$26.49 for the emerald cob bent or straight (and no, in the "bundle" you don't have a choice to get the bent version) $16.99 for the tobacco $1.59 for the humidifier Total = $45.07
Okay, so here's something else a little odd, although you could probably chalk it up to differences in demand, anyway, so I'm on S&P looking for different Virginia's and I also want to try the new Sav filters. All my Sav's are 6mm but I do have a 9mm of another brand so I'm looking at both. A 100 count of 6mm charcoal Sav filters is $30.40, but a 100 count of 9mm charcoal Sav filters is only $21.20 !
Immediately I thought of the part in the movie There's Something About Mary (probably my #1 favorite comedy outside of It's A Mad Mad Mad Mad World), where Ben Stiller picks up a hitchhiker and they start talking about 7 minute abs videos...why in the hell would you want 7 minute abs if you can get 6 minute abs for the same price! I actually do a pretty good impression of the hitchhiker and his deranged antics (being a little deranged myself), LOL
@RockyMountainBriar Good points, and could be either or both as you mention. The former would suggest a large supply of 9's, and the latter would suggest a lower relative supply of 6's (because the marginal cost to make one is higher).
That said, with regard to the Sav filters themselves, I would assume since Savinelli is the one putting their name on these, and nearly all the pipes they sell are 6's, that whoever their contractor is making these would have their lines set up more for 6's, then have to stop production periodically and switch over to make 9's for the market--in other words, I would think that 6's would actually be cheaper to make than 9's. If this theory is correct (and it is a theory, I certainly don't have evidence here except for industries such as fuel refining that does similar things when switching from one fuel to another in the cracking process), that would actually imply a lower relative supply of 9's, not a higher one.
On the other hand, as you mention, if you look more broadly at the market, I'm certainly leaning toward your former theory as one of competition and would add to that something in economics we call demand elasticity as the most likely answers.
I think relative demand specifically for Savinelli's 6's is higher than it is for 9's more broadly; not that there are more 6mm pipes versus 9mm pipes, I don't know, but that there are simply fewer options out there for 6's. Playing into this is that the demand for 6's is probably more inelastic than it is for 9's...in other words, people that own 6mm pipes are less sensitive to higher prices for this particular filter than people that own 9mm pipes.
If you look on SP's site, they offer 13 different brands/types of insertable filters (excluding rock maple), and 9 of the 13 are 9mm. This means greater competition and therefore lower prices for 9's (this is your point generally speaking). Furthermore, if you own a 6mm pipe, what will you have to buy? Mostly either a crappy Medico or a Savinelli or Vauen...i.e., basically, you are backed into a corner here...you have to buy a Savinelli or Vauen if you want a decent filter, which means you are likely to be less sensitive to the higher prices or as we say in economics, your demand for the Sav 6's is less elastic--i.e., you need a filter and have no other real alternative. This dynamic is enhanced if you own a Savinelli pipe--e.g., yes, Vauen's are cheaper, but I have a Sav pipe...I'll probably put a Sav filter in a Sav pipe.
Obviously, without actual data, these are just theories, but I think you are spot on.
Those Peterson Rau’s were what I have been waiting for from Peterson since they started up their new in-house sandblasting. I’m a sucker for a really nice contrast sandblast ring-grain. I like red/white/black combinations, with red being my favorite color. The earthy, tan, desert/high mountain plains color combinations on pipes look nice on contrast sandblast pipes too. Add in some silver and variegated stems and they get even better with the right color combinations.
Out of curiosity I sent an inquiry to SPC as to how many of the Peterson Rau Silver Spigot pipes were made, they are suppose to be pretty limited….we will see. Anyway, at SPC they had 70 total between the four shapes. SP.EU had/have some as well, but probably quite a few less. So far it looks like maybe 100 or so are out there. I wonder if more are to come, it’s quite a nice sandblast and finish when they get it “right”.
@RockyMountainBriar that is an awesome looking pipe. I would love to grab one but the price is more than I can spend. The sandblasting combined with the red and black stain is stunning.
Comments
https://www.smokingpipes.com/tobacco/by-maker/two-friends/
Holiday "Bundle" #4 for $45.99.
Individually we have
$26.49 for the emerald cob bent or straight (and no, in the "bundle" you don't have a choice to get the bent version)
$16.99 for the tobacco
$1.59 for the humidifier
Total = $45.07
Hmmmm...
Carey's all-time best selling pipe tobacco
blend for over 20 years!
https://www.eacarey.com/classicblack.html
Immediately I thought of the part in the movie There's Something About Mary (probably my #1 favorite comedy outside of It's A Mad Mad Mad Mad World), where Ben Stiller picks up a hitchhiker and they start talking about 7 minute abs videos...why in the hell would you want 7 minute abs if you can get 6 minute abs for the same price!
New Shapes In Peterson's Newgrange Spigot and Irish Army Series
I’d guess that the 9mm filters are “crazy” more common than 6mm. Maybe the 6mm filters are tougher to produce too?
Good points, and could be either or both as you mention. The former would suggest a large supply of 9's, and the latter would suggest a lower relative supply of 6's (because the marginal cost to make one is higher).
That said, with regard to the Sav filters themselves, I would assume since Savinelli is the one putting their name on these, and nearly all the pipes they sell are 6's, that whoever their contractor is making these would have their lines set up more for 6's, then have to stop production periodically and switch over to make 9's for the market--in other words, I would think that 6's would actually be cheaper to make than 9's. If this theory is correct (and it is a theory, I certainly don't have evidence here except for industries such as fuel refining that does similar things when switching from one fuel to another in the cracking process), that would actually imply a lower relative supply of 9's, not a higher one.
On the other hand, as you mention, if you look more broadly at the market, I'm certainly leaning toward your former theory as one of competition and would add to that something in economics we call demand elasticity as the most likely answers.
I think relative demand specifically for Savinelli's 6's is higher than it is for 9's more broadly; not that there are more 6mm pipes versus 9mm pipes, I don't know, but that there are simply fewer options out there for 6's. Playing into this is that the demand for 6's is probably more inelastic than it is for 9's...in other words, people that own 6mm pipes are less sensitive to higher prices for this particular filter than people that own 9mm pipes.
If you look on SP's site, they offer 13 different brands/types of insertable filters (excluding rock maple), and 9 of the 13 are 9mm. This means greater competition and therefore lower prices for 9's (this is your point generally speaking). Furthermore, if you own a 6mm pipe, what will you have to buy? Mostly either a crappy Medico or a Savinelli or Vauen...i.e., basically, you are backed into a corner here...you have to buy a Savinelli or Vauen if you want a decent filter, which means you are likely to be less sensitive to the higher prices or as we say in economics, your demand for the Sav 6's is less elastic--i.e., you need a filter and have no other real alternative. This dynamic is enhanced if you own a Savinelli pipe--e.g., yes, Vauen's are cheaper, but I have a Sav pipe...I'll probably put a Sav filter in a Sav pipe.
Obviously, without actual data, these are just theories, but I think you are spot on.
Peterson Rua Spigot Pipes
Offer of the month 10% off discounted pipes catalogue
https://www.lepipe.it/en/pipe_in_offerta.asp
Sorry, I know see it's over 5"...certainly not a nose warmer! Still nice looking though