What Did a Tin of Tobacco Cost 10 and 20 Years Ago?

[jmatt]

Today one can buy a 50 gram or 2 ounce tin of tobacco from a typical online store for about $10 give or take. Sometimes slightly less, sometimes a bit more. But comparing the same brand across time, what was that price a decade ago? Two decades? I'm using typical prices in the U.S. I realize some states and many countries prices will be vastly different because of taxation issues.

 

[deathmetal]

Might be useful to compare the prices to today's value:

http://www.usinflationcalculator.com/

 

[ericusrex]

About 15 years ago Pease blends were $8-9 in B&Ms. I don't remember any 2 Oz tin being over $11. So current online pricing is not too different from retail 15 years ago with just a few exceptions (damn you Mac Baren!)

 

[cigrmaster]

Back in 2002, I was buying Dunhill tins for 5.00. Most other tins were pretty close to that. I don't remember GL Pease tins going for that much more than a Dunhill, and Penzance was probably around 6 bucks or so. I bought plenty of Escudo tins in 2012-2013 for 8.83 a tin. Back in 2001 and 2002 I think I was paying about 5 and change. JR Cigar had some of the best tin prices around and I bought a lot from them. Tin prices have not gone up that much when you think about it.

 

[orobusto]

In New York, two oz tins were about $9 ten years ago and now are about $18. I don't know how the B&M shops can stay open here. They lose business due to high taxes and license fees are incredibly high here for all types of business.

 

[mrbaho]

A 100 gram tin of St Bruno was $11.20. This would have been in the late 1990's.

 

[JimInks]

Here's what I remember, going back to the 1970s:
Drugstores and grocery stores the summer of 1974 when I started smoking: pouches of ERR was 25 cents, SWR was 25 cents, SWRA was 30 cents, Revelation was 30 cents, Madeira Gold was 24 cents, all Borkum Riff products were 30 cents, Mixture #79 was 40 cents, Rum and Maple was 35 cents, Middleton Apple and Cherry were 25 cents each, Amphora Red and Brown were 30 cents each, Carter Hall was 30 cents, Prince Albert was 25 cents, Skandinavik Regular and Aromatic were 35 cents a pack, Sail Green and Yellow were 32 cents a pouch, Granger was 22 cents, Flying Dutchman was 35 cents, Paladin was 28 cents, Sugar Barrel was 28 cents, Half & Half was 24 cents, Captain Black White was 35 cents.
In 1975, I remember seeing a brand called Acapulco Gold. It was 35 cents, but I did not buy it. I saw it in a grocery store, and it wasn't sold there for long. I remember wondering about it, considering the name was used for an illegal substance. Does anybody else remember this tobacco?
1978: Middleton Cherry was 35 cents, Middleton Apple was 40 cents, Carter Hall was 35 cents, SWR was 35 cents, SWRA was 40 cents, 50 cents each for Skandinavik Regular and Aromatic, 60 cents for Amphora Brown and Amphora Red, Mixture #79 was 75 cents, Captain Black White was 70 cents. Borkum Riff products were 65 cents a pouch. I also noticed that the number of blends had decreased by this time at the stores.
1982 at my local Tinderbox for 50 gram tins: Three Nuns was $4, all Balkan Sobranie products were $4.50 each, Dunhill products were $4.00 each. MacBaren tins were $3.50.
1995 when I started smoking SWRA: $12 a tub. SWR was $9.95, Captain Black White was $18.95. Three Nuns in 50 gram tins was $5.00, $8.50 for 100 gram tins when you could find it. Balkan Sobranie White was $5.25 for 50 grams, $15.75 for 200 grams.
2001 in Switzerland: Three Nuns 50 gram tins was $6.45 each, Dunhill Navy Rolls was $7.50, Balkan Sobranie White was $6.50.
At my local pipe shop: Esoterica bags in 2003 were $24 each. Tins were $7.00 each. Other places sold them a little cheaper, $22 for a bag and $6 for a tin. All Dunhill tins were $5.00. GLP tins were $9.00. Astley’s tins were $5. Escudo was $5.00. Oarlock Dark Kentucky was $9.00 for a 100 grams. Reiner Long Golden Flake was $10. Peter Heinrichs was $22 -$25 per 200 gram tin. MacBaren tins were $6-$8. McClelland tins were $9.00. SWR tub was $12.95. SWRA tub was $15.95. Captain Black was $21.95. Solani tins were $5.95 per 50 gram tin. F&T tins were $5.95. Rose of Latakia was $5.95. Rattray’s tins were $9.00. Wessex 50 gram tins were $5.95. Orlik Golden Sliced was $4.00 per 50 gram tin.

 

[edgreen]

I might be thinking of something else but I don't remember "Acapulco Gold" going for $0.35. Of course, I don't remember much anyway. :D

 

[papipeguy]

I found a tin of Macbaren Mixture at my parents' home that I left there in 1977. You can see the price on the lid. The tin was sealed and the smoke was incredible after 35 years.

 

[edgreen]

That is gorgeous papipeguy

 

[delkhouri]

I live in Ohio and when I started this hobby for earnest 11 years ago... McClelland Tins at my B&M were $6-$7 a piece. At that same B&M they are now $12-$14. So quite literally doubled in the last 10 years.

 

[mikestanley]

I remember Levin Pipes International Person Reserve 4 oz. tins (Bombay Court, Blackwoods Flake etc.) being offered at a special price of $9.40/tin when you bought, I believe three or four tins. This must have been in 1989 or 1990. I can remember paying $5.75 a 50 gr. tin of Dunhill tobaccos in Ohio. I'm sure there were lower prices but I didn't commit them to memory I'm afraid. FWIW, that $9.40 a tin number seemed awfully high to me. I'm glad I didn't give into my frugal inner self!
Mike S.

 

[deathmetal]

1982 ($4) -> 2016 ($9.83)
Via the "inflation calculator" (sounds like an intestinal gas monitor).

 

[jefff]

One thing to remember is taxes. How many people live in an area that taxes the shit out of tobacco?
I don't think Greg Pease or Mike Mcneil are getting fabulously wealthy on our backs. I just hope they are doing well enough to continue what they are doing.

 

[mso489]

Online, tins of quality blends can still be found for seven or eight dollars, for some but not all blends. That's kind of amazing. But I whisper when I say that.

 

[jefff]

In the mean time, I just ordered 10 more tins each of Dark Star and Red and Black and 5 more tins of Union Square and Red Carpet.
Tobacco will never be cheaper than it is today.

 

[Chasing Embers]

My first tin of Balkan Sobranie back in '91 was around $6, and Carter Hall was around $1.50 for a pouch.

 

[condorlover1]

In 1981 a one oz or it might have been 1/2 oz foil wrapped cube of Condor was 55p with an exchange rate of One Pound = $2.10 so that would have been slightly over a dollar in those days. I don't remember spending that much on pipe tobacco in those days as I purchase my tobacco 'on account' from G Smith & Sons on Charing Cross Road and settled my account every month when I was paid and I don't recall the bills being more than Twenty odd Pounds a month. The One Oz lengths of twist sold by Inderwicks of Carnaby Street were only One Pound Fifty Pence in the mid 1980s so compared to today I would reckon that smoking accounted for about 3% of ones disposable monthly income.

 

[deathmetal]

One thing to remember is taxes.

It's the elephant in the room when discussing social changes since the 1950s or so.

 

[loneredtree]

I know that you asked for 20 years ago BUT in 1963 2oz Dunhill tins were $1.25 in California.