So as a newb to this I'm trying to educate myself a bit in the different tobaccos types and etc., and I've noticed there is a lot of difference in price between between supposedly equivalent mixes by various makers and even between different (online) retailers for the same product.

So I thought I'd exploit your collective experience by asking - what are the best values in the different categories of tobacco, wnd where do you buy?

Mike Rutt (Mars Cigars -- great source of hard-to-find stuff & the original, highly knowledgeable great guy)

I'll second Yak'sw response, also a warning if you're looking for cheap that's what you'll get, good tabac costs, Ken

Not "cheap," but I'm sure that just like in everything else, there's going to be Cadillacs, Toyotas - and Kias.

No offense to any Kia drivers.

Wen GURU KEN speaks....... you listen!!! Him and Yak has just given you the most valuable advice......
We get from 4Noggins and Smokingpipes............
or.......... go score some Middleton Walnut, you'll make JP proud!!!...... Ken would probably never speak to you again!

I use:
Smokingpipes
Pipesandcigars
Mars
4Noggins
I recommend em all.

There's umpteen equivalent blends by various makers,,,they all have their take on what it should be,,,,but your tastebuds and everyone elses are different,,,so you have to do your homework and find what appeals to you in each category,,,but (as pipetongue said) you'll find quality tobacco is expensive. Not to say you won't find an inexpensive tobacco that you enjoy, but overall you get what you pay for,,,,
Figure out what you like and surf for the best price,,,it's not unusual to find tins varying by two or three bucks,,,bulk's the same way,,,
There's no easy solution, and I'm sure more knowledgable gentlemen than I will weigh in with their thoughts,,,Hermit just listed where I do most of my buying,,,

Thanks for your replies.

I think I should have asked this first:

Who sells a good sampler so you can try a variety of smokes and see what you like?

All of the above mentioned etailers stock samplers of one type or another. I would recommend the C&D samplers as a way to start (you can also get 2oz. samples of 8 blends for $40 + shipping directly from C&D).

I would also second the above re: you get what you pay for, although it does pay to shop around within that parameter (the above etailers for example sell the same items for oftentimes notably different prices).

Happy sampling!

Hermit's list is dead on - shopping those four will get you the best prices on most everything

the price I pay for quality tobacco is about:

$60 to $70 per pound for Rattrays
$50 to $60 per pound for GL Pease
$40 to $50 per pound of Gawith & Hoggarth, Samuel Gawith, C&D, McClelland bulk
$20 to $30 per pound for Stokkebye (Proper English)

these prices go up when purchasing 2oz tins of course - buy the biggest size you can when looking for a bargain



please chime in if I have gotten any of the above mixed up - off the top of my head

Thank you, gentlemen. I have an order for a selection of Peterson tins, some samples of bulk, pipe tools and enough pipe cleaners to clear the free shipping requirement put in.

This is turning out to be an expensive habit and I haven't even started.

FTRPLT for got to mention that we all suffer from obsessive compulsive disorder!