He's venting and it's ok. Not every post has to be about cats, dogs and your favorite leaf. It can be other tobacco related subjects. This one is just likely to slide sideways into subject matter that will get it locked.
In Support of B&M's
- Thread starter lupy1234
- Start date
SmokingPipes.com Updates
Watch for Updates Twice a Week
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
Site Sponsors
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
Good to know. I was digging out my torch and pitchfork. I figured we'd meet in front of the shop, burn it to the ground then draw and quarter the owner. A proprietor simply shouldn't be allowed to charge what the market will bear if one person is feeling aggrieved. 
One major (or minor to some) correction:
Price gouging occurs only necessary items, usually after some disaster curtails supplies. The term is often misused for high prices on luxury (non-necessary) items.
Price gouging occurs only necessary items, usually after some disaster curtails supplies. The term is often misused for high prices on luxury (non-necessary) items.
Last edited:
It gets much better than that. The thread opened with the statement, "Davidus Cigar (stores throughout MD) is selling tins of Esoterica, BS, and Germain at $55 a tin. Frak that and that place."Good to know. I was digging out my torch and pitchfork. I figured we'd meet in front of the shop, burn it to the ground then draw and quarter the owner. A proprietor simply shouldn't be allowed to charge what the market will bear if one person is feeling aggrieved.
I must say, if one can actually now find a tin of Esoterica at $55 instead of the outrageous prices offered on Tin Bids, then one should think of themselves as very lucky. The buyer can enjoy the tin at a relatively cheaper price than what is offered on the bidding market, or turn around and make a nice profit putting the tin on the bidding market.
Venting is fine. We all do it. But venting about a situation that many on here could only wish to find themselves in is ridiculous. Or, narrow minded, or not seeing the forest for the trees.
We aren't owed anything - The markup on tins at such places reflects many things - overheard being one of them. Another factor is the relatively small amount of merchandise in stock - economics of size impacts this as well. Anyway, if someone feels like they can do better somewhere else, then by all means do so - but to decry an BM on the grounds mentioned seems unreasonable and comes across as if someone can't have their way, they are going to take their bat and glove and go home.
One last thing - it's a free country. Yes, one can gripe and complain all they want. But, the people who are in ear shot can respond verbally the way they wish to as well.
Any way, not meaning to come across cross or as a lecture. Most everyone is simply trying to get by and do the best they can.
Last edited:
One of my favorite local cigar places, Living My Best Cigar Life, has been slowly but surely expanding their pipe tobacco offerings. Yesterday, they even had a cool pipe event with a Cornell and Diehl spokesman present.
The owner is a pretty good dude, and when he gets hard to get tins, he is good about alerting his regulars so they get first dibs. When he got some Esoterica, he sold them at $20 a tin. He knew he could sell them at a higher price, and in fact he had several people call him after his supply was exhausted asking if he still carries it and making high offers.
I'm grateful to him for not overcharging, because it allowed me to try a brand/blend I always wanted to try at a fair price. But if he wanted to sell them at a mark-up, I would not begrudge him. He is running a business and has a family to support, and if some rando from California is willing to buy his tins at a high price, well, get paid, right?
I'm glad he didn't and I make it a point to get my tobacco from him when I can. It's just tobacco, folks. It ain't plasma. It's a luxury good, so sometimes, you pay luxury prices.
The owner is a pretty good dude, and when he gets hard to get tins, he is good about alerting his regulars so they get first dibs. When he got some Esoterica, he sold them at $20 a tin. He knew he could sell them at a higher price, and in fact he had several people call him after his supply was exhausted asking if he still carries it and making high offers.
I'm grateful to him for not overcharging, because it allowed me to try a brand/blend I always wanted to try at a fair price. But if he wanted to sell them at a mark-up, I would not begrudge him. He is running a business and has a family to support, and if some rando from California is willing to buy his tins at a high price, well, get paid, right?
I'm glad he didn't and I make it a point to get my tobacco from him when I can. It's just tobacco, folks. It ain't plasma. It's a luxury good, so sometimes, you pay luxury prices.
I don't really have a pipe store near me, just a lot of cigar shops who sell at most 10 very basic blends (think house blends). Even then, they usually will sell the 2 oz tins they have at over 20+. I'm sorry but if I can get it cheaper online then I will. Cigars are a different story.
It all depends. Do you want to enjoy the tobacco now? What’s the online cost with tax and shipping if ordering only one tin? Is the the tin in question hard to get. If I saw a tin of Stonehaven for $50, I might just buy it on the spot and count myself lucky. A good cigar can easily go for over $20 and you get one smoke. A tin can last a month. I ordered a Navy Grog at the Reedbin Palm Springs a few days ago. It was $18. Ouch. Yes, it was quality - anyone in the know about the Reef can attest to that. But damned- what was I to do. Few bars in the country can make them correctly.
I do as well. I use the standard recipes:
3/4 ounce each fresh lime juice, white grapefruit juice, and club soda;
1 ounce each gold Demerara rum, dark Jamaican rum, and white Cuban or Puerto Rican rum; and
1 ounce honey mix - half water and honey, heated.
Shake with ice, then strain into a glass with very small crushed ice.
However, I use a splash of Pimento dram as well and that my friend, makes all the difference.
Navy Grogs are without a doubt, one of the perfect cocktails.
I've chased these drinks for over 4 decades and counting.
That price sounds a bit crazy, but I find most B&M stores try to be within a reasonable range. The other day, having just taken up pipe smoking again, I stopped by California Tobacco Center here in SF and picked up a 2 oz. tin of G.L Pease Maltese Falcon and a 3.5 oz tin of Mac Baren Golden Extra, both for about 10% north of the MSRP noted at pipesandcigars (i.e., not P&C's lower price). Yes, I paid more that I had to, but got the convenience of walking right on home and trying these out. I also note that both blends are on backorder on line. I don't really know how online retailers manage to sell at such discounted rates, but having been in B&M retail in the past I know all too well that overhead factors into pricing - I guarantee that the average B&M, especially in an expensive locale, is paying substantially more rent and insurance than an online shop. Probably also has to hire more employees, and deal with shoplifting losses as well, among other expenses.
Last edited:
Zaaaaaaaach - welcome to the fold
I'm more surprised that you were able to find Pipe Tobacco in San Francisco altogether
I like your avatar image!
Thanks! It's definitely tough finding it here. Tobacco products are not allowed to be sold in drug stores (ordinance was passed 10 or so years ago, on the basis that any place that sells drugs is a "place of health," although that doesn't seem to affect their ability to sell booze!). Most any of the serious tobacco shops have closed, but California Tobacco Center has been around a while, though, and they seem to be going strong. -not a huge selection of pipe tobacco, but it will do for now...
The ironic part is $50 for Esoterica tins is way cheaper than I've seen any Esoterica go for online.
At B&Ms you can often get the 8 ounce bags for that. The bigger irony is that had it not been for a shipping delay 15+ years ago, Esoterica wouldn't be so rabidly sought after. Online supply feigns a lack of availability.
Last edited:
Just be grateful you have B&Ms in your country.
As an aside, are there other necessary products at a B&M that have a mark up which is actually generating profit for the shop and aren’t just due to taxes? Box of Pipe cleaners, matches etc?
As an aside, are there other necessary products at a B&M that have a mark up which is actually generating profit for the shop and aren’t just due to taxes? Box of Pipe cleaners, matches etc?
So, I visited Boda Pipe in SC on a trip and they had a few tins of Germain's for $23 a tin. So, I bought some. Also, I bought a nice old Dunhill from Iwan Ries and they sold me a tin of Germain's a really low price. They did not have to do that, So, it goes to show that Davidus Tobacco is ripping people off, as I visited another of one their stores and same thing $55 a tin.
They’re not ripping people off, they’re offering a product at a price you find to be too high.
You only get ripped off when you make the purchase and of course that decision is entirely on the consumer.
I had no idea that's what made it such a hot commodity, I thought it was just hype and self fulfilling prophecy of people buying it up thinking it's now or never. For the longest time I thought Esoterica was out of business people it's often spoken of in the same breath as McClelland.
Exactly, let alone within driving distance
@Zamora
Check out the forum's B&M list. Build a relationship with them and eventually they'll let you in on Esoterica drops. Those bags often sit on shelves long enough to collect dust while the shop's regular customers buy up cigars and house blends.