What Price Range Do You Stay Within When Buying Tobacco?

[AroEnglish]

I’m sure many guys here just buy what they like and don't worry too much about costs. Others of us who are have tighter budgets, are more frugal, etc. take into account the cost.

For those of us in the latter camp, what's the range that you find yourself buying tobacco from?

I find I’m primarily in the $35/lb. to $45/lb. range but have gone up to $50/lb. on some tobaccos. I haven't yet bought blends from the popular B&Ms (WCC, Country Squire, Wilke, etc.) but would make an exception for those even though they’re in the $70/lb. rage.

 

[mso489]

I don't buy much tobacco by the pound, so I'll cite prices for smaller quantities. I go high sometimes if I'm enchanted with a blends, but generally:

One pouch, about $8 tops; one tin about $12 tops although this is going up; and a 7 oz. tin $28.

I've paid more or less for various blends, but only go high when I have a real motivating reason. Some of jiminks' reviews are compelling.

 

[Pooh-Bah]

Most I've ever paid per-ounce was $28 for a tin of Brown Sugar Flake.
Nice, but probably never happening again. $5-8 for a pouch, $10-15 for a tin.
Big ol' cans... Eh, I'm a cheapskate. $20 for several ounces, give or take.

 

[warren]

I only smoke blends I enjoy. So, I must pay what the retailer asks. I simply have no choice unless I turn to blends I don't enjoy simply to save a buck here and there. I'm not willing to sacrifice my enjoyment in smoking simply to save moneys. I'd start smoking less or, quit entirely, if I couldn't afford what few blends I enjoy daily in my wee vice.

I should add, if I lived where tobacco taxes were inordinate (a subjective amount to be sure). I'd quit smoking. I totally resent paying more taxes than mandated. It this stage in my life I can afford to be a bit resentful though.

I currently pay fifty bucks a pound for my favorite blend.

 

[warren99]

I too have my favorites, and pay whatever the market bears. I do, however, try to buy in bulk whenever I can, rather than having to pay the higher price for tins.

 

[The Amish Tyrant]

Generally limited to $5 per ounce with some exceptions (WCC and Gawith fall in this category). Primarily bulk, with an occasional tin.

Like with groceries, sales and researching multiple vendors are essential. For example, P&C has a 20% sale right now.

 

[bullet08]

I went down on quantity. Come to think of it, I haven't bought anything since I noticed price increase. I rarely smoke pipe recently, and noticed my tobacco isn't going away. Instead of buying five - six tins, I just get couple the last time.

 

[burleybreath]

I don't smoke enough for price to be a consideration. Two, maybe three bowls a day, who cares? My concern is how much the mob is going to charge after tobacco is outlawed, and what to do if or when my trusted supplier gets gunned down or ratted out by competitors. And then there's the resulting quality problem.

But perish the thought. I'd say just stick to prices you're comfortable with. In my own case, if necessary, I could be quite happy just smoking OTCs out of a tub. Save the upscale Virginias and Balkans for a special treat.

Wait a minute...I do that anyhow. [disclaimer: YMMV].

 

[Zamora]

$45 since I live in Washington, that's how much Plum Pudding costs, Capstan and Bengal Slices as well. It's infuriating knowing they'd be half the price in a more reasonable state, but I find comfort in knowing a single tin is the same price as two to four cigars but gets you almost as many smoking sessions as a full box; and I have no intention of stopping my cigar purchases. Plus I don't smoke nearly often enough for it to be a drain on my finances, so I unless I drastically increase my intake a visit to the Cargo Hold once or twice a year will be sufficient especially if supplemented with bulks from my local cigar shop

 

[JOHN72]

I have been able to keep enough pipe tobacco for a few years. So I have slowed down the "massive" purchase of tobacco. Since it has gone up in a vertiginous way. At the moment I am buying packs of cigars. But my economy can not support this disgusting price increase in my country.

 

[MattRVA]

I’m always on the lookout for quality and if I can find something inexpensive as well, all the better. My baseline is to be frugal so I try to spend as little as possible but I’m all about quality so I will pay more for what I perceive as high quality. As long as it’s still in production and the price seems reasonable compared to the quality I’m interested but it has to be really special these days for me to buy any more tobacco. I guess long story short: I’m a bargain shopper who knows quality.

 

[pappymac]

In an effort to support the local B&M, I will spend $15 - $20 for a 50g tin of tobacco. Sometimes up to $24 depending on what the blend is. That is just the "price" I personally pay to support a local business.

 

[Piping Abe]

I pay what blends go for online. If in a local B&M, which is rare, i’ll pay the price they have unless it is unusually high. I do not buy aged tobacco.

 

[Searock Fan]

I'm retired and on a fixed income so I watch my pennies. But it's simple, I buy the tobacco I like at the best price I can get. Fortunately for me, that's a bulk blend that I buy in 5 lb. bags, usually when it's on sale. I do have a lot of unsealed tins of tobacco, which I bought at bargain prices, but I mainly save those for a rainy day.

 

[mso489]

If I buy tobacco in pound bags, I find I smoke a lot less of it. It's like I'll have it forever so why hurry? This is not rational, but people aren't rational.

 

[geoffs]

if I lived where tobacco taxes were inordinate I'd quit smoking

No f'n way. That's exactly what the bastards want us to do.

 

[warren]

No f'n way. That's exactly what the bastards want us to do.

I doubt that. Whoever the bastards are, you don't say, probably don't care a whit if you or I smoke. You give we smokers much. too much, importance in the scheme of things. But, who exactly are these "bastards" you speak of?

 

[PaulRVA]

I’m sure many guys here just buy what they like and don't worry too much about costs. Others of us who are have tighter budgets, are more frugal, etc. take into account the cost.

For those of us in the latter camp, what's the range that you find yourself buying tobacco from?

I find I’m primarily in the $35/lb. to $45/lb. range but have gone up to $50/lb. on some tobaccos. I haven't yet bought blends from the popular B&Ms (WCC, Country Squire, Wilke, etc.) but would make an exception for those even though they’re in the $70/lb. rage.

I buy mostly the 1.5 or 50 gram tins. I guess lowest 11$ and Highest 28$ And average 12.00$ I have stocked every tobacco imaginable with several hundred cans on hand. If its something I love then I’ll buy by the oz or lb like Sutliff and C&D blends since the bulk is cheaper but not always an option.
Current favorites are Fox Bankers, C&D Bayou Morning, Autumn Evening and GLPease Key Largo.
One thing I find helpful is get an ounce of every blend you want to try through a good tobacconist and go from there. Start building on your stash slowly and can your bulks in mason jars. You can find a lot of really good blends at affordable prices.

 

[anotherbob]

frankly I don't worry about it. The most expensive is close enough to the least expensive.

 

[geoffs]

I doubt that. Whoever the bastards are, you don't say, probably don't care a whit if you or I smoke. You give we smokers much. too much, importance in the scheme of things. But, who exactly are these "bastards" you speak of?

Won't get political but I think tobacco taxes are less about tax revenue and more about controlling behavior.
Come to Canada, where "they" have made it damn near impossible to smoke anywhere in public, including outdoors. Cigar lounges are even illegal in Ontario. "They" have a habit of sticking their nose where it doesn't belong and infringing on our freedom to live our lives as we see fit because "they" think they know better.