Savinelli Punto Oro Price Increase

[LeafErikson]

I logged in to SP to check out the Savinelli Punto Oro pipes and it appears that they’ve had quite a price hike in the past couple of weeks.

I get the bronze 5% discount and the last time I bought a Punto Oro Gold Sandblasted (this past Dec), it was $209. Today, that same pipe is $322.24, meaning they’ve gotten a 55% price increase. It seems to be across the board for all retailers selling Savinelli Punto Oro pipes.

It reminds me of when meerschaum pipes seemed to go up in price by almost 100% overnight in 2020 or so.

 

[PaulRVA]

I noticed the same thing as well.
I’m betting the increase will be blamed on Tariffs but thats at 20% currently.

 

[LeafErikson]

I noticed the same thing as well.
I’m betting the increase will be blamed on Tariffs but thats at 20% currently.

I don't think it's the tariffs because if that was the case, Savinelli would have raised prices across the board. This is just the Punto Oro line.

Savinelli choosing to price the Punto Oro line in the same ballpark as a Castello, Ser Jacopo, Musico, Caminetto etc. is... interesting to say the least.

 

[PaulRVA]

I don't think it's the tariffs because if that was the case, Savinelli would have raised prices across the board. This is just the Punto Oro line.

Savinelli choosing to price the Punto Oro line in the same ballpark as a Castello, Ser Jacopo, Musico, Caminetto etc. is... interesting to say the least.

Yea, it’s odd that’s for sure and aggravating too. The drops / inventory have been slow this year.
I’ve been after another 101 and 320 but it’s been taking awhile this go around. Fingers crossed that some come in.

 

[Scottmi]

Supply and demand.. (and I can tell you, won't be any demand from me.) Probably working on some paper projections for a sale to STG.

 

[LeafErikson]

Supply and demand.. (and I can tell you, won't be any demand from me.) Probably working on some paper projections for a sale to STG.

It also looks like they are turning out fewer Punto Oros in general so they’re going to limit the supply and just price them higher. Either way, I’m with you and there is absolutely no Punto Oro demand from me at these prices.

 

[Waning Embers]

All pjpes are going up. IMP meerschaums have doubled in the past two years.

 

[LeafErikson]

All pjpes are going up. IMP meerschaums have doubled in the past two years.

 

[Terry Lennox]

Interesting. Stock is way down. Guibilio D'Oro also hardly any in stock.

 

[Scottmi]

Briar supply problems?

 

[LeafErikson]

Briar supply problems?

If I'm not mistaken, Savinelli currently has the single largest store of unfinished briar blocks on planet Earth.

My money is on artificial scarcity to drive up demand and charge more for a premium product. Supply on their other lines seem to be keeping up just fine.

Another unlikely explanation is that they had one guy/gal grading Punto Oro/Guibilio D'Oro pipes that suddenly quit after 20 years of doing the job. If that was the case though, why the sudden price increase concurrent with the dwindling supply? The price increase coupled with the dwindling supply as opposed to just a dwindling supply makes the latter explanation of the long-time employee departure unlikely.

 

[Sigmund]

My guess is that they think they can get away with it or will at least experiment to find out.

A little of that increases may be due to the falling value of the dollar…about 12 percent.

 

[skydog]

According to the Danish Pipe Shop, Savinelli is blaming it on briar shortage. They are also dating and numbering them now which they've never done in the past to my knowledge.

Savinelli, Punto Oro, Gold, Model 320, 186/300 - Savinelli - The Danish Pipe Shop

Big selection in pipes! Savinelli Tobacco Pipes!

www.danishpipeshop.com

 

[Sigmund]

I wish them well but I wont be helping them much.
For that price I can find a lot of handmade pipes by artisans.
Aside from a few new ones, I bought most of my Kai Neilsen pipes under 200 bucks, some well under that price.

I cant see tossing 365 euros at a sandblasted model 320.

Nope

 

[Mike N]

When I visited the flagship Savinelli store in Milan last summer I was shocked at how sparsely the shelves were stocked. But I did pick up two Christmas pipes much cheaper than they were priced in the states.

That said, Savinelli has dramatically increased the variety of pipe lines offered, so I doubt it is a briar problem. I agree with the posts above that dating and numbering the Punto Oro line is an attempt on making its peer group Ser Jacopo, Cavicchi and lower grade Castellos.

I am still waiting for one of the Italian shops to come out with a line of hand cut vulcanite stems to compete with the top artisans, almost none of which use acrylic.

 

[Waning Embers]

I am still waiting for one of the Italian shops to come out with a line of hand cut vulcanite stems to compete with the top artisans, almost none of which use acrylic.

Most will upon request. They tend to work with ebonite for its ease of use.

 

[Mike N]

Most will upon request. They tend to work with ebonite for its ease of use.

I have dealt with dozens of artisan pipe makers. I doubt someone like Jeff Gracik or Nate King uses ebonite/vulcanite over acrylic because it is “easier to work with.“ They use hand cut ebonite because it has a better mouthfeel and they assume pipe smokers who invest that kind of money do not mind taking care of their pipes.

 

[Sigmund]

It does feel better. I’ve gotten used to acrylic but if I could actually make a choice it would be for good quality ebonite.

 

[Waning Embers]

I have dealt with dozens of artisan pipe makers. I doubt someone like Jeff Gracik or Nate King uses ebonite/vulcanite over acrylic because it is “easier to work with.“

As have I, and they do. Acrylic tends to be brittle and slight overheating can cause bubbles to form in the material when carving or bending.

They use hand cut ebonite because it has a better mouthfeel and they assume pipe smokers who invest that kind of money do not mind taking care of their pipes.

The type of ebonite used by most artisans tends to be the German high quality variety. Rarely needs maintenance due to an extremely low sulphur content. Pipes that I had for a few decades didn't oxidize. Some have even turned to juma for better mouth feel than ebonite.

 

[Waning Embers]

It does feel better. I’ve gotten used to acrylic but if I could actually make a choice it would be for good quality ebonite.

Look up juma stems. You may find them more pleasing.