Pipe, Tobacco, and E-Bay Acquisitions

[IHT]

Originally Posted by louistogie

Pipe portion? Not to sure where to put that but I'll give it a try.

sorry i'm slow by a couple months, didn't see the reply.
still can't access ebay from work, otherwise i'd put a direct link to what i was talking about.

under the "collectibles/tobacciana/pipes" area, type in the word "tin" in the search criteria.

[SidRox7]

So I watched a guy's you tube video about how he accidentally misspelled Bjarne on ebay and picked one up for very cheap. Do any of you have any experiences similar to this or have any key words you purposely misspell to try and find those sweet deals?

[IHT]

sometimes the auctions are placed in the wrong location AND misspelled.

no, i don't have any off the top of my head.

[Mad Hatter]

Originally Posted by SidRox7

So I watched a guy's you tube video about how he accidentally misspelled Bjarne on ebay and picked one up for very cheap. Do any of you have any experiences similar to this or have any key words you purposely misspell to try and find those sweet deals?

Hasn't really happened for me but I have picked up some nice pipes that were listed as "a pipe" with a really, really crappy photo. That's how I got my 60s Parker straight dublin, for like $12 as well as a few others.

[parkland1]

Originally Posted by Mad Hatter

Hasn't really happened for me but I have picked up some nice pipes that were listed as "a pipe" with a really, really crappy photo. That's how I got my 60s Parker straight dublin, for like $12 as well as a few others.

My favorite happenstance is when every once in a great while, there are those cases when folks sell their pipes on-line for peanuts of their real monetary and aesthetic value. This is where some really great deals can be produced.

[parkland1]

Today on e-bay, I observed two bids for two exquisitely produced Sasieni pipes that are of vintage formation from the pre-transition family era of pipes. As some of the more experienced pipe enthusiasts will easily recognize, these pipes are of limited edition quality, desirable, and are highly collectible. The “One Dot” Sasieni is a European released masterpiece and is a clear testament to the famous hand-made quality, family made design, as well as its functionality that we all associate many of the pre-transition pipes. The “Eight Dot” pipe is unquestionably singularly exceptional and rare specimens out on the market, as only a limited quantity of these were ever made. The 4-blue diamond patterned dot configuration is a recognizable trademark of remarkable craftsmanship and a brand name that stands as an example of unsurpassed classical pipe-making quality (even to this day). This is quite obvious, especially since these pipes (as is quite clear according to the e-bay bidding) can price at ~ $200-300 or more. However, this bidding really interested me, as I began to think about the price to value relationship. Many pipe connoisseurs pay a higher price for such vintage pipes because they anticipate (in reciprocation) a high quality vintage anatomy and style of 70+ years ago (value). Unfortunately, knowing scant information from the seller (beyond a few pitiful graphical paradigms), one is forced to wonder…weather the bidder’s price considers the vintage physiology or functionality of the pipe, as well as the style. These Sasieni pipes are a case in point. [/SIZE]
For example, the Sasieni pipes are distinguished in that they went through a 6 week “oven curing” process that very few pipe makers (if any) ever used in those early days. The outcome of this manufacturing technique is the famous Sasieni dry, cool, and very comfortable smoke. In such a constructed framework, I would posit the following question: “More than 70+ years later, do these Sasieni pipes smoke just as dry and cool as they did before?” To me, this is the ultimate mystery, a mind-boggling yet magical mystery. Nonetheless, the pipe-enthusiast must bravely enter a journey through the world of intrigue and inexplicable dilemma …an experience that is difficult to price, but is often valued….not unlike the elusive Sasieni.

[DubintheDam]

I mentioned this in the 'Dunhill Prices' post...they arrived today. This one is a gigantic LB Dunhill, is in mint condition bar a few small scratches....I bought these from German Ebay, there was no bidding war and I was actually I was surprised I won. Shipping was very cheap. For $148 I got a bargain.

DUNHILL Pfeife Bruyere 51031 ohne Filter - eBay (item 120464190437 end time Sep-24-09 11:45:00 PDT)

DUNHILL Pfeife Shell Briar 253 F/T ohne Filter - eBay (item 120464182546 end time Sep-24-09 11:30:00 PDT)

However the second is probably a 1963 or 1965, the markings are thinly worn. It has been over reamed with a knife tool and the bit is also quite worn. This was $110...so really I would have rather seen better resolution shots of the bit and bowl inside...however is does smoke very well for a first time estate. Some you win, some you loose. For me Ebay and Dunhills can be very dangerous waters. Old pipes go for higher prices but tend to be worn and smoked heavier. This would not happen at Smokingpipes.com, but then I would pay almost double...you live and learn. To conclude both smoke great but I think many Dunhills on Ebay tend to be overpriced.

[parkland1]

Hello Dub...just to follow up on your point, I also find that Dunhill pipes in particular seem to be overpriced on many ebay bids. I was curious to follow up on your point, if you have a few theories as to why this happens with Dunhill pipes in particular on ebay?

[Anthony]

I recently picked up a couple of ebay deals, and have been happy with them so far

Velani estate:



Turkish block meerschaum:

[parkland1]

I just got this pre-republic Peterson's Shamrock from a great Ebay deal. I can't wait to smoke my sunset breeze out of this baby. A really really great deal on a barely smoked pipe in otherwise mint condition.

[Mitch]

How do you know if your getting a good pipe on ebay. I found one I thought was cool, but it's cheap. $6, so is there something I should look for to make sure it's a good pipe.

[Mad Hatter]

Originally Posted by Mitch

How do you know if your getting a good pipe on ebay. I found one I thought was cool, but it's cheap. $6, so is there something I should look for to make sure it's a good pipe.

The best I can tell you is to search reputable makers like Ben Wade, Parker, etc, etc. If you don't know what those makers are shop around on websites, look for makers whose cheapest pipes are between $60 and $70. Hell, since I don't Ebay anymore I'll just tell you what I used to search: Hardcastle, Parker, Ben Wade, Aldo Velani, Barling, Savory Argyll, Savinelli, Capital, Kiko, Tanganyika, African, Peterson. That's about all I can think of. I also look at shape names. If you find something with a name you don't know go to pipedia and type the name into the search engine and if it a second of a reputable maker it should tell you so.

[drastic_quench]

Originally Posted by Mitch

How do you know if your getting a good pipe on ebay. I found one I thought was cool, but it's cheap. $6, so is there something I should look for to make sure it's a good pipe.

1. brand name of pipe - know your pipe brands, as they are the first indicator of quality
2. high quality pictures and information
- can it pass a pipe cleaner easily? with twisting? not at all?
- is the briar burned anywhere, any holes, fill?
- what is the condition of the bowl
- does it whistle when blown through, or gurgle when smoked
3. seller reputation, settle for nothing less than 99% positive in my opinion

Lastly, and solely my opinion, Ebay is full of pitfalls. If you're in the market for estate pipes, look at Frenchy's Pipes. He'll tell you the honest condition, provide plenty of pictures, excellent customer service, and the price is extremely fair and competitive without the hassles of bid sniping.

[Crazycoonass]

A few weeks ago I bought a webber on Ebay with a 14k gold band from a guy with 9 other auctions ending at the same time, this pipe was flawless and had a gorgeus grain... however he had another weber 14k that just wasnt as nice looking and had a little char around the rim of the bowl and went for about 25$ less than mine, well to my dismay he acidently shipped me that one by mistake and sent mine to Japan, after Emailing him and claiming shennanigans he immediatly gave my a refund, a 10% discount on my next purchase and let me keep the pipe he sent me, while not the pipe I wanted it is still a handsome peice, needless to say he got a good rating and my discount I have stored away for when I have a few dollars to spend, his father had a huge and well kept collection.

[jrpvr6]

New Savinelli estate here. The pipe seems to be in really good condition. It sorta looks like how a new Sav comes as far as the inside of the bowl. There is no trace of cake or anything, and only the faintest smell of tobacco. Is this common for professionaly cleaned pipes, that is having no trace of cake? Do people sometimes ream all the way down and take off a little briar as well? I have yet to clean an estate...