Why Turkish Meerschaum Pipes Are So Expensive | Business Insider

[anotherbob]

Bingo

also the distributor needs the carvers more then the other way around.

 

[anotherbob]

Why would a distributor sell a product that could be purchased at half his price from the manufacturer?

because they're still making a pretty freaking good profit either way. And any product that has a name attatched is advertisiment for the other products the distributor sells. How many of us have asked who carved a certain meer?

 

[Chasing Embers]

also the distributor needs the carvers more then the other way around.

The carvers get a larger customer base that way as well.

 

[theloniousmonkfish]

I cannot speak of what they do in Turkey. I was thinking in USA. If you are strictly speaking of Turkish carvers, you may very well be right about buying from the carvers at half retail. But here in the USA is a different story. It seems carvers and distributors in USA have a business respect for each other, or should have. A retailer would never buy a product at retail then sell it at twice retail, or twice what the carver is charging. or, a carver selling a produc at half of what his distributor is selling it.This respect is probably common practice in other countries but I live in USA so I cannot comment on foreign business practices.

You can buy Grabow direct from the factory. They don't advertise as part of a deal with retailers but they're available and cheaper than through a store.

 

[Briarcutter]

You can buy Grabow direct from the factory. They don't advertise as part of a deal with retailers but they're available and cheaper than through a store.

There may be a discount but not 50%

 

[AroEnglish]

Never bought from a carver have you? I've never paid more than $280 for one.

View attachment 267304View attachment 267306

Who was the seller of the chimney?

 

[Chasing Embers]

Who was the seller of the chimney?

Ali made that one and the octopus for me. I was really impressed with his pirate skull I got from Meerschaum Market. Proportionally more a huge billiard than a chimney though. The pipe is gigantic.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Why would a distributor sell a product that could be purchased at half his price from the manufacturer?

Have you seen how much SPC pays for estates versus what they sell them for?

There may be a discount but not 50%

If that's what you want to hold onto, you have my blessings. More for me.

 

[anotherbob]

The carvers get a larger customer base that way as well.

it benefits both parties, especially when each pipe is distinctly unique. Sure briars are all unique in a way but they don't have the same level of the only one in the world like master carved meers do.