Support Your Local Pipe Shop

[mso489]

I finally made it back to my local independent pipe shop, where I bought several of my first pipes (but not the very first). It was the end of the day, toward closing time, and the owner was doing a hurry up on an mail order sale. I browsed the pipes, and then the tobacco, tinned and bulk. I wanted to buy something and finally was drawn to a tin of GLP Haddo's Delight, a full-strength blend. Online this goes for $10.41 plus shipping, usually with a few other items. At the shop, it was marked $16, and with overhead and local taxes added, it was $17 and change. I want to support the local shop. It's partly support, and as I told my wife, partly membership. I also found a basket full of unfinished Sav's in various shapes including the 404 zulu, just like one of my early pipes I still have, for $60. I didn't buy it. Hmmm.

 

[dcrguns]

I support my local B&M when I can. Great people and his pipes are hand made. We will be having his two year anniversary pipe night next Tuesday. Grilled hamburgers and free giveaways await his best customers.

 

[jefff]

My local is Iwan Reis. The price on the tin is about the same as P&C or SPC. The taxes add a significant amount.
But I still buy 2 or 3 tins a month. It's not much but I like to think it helps.

 

[davet]

My nearest has Sail Regular and only Sail regular for over $30. A recent hike in taxes and the banning of all "flavoured" tobacco ensures that my money will go elsewhere. I have given up on this province.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

I got to meet and hang out with Michael Novak the other day, and I purchased a new Regina Scarlotta. There's always interesting pipemakers dropping in at The Briary, sometimes unexpectedly. I still buy all of my cellar stock from online, but what I smoke day to day I buy at The Briary, and I buy my nicest pipes through him. I will even send him out to look for specific pipes for me. I am still spending almost $300 a month with online vendors, but I don't mind buying a tin at a few dollars more, or paying a little extra for my pipes to have a place as awesome as The Briary near me. After dropping in on many of these so called pipe-shops as I have traveled, I realized that not everywhere is as lucky as us. Actually, I have yet to find another pipe shop that carries as many artisan made pipes, high end pipes, a wall of tins, and a room full of bulk, like The Briary does.
It's the type of place, where no one is a stranger, and you can meet some of the most prestigious and interesting people. Just spending one evening or even an afternoon hanging out and smoking, you are bound to learn something or be graced with the presence of someone interesting. The extra few bucks I spend a week to have a tin without having to wait on the mail is damn well worth it to keep the power on there, IMO.

 

[papipeguy]

99% of my purchases are at the B&M. A box of Camacho cigars every week and my tins of pipe tobacco. Lately my new pipes have been commissions so those have been online. I usually pick up several pies at the B&M when they have their yearly pipe show.

Service and immediate gratification along with a fine group of people is worth the few extra bucks as far as I'm concerned.

 

[mso489]

Yes, I consider my local independent pipe shop a heritage site. When the owner retires, I don't see a successor.

 

[zitotczito]

I really wish I had a B&M less than one hour plus away and they are really cigars shops with little pipe tobacco.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Now that you are all retired zito, you should move down here in Dixie and spend your days setting around a real pipe shop, smoking, and holding court with the guys.

 

[orobusto]

I do my best to stop in at the local shops (mostly for cigars). New York taxes push a tin of Escudo to $20. That's a tough nut to crack.

 

[foolwiththefez]

I wish I had a local tobacconist. All the local shops are headshops with walk-in humidors. Their pipe and pipe tobacco selections are sad to non-existent. If I lived closer, I'd visit tobaccopipes.com's B&M but 2 hours is a bit of drive on weekdays and they're not open on weekends.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

A tobacconist not open on Saturday? That's ridiculous! It must cater to retirees.

 

[perdurabo]

No C&D or Pease at local shop, but plenty of Royal Yacht, Escudo, and NightCrap. Have to tell him to order some more of those mentioned. Pick one up every now and again.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

There are NO B&M's in my area of the world that would even entertain the idea of carrying C&D or GLP. They are owned by their competitors Laudsi/SmokingPipes. They have the wholesale price set to rip off the B&Ms. Everyone at one particular B&M all spit on the ground when either of these are mentioned.

 

[jefff]

That's interesting Ries carry a EVERYTHING. I can't think of a single manufacturer they don't have.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

You're lucky to be close to them. I wish The Briary carried GLP and C&D. I have ordered all of mine from smokingpipes, but don't tell Skip, shhhh! Ha ha!

I would buy more if they carried it, and its mostly a shame because we meet lots of blenders and tobacco folks through there. And, the one blender that I would like to meet most is Greg Pease.

 

[jpmcwjr]

That's interesting Ries carry a EVERYTHING. I can't think of a single manufacturer they don't have.

As of a week ago, they hadn't started carrying The John Cotton lines. (Std. Tobacco of PA). Nor did they have Margate or Penzance in stock.

 

[jefff]

I don't know about John Cotton, but they have all the Esoterica blends......when available.

 

[mso489]

My tobacco shop owner is always doing something surprising, like selling Granger out of a tub by the ounce. When I was there recently, I was kind of astonished to find a an 8 ounce (I think it was) foil package wrapped in cellophane of Iwan Ries Three Star Blue, the classic aromatic. I've never seen it offered anywhere except at their website. If my pipe guy goes under, the pipe world is going into a dark age. He's just a one of a kind guy. The pipe shaman.

 

[jpmcwjr]

I couldn't agree more in the notion of supporting our local B+M's. I also like to visit "foreign" stores as I did in Chicago where I got my first pipe eons ago, @ Iwan Ries. I have two locals now, one in Sacramento, the other in Oakland.