Sanitized and Ready to Smoke

[ssjones]

I always list my estate pipe condition as "Pipes have been cleaned and by my standards, ready to smoke"
I've never had any complaints to this point, so I guess that is working.
Ghosts are the tough one, I don't test smoke estate pipes, but hope my cleaning regimen is adequate to banish most ghost flavors.

 

[shermnatman]

Yeaaaaaah... I would have preferred to see them offer either a 15% Refund OR 15% off your next purchase with free shipping; and, close by asking: "Which remedy would YOU prefer?".

When I had my Fender franchise, I would always ask the less-than-happy customer: "What would like to see happen at this point?".

Yes, I received plenty of outrageous and unreasonable requests of over-the-top compensation - we are talking guitarists and bassists here after all LOL! - from Certain Creatively Opportunistic types - which of course were not met; but, we are talking less than 5% of the former customer base who had issues which needed to be addressed.

95% of customer base who did experience a service issue, were quite reasonable and in the end, very happy.

The point being: When quickly, properly, and serviced in a manner which is satisfactory to all, your customers learn to trust you and they bond deeply with you - rather than having these experiences break the Dealer/Customer relationship.

From the wording and presentation in the email, the way their 'offer to correct' comes across - while serviced - has a slightly bad air of only making good on their earlier failure to you as the customer, IF you insert additional money.

Whatever happened to just taking care of the customer who already gave you their money and trust - without additional conditions?

I am somewhat uneasy with these dictated conditions of their offer to remedy, which hinges on an added expenditure on your part. - Sherm Natman

 

[Chasing Embers]

I am somewhat uneasy with these dictated conditions of their offer to remedy, which hinges on an added expenditure on your part.

I've never paid shipping for any online tobacco retail orders, nor paid cash for online pipes for several years now. It's all been bartering of previously owned pipes and the cleanup of the meerschaum only cost about 10 minutes.

 

[shermnatman]

I've never paid shipping for any online tobacco retail orders, nor paid cash for online pipes for several years now. It's all been bartering of previously owned pipes and the cleanup of the meerschaum only cost about 10 minutes.

I see, so what do you want to see happen in this case? - Sherm Natman

 

[JOHN72]

Car dealers say the same thing.

 

[telescopes]

I always list my estate pipe condition as "Pipes have been cleaned and by my standards, ready to smoke"
I've never had any complaints to this point, so I guess that is working.
Ghosts are the tough one, I don't test smoke estate pipes, but hope my cleaning regimen is adequate to banish most ghost flavors.

Estate pipes are a touchy subject when it comes to cleaning. Any estate I've purchased that was smoked went off to be refurbished, regardless of the condition it came to me. Any estate I've sold was sold with no mention of it being ready to smoke other than the pipe being any good or excellent condition. I realize that no amount of effort I make would satisfy everyone. An example are stumells. I seriously doubt anyone could clean them to my standards and that includes myself.

 

[Chasing Embers]

I see, so what do you want to see happen in this case? - Sherm Natman

The deal ended up with having to offer less in trade for a Von Erck.

 

[ssjones]

Estate pipes are a touchy subject when it comes to cleaning. Any estate I've purchased that was smoked went off to be refurbished, regardless of the condition it came to me. Any estate I've sold was sold with no mention of it being ready to smoke other than the pipe being any good or excellent condition. I realize that no amount of effort I make would satisfy everyone. An example are stumells. I seriously doubt anyone could clean them to my standards and that includes myself.

That sounds a little confusing. It no one, including yourself can clean to meet your expectation, to who are they sent off to?

 

[AJL67]

Everything aside (i always clean estate pipes when i get them i don't care who says what about it when they post them) that's a really cool meer, love the carving.

 

[telescopes]

That sounds a little confusing. It no one, including yourself can clean to meet your expectation, to who are they sent off to?

Great question. Briarville. Although he scrubs and drills the stummells as best as can be done, it's the ozone treatment that brings me some comfort. It works wonders on odors and any organic mess that might mess up the taste of the tobacco. Ozone is typically beyond the scope of most pipe owners Including myself when it comes to cleaning.

 

[didimauw]

Estate pipes are a touchy subject when it comes to cleaning. Any estate I've purchased that was smoked went off to be refurbished, regardless of the condition it came to me. Any estate I've sold was sold with no mention of it being ready to smoke other than the pipe being any good or excellent condition. I realize that no amount of effort I make would satisfy everyone. An example are stumells. I seriously doubt anyone could clean them to my standards and that includes myself.

I haven't cleaned a single pipe I've sold. Most have been smoked lightly, but I"m always honest upfront, and leave the cleaning to whoever wants it.

 

[Sjmiller CPG]

Yep, pipes for pipes. They have layaway too.

Layaway? Where on their website can one find out about this?

 

[Winnipeger]

Layaway? Where on their website can one find out about this?

I don't think it's posted anywhere but you can email them. They'll hold a pipe for up to 8 weeks with a 20% downpayment.

 

[Sjmiller CPG]

I don't think it's posted anywhere but you can email them. They'll hold a pipe for up to 8 weeks with a 20% downpayment.

Interesting. Thank you, kind sir.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Layaway? Where on their website can one find out about this?

Choose to pay offline during the checkout send call with your intent. 20% down with an 8 week limit.

 

[BarrelProof]

You can also use the pay offline feature to ask more questions about a pipe if their customer service folks aren’t readily available (rare - typically limited to outside of working hours). Just don’t abuse it so we don’t all lose that luxury.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Ozone is typically beyond the scope of most pipe owners Including myself when it comes to cleaning.

Just don't spray it on stems. Ozone can damage many plastics and rubber types.

 

[telescopes]

I've used something similar. In my experience it isn't the same thing as a long lasting rest in an ozone chamber. I do note that the instructions for these chambers are readily available. But just like home grown tobacco, this is something I don't wish to do myself.

 

[telescopes]

What I define as a pipe that is ready to smoke:

The chamber has been reamed and sanded to bare wood;

The stummel has been stripped to bare wood with no trace of tar;

The bit has had all chatter and teeth marks removed, free of dents or scratches, and all traces of oxidation have been removed with the stem then give a high gloss polish;

All scratches on the briar have been removed and the briar, including the rim, has been restored to unsmoked condition.

In addition, the pipe has been given an ozone bath and is free of any odor other than the smell of unsmoked briar.

Briarville is able to accomplish this for me for a total of $34 Per pipe when I send in 4 pipes for restoration.

I am free to smoke and enjoy the pipe as if it were new. In addition, draft holes and the bit are assured to pass a pipe cleaner and the draw of the pipe is opened up. In the case of many brands, even branding to match the original can be added back where it has vanished.

This is my standard. It is a standard neither I are anyone else would provide for a used estate pipe. @ssjones asked me about this and I hope this better explains my position. It is my expectation that ANY pipe I purchase used will automatically be sent to a pipe restorer before it is smoked by me and it is why I don't bother to restore my pipes myself.

I do endeavor to maintain my pipes. I clean them with a pipe cleaner. I occasionally give them a water bath. I alway use a clean paper towel to wipe the inside of the chamber and I routinely use obsidian oil on bits and wax on the outside of the briar. The pipes are kept out of direct sunlight and on Charatan and Upshall pipe I use softies to prevent the stems from developing chatter and buildup on their cheap vulcanite stems. When I sell a pipe it is sold as well maintained, not ready to smoke.

 

[telescopes]

I haven't cleaned a single pipe I've sold. Most have been smoked lightly, but I"m always honest upfront, and leave the cleaning to whoever wants it.

Agreed. See my response above as to what my expectations are and why it would be unreasonable for me to expect someone to match them. No matter how good a job someone does, off it goes. There have been two exceptions to this rule. One is from @ashdigger and the other from @rustiepyles. Both were kind enough to offer me gifts of pipes, pipes that were in exceptional condition.