Why are Dunhill pipes so expensive?
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Seacaptain:
We made them once after a friend visited NZ, it's amazing, and there's nothing wrong with covering your face with food, that's close enough to going where it's supposed to for me.
How dare you insult the Kiwi Burger!
We made them once after a friend visited NZ, it's amazing, and there's nothing wrong with covering your face with food, that's close enough to going where it's supposed to for me.
I have no issue with anyone who dislikes Dunhill or any other pipe and finds smoking characteristics to be subpar. I take issue with those believe those who like them do so because of a brand... One which nobody ever sees most of us ever smoke... not ever. There's nobody to impress. I find your judgment on others offensive, not your feelings about a pipe.
Nate, like it or not some people buy Dunhill pipes strictly on name alone. I am not trying to offend you. Now I am certainly not saying that for a Dunhill collector as they know exactly why they collect them and there are as many reasons as there are shapes in their line up.
Hell I will be the first to admit that I purchased my first two( bought at the same time) Dunhills on name alone as I had never smoked one before. If I had bought just the one, I would not have bought the other.
Hell I will be the first to admit that I purchased my first two( bought at the same time) Dunhills on name alone as I had never smoked one before. If I had bought just the one, I would not have bought the other.
I've owned two of them. One was bought back in 1989, in London, and it was terrible. Not sure whatever became of it, but I don't miss it. Paid a lot for it, and was pissed-off. The other is a 1961 Tanshell Hungarian/Oom Paul style. Freaking awesome pipe! Not sure why the new ones get all the praise, perhaps just the legacy of the Dunhill pipe name. However, the 1961 is an awesome pipe. Not my best smoker, but damn near. Good pipe, but I would not have paid the going price for one. However, at under $200 it was well-worth the money. New, I might pay $300 or $400 for it. However, it's surpassed by my two Sas artisan-made BST pipes - both of which were under $300. Ironically, it's also surpassed by my two $90 Pete Irish Army pipes. (Just goes to show that price/pedigree is not really an all encompassing measure of a good pipe).
I've known people who would never consider any pipe but a Dunhill. They were serious pipe smokers and considered them to be excellent smokers. They were comfortable with the fit, finish and the smoking experience. They were very conservative with regards to how a pipe should look and admired the company for the warranty.
Many people smoke a certain marque for reasons known only to them. Some people only buy Ford or GMC. I've always felt that people who feel the need to question the choices of others are usually unsettled in their own. Perhaps there is also a bit of envy in such assessments.
What constitutes a great smoking pipe is based on my assessment only. I only keep excellent smokers. But, my excellent may not meet that grade for another.
Many people smoke a certain marque for reasons known only to them. Some people only buy Ford or GMC. I've always felt that people who feel the need to question the choices of others are usually unsettled in their own. Perhaps there is also a bit of envy in such assessments.
What constitutes a great smoking pipe is based on my assessment only. I only keep excellent smokers. But, my excellent may not meet that grade for another.
My 1961 Tanshell has a certain something about it that I can't identify. Nothing special in how it smokes, but it's something about the feel and the look. Almost an aura about it. Not my imagination, I don't think, cuz I'm not really a Dunhill fanboy. There is just something, well, magical about it. I broke it out last night after I came across this thread, filled it with some Royal Yacht, and smoked away. Pure bliss.
If I consider that intangible quality about it, then I'd have to say that it's probably my best pipe. I might not pay the going price for a new Dunhill cuz I don't earn enough, but if I had the income I could see myself paying the asking price for a new Dunhill. However, I'd go out of my way to buy a Dunhill Estate from the 1960's and back. Of course, I'm always on the look-out for a any birth year (1963) Dunhill.
So, back to the original question of whether or not Dunhills are worth the price. After careful reconsideration, yes. Yes, I think that they are. Am I likely to ever be able to afford a new one? Probably not. Would I shell-out $200 - $400 for an estate Dunhill? If I could examine it first and determine that it was in good shape and dated from the 1960's on back - absolutely.
If I consider that intangible quality about it, then I'd have to say that it's probably my best pipe. I might not pay the going price for a new Dunhill cuz I don't earn enough, but if I had the income I could see myself paying the asking price for a new Dunhill. However, I'd go out of my way to buy a Dunhill Estate from the 1960's and back. Of course, I'm always on the look-out for a any birth year (1963) Dunhill.
So, back to the original question of whether or not Dunhills are worth the price. After careful reconsideration, yes. Yes, I think that they are. Am I likely to ever be able to afford a new one? Probably not. Would I shell-out $200 - $400 for an estate Dunhill? If I could examine it first and determine that it was in good shape and dated from the 1960's on back - absolutely.
I have 2 Dunhills, a shell briar (small Dublin) from the 60s which was my father-in-laws pipe, and a bent Cumberland from the 1990s (estate pipe purchase). Never found that either smoked particularly outstanding and the bent has a tendency to gurgle. Too high priced and over rated in my opinion. The way I see it, paying for a name is no different than one lemming following another lemming over a cliff.
doc: Just because you aren't fond of Dunhill is no reason to bad mouth on those that are. Your opinion is well, your opinion and as such is unassailable. But, your last sentence adds nothing to your post. Your belittling of the members who esteem Dunhill products is off putting.
Sometimes this is true. Other times it isn't. People are suggestible. Companies spend billions of dollars yearly, based on that reality, manipulating people to buy their goods and services. As someone who worked on literally hundreds of commercials I can attest that people can be persuaded to believe that very ordinary, and substandard, goods and services are the ultimate in quality. And the research that goes into the design of a campaign involves plenty of questions about the buying decisions of others, the better to work out the approach to persuading you to believe what we want you to believe.
Sometimes questioning the choices of others isn't because one is "unsettled", it's because one is secure in their knowledge and wonder how others can be so gullible.
Like it or not, branding is a powerful tool that influences many people's decisions. Were that not the case, thousands of people, using billions of dollars, would not be working ceaselessly around the world, telling you what and how to think, while suggesting that you're the master of your decisions.
And the subtle molding of your online experience is so slickly done that it takes manipulation to a whole new level. We're all basically lab rats on the Web.
sable: I should have said "publicly question the choices of others."
I'm not questioning the gullibility of people, I just always wonder at the people who question why a person, particularly someone they really know nothing of, feel the need to question others choices. I realize there are people easily reached through advertising, I've just not felt the need to speak of them in disparaging terms. Or, publicly question their choices. It's the need to air their opinion of the choices if others that bothers me. Those that publicly disparage the choices of others appear to me as needing to reinforce their own choices, loudly to others. Sort of a "Listen to me! I'm smarter than that guy! I'd never spend money for that crap!" It's foolish behavior but, it's also a "tell." A wee window into the personality of the speaker.
I'm not questioning the gullibility of people, I just always wonder at the people who question why a person, particularly someone they really know nothing of, feel the need to question others choices. I realize there are people easily reached through advertising, I've just not felt the need to speak of them in disparaging terms. Or, publicly question their choices. It's the need to air their opinion of the choices if others that bothers me. Those that publicly disparage the choices of others appear to me as needing to reinforce their own choices, loudly to others. Sort of a "Listen to me! I'm smarter than that guy! I'd never spend money for that crap!" It's foolish behavior but, it's also a "tell." A wee window into the personality of the speaker.
Hey Warren,
I never meant to offend anyone and to each his own. This is a public forum and I stated my opinion, belittling no one with any of what I said. Sable put it well in his post: "Like it or not, branding is a powerful tool that influences many people's decisions. Were that not the case, thousands of people, using billions of dollars, would not be working ceaselessly around the world, telling you what and how to think, while suggesting that you're the master of your decisions." Hence, my reference to lemmings. Happy puffing!
I never meant to offend anyone and to each his own. This is a public forum and I stated my opinion, belittling no one with any of what I said. Sable put it well in his post: "Like it or not, branding is a powerful tool that influences many people's decisions. Were that not the case, thousands of people, using billions of dollars, would not be working ceaselessly around the world, telling you what and how to think, while suggesting that you're the master of your decisions." Hence, my reference to lemmings. Happy puffing!
Well said, Warren. I echo that sentiment. I'd be ripped apart if I suddenly began to criticize the purchases of those without the funds for "nicer" pipes. Grant the same respect to others. If Dunhill ain't your game, why the childish need to criticize and talk down to those who do? I understand feeling this way, but don't get the need to spout it. What is it you think you gain? Street cred? You're on a pipe forum for the love of God.
First let me say that if I offended the sensibilities of certain members here on this forum, please accept my apologies for such. I mentioned no one by name or group, nor did I make a statement that I considered Dunhill buyers/smokers were lemmings. That's the gist I'm getting from several comments. Second, I never said I didn't like my Dunhills - just found the two I have to be nothing spectacular, but I continue to smoke them! I know of several pipe smokers who have purchased Dunhill pipes based solely on the name alone and nothing else. Doing such is neither right or wrong. That's perfectly fine with me and it doesn't bother me. I'm only making an observation as to habits like this. Just as other pipe smokers I know wouldn't be caught with a Dr Grabow between their teeth. I find Dr Grabows to be for the most part good smokers. Perhaps had I said that there are many registered voters who always vote their party line (because that's their party, period) regardless of who is running or what the policies were, you would have understood my meaning. Have a Happy New Year all, and keep on puffing!
What I resent, Lieutenant, is some politician using my base as a test tube for her grand social experiment. What I resent, is the sensitivity training that is now mandatory for all of my men. The ob-gyn I now have to keep on staff just to keep track of your personal pap smears. But most of all what I resent, is your perfume, however subtle, interfering with the scent of my fine three-dollar-and-seventy-nine-cent cigar, which I will put out this instant if the phallic nature of it happens to offend your GODDAMN FRAGILE SENSIBILITIES! Does it?
I've heard this trope before, but in my view, it's usually said by people who are defensive about being criticized or someone else getting ahead another way
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