The Five Pound Price Break

[newbroom]

I've noticed that the more you buy the less you pay. I noticed that 'a few' years ago, but, in relation to tobacco, I'd never really thought about that much product.

After having been smoking a pipe for almost a year, I've reconsidered the situation and I think I will try to pick up one or two 5lb. lots.

I like most tobacco genres, but I doubt I'd buy 5 lbs. of an aromatic. I'm looking at PS LNF as a likely candidate as well as some blends with Latakia.

I'm very 'cost conscious' or maybe 'cheap', but I'd spring for a more costly blend if I thought it would be commensurately enjoyable.

Who's got recommendations?

 

[nachman]

I have bought large amounts, and invariably, half way through, I get tired of it and some of it still sits in jars years later. I still have a couple of pounds of a few. The only tobacco I smoke all the time is Royal Yacht, and it doesn't come in bulk. I wouldn't buy more than a pound at a time.

 

[newbroom]

You may have a commonly shared experience right there that might deter my decision. I can see where one becomes inured to one blend, but then I think of a blend like Nightcap and IT'S available in bulk.

I don't care if I DO get tired of it. I'm pretty sure I'd find my way back to it at some point.

Too much of any good thing does reduce its value, I understand.

 

[mcitinner1]

@ newbroom, Last year the best deal that happened all year long was at Christmas when P&C had 25% off orders over $250. In my order at the time, I had a good bit that was already on a separate sale price and still got another 25% at checkout. Life is good.

 

[newbroom]

mctinner1, I guess I just wasn't thinking 'big' enough @ Christmas time.

As this is my first full year of smoking the pipe, I'm learning how to get the most out of my smoking budget. :rofl: I guess by budget I mean, whenever I can overcome the guilt I feel enough to 'pull the trigger' on some TAD.

 

[leacha]

Take the summer to and find your goto blend. If you already have it or once you find it, smoke it, smoke it and smoke it some more. See if you get tired of it or feel if its not the same. If you still love it from the get go get your 5lbs around the holidays or when a sale is on. You will maxamize your savings.
Oh and do not forget the jars.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

I buy McClelland's Red Cake, C&D Star of the East, Orion's Arrow, Marlin Flake, and Nightcap in five pound increments, and I try to keep 20 lbs of each on hand. I just wish that I could get GLP blends in bulk. Maybe if we keep pestering him, he will release a five pound can (barrel) of each, ha ha.

 

[newbroom]

Good advice right there leacha! Specially the waiting part till the sales come back.

Yeah, but, I may not live that long.

Part of what keeps me puffing is the incredible array of blends to try, so buying large quantities of one seems counter intuitive.

I think I've witnessed one or two of these superhype group think cellar buys within the writings of these forums with one or two blends.

I've also experienced 'fatigue' with a blend I was excited about initially.

I think we taste more effectively by smoking a variety of blends with which to contrast.

I have had some luck with mixing some of my blends and thus making some new flavor for myself. I think that 5lbs of a quality blend that readily lends itself to other tobaccos, would be nice to have on hand.

It should be something that I enjoy all by itself, of course, but, jeeze! $ 1.46 /.oz? How much money do I need?

(Here I refer to PS LNF)

 

[cosmicfolklore]

LNF and LTF, I just buy in bricks, which are a pound and a half. I then alternate the flakes in stacks that I jar up, but I burn through those pretty fast, as it is my goto in my day at the workbench. I just remove a handful of the alternated stack and put them in my pipebag for the day. This way they'll dry out throughout the day to my desired lack of moisture.

 

[briarhillgeoff]

I buy bulk when I can. Even with Smoking Pipes 25% of Dunhill Tins - buying Bulk of EMP, MM965 and Nightcap is still cheaper in bulk.

 

[leacha]

@newbroom
On the subject of fatique. Exactly, you almost need to keep other blends around to avoid fatigue. What I find that'll enhance my pleasure is to keep different styles around. So lets say I'm smoking my beloved McC 2015 or other VaPers for a few weeks. I'll stop and move on to Burley's or Latakia Blends. At some point I'll go back to VaPers. By doing that I avoid fatigue and each switch just makes the nuances stand out. I never combine multiple styles (VaPer, Latakia, etc.) I do not have the refined palate for that.

 

[okiescout]

If you buy a popular tobacco ( as discussed on the forums ) and cellar it well, I cannot imagine you would have trouble trading some aged baccy if you grew tired of smoking it.

A statement like I have x number of 2,4,6,8 once containers of "your choice tobacco" that has been aged for 2 years in mylar bags for trade or sale - should draw plenty of fire. My thoughts anyway.

In reality none of us know how long we will be around. If your ticket gets punched, you will just leave some happy camper a good smoke. ::

 

[puffy]

I have one tobacco that I smoke a lot of.I rotate other blends in and out for variety.Lane HGL is that one tobacco.I buy it in 5 pound bags because I smoke so much of it.It's cheaper that way,and I get free shiping as well.

 

[buroak]

mctinner1, I guess I just wasn't thinking 'big' enough @ Christmas time.

newbroom, There will be equally good deals in 2015. As leacha says, find what you like during the summer and lay in wait for the next big sale.

 

[newbroom]

That's what I want to read more of, . Which guys buy which tobaccos in 5lb increments. I might find something I hadn't considered. I mean...I know that I would be very happy with 6 tubs of CH on hand, but the price break isn't there and that's really why I started thinking along these lines.

Are there some tobaccos, for instance, that only come in 'family' size?

 

[gloucesterman]

I smoke GLP Abingdon as a daily smoke. I like it right out of the can and you can't get it in bulk (maybe if enough of us keep asking GLP might relent). I do cellar some 2 oz. tins of alternatives, mostly flakes which I like in the evening. My monthly order usually is big enough to qualify for the "free shipping" perk but I'm not sure 5 lbs. is something that would work for me.

 

[brass]

Peter Stokebye blends excellent tobacco at any price and the pricing is just as good. Aromatics don't age that well, so just as well you give them a pass. Those tobaccos with high Virginian content will ripen best, at least that is the common wisdom.
I personally am still in the exploration stage and 5 pounds is a big commitment. Maybe SG LNF or Quiet Nights or Stonehaven or Penzance.
You'll always be able to sell or trade as they age, if stored properly, as okiescout observed. I'd say go for it. You can't tell when the (insert your favorite adjective) will tax it to death.
Pax

 

[frozenchurchwarden]

Cosmic, I find it specifically interesting that you stock Orion's Arrow, I tried a sample of that last year and though it did't have any specific high points I found a destinctive lack of negatives. Given the components though I feel like it should have had more flavour, that the blend has potential to be amazing (by my standards) and not just great.
To go along with the main topic, I'm mostly wondering how much variety you find, both within a large bulk source itself and how it compares to a small sample or tin.

 

[woodsroad]

Newbroom, WTF is a "budget"? You need to get your priorities straight, man!

Doesn't he look happy? No mortgage, no car payments, no wife, no kids, just a man and his pipe...​

I'll bet he picked up on the 25% off sale.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

I was a big fan of Sunday Picnic by them, but they didn't have a bulk, and this was the closest they had to that blend. Fresh, it is a little lackluster, but after a year it brightens up and the Turkish Ishmir starts to play nice with the Virginias. But yeh, C&D are not noted for their Virginias. They are mostly a burley kind of blender. But, this one has a cashew like spiciness in the Virginia that I like, ...which is probably a hidden burley, ha ha!!