buying briar online

[calsbeek]

I know this has been asked before, but as the number of online sources appears to be increasing....

whats your preferred source for briar blocks?

I just bought from PIMO and had great customer service
Vermontfreehand appears to be great and both of these are local for me.

American Smoke (Mark Tinsky) seems quite a bit cheaper and has more options though....

anyone have experience there?

[sandahlpipe]

You won't find better service than Vermont Freehand. Whenever I don't buy directly from the briar cutter, I go through him. He's got a great supply of briar and really fast service.

[Sasquatch]

All those places you talked about have nice dry wood too. Pipe Maker's Emporium also usually has good briar.


Buying direct, you'll get wet wood that needs curing. That's fine, except you need something to make pipes out of meantime.

[calsbeek]

word
thanks guys. I'll give vermontfreehand a try next.
local and whatnot

[PremalChheda]

Unless you are buying very large quantities directly from a cutter that you have developed a relationship with, Vermont freehand has the most variety and best prices.

[The Smoking Yeti]

It's pretty funny, every time I see these thread titles I have my answer before I even read anything else! Definitely go with Steve Norse at Vermont Freehand!

[wdteipen]

Yep. Buy from Steve. It's a no-brainer.

I used to buy direct in bulk from the cutter. I didn't feel I got the best blocks for my money all the time and clearing through customs can be difficult and random. Steve runs good quality control and has the best customer service hands down. He also has a very large stock and a wide range of sizes, sources, and quality. His prices are also the best you'll find next to purchasing direct. His mark up is very small.

[LatakiaLover]

I'm a pipe fixer, not a pipe maker, but both groups use a lot of the same stuff. Stem material, tools, etc.

I've dealt with pretty much everyone in the supply biz at one time or another, and Steve / Vermont Freehand kicks their ass so thoroughly in every way it's actually pretty embarrassing. If customer service & business talent is something you're born with in the manner of musical talent, then Steve is fuckin' Mozart.

[Tyler]

I'm a pipe fixer, not a pipe maker, but both groups use a lot of the same stuff. Stem material, tools, etc.

I've dealt with pretty much everyone in the supply biz at one time or another, and Steve / Vermont Freehand kicks their ass so thoroughly in every way it's actually pretty embarrassing. If customer service & business talent is something you're born with in the manner of musical talent, then Steve is fuckin' Mozart.

^^this

[caskwith]

I admit for my sins, even I buy from Steve sometimes. Mostly I buy in bulk from the cutter, it's cheaper and easier because we are in Europe (for now) but for certain things it doesn't make sense and Steve does a great job shipping even to the UK.

It's really useful being able to just get on facebook, send him a message which he invariably replies to within the hour, despite the time difference, I tell him what I need, he has a price and list sorted within minutes, I pay and I get a shipping confirmation usually the same day. It maybe takes a week or so for the parcel to arrive but some vendors I deal with take that long to reply to an email!

[LatakiaLover]

...because we are in Europe (for now)

The needle on my subtext detector just jumped into the red.

Care to elaborate?

[andrew]

...because we are in Europe (for now)

The needle on my subtext detector just jumped into the red.

Care to elaborate?

[Alden]

Just for the Record, Steve is the man. I wish there was a guy just like him in every industry I ever spend money in. Luckily we have him for pipe supplies, I just wish he would go into Insurance, Groceries and Oil. And politics.
I do feel bad for his competitors. They have to sleep. Steve doesn't waste time with bullshit like that. He is the man.

[caskwith]

...because we are in Europe (for now)

The needle on my subtext detector just jumped into the red.

Care to elaborate?

Well at some point in the next year or so the UK will be holding a referendum on whether to stay a part of the EU.

[Alden]

Damn, I thought you were moving to Texas Chris...

[caskwith]

Damn, I thought you were moving to Texas Chris...

I think Texas would drive me insane.

[Alden]

Damn, I thought you were moving to Texas Chris...

I think Texas would drive me insane.

Well if you're just judging from my "condition" don't let that persuade you. There are some here who aren't, yet.

[jogilli]

You'd like Texas Chris... We have beaches... Cities.... The Alamo ... Great food... Cows (Equals horn) .... You'd have to work on your accent a bit though... Start by practicing how to say. 'Howdy
Oh yea .. And more chicken wings than you can eat... All you can eats diners... Just be careful you don't gain too much weight


Guess I should add the disclaimer of he who left many moons ago and still doesn't live there.... Although I'll be visiting again in June

[caskwith]

It's the people that worry me

[Alden]

In Texas, outside of the major cities, you'll find the friendliest most open people I've met anywhere in the Lower 48 states. Old fashioned ideas like common courtesy, hospitality, and respect run rampant most anywhere it hasn't been crushed by more modern "ideals".