In general, I think new pipe smokers need to order specific pipes, carefully selected and considered, so they learn about pipes and what they're getting, so they can calibrate future pipe purchases. I'd recommend they select one pipe at a time, and smoke it and learn about it, before ordering another. The same with tobacco. Better to select small sample quantities of bulk in one-ounce quantities, and maybe highly selectively one or two tins, so you are focusing and thinking about it every step of the way. I've been at this for decades, eons some might say, and I am still learning, so it is better to start out on a high learning curve and not leave anything completely to chance. A bad pipe experience early on can put a person off the whole process. It's more work, but it should be fun work. For starters, people need to learn a bit about filters and unfiltered pipes; about shapes and sizes; about stem and pipe materials; different bits; and so on. Don't just send me a pipe, whereby I learn much less.
