Pipe Show Pricing

[mso489]

Pipe show season is upon us (spring 2013). I wonder if there are any generalizations about pipe show

pricing. Do carvers and retailers pretty much go with their in-store or online prices, or do they lever

them up a little, or offer some discounting? Does this change from the beginning to the end of the show?

Should I go to my pipe show looking for a break, or prepared to pay what I see online or at the pipe shop

on a daily basis?

 

[bigvan]

Prices are ALWAYS better at a pipe show.
And as you'd expect, the selection is better at the BEGINNING of the show, but the prices are better at the END.

 

[teufelhund]

I don't know about pipe show season; apparently I already missed the St. Louis show. Feb 16th was V-day make up... Maybe I'll go to Chicago or wait until next year. :roll:

 

[winton]

Bigvan is correct. Prices go down as the show continues. If you see something you want, at a price you are willing to pay, then reach for cash immediately. The guy next to you is making the same calculation.
You can get some awesome deals on tobacco late Sunday afternoon, when everything is closing down. People have been trying the sample tins during the weekend. I bought two C&D 8 oz tins for $10 each at the end of my first show. Granted, there was only about 6 oz in the tins, but still a great deal.
Winton

 

[mso489]

Do exhibitors at pipe shows accept personal checks? Is it up to them individually, or is it routine or just not done?

 

[peckinpahhombre]

Leave the cheques at home and bring stacks of bills

 

[lordofthepiperings]

bigvan is definitely right. The other big bonus of hitting a show is there typically tends to be a few tables offerring free samples of blends.

 

[kcghost]

Its unreasonable to expect a carver who doesn't know you to accept a check. However, if they do know you they most likely will be glad to take a check. And Paypal works for most of them, too. Just remember if you want to use PayPal the carver is going to take a 3% hit on the deal.

 

[mso489]

Smokingpipes.com brought up a pipe I wanted from S.C. to the TAPS show in N.C., saved me shipping, and

even gave me nice little break on the price, so that's another vote for pipes shows. (This was early in the day,

so I didn't expect any price break.) Thanks to Ted and the other folks at smokingpipes.com.

 

[estumpf]

Thanks for the advice. I'm going to the Chicago show.

 

[docwatson]

Forget the ATM's !!!!! The crowd empties them on the first day!!!!

Bring that green paper with pictures of dead presidents on it, works every time. 8O

 

[peckinpahhombre]

Exactly doc. If I was going I would bring a stack of dead presidents. Nothing gets deals done more than hard greenbacks.

 

[atwageman]

I don't have time for ATM machines. I plan ahead and carry plenty with me. Leave the checks at home. Very few vendors these days accept them unless you have a proven track record with them. Some are capable of taking plastic. If you have a smartphone or other portable device many will take paypal. With all that said......CASH IS KING!

 

[bigvan]

If you don't want to travel with a lot of cash, there's a PNC Bank right down the street from the Mega Center, and I've never had a problem getting money from their ATMs.

 

[lucky695]

Leave the cheques at home and bring stacks of bills

I am wanting to get a few 2-3 decent (both aestetic and functional) artisan pipes at the GKCPC show in June. How big of a stack should I bring? $500...$1000... can't go too far, the Fire Headed Raised eyebrow monster will be restless...

 

[kcghost]

Depends on who you are buying from and whether you are willing to buy an estate pipe. For three pipes I would bring $1000. That would only be $333 per pipe. If you go the estate route you will be able to get the same quality of pipe for half that. Or you can spend the full grand and buy a much higher grade artisan pipe.
If you are going to the KC show be sure to buy raffle tickets for the carvers raffle.

 

[lucky695]

Already did. Got a 5 pack