Pros and Cons to Buying Locally vs Buying Online
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I buy A LOT of tobacco online as well as my B&M. I have gotten dry, just right and sopping from both. I don't think it matters where you get it from, it is how they keep it wherever it is stored, how long its been there and what it was stored in that matters.
Every time I go to my B&M I buy something. Sometimes its as simple as pipe cleaners and an ounce of bulk and sometimes I'll pick up a tin or two. They have it hard enough as it is but I these B&Ms start going out of business I think it will definitely hurt the pipe smoking community. Maybe not right away, but for those who are new to smoking a pipe or want to give it a try, they may be discouraged or overwhelmed by trying to go online and figure it all out
Are you serious? You should maybe watch all the youtube videos folks have made where they review the various tobaccos out there first.
There's more variety from P&C than at my local B&M. Other than that, the only real difference is a $8 tin at P&C is $15 locally because of taxes. Of course, that's a wash if you have to pay for shipping but I try to wait and do the $100 order and get free shipping.
What is happening here lately? When a new member asks a question like this, he deserves an answer, he does not deserve to be ridiculed! If you do not wish to answer, then don't post! Small wonder I am posting less and less all the time lately.
Russ just put out an article on Tin vs. Bulk
http://pipesmagazine.com/blog/put-that-in-your-pipe/packaging-a-tobacco-companys-dilemma/
http://pipesmagazine.com/blog/put-that-in-your-pipe/packaging-a-tobacco-companys-dilemma/
Because of an 85% wholesale tax here in Florida I cannot buy tobacco from my b/m. The price is double and I am not going to pay that just to support my local guy. It is a shame because I used to frequent the shop a lot more than I do now. As far as the tobacco arriving from on line dealers in different condition than a b/m, I have never found that to be so. Tins are vacuum sealed so that is not an issue, and the bulks I get have all been fine. I have been ordering on line for over a dozen years and have never had one instance of my tobacco being not properly humidified.
Online places have more selection than your typical B&M, unless you live near one of the better B&M's. And of course, most tins aren't going to be opened at a B&M anyway.
I feel the fun of it is, when you see something you like, you can ask around or just try it out and see. Sometimes the subjective world of tobacco is better explored without a guidebook
I feel the fun of it is, when you see something you like, you can ask around or just try it out and see. Sometimes the subjective world of tobacco is better explored without a guidebook
99% of my stuff is from the B&M. I won't even venture a guess as to how much I spend there a year.
I'm in the UK and the difference in price over here is LOT smaller than the deals you guys can get over there. Also, after looking into it, I can't order baccy from the american sites because the shipping and Duty taxes are SHOCKING!!! 8O So, no Haddo's or 1Q for me!
So far I have stuck to my vow to only buy from B&Ms, the internet sites won't allow to stick my nose in a jar I'm interested in! Also, the main guy I use really looks after me, knows my tastes and always gives me a discount and/or throws in some free stuff if I'm buying a Pipe. Then shakes my hand.
So far I have stuck to my vow to only buy from B&Ms, the internet sites won't allow to stick my nose in a jar I'm interested in! Also, the main guy I use really looks after me, knows my tastes and always gives me a discount and/or throws in some free stuff if I'm buying a Pipe. Then shakes my hand.
I buy primarily online, for all the reasons mentioned above, but primarily because of selection. I have never been a huge buyer of bulks online, but have bought some over the past year and have had no problems with dryness.
Russ' piece is an excellent discussion of the difference between tins and bulks. One also needs to remember that some manufacturers will only have one version of many or all of their products. You can't get Peterson bulks,for example.
Russ' piece is an excellent discussion of the difference between tins and bulks. One also needs to remember that some manufacturers will only have one version of many or all of their products. You can't get Peterson bulks,for example.
+1 Adam. I absolutely agree that I've always tried to find things on my own.
My local shop only carries popular blends. You can get your Peterson tins there, some McClelland tins, Dunhill tins, CB tins and pouches, etc. I've only made two online purchases for tobacco, and they were for things I absolutely could not get at the store here in Dayton. I will say though, I can buy bulk here cheaper than online. There's only a 7% sales tax, and I'm pretty good at talking down some prices if I buy a few tins from them instead of ordering them. And the bulk vs. tin question is kinda unanswerable; some bulk tobacco's aren't available in tins, and vice versa. Just start trying a few things, you'll find out
My local shop only carries popular blends. You can get your Peterson tins there, some McClelland tins, Dunhill tins, CB tins and pouches, etc. I've only made two online purchases for tobacco, and they were for things I absolutely could not get at the store here in Dayton. I will say though, I can buy bulk here cheaper than online. There's only a 7% sales tax, and I'm pretty good at talking down some prices if I buy a few tins from them instead of ordering them. And the bulk vs. tin question is kinda unanswerable; some bulk tobacco's aren't available in tins, and vice versa. Just start trying a few things, you'll find out
Thank you all for your answers,
From what I am hearing is you can get the same tobacco's from tins as you can in bulk and the flavor between
the same from either container is extremely close.
Are there more high quality blends that only come in tins or is everything available in either tin or bulk
From what I am hearing is you can get the same tobacco's from tins as you can in bulk and the flavor between
the same from either container is extremely close.
Are there more high quality blends that only come in tins or is everything available in either tin or bulk
Unfortunately many of my favorites only come in tins. I would much rather buy bulk because of the price savings.
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