Peterson Price Increase

[kola]

Nothing but pure JUNK.
Dip staining entire pipes, horrible drilling, the awkward P-lip, the "spray" coating that bubbles, peels off and burns hot, putty fills in their so-called high end pipes, repair turnaround time from 4-9 months, early chamber burnouts.....and all these defects I have seen in ALL their pipes, high end, mids and low ends. Pure JUNK. I'll stop there.
OTOH, I love the older Petes ....1980's and down..that's all I smoke. I have some fine spigots and deluxes. You can buy a great high-end older estate Peterson for 100-150 bucks.

 

[jefff]

People say you can buy a great Pete for 300.00. For a few bucks more you can get a number of North American ....artisan...(God I hate that word) pipes.
Made buy one guy just plugging along trying to make a living. And for a lot less you can get something fr m Briarworks that is perfectly engineered.
Just my .02

 

[warren]

The Peterson bashers always pipe up, as it were. Pay them no mind. Mine smoke just fine thank you or I wouldn't own them.
Peterson most likely jacked up the prices just for fun I'm sure. I'm guessing they want to see how high they can go with such inferior products, they sell so few of them over the year. And, gees, the location, uni across the street and next to the busiest shopping area in Dublin. Oh! Woe is me! Poor Peterson with their disreputable product, poor location, how they manage is a wonder to me.
It's simply disgraceful that they are allowed to remain in business! Imagine how many people have been sucked in, some buying two, five, maybe more pipes over the years. And they've been so disappointed that they return and buy yet another.
Three years ago I purchased my last Peterson. It is a nice pipe, silver wind cap, well fitted and finished. A few weeks before I go over next spring I'll call and order up another. If it's not to my liking I'll leave it on the counter.
Obviously Peterson must be on its last legs. How many more thousands of pipes will we buy before we lean the lesson a few here preach as the gospel, over and over and over again.
Jefff: I've not seen an American crafted pipe in any of the stores I visit that caught my eye.

 

[davet]

Well said Warren :clap:

 

[gloucesterman]

I've never really had a complaint with my Petersons (all 16 of them). They are a good pipe at a decent price. But I'm not at all sure I'd feel the same if they were twice as expensive. I don't share the opinion they are junk. They smoke well, they have a very unique and classic style and Peterson will fix a problem if you have one. I'm just not sure they will be as attractive in a higher price bracket but time will tell. Even those of us who like Petersons have to admit that there have been some quality control issues in recent years. Proportionate to the number of pipes produced not a statically significant number but the failures always get attention, the successes go unnoticed. Real or imagined there is a perception in some quarters that Peterson pipes are bad. Personally that has not been my experience but given the bad PR, this might not be the best time to do a significant price increase. All it can accomplish is to further reduce the number of potential buyers but maybe the bean counters have decided more money on fewer pipes is the way to go. Peterson has enough of a following that they might just be able to make that work. If revenues remain constant (increased pricing) they need to sell fewer pipes and hopefully can dedicate more time and attention to the pipes they do make. Lets hope!

 

[warren]

I bet Kapp and Peterson Limited made the decision, if the rumor is proven true, after due deliberation. Or maybe it is simply frivolous and aimed at destroying the company. It couldn't possibly be due to increased costs which have to be met to keep the company fiscally healthy. Couldn't be, could it? I bet they are raising prices, if the rumor is true, simply to screw their customers, turn away prospective customers and ruin the business. What else could it be?
Kapp and Peterson Limited was formed 40+ years ago (1970) and from what I can find about the company, two shareholders so not a lot of public documents, plenty of cash and decent value. I think they know what they are about.

 

[beefeater33]

It couldn't possibly be due to increased costs which have to be met to keep the company fiscally healthy. Couldn't be, could it?

Unlikely their costs jumped 50%+ all at once. They have raised their prices every year to "keep the company healthy"...

My take is their profits are dropping due to shoddy product and lackluster sales.... poor management if you will..

Peterson is a shell of its former self, a pity really.....

 

[beefeater33]

I bet they are raising prices, if the rumor is true, simply to screw their customers, turn away prospective customers and ruin the business. What else could it be?

Pure Greed????

Their balance sheet looks pretty good to me-

https://www.duedil.com/company/IE032027/kapp-and-peterson-limited/financials

 

[warren]

That's one take. I'm impressed! Where did you find the sales numbers? I couldn't locate them anywhere. You got world wide numbers? Europe? Regional stuff? IRC or someone large might shed some light on the numbers as far as their business is concerned. The numbers I've read show a pretty damned healthy, albeit small, Irish company, money wise.
The OP guessed the increase at 50%. Did you read or hear something definite? I suspect whatever it is, if the rumor is true, some retailers will add a bit to it on their end where possible.
I also have to wonder how this retailer is so sure of the whys and hows of the supposed increase. Fuel costs are down so shipping shouldn't be a big impact. Labor? Materials? Capital improvements? I'd just like to see more than a clerk/retailer to customer conversation before I panicked.
I really hate rumors!

 

[warren]

Greed is good if you are in business, provides a bit of drive. I admire a certain amount of honest, healthy greed in a businessman. Not so much in politicians though.

 

[beefeater33]

I have no idea if its a rumour or not-- Could be all hogwash for all I know.

My point is that a 50% price increase is unjustified IMO, by looking at their numbers, they ain't starving....

Maybe a 10% increase would be an easier pill to swallow?......

Not picking on Petes either, quality in the factory pipes has been spotty for years. I like my Dunhills, but would never buy a new one unless I could see it in hand. The old days of buying one blind, based on the company's reputation, are gone, sadly.......... :crying:

 

[dochudson]

Great rumor.. sure moved a couple of his pipes quickly

 

[warren]

It did indeed!
Without documentation or citations it's a rumor. Price rise or not, next spring, if Peterson can find a decent hunk of dead brier, I'll be the owner of a new X220, an Aran, mounted with a sterling wind cap.

 

[mso489]

If you are looking for quality at lower prices, I think French pipes provide both. The pipe making culture in St. Claude and in France generally keeps the quality high, and competition keeps the prices relatively low, though of course you can go as high as you want if you have the money to spend. Chacom, Butz-Choquin, Choquin-Comoy, Vuillard, Genod, Ropp, Sabastian Beo, and others make some carefully crafted pipes that are well designed and precisely crafted that will give you bang for the buck/franc.

 

[deathmetal]

Greed is good if you are in business, provides a bit of drive. I admire a certain amount of honest, healthy greed in a businessman. Not so much in politicians though.

But those are just one variety of businessman.

 

[warren]

I am not a frugal shopper. My frivolous purchases, I put pipes in that class, only must please me, my eye, my fist, etc. and deliver a good smoking experience. I can live with good and welcome the occasional great smoke. I can get both from the same pipe at different times.
The tools of my trade, cameras and glass, must function flawlessly, handle rough treatment without a whimper, rotten weather, etc. and always provide great technical results. Good simply isn't enough. Artistic greatness is another thing all together. I'm continually striving for such. Rarely achieved, always the goal.
metal: I beg to differ. The politician screws with my lifestyle and takes my moneys at the point of a gun with the threat of jail time should I refuse him/her a share of my coin. I can choose which businessman gets my moneys, if any. I can only punish a politician with my, rather insignificant, vote and he/she still takes my moneys. A vendor, the businessman I was referencing, provides me with something I want or need. The politician provides only what he/she thinks I should have or not have. The armed might of the politician can be ignored only at one's peril. Peterson or other pipe manufacturers are not forcing their products or beliefs on me.
Big distinction there. You might see them as one and the same. I prefer to see politicians as a necessary evil. Vendors of wares compete with others for my moneys and usually treat me with, sometimes, studied benevolence and always politely if they want me to return. The politician is under no such constraints. True, they buy and sell votes. So I suppose one could, with a sufficient stretch of the imagination, equate the politician with a businessman. I can't make that stretch.

 

[4noggins]

C'mon guys, how realistic is a 50% price increase???? I believe Doc hit nail on the head!!!
Why is this silly rumor even a topic??
Rich

4noggins.com

 

[jefff]

Because....Internet.

 

[onestrangeone]

Why is this silly rumor even a topic??

Slow news day?

 

[shaneireland]

Guys,
I just want to add a few things:
First of all, Rich is correct; there's absolutely no truth to the 50% price increase rumor, it's just silly.
And regarding the 95 CAD for a Calabash purchased in a shop, compared to $156 USD on our site, I feel that it's important to note that the Peterson Calabash pipes currently on Smokingpipes.com are the Smooth Ebony finish with Silver bands. That's what accounts for the price difference. When we have the Rustic and regular Smooth Calabashes in stock they still sell for $69 and $73, respectively.
I hope this helps clear up some of the confusion!