I was reading through some emails I got today from the usual pipe tobacco places on the internet. And as usual they were filled with pipe advertisements. Some of these pipes, relatively simple in design, are obscenely priced. I understand you will pay more for the label of a pipe maker, than the pipe, but $600 for a pipe? Can anyone else explain this, other than the fact that the people running the site need to eat. P.S. this is in no way an aside to any pipe maker or company, I am genuinely curious how a pipe could be with such an exorbitant amount.

If you use the various pipe forums you will often find people posting comments with links to ebay for pipes selling at quite unreal prices. Here is an example: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BO-NORDH-pipe-79-sweden-perfect-/350693252387?pt=LH\\_DefaultDomain\\_0&hash=item51a6f25d23 A snip at a mere $20,000 - and no that is not me mistyping. If collectors are willing to pay those sort of prices then the sellers will charge that much.

Supply and Demand. The Panacea of all economic questions.

@Kaiser dimminishing returns. For example a 60 dollar pipe is going to be a bigger jump in improvement then a 30 dollar pipe. Each increase of price you get less for it. Around 250 there is no practical improvement or no room for practical improvement. But once you’ve hit that price each additional quality which at that point are mostily cosmetic will have a heavier price increase. Which makes sense for one you know a pipe that cost that much will sit around longer so it’s a greater investment in time from making to selling for the producer as well as the seller. So to make it economicaly feasible to sell a pipe at that price or especialy put more work or effort into it needs a bigger pay back to make it worth while since you’re not selling anywhere near bulk at that point. I hope that makes sense. Where your basket pipes are going to give a quicker but smaller return. And finaly anything is worth what you think is a worthwhile price or more cynicaly what you will pay for it.

anything over $350 and you’re paying for either grain or the name

you’re also paying for artistry and occasionally a stunning piece of wood. The most I’ve paid for a pipe is about $400 for a Ruthenberg and nearly the same for a Jurgen Moritz, both pipes are beautiful. If you just want a pipe you can enjoy smoking with there are plenty of Stanwells or Petes around that work just fine and look good.

This seems very similar to fountain pens. $300 is a snip for some of the higher-end pens, which may actually write worse than a pen costing $30, though it will write worse for much longer of course.

People who support the arts buy the high end pipes because they can. Some never get smoked others do. Same goes with every other form of art. You can buy a Ford pick up truck or you can buy a Lincoln pick up truck.They both get you from point A to point B . Get the point? Still in search of a Boswell Giant poker or an Ardor Oom paul

I agreed with the post right above then un agreed so I could agree twice.

Some of the artists are renowned not only for their skill of carving but also the vision to bring out the best in a briar. A pipe that has great looking flames with birds eye around the top of the bowl would be a good example of vision. If a great artist does a freehand & autographs it, the price jumps up and if they retire… WOW

personaly I find most really expensive pipes too look garish.

@bob I would agree that some of the newest designs make you thnk that if you broke off a tree limb and drilled it, it would be the same lol but also I would like to point out that some of the most treasured pipes are still full of the heritage that brought most of us to smoking them

then again a lot of expensive stuff seems that way to me.

I also hate champagne and caviar so…

I generally don’t waste my hard earned money either

I can’t speak to experience of high end pipes, my pipes are all in three 40-100 range. But I look at pipes when the mood strikes me and all the pipes I really think I just need to have are well over my buying price point. So many awesome looking castello pipes! It’s funny, I guess money talks… Btw I spent 60 bucks at Amazon the other day for a Sav 320, and the pipe arrived poorly drilled, I am returning it. I can’t help but wonder what it may be like to get one of those Castellos I look at and exerience a truly fine pipe.

If you buy the $700 and up pipes it is less likely you will buy 100 in a years time. I don’t know what is more addicting buying pipes or tobacco products. I think I spent more on tobacco then pipes in 2012 ,I dare not look at the numbers. Any way you look at it, it is a great investment.

Wholly moly! That’s quite a feat @basement_shaman. I envy you.

@Sly3904 I never spent more then $300 on one pipe , But it is easy to spend 100 or 150 on pipes, I only got 5 in the last 30 days. And there were so many sales on tobacco. Of course you have to buy enough for the free shipping, And just like snuff,dip,chew and snus there is something else to try.

I live on a poor mans wages, or I would dedicate my earnings to pipes and tobacco. Lol but seriously those pipes are a good investment, if enough time passes your heirs may make money on them or put them to good use.

I careful buyer that learns what to look for can get the high end estate for less then 1/2 is value.

well I just broke my personal record on price paid for a pipe. $93.50 I usually buy estate pipes, but have been thinking about getting a new Peterson and came across this one at smokingpipes.com I’ve seen some stunning pipes that were just more than I would pay for a pipe. Really the only question is how much is that pipe worth to you?

Nice pipe you snagged there, Peter. Pete’s are good value for the money. Be warned about the ‘slippery slope’ though. I swore I would never buy anything that cost more than $100 and I’m now up to nearly $500. There comes a point when you really don’t need more pipes, would rather have a beautiful, comfortable hand-made than 5 factory pipes. And so it goes.

@PeteTschantz good looking pipe. Careful breaking that in. Peterson seasonal pipes are not there best briars. I had a Xmas pipe burn after the 5th 1/4 bowl. The color actually transferred to my thumb.

thanks guys! I’ll be careful breaking it in. I’m still working on a complete 7 day rotation actually, so this will just help a bit. I’m looking forward to trying it anyway!

I have 3 St Patrick’s days pipes. 2 from last year, one from 2000 I think. Great pipes in my experience.

Very nice looking buy @PeteTschantz

Thanks @Slide and @MattheFox!

I Have/had a beautiful meerschaum (bowl in hand) and after 3 smokes the bowl cracked, so today it’s off to the tobacconist’s to either get it replaced or a new pipe of the same value (my tobacconist is not exactly famous for her generosity) wish me luck all as my heart is truly broken, and NO I didn’t smoke her to hot as I’m paranoid about that no did I over tighten the shaft as it’s screw on, and we noticed there is a black pencil line been drawn right on top of the crack, so I believe it was noted by the carver, bummed aint the word, I’n not digging this at all :((

Good luck getting the matter set straight (not sarcastic)