Puff n' Stuff Broke My Heart

[AroEnglish]

You need to start a rival store and call it Suff n' Ptuff. That will show them!

 

[cosmicfolklore]

I have discussed buying The Briary several times. The reason why it makes absolutely no sense to own a pipe store is totally about what we see each day here on this forum. If you want to make money off of a product, you triple the wholesale price. This is called Keystoning. However, the company that wholesales you the product is in direct competition with you. So, you buy same tins for $10 from your wholesaler, and then your wholesalers fucks you over by also selling it to everyone in the world for the same price. You guys know who I am talking about.
So that if you go into a B&M and see keystoned tins for $30, but all call them out as price gougers, when the reality is that the B&M is doing exactly what they need to do to stay open.

Everyone says that it is the liberals, or government that is killing the pipe industry, when it is actually the wholesalers that are killing off all of these B&M's. And, this is why if anyone asks Skip at The Briary if they carry any C&D blends, he will spit in the floor and give you a heated ear full.

Oh, and try owning a B&M without the fucking nightmare of shipping and online sales, you guys give poor B&Ms shit for not selling to you over a computer, when it costs a fucking arm and leg to do that... with fucking products that you can't make any money with. Ha ha. So, YOU guys are also killing off your B&Ms.

Nah, the ones that are open, we should give them some money. But, it takes a complete braindead moron to see how B&M pipes stuff works and still want to open a store, ha ha.

 

[crowbait]

Damn. Why don't they stab all the pipe smokers with dull stem and give an extra twist! That was truly cruel thing to do to a long time customer. At least, he could have called you and make some deal!

Right!? Common courtesty is about as prevalent as common sense these days.

 

[greeneyes]

Atlanta, like everywhere else, is a pipe tobacco desert. We have two cigar shops on every corner, but the only pipe tobaccoasis in this city was Puff n' Stuff in Tucker. For years, I drove by it every time I went to see my dad, and I fed the TAD monster whether I needed anything or not. It was the only store where I could find any rarity like Sobranie or Esoterica. I later earned the honor and privilege of checking out their back closet, and I built a cellar that broke over two houses.

I dropped in to see my dad today, and made my usual pit stop. The hanging tins were gone, the wall of GLP and C&D was empty, and they rocked a total of 6 1/3-empty jars of bulk Lane and Stokkebye. I was stunned. I didn't know what to do. I just looked at the owner, who I've known for a decade now, and asked if this was permanent. He just looked at me, and I couldn't do anything but shake his hand and thank him for the good times. I left.

Son of a bitch. Long live Puff n' Stuff.

I used to buy from them several years ago, and kept calling back until a couple of years ago. I saw the decline happening over the years and the owner expressed his unwillingness to jump through the hoops that Arango in particular, wanted him to in order to earn Esoterica for his shelves, essentially forcing him to sell their pipes for stock. He just wasn't willing to put up with it. And he's not the only one.

 

[jguss]

Oh boy, I was certainly thinking about the wrong Puff N Stuff…

Jesus! Next you’ll be telling me Lidsville is gone.

 

[anotherbob]

the store I thought was Puff and Snuff. At least we have a bunch here and they're a weird franchise. Always worth a check just to see what they have.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Everytime I read the title of this thread, I think of this goofball, ha ha.

 

[Mike N]

A really good cigar is about $15-$18 a stick at a brick and mortar, and most can’t keep them stocked. For a one-time 45 minute smoke, I’m not sure how the hundreds if not thousands of cigar brands do it. But they do. Meanwhile, a tin of C&D‘s new Carolina Red Flake comes out to about $1 a bowl and is far tastier to me. (I know, I know…there’s the start up cost of the pipe, but they do retain some resale estate value.)

A few years ago a retiree opened a franchised Orvis store in my small town. Many of the local fly fishermen stood around ogling the reels and rods and then went home and saved a few bucks ordering them on line. When the shop closed about two years later, these were the same guys who complained the loudest about not having a place to gather to talk fly fishing. I’m still puzzled how a large brick and mortar bookstore like Barnes & Noble survives when I see people reading a stack of magazines in their coffee shop like it was some kind of public library.

 

[Nevaditude]

I have discussed buying The Briary several times. The reason why it makes absolutely no sense to own a pipe store is totally about what we see each day here on this forum. If you want to make money off of a product, you triple the wholesale price. This is called Keystoning. However, the company that wholesales you the product is in direct competition with you. So, you buy same tins for $10 from your wholesaler, and then your wholesalers fucks you over by also selling it to everyone in the world for the same price. You guys know who I am talking about.
So that if you go into a B&M and see keystoned tins for $30, but all call them out as price gougers, when the reality is that the B&M is doing exactly what they need to do to stay open.

Everyone says that it is the liberals, or government that is killing the pipe industry, when it is actually the wholesalers that are killing off all of these B&M's. And, this is why if anyone asks Skip at The Briary if they carry any C&D blends, he will spit in the floor and give you a heated ear full.

Oh, and try owning a B&M without the fucking nightmare of shipping and online sales, you guys give poor B&Ms shit for not selling to you over a computer, when it costs a fucking arm and leg to do that... with fucking products that you can't make any money with. Ha ha. So, YOU guys are also killing off your B&Ms.

Nah, the ones that are open, we should give them some money. But, it takes a complete braindead moron to see how B&M pipes stuff works and still want to open a store, ha ha.

Well said! There is not a sentence here that isn't accurate... Thanks for putting it so clearly. When I posted previously in thread "and THAT is because they B&M’s jack the price. Understand all their reasons why, but I do agree it is sad that the store experience is going away," These were the things to which I referred, yet didn't state. I sure wish there were true pipe stores nearby, but no. I will need to start that northern Nevada Pipe club. I have a place in Virginia City that has agreed to host. Its an old saloon, and owner she said," No problem, just as long as someone buys an occasional drink". Pipe smoking with others is a good thing. Seasons change. be well...

 

[Dr. Internet]

The elders among you will remember the same thing happened at gasoline stations back in the '70s. Used to be, you would pull into the station and a guy would run out, ask you what you needed, fill 'er up! He would fill the gas tank, check the tires, check the oil, and wash the windshield -- all for 35 cents a gallon. Now, you pull in, pump your own gas, pay for it yourself, wash your own window, ignore the oil and air and get out.
If you want a B&M to beat the internet, you must ADD VALUE. You must provide something that the internet does not or can not provide. I used to go to the Humidor here in San Antonio when the Colonel was still alive. He knew all about pipes and pipe tobacco. I must have bought 10 - 12 pipes from him and pounds of tobacco. After he passed, his kids took over and turned it into a cigar emporium, with pipes relegated to a small corner in the back. I have not been back.
I'm sure there are plenty of people on this forum that have all kinds of ideas for a B&M pipe store. I don't know anything about sales or marketing (retired EE), but I know what I like. A nice lounge to smoke in, TVs for football games on Saturday, adult beverages, good coffee, someone knowledgeable about pipes and pipe tobacco onsite, some good books and up to date magazines to read, no loud music, and a good selection of pipes and tobacco onsite. I would even go so far as to pay an annual membership fee. We could control membership by requiring new members to be sponsored by existing members. Sort of like the old gentleman's clubs in the UK.
Until that happens, I will keep buying over the internet, because it makes financial sense to do so.

 

[Roach1]

Everytime I read the title of this thread, I think of this goofball, ha ha.
View attachment 338442

Me too.

 

[PaulRVA]

A really good cigar is about $15-$18 a stick at a brick and mortar, and most can’t keep them stocked. For a one-time 45 minute smoke, I’m not sure how the hundreds if not thousands of cigar brands do it. But they do. Meanwhile, a tin of C&D‘s new Carolina Red Flake comes out to about $1 a bowl and is far tastier to me. (I know, I know…there’s the start up cost of the pipe, but they do retain some resale estate value.)

A few years ago a retiree opened a franchised Orvis store in my small town. Many of the local fly fishermen stood around ogling the reels and rods and then went home and saved a few bucks ordering them on line. When the shop closed about two years later, these were the same guys who complained the loudest about not having a place to gather to talk fly fishing. I’m still puzzled how a large brick and mortar bookstore like Barnes & Noble survives when I see people reading a stack of magazines in their coffee shop like it was some kind of public library.

Literally the exact same story here with our Orvis.

 

[Peterson314]

[...] Sort of like the old gentleman's clubs in the UK.

I learned all about these during a recent trip to Scotchland Scotland. They were supported by whatever industry fueled the town, they were community run, and they weren't trying to make bank. They just wanted to bring in enough cash to keep the doors open, the dance floor moving, and the beer flowing. Imagine! They're dying, too.

A new tobacco lounge opened close enough to my house that I'd consider hanging out there. Surprise of surprises--it's a cigar shop with the usual token Mason Jar of 1Q and MacB Virginia #1. I popped in once and talked to the owner about pipes and schite, and got a response that might as well have been, "Oh yeah..... pipes. We're, uh, going to do something." Ok.

I was in the store for about 5 minutes and walked out smelling like I hotboxed at a Fuente convention.

 

[Nevaditude]

Literally the exact same story here with our Orvis.

The Reno Orvis closed a few months back & now is a Trader Joe's ! Maybe I should walk in smoking a pipe??

 

[PaulRVA]

The Reno Orvis closed a few months back & now is a Trader Joe's ! Maybe I should walk in smoking a pipe??

Our Orvis was a family owned small store that was also an all around outfitter. The box store version pushed him out.
The box store just closed and I’d bet the original could’ve survived.
It’s sad to see as the larger stores just aren’t as nice.
Same story with B&M’s and hardware stores. I hate losing Mom & Pop institutions and watching them go the way of the shopping mall.

 

[sardonicus87]

When I was in Atalanta 16 years ago, there was a website from which I used to order my cigarette tobacco (at the time, I was using the, as of today long discontinued McClintock menthol. I didn't know it, but the website I bought from was based in Atlanta, run by some woman out of her house. I found out about it by the guy that got me into pipe tobacco.

Not sure if she's still open, or what her business was called, I think I remember at the time she maybe was restrictive about who came directly to buy and preferred selling online. The website is long-gone, I am sure her business is too, but if you've been in Atlanta a long time, maybe you know of it? I've never seen a proper B&M storefront as well stocked as her house was. She was a proper tobacconist too, knew tobacco and types, not just what the tin says, could recommend based on your tastes beyond just "well that's an English and this is an English, so you should like it".

Not sure now where she was even located in Atlanta. Maybe Bankhead or the nice side of Decatur? I dunno, I lived on the crap side of Decatur (spitting distance of Lithonia, right off of I-20).

 

[anotherbob]

I’m still puzzled how a large brick and mortar bookstore like Barnes & Noble survives when I see people reading a stack of magazines in their coffee shop like it was some kind of public library.

Always the chance that they make more money from coffee and other brick a bracks then books.