The Tobacco Purge — Why?

[Jeremiah Johnson]

So smoking pipes.com is having a sale: 20% off all C&D tins. When I last checked, all the vendors seem to be out of ALL regular Old Joe Krantz, tins and bulk. What’s happening here? What are the vendors (and C&D) doing here? Why do they all let the supply run out completely, instead of keeping it in stock? And why the sale at smokingpipes? It seems like it wouldn’t have taken long to sell out at regular prices? What’s the reason for clearing the shelves? I’m just curious if there’s a reason for this. And I do wish I’d noticed the sale a bit sooner!

 

[warren]

If I had your curiosity I'd ask C&D and/or a vendor or two directly. My best guess is only so much of a blend is made and then they turn to another. But, it's only a guess.

 

[Jbrewer2002]

O

So smoking pipes.com is having a sale: 20% off all C&D tins. When I last checked, all the vendors seem to be out of ALL regular Old Joe Krantz, tins and bulk. What’s happening here? What are the vendors (and C&D) doing here? Why do they all let the supply run out completely, instead of keeping it in stock? And why the sale at smokingpipes? It seems like it wouldn’t have taken long to sell out at regular prices? What’s the reason for clearing the shelves? I’m just curious if there’s a reason for this. And I do wish I’d noticed the sale a bit sooner!

OJK has been out for a while. Most people appreciate a good sale and they run them a few times a year. Deep breaths it’s not the end of the world. I’m sure OJK will be back when they make another batch. They don’t have endless supplies of the proper tobaccos available at all times to make some of the blends.

 

[Lumbridge]

Sometimes demand just outstrips supply. Based on what I've read, sometimes the supply of certain types and grades of tobacco can be limited, and it takes blenders a while to restock the components for a blend.
People see a blend they've been waiting for a restock on for months and they jump on it and order maybe five, ten pounds because they (often correctly) predict it will be out of stock again for a long time, ironically due to this very behavior of panicked overbuying. Multiply that by many other buyers, and you have a shortage.

As for the % off sales, it's simply to get you in the door. You see that and think "Oh cool, now I can get the C&D tins I wanted because they're 20% off. I might as well pick up some other stuff I wanted, too. I might as well grab a few more things to get that free shipping. Ah, what the hell, I'll just go ahead and grab a pound of Bob's Chocolate Flake while it's in stock. I really want that pipe - I should probably grab it before someone else does..." et cetera, et cetera. Same as any other retail business. It's basic consumer psychology.

 

[ThermionicScott]

Yep, I wonder if Perique has been in short supply again. Haunted Bookshop was also of stock for a while, and SP is out of bulk blending Perique, too. GH&Co had to pause making a few blends with Perique recently, as well.

 

[fireground_piper]

They always cycle brand deals. I just stocked more up on English chocolate the other week during a 20% of two friends sale. If I hadn’t just done that, I’d be stocking up more on Blockade Runner right now!

 

[Piping Abe]

OJK and Haunted Bookshop have a huge following thanks to social media and youtube. That causes the constant selling out.

Not saying they arent great blends, they are. But they are always praised everywhere you look in pipedom

 

[Simmerdown☕️]

Haunted Bookshop & Pegasus tastes like & I encourage all of you to avoid buying any of that horrid . Don’t subject yourself to its acrid and dank flavor. ️

 

[Auxsender]

So smoking pipes.com is having a sale: 20% off all C&D tins. When I last checked, all the vendors seem to be out of ALL regular Old Joe Krantz, tins and bulk. What’s happening here? What are the vendors (and C&D) doing here? Why do they all let the supply run out completely, instead of keeping it in stock? And why the sale at smokingpipes? It seems like it wouldn’t have taken long to sell out at regular prices? What’s the reason for clearing the shelves? I’m just curious if there’s a reason for this. And I do wish I’d noticed the sale a bit sooner!

Profit

 

[Servant King]

As for the % off sales, it's simply to get you in the door. You see that and think "Oh cool, now I can get the C&D tins I wanted because they're 20% off. I might as well pick up some other stuff I wanted, too. I might as well grab a few more things to get that free shipping. Ah, what the hell, I'll just go ahead and grab a pound of Bob's Chocolate Flake while it's in stock. I really want that pipe - I should probably grab it before someone else does..." et cetera, et cetera. Same as any other retail business. It's basic consumer psychology.

Who knew playing the victim card could take so much of the sting out of TAD?

 

[Lumbridge]

OJK and Haunted Bookshop have a huge following thanks to social media and youtube. That causes the constant selling out.

Not saying they arent great blends, they are. But they are always praised everywhere you look in pipedom

A lot of people who don't understand slow smoking complain about Haunted Bookshop tasting like cigarettes or ash.
Yeah, Haunted Bookshop is so nasty. So very gross and disgusting and overrated. Definitely don't buy any, because you won't like it... because it's nasty. Ew. I'll just take one for the team and smoke it all just so that no one else has to endure that kind of torment.

 

[Lumbridge]

View attachment 304372

Who knew playing the victim card could take so much of the sting out of TAD?

Oh, I like my sales and deals alright. Not a victim here. I just think that understanding pricing strategy helps one to be a smarter consumer.

 

[Servant King]

Not a victim here.

I am.

But yes, you're right. It does help to have some sense of awareness of the tactics used to reel consumers in. Awareness notwithstanding, I'm a sucker for free shipping any way you slice it!

 

[woodsroad]

You should listen to Warren.
Nobody here knows any more than you do.

 

[brian64]

I do know one thing...I'm glad I got a shitload of OJK over the last few years.

And I always got free shipping!

 

[captpat]

Maybe they know something we don't, i.e., the sale of tobacco will soon be banned, so they're taking their profits before it's illegal. OTOH maybe Warren has it right.

 

[woodsroad]

I’m gonna go consult the Ouija Board.
Be right back.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

The answer is... they are trying to sell it all to piss you off. They don't like you, and the chipmunks will rule the world.

 

[Jeremiah Johnson]

I do know one thing...I'm glad I got a shitload of OJK over the last few years.

And I always got free shipping!

I smoke almost only OJK, but I’ve never seriously stocked up because I can never decide if it’s better to go with bulk or tins. Bulk is a good deal, but sometimes I’ll get a pound-bag that’s got way too much tobacco powder in the bag. I was going to get a bunch of 2 oz tins but I hesitated and missed out.

 

[Jeremiah Johnson]

Sometimes demand just outstrips supply. Based on what I've read, sometimes the supply of certain types and grades of tobacco can be limited, and it takes blenders a while to restock the components for a blend.
People see a blend they've been waiting for a restock on for months and they jump on it and order maybe five, ten pounds because they (often correctly) predict it will be out of stock again for a long time, ironically due to this very behavior of panicked overbuying. Multiply that by many other buyers, and you have a shortage.

As for the % off sales, it's simply to get you in the door. You see that and think "Oh cool, now I can get the C&D tins I wanted because they're 20% off. I might as well pick up some other stuff I wanted, too. I might as well grab a few more things to get that free shipping. Ah, what the hell, I'll just go ahead and grab a pound of Bob's Chocolate Flake while it's in stock. I really want that pipe - I should probably grab it before someone else does..." et cetera, et cetera. Same as any other retail business. It's basic consumer psychology.

This reply is the winner!

I guess I assumed since C&D was such a big player that they never did run out of the required leaf and manpower, but I suppose they might. And of course OJK is a popular blend. I’d think, though, that they could pause some of the less popular blends instead of letting the world run out of OJK, but maybe not. They just have SO MANY blends.