Sunday Afternoon Sticker Shock at the Local B&M in PA

[shermnatman]

Wow! I just returned home from picking up some Bryce Softee-Bits at my local TinderBox here in the suburban Philadelphia-area.
While waiting to be rung-up, out of curiosity, I checked the pricing of some of the same tinned tabaks the store had which I had just this morning ordered from my favorite online retailer; each which cost me roughly around the $10 per tin.
When I turned over a tin of Mac Baren in the store to read the sticker to compare the B&M price, the price was over $20!
I checked some other tins, and it was the same story - sudden significantly increased prices on all tins. Also, the TB Bulks were always $4.00/oz but now they are increased about 25%; which is a shame as these are mostly re-labeled Lane LTD bulks which run about $2.25/oz online. If memory serves - which it rarely does these days - it seemed to me just last month the tinned tabaks at the B&M usually were about +4.00/tin over the online price; and I never minded paying that to support the B&M.
That was the price differential I was used to, but what I saw today literally stunned me.
Normally, I have no issue asking what is the story with a situation - and in this specific case why the sudden spike in pricing; but I was simply too shocked to do so, and I left totally stymied without finding out why.
Anyone else experienced sudden and significantly increased retail tabak prices at their local B&M ? - Sherm Natman

 

[aro222]

I can't really say i'm surprised, up here in Canada the average tin is going for about 30.00 to 32.00. I figured you guys would catch up eventually. Just hoped it wouldn't be so soon.

 

[Chasing Embers]

B&M's are often privately owned and have an overhead to maintain. Bills and all. This was purchased in 2012 from a B&M so nothing new. Back then the same 100g tin at SPC was under $12.

I still frequent the place to help small businesses and but there when I can. The present owner is the son of the guy who have me really good smoking advice when I started decades ago and is a great guy. Plus you can go there to smoke, browse his stock, and BS.

 

[goalee1]

State and city tax increases could account for this. I know in DC, in a matter of about a year, They went from 0 OTP tax to 96% on wholesale. That took a dunhill tin which was in the $11 are to over $27 again all within a year's time.

 

[shermnatman]

Embers - I am totally with that; especially having formerly been an owner in retail myself for years (Not tabak). What I am pointing to is a massive jump that just occurred in the last 30 days or so; after very stable pricing for so long. I am wondering if a State or Federal thing happened I am unaware of which would explain the shocking and sudden increase, which took B&M tins from $14.00 to over $20.00 within the blink of an eye - Sherm Natman

 

[spartacus]

I found a (new to me) cigar store today that had tins of tobacco. The gentleman at the counter said they started carrying pipe tobacco about a year ago. I picked up the last three tins of Dunhill 965 and four tins of Aperitif for $12.95. They still had alot of Standard Mixture left.

 

[Chasing Embers]

What I am pointing to is a massive jump that just occurred in the last 30 days or so; after very stable pricing for so long. I am wondering if a State or Federal thing happened I am unaware of which would explain the shocking and sudden increase, which took B&M tins from $14.00 to over $20.00 within the blink of an eye - Sherm Natman

Gotcha
Mac Baren did something similar a few years back. Their 100g tins doubled in price literally overnight.

 

[haparnold]

On the other hand, a lot of B&Ms don't update their prices on old tins. My favorite local B&M has the usual high prices, but I've gotten some steals on 5+ year old tins that went unnoticed.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

Who knows? Could be they haven't adjusted prices for awhile and finally got around to it. Perhaps they had a rent increase. Perhaps another B&M in the general area went under and the Tinder Box owner figures he can get a higher price.
Online shops have to maintain similar pricing for obvious reasons. B&M's have a somewhat captive market. They also have no way to compete with the online shops price wise. They aren't selling on price.

 

[dare66]

It's hard to hand over your hard earned money to a B&M when you can get it at a much better price online but the consequences are that if you don't they will go away.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

Unless you visit there often and even smoke there, there may be no consequence to you if one closes down. When I'm in a B&M that provides value added, I make it a point to purchase some items even at a premium.

 

[xingpao]

Goos think you didn't want a soft drink in Philly, too.

 

[bassbug]

up here in Canada the average tin is going for about 30.00 to 32.00

If you can find me Mac Baren Vanilla Cream or Golden Extra 100gram tins up here for $30 rather than the $12USD plus shipping I pay now, I'll stop ordering online. The two places I found locally that sell them are asking between $65 and $70 per tin.

 

[seanv]

Around $50 a tin here in Canada. Three nuns is $56 a tin lol

 

[JimInks]

Tinderbox stores have always had higher prices than independently owned B&Ms. It's no surprise to me.

 

[shermnatman]

JimInks - True Jim; but I was shocked to see prices on tins double, seemingly over-night. I was not prepared for that. - Sherm Natman

 

[Chasing Embers]

You'll see the phrase, "Tobacco will never be any cheaper" many times on here. Cellaring is my way to have tobacco when I can no longer afford it. If not for occasional sales I could not justify the expense now. Prices can change at the drop of a hat.

 

[shermnatman]

Embers - Somehow I am recalling the history of Iran's Tobacco Rebellion of the early 1890s; against the British tobacco monopoly and (over)control. - Sherm Natman

 

[mikefu]

My local B&M has really inconsistent pricing. Some things, like Esoterica, C&D, and Peterson are very competitively priced. Then others, like Mac Baren, are way expensive, like $36 for a 3.5oz can of Dark Twist. My favorite is a Pouch of St. Bruno ready rubbed for $26.50! I shop there often to support local business, but I find myself actually laughing out loud about some of the prices, as we live in a low tobacco tax state.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Embers - Somehow I am recalling the history of Iran's Tobacco Rebellion of the early 1890s; against the British tobacco monopoly and (over)control. - Sherm Natman

"The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun."
-Ecclesiastes 1:9