Online Pipe Quality

[molst]

Hi all!

I bought a well reputed brand pipe (no high end but around $100) on the web once and had a pretty bad experience when it comes to quality. I returned it and got another pretty bad pipe back again.

In a local store it is easy, of course, to inspect before buy, but online you really need to trust the store.

This makes me wonder what experiences you have of buying pipes online, good or bad?

What price do you think is reasonable for a well drilled pipe without any obvious issues?

 

[Casual]

I have gotten well drilled pipes without any issues for $50. But I have not been able to find a price floor for getting that quality every time. You will even occasionally run across a complaint about an S. Bang, for example.

 

[anotherbob]

never had more then one issue with an estate that the seller fixed, despite me sleeping on the issue past the point where they could have legit said you ordered that pipe months ago.
The thing is what are your standards. That applies to buying a pipe and how to go about it and also your statement. Your issues could have been anything from, this pipe has a fill the grain isn't straight... to this is the worst drilling I've seen the draft hole is part of the rim and not even on the same side as the mortise and it's been stuffed with playdoh. If something is a deal breaker maybe don't buy a pipe you can't check on.
Which one of the ones I laugh at (sorry, no matter how much people insist it isn't silly I can't help but roll my eyes), if you ask they'll see if it can pass a pipe cleaner when assembled and answer other questions about the pipe you're trying to buy. . So either skip online or see if the seller will answer questions about your deal breakers.
Oh the one issue I had. It was an unsmoked estate. The thing would clog after a few puffs. Sent it back the seller sounded incredulous yet professional, a few days latter they sent me the pipe back and the bit of pipe cleaner some idiot got stuck in there. That pipe smokes like dream now. And all I can imagine is someone was trying the pipe cleaner test and the little tiny bend in it was too much for them.

 

[MacMarty89]

I’ve never had any issue buying pipes online. My advice is: buy from reputed sellers, stick to well established brands or artisans and make sure the pipe is photographed properly.

 

[ashdigger]

I’ve never had a problem buying pipes online, so I’m lucky. Or am I?

I’ve only had a few problems with online purchases from eBay, but at least two were online drunking.

 

[mso489]

The online retailers who sponsor this site, for examples, are reliable and will fix any problems to the customer's satisfaction in most cases. If you are particularly sensitive about issues that are really not quality problems but simply preferences that are important to you, then you probably need to buy your pipes in person, so be honest with yourself about that. Otherwise, stick with well established retailers that are recommended by other dependable sources.

I've bought most of my pipes online and have never had to return any. In two instances, I got acrylic stems when vulcanite were listed in the specifications. I could live with this; both have advantages and I am not adverse to either. I think that is young staff who simply can't tell the difference.

Also, your luck may depend upon your familiarity with brands and materials, and this just takes some window shopping, some discussions with experienced pipe people, and probably a few disappointments.

When we get into eBay and other auction sites, the complexity of the game increases. You just have to learn those "rules," and lack of rules, from experienced buyers in those formats.

And finally, you can get a good smoking pipe in any price range, from a $5 MM hardwood to pipes costing hundreds or thousands. Price is not the key.

 

[molst]

In my case it was a very rough interior with many cavities that the pipe cleaner got stuck in (hidden behind some kind of lacquer before the first smoke). Maybe an OK quality for really cheap pipes, but I had never seen anything like it in my $100-150 price range before so I was very surprised.

But thanks for some great answers so far! I will probably just try another online shop next time. It's very hard to be a pipe smoker in sweden. The local stores are quite anorectic ?

 

[FurCoat]

In my case it was a very rough interior with many cavities that the pipe cleaner got stuck in (hidden behind some kind of lacquer before the first smoke). Maybe an OK quality for really cheap pipes, but I had never seen anything like it in my $100-150 price range before so I was very surprised.

But thanks for some great answers so far! I will probably just try another online shop next time. It's very hard to be a pipe smoker in sweden. The local stores are quite anorectic ?

Sounds like the bowl coating used on Peterson pipes.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

$100 is kind of on the edge for where you step up to better pipes. However, there are a number of brands for $100 you should expect to receive good quality. I've bought a lot of pipes online with minimal problems. Perhaps you just had some bad luck or worked with the wrong vender.

 

[mso489]

You can buy new entirely solid pipes in the 40 to 60 USD range. You just have to be more selective and maybe shop a little longer. Tsuge tasting pipes, Rossi pipes by Savinelli (a sub-brand of theirs), Ropp pipes, Kaywoodie and Dr. Grabow, among others. You can also buy a lot of junk in the price range, so some serious window shopping and some experience and advice help. Most longtime pipe smokers have a few low-end pipes they've found excellent smokers.

 

[OzPiper]

Sorry to hear of your disappointing experience.

All my pipe purchases in the past few years have been online buys because of the dearth of B&Ms in Sydney.

I’ve encountered a few problems with estate pipes, which were remedied by the vendors.

My new pipe purchases have all been satisfactory except for the issue of bowl coatings and peculiar drilling (we all know which maker I’m referring to ?) But they weren’t deal breakers as I bought with my eyes wide open

All the vendors who are sponsors here are trustworthy and will accept returns if there is a genuine issue

 

[OzPiper]

It's very hard to be a pipe smoker in sweden. The local stores are quite anorectic ?

I didn't notice you are in Sweden initially.

But you are in the EU and there are LOTS of excellent stores that sell online eg The Danish Pipe Shop, LePipe.it, Al Pascia, SmokingPipes EU just to name a few.
Shipping within the EU is super cheap and fast.
They offer pipes at all price ranges.

You should also check the estate pipes section at The Danish Shop. Not only hundreds of selections but each pipe is well photographed with a description and rating provided for each pipe.

Happy pipe hunting

 

[kcghost]

Buying pipes online has never caused me a moment grief.

 

[bullet08]

Only two Peterson with really crooked stem. Smokes fine, and vendor is willing to fix it. But "P" won't be on it if they cut new one. I'll smoke my crooked stem. Stummels are to my liking and not willing to part with. That's out of about 40 or so Peterson from online.

 

[warren]

What price do you think is reasonable for a well drilled pipe without any obvious issues?

I have no idea what you think of as reasonable. Nor, do I have an understanding of your thoughts on "well drilled."

Deal with a reputable e-tailer with a liberal return policy and you shouldn't have many problems.."Caveat emptor" applies though. As it does in any retail transaction.

 

[molst]

I didn't notice you are in Sweden initially.

But you are in the EU and there are LOTS of excellent stores that sell online eg The Danish Pipe Shop, LePipe.it, Al Pascia, SmokingPipes EU just to name a few.
Shipping within the EU is super cheap and fast.
They offer pipes at all price ranges.

You should also check the estate pipes section at The Danish Shop. Not only hundreds of selections but each pipe is well photographed with a description and rating provided for each pipe.

Happy pipe hunting

Thanks for the tip, I'll have a look at it!

 

[molst]

Great to hear that most of you have good experiences. I will have another try and watch out for anything that looks like bowl coating on the pictures.

 

[OzPiper]

Great to hear that most of you have good experiences. I will have another try and watch out for anything that looks like bowl coating on the pictures.

Most bowl coatings have a fairly neutral taste/flavour.

However a new Tom Eltang had a coating which made my inaugural smoke taste like I was smoking kippers in the bowl. ?

A few minutes with a piece of sandpaper took care of that.