) and a small billiard meer. I was pleased with my purchase. BTW, that Old England is a great looking pipe upon further inspection.

 

[petes03]

I kinda wish I'd bought that Zeplin pipe from you as well! Did you sell it?

 

[dpkrause]

Sigh... I was going to be the first one through all the pipes at the show, but I got stuck at Dunkin Donuts trying to get coffee. Next time I am going through all the pipe vendors before we open the doors so I can cherry pick all the good pipes BTW, $50 is a steal for that pipe.

 

[shaintiques]

I sold it, the zeppelin, right at the end of the ahow. Guy was tickled to get one so cheap.

 

[puffy]

I don't know what makes some folks act so silly.Sounds like he didn't really want to buy the pipe in the first place.

 

[dread]

Some people just like to push for a deal. That was a bit ridiculous, though.

 

[simnettpratt]

Sounds like a guy that would go to a yard sale and haggle over something costing a quarter.

 

[snagstangl]

I bet it was the guy from shiney pipes on ebay. SO, how are you supposed to use acetone on a stem, since he seemed to know so well?

 

[mrenglish]

Very carefully, it can melt the stem from what I have been told. The only time I have seen acetone used on a pipe was on a clear GBD perspex stem to remove the staining on the inside. It worked wonders but I would never try it, too easy to mess the stem up. Best left to a professional.

 

[pruss]

Thanks for sharing this story. That's the nice thing about a free market. You can set your price, and someone can choose to pay it, or not. I love it when folks seem to think that they have an inalienable right to a mark-down because they asked for it.
I've had instances where I was trying to talk down a price with an antique dealer, and we couldn't get to a place where we were both happy. When that happens, I look the person in the eye with a smile on, reach out for a handshake and say, "It looks like we're too far apart. But thanks for trying for me." Life's too short for anything else.
Congrats again on a successful show!
-- Pat

 

[zonomo]

I think everyone wants a deal. Almost like if you priced the pipe at $75 and said "Ill take $50", he would have been happy.

 

[kcghost]

And some guys are just crooks. I saw one guy at a major show walk up to a table and said he take all the pipes on this guys table. There was probably $10K worth of pipes there and he offered him $1500. The buyer was looking to resell them.
Nothing wrong with a guy making a low-ball offer, but to insult you was a little much.

 

[shaintiques]

Of course we all want deals, I made a low offer on a Nording from one of the shops, he countered, and I dedided to go with a Neerup instead. But this guy I guess was trying to be funny but wasn't. After offering the $20 he says, "how well do you respond to threats, maybe I'll just beat you with my cane and take it. That is why I bring it." No smile nothing. And I said " I don't respond too well to threats that's why I bring my gun to these things." He talked to the guy he bought the Dunhills from for most of the morning, I felt sorry for that guy. I know it was probably just playful banter perhaps by a socially akward old timer, but it just rubbed me the wrong way. Everyone else at the ahow was very cordial and fun. And I did take some lower offers and made some deals, but they were mutually beneficial. I sold a very nice Nording freehand straight grain and a Vauen Luxus to a new smoker and his mom. The nordng for him, the Vauen for her and through in 4 cans of tobacco and a zippered pouch for his pipe and took less than I was asking, but it was fair not thievery.

 

[numbersix]

After offering the $20 he says, "how well do you respond to threats, maybe I'll just beat you with my cane and take it. That is why I bring it." No smile nothing. And I said " I don't respond too well to threats that's why I bring my gun to these things."

Dave, that is a great response! That old codger sounds like an ass, plain and simple.

 

[kcghost]

Dave, I talked to George Dibos over at PPR&R and he said was appalled at the suggestion of using acetone on a pipe stem. He said there are too many safe choices to use on your stem work to risk using something like acetone.

 

[metalheadycigarguy]

I'm all for good deals, and I have an appreciation of money as I have a wife, 2 kids, pets, cars, mortage and other things that require the bulk of my money. When I'm buying a new/estate pipe or tobacco I'm always looking for the best deal, but at the same time I'm not gonna low ball someone and be insulting. I don't know what Peterson pipe it was nor do I have an idea of its original value, but $50 for a basically brand new Peterson; that sounds like a steal.
Sometimes I get the feeling that the "guys" with their big fancy houses, fancy cars/boats and clothes are the cheapest bastards out there and don't have an appreciation of someone else work. Seems ridiculous that the guy wants to low ball you on a nice pipe and then turns around and drops $2000 on some Dunhills. What an idiot!

 

[shaintiques]

Yeah I'm not using acetone and don't like the idea of using bleach either.

 

[cigrmaster]

Dave, if I were you I would have dragged him over the table smashed his face into it until he was bloody and then said pay me 200.00 for the pipe or I will continue to give you a beating. See if that cures him of being a low balling maggot.
Then again, you might have gotten into a little trouble. :lol:
I know you wanted to do that, don't deny it.