Where to Buy OTCs Over an Actual Counter?

[GothPiper]

I realize this may be highly region-dependent, but I never see OTC/codger brands (or as one poster here called them, "American classics", which is a term I appreciate) for sale in a brick & mortar stores.

Drugstores stopped carrying them. Any high-end tobacconists I've been to, if they have pipe tobacco at all, don't carry them. And "smoke shops" are entirely devoted to vaping and MJ pipes.

Any tips on where one can buy an OTC over a real counter these days?

 

[Tommydawg]

What are some examples you’re looking for? I’m not familiar with codger or classics term.

 

[fireground_piper]

I can usually find borkum riff, and half and half at most deli/convenience stores by me. Carter hall and PA were less common with captain black making occasional appearances.

it’s always mixed in with the chew, RYO, and gas station cigars section is where I find them.

 

[The Clay King]

In the UK most supermarket tobacco counters still sell the 'common' pipe baccy; Condor, St Bruno, Special Virginia, Clan etc. My local Morrisons sells Erinmore as well.
When I bought my first clay pipe I thought there were only 4 different pipe tobaccos!

 

[STP]

Not sure about Las Vegas, but a grocery store…

 

[warren]

The big drugstore companies are/have severly reduced tobacco products. Often because of local laws. Smaller companies, some grocery stores, and such still vend tobacco products. And, a lot of such depends entirely on the location in the US. In your locale I'd also check any of the tobacco vendors. Even "upscale" vendors will have them if there is a demand.

 

[mso489]

Grocery stores and drugstores have become spotty for pipe and tobacco sales, depending on the region in the U.S. My Walgreens hides a few Dr. Grabows and one or two MM cobs behind the candy counter in front of the cashier. You can see them if you peer over the top of the candy and look at the shelf at floor level. There are a few pouches of low-end tobacco as well. Groceries mostly don't carry them. Smoke shops are the best bet, despite their catering to cigarettes and MJ pipes, and if you can pressure them a little, they may stock them. Continuing to carry them would depend on sales. But over-the-counter/OTC are misnomers now.

 

[FurCoat]

Not sure about Las Vegas, but a grocery store…

^^This. My local grocery store carries OTC blends

 

[daveinlax]

Native smoke shops usually have tubs of otc tobacco in stock.

 

[Aomalley27]

If you’ve an Albertson’s nearby; they should carry Capt Black, Borkum Riff And Prince Albert.
As far as West Coast druggists, Walgreens should carry a few blends behind the register, they’ll be in the general vicinity of the lighters. A lot less now than they used to offer.
I used to pick up Kentucky Club and Walnut at my druggist/Walgreens around 2013/14 (before Middleton discontinued them?). They used to offer KC, Walnut, Carter Hall, PA, SWR and Capt Black.
Now they offer three varieties of Capt Black pouches only. (They used to sell the tubs, and with Walgreens points, I’d get $15 off)
And Walmart might have some, either at service counter, or the dedicated tobacco lane.

 

[Bax Burley]

Rite Aid in PA/DE always has Captain Black White, some in DE have Gold. There are also several of those awful smoke shops that are mostly vape/bongs/CBD dreck, but even those sometimes have Captain Black White, Gold, or Royal. That's about it for OTC stuff in the tri state area for me. I'm pretty sure Jersey is the same as PA/DE.

Oh, Walgreens has Captain Black White once in a blue moon. I think I've found it twice in the past year. They also have that Gambler stuff which I'm pretty sure is just RYO cigarette tobacco.

 

[Briar Lee]

Let’s face it, we were all told not to, but we started using the leaf anyhow. Smoking tobacco is a sin. It’s a petty sin, but Jesus ain’t a smoker in any of His pictures I’ve ever seen.

So, if one would like to sin, there are stores in every town devoted to a much greater sin, that of guzzling booze.

Find an independent family owned liquor store.

The owner will be happy to order you any old time tobacco that his tobacco vendor carries.

While you’re there, you might be tempted to buy some really hard core sinful stuff.

I know about a thousand songs against the evils of liquor, none against Prince Albert.

 

[Ahi Ka]

The only way to get over the counter blends in New Zealand is, well, under the table I guess.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Cigarette stores.

 

[captainsousie]

Smoker Friendly is the shop that carries them out my way.

 

[judcole]

Times have changed. If you are in Michigan, I would bet Paul's in Flint would have them. I would not be surprised If Iwan Ries in Chicago does, as well.
Some of the smoke shops around my area have a limited selection. They do much more with cigars.

 

[eljimmy]

I see you are in Las Vegas. Call this spot. Looks like they carry Borkum and Captain Black

 

[canucklehead]

Here it is illegal to sell tobacco products from a pharmacy, and most grocery stores here have pharmacies in them so they're not allowed to sell tobacco. The only place I've found OTC pouches (other than tobacconists) is at a convenience store that also sells wierd imported beverages, bongs, and unidentifiable wood Gandalf pipes.

 

[falconsmoker]

The local Food Lion grocery stores and smoke shops in my area carry the "Classic Blends" like Carter Hall, Prince Albert and Sir Walter Raleigh. Thank goodness!

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Here in Alabama, they are still behind the counters of most convenience stores and grocers.
I asked The Briary if they carried any when I first started going there, and got laughed at.
But, those tobacco stores that sell discount cigarettes and RYO bags and tubes usually have a pretty good selection of OTC tobaccos.