Pros and Cons to Buying Locally vs Buying Online
- Thread starter jsiddle
- Start date
SmokingPipes.com Updates
Watch for Updates Twice a Week
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
Site Sponsors
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
- Status
I live in Topeka - where we have an excellent B&M that only sells house blends. I shop there becasue I want to see them stay open. They know me, they know my cigar smoking sons and we're treated as valued customers. Through them I've had the opportunity to meet the always entertaining Erik Nording so why wouldn't I want to trade with them?
However, I work in Kansas City and have the most amazing B&M a few miles from my office. They have an enormous selection of tinned tobaccos with about thirty opened tins on the counter for customer sampling. The salespeople are friendly, knowledgable as hell and they, too, treat me as a valued customer. I shop there for the same reasons.
I'm not against online shopping but getting a handshake after a transaction - like Kris wrote - carries a lot of water with me.
By the way, pal, welcome to the forums.
However, I work in Kansas City and have the most amazing B&M a few miles from my office. They have an enormous selection of tinned tobaccos with about thirty opened tins on the counter for customer sampling. The salespeople are friendly, knowledgable as hell and they, too, treat me as a valued customer. I shop there for the same reasons.
I'm not against online shopping but getting a handshake after a transaction - like Kris wrote - carries a lot of water with me.
By the way, pal, welcome to the forums.
As far as the condition of tobacco, I have never purchased anything anywhere, online, or at a B&M that had an issue moisture-wise. Any reputable retailer will offer a replacement anyway.
I live in FL too, just an hour north of cigrmaster. I don't buy much locally, but I do still buy some stuff from B&Ms. The price is double in FL (compared to online) because of the state tax, but I feel a duty to buy something because B&Ms offer a great service to the pipe smoking community.
While this site, and other forums and online content (most YouTube videos are crap in my not so humble opinion) have helped pick up a lot of the slack for in-person, hands-on help - it is still not the same as having someone with knowledge and experience show you the pipe smoking "ropes" first hand.
That said, please buy from our online sponsors so I can afford to buy from B&Ms at twice the price.
I live in FL too, just an hour north of cigrmaster. I don't buy much locally, but I do still buy some stuff from B&Ms. The price is double in FL (compared to online) because of the state tax, but I feel a duty to buy something because B&Ms offer a great service to the pipe smoking community.
While this site, and other forums and online content (most YouTube videos are crap in my not so humble opinion) have helped pick up a lot of the slack for in-person, hands-on help - it is still not the same as having someone with knowledge and experience show you the pipe smoking "ropes" first hand.
That said, please buy from our online sponsors so I can afford to buy from B&Ms at twice the price.
on the whole bulk VS tin i would like to add my two cents in. every single tobacco i have had has been different. that includes the same tobacco. i get some nightcap and it will taste different or different moisture level. the taste of what is better is like all things all relative thats why i still buy both bulk and tin because you will never know what you are missing if you do not try it. sooooooo long answer short neither tastes better.
Kevin, with that I have spent with your sponsors since I became a member here, you need not worry about how they are doing. lol
I do buy accessories at my local guy as well as have work done on my pipes, I just refuse to pay double because the state is a greedy bunch of pigs. If you are a cigar smoker the tax doesn't affect you, only pipe smokers, how fair is that?
I do buy accessories at my local guy as well as have work done on my pipes, I just refuse to pay double because the state is a greedy bunch of pigs. If you are a cigar smoker the tax doesn't affect you, only pipe smokers, how fair is that?
I do a little of both. I like the variety I see online. I also like going to my local B&M when I read about some of the tobaccos the guys on the forum are talking about, and check them out there. I can smell them there, and get an idea if it's something I want to try.
Hey Kevin you bring up a great point. Is this maybe an opportunity for the radio show to have a "know your tobacco" segment? Pick stories about cut, flavoring, conditioned (Burley, Perique...) what to expect in raw, cased, and conditioned... I have been smoking and blending for 40 years and still learn things that are new. Thus weeding out the crap and keeping the population informed with 'real' information.
The problem, for me anyway, is that there is no "local" B&M. The only shop is 2 hours away with a limited selection. However, when I get to town, I purchase something. If it wasn't for online sales, I would not be smoking a pipe and enjoying some of the tobacco that you guys recommend on this site.
Concerning my local shop:
Cons: They're in the very middle of a shopping mall (that's the biggest negative aspect - egads), the prices are a little higher and the selection is not as deep as I can find with some on-line retailers, and they seem to do mostly cigar business (small store, big cigar-chomping crowds).
Pros: They have some great employees who know and will discuss their stock. They are local folks employing local folks serving local folks. That's worth something and I patronize them about three times out of four.
Cons: They're in the very middle of a shopping mall (that's the biggest negative aspect - egads), the prices are a little higher and the selection is not as deep as I can find with some on-line retailers, and they seem to do mostly cigar business (small store, big cigar-chomping crowds).
Pros: They have some great employees who know and will discuss their stock. They are local folks employing local folks serving local folks. That's worth something and I patronize them about three times out of four.
It would take me 64 hours of non-stop walking to reach my nearest B&M. However, when I am there I always buy a tin or 2 since most of the stuff they have is RARE. They always have things I can't get online because of that.
EDIT: 64 hours according to Google maps.
EDIT: 64 hours according to Google maps.
I would love to shop exclusively at my local b&m but their selection is rather lacking other than a house blend that I keep stocked up on.
- Status