What is the advantage of…

[Uncle Ricky]

Been thinking about this for a while and finally remembered to ask it .
What is the advantage of paying the cost of a Tin vs getting some bulk. I am sure we have seen some high priced tins out there. You then find something equivalent in bulk at a local shop for a lot lower cost.
So with that, is there an advantage of paying a few more dollars for that tin.

Tnks
Rick

 

[Peter Turbo]

Your just paying for the cost of the tin really, for storage. Other then that theres no real advantage. Bulk pricing is more an advantage then getting the same thing in the tin.

 

[AJL67]

I buy what i can in bulk and if it doesn't come in bulk i buy the tins.

Who knows what people do, only the Shadow knows!

 

[FLDRD]

There's something fun to me about opening a new tin of something, even if I've tasted it before. If you suspect you might trade or sell anything in the future it's seen as more reliably authentic when still in an unopened and factory labeled tin.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

With a tin, you know that the tobacco (or at least you can be relatively sure) that the tobacco was packed fresh and has been aging since the day it was sealed. There is a little risk with bulk. How was the tobacco stored by the retailer? Was it stored next to the shop cat's catbox? Is it 4 years old and dry crumbs?

Plus, some blends are not sold as bulk, so...

With all of that, I do buy a lot of bulk and jar them. But, I also buy a lot of tins, mainly because these are aren't offered in bulk.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

I would NEVER buy a jar of something from someone else. NEVER. I cannot trust you ugly mugs to never open a jar once it is sealed. I cannot verify how it was stored, and... plus most dimwits will remove the tobacco from the jar and send it to you in a baggie. Nope, no thanks.

 

[SBC]

Back when I was trying to discover what I liked, I might buy a tin of something otherwise available in bulk. But now that I've settled in, there's no need for that. For instance, HH Pure VA is $7.90 per oz. if bought by the tin, but $4.28 per oz. if bought by the pound. That's a $58 savings per pound (!).

 

[Elric]

How was the tobacco stored by the retailer? Was it stored next to the shop cat's catbox? Is it 4 years old and dry crumbs?

Best Brown Cat Crumble. One of my faves but it ghosts terribly!

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Best Brown Cat Crumble. One of my faves but it ghosts terribly!

Oh, you and those Lakelands.

 

[mso489]

I've nearly always bought bulk when it is available and jarred it, for the savings, although tins are handy for aging, and are compact for storing.

I find I am more apt to smoke jarred tobacco sooner, so some good blends in tins sit unopened for years. I buy more than I smoke, though just a modest amount at a time.

I've never bought more than two tins at a time, and in my case rightly so.

 

[AcesAndEights]

I would NEVER buy a jar of something from someone else. NEVER. I cannot trust you ugly mugs to never open a jar once it is sealed. I cannot verify how it was stored, and... plus most dimwits will remove the tobacco from the jar and send it to you in a baggie. Nope, no thanks.

This was gonna be my answer, just worded more nicely.

 

[Chasing Embers]

So with that, is there an advantage of paying a few more dollars for that tin.

Some blends aren't available in bulk.

 

[Doctor Chopper]

Tins are pretty. I like pretty things. I picked my wife for the same reason.

 

[WhiteCrown]

With a tin, you know that the tobacco (or at least you can be relatively sure) that the tobacco was packed fresh and has been aging since the day it was sealed. There is a little risk with bulk. How was the tobacco stored by the retailer? Was it stored next to the shop cat's catbox? Is it 4 years old and dry crumbs?

Plus, some blends are not sold as bulk, so...

With all of that, I do buy a lot of bulk and jar them. But, I also buy a lot of tins, mainly because these are aren't offered in bulk.

This. I've bought bulk that was definitely dry crumbs. Cracking a sealed tin pretty much always ensures a good smoke. That being said, I buy the bulk of my tobacco in bulk rather than tins... it's in the name haha, but also for reasons others have mentioned.

 

[Wet Dottle]

I have always found the tinned version of a blend to taste better than that from a bulk bag. For me, it has always been worth paying the premium price for the tin. Everything in my cellar is tinned. Never cellared a bulk blend, not even those that I like very much. Well, there's one exception I can think of: I have a few of Peretti's paint cans with Sommerset Flake.

 

[sablebrush52]

Been thinking about this for a while and finally remembered to ask it .
What is the advantage of paying the cost of a Tin vs getting some bulk. I am sure we have seen some high priced tins out there. You then find something equivalent in bulk at a local shop for a lot lower cost.
So with that, is there an advantage of paying a few more dollars for that tin.

Tnks
Rick

Where the same blends are available in both tins and bulk there is no advantage. A lot of smokers pay a mind game on themselves, imaging that hte tinned version must be different than the bulk version. They never stop to consider in what universe it makes financial sense to a manufacturer to run two versions of the same blend.
But a lot of blends are not available in bulk, only in tins, and if you like that particular blend and want that exact blend, there's no choice. BTW, many blends are available in larger sized tins, so you can save some money by buying the 8 or 16 oz tin, rather than the 2 oz tin.

 

[mortonbriar]

The price difference is also really only relevant if you are smoking a lot. A bunch of forum members smoke once a week, I doubt the cost savings of 2oz bulk vs 1 tin spread over 6 months would really matter.

 

[Sobrbiker]

I’m still figuring out what I like, so I’ll buy anything if the price is right. Cooler weather, I will smoke 4-8 bowls a day so I do buy second hand or bulk, or tins if priced right.
Even though I like the hobby aspect of the pipes, it’s still a nicotine delivery device and when I indulge in addictive behaviors I tend to stick with what I know like. Pipes afford me predictable variety, so I can mix it mix it up since a pipe is not my primary, but an adjunctive nicotine delivery. I’m sure as my tastes develop further I’ll broaden my collection, but for now the economy of bulks and jars is appealing.
As to the “used” tobacco market, I feel there’s a benefit to jumping in and becoming involved in the forum to get to know members, and have yet to have received trash when I have bought or otherwise received blends, even if they were cellared, mylared, or shipped in ziplocks.
When I do get crap, I’ll write it off as a lesson learned and steer clear of those I find to be more interested in making a buck at the expense of their own integrity/karma.

 

[Zamora]

I buy what i can in bulk and if it doesn't come in bulk i buy the tins.

Who knows what people do, only the Shadow knows!

That's the best approach, so many blends have a tin AND bulk option.