Michael Cash wrote:
> Somebody at work told me just a few days ago about a shop here in
> Kiryu which has pipe/cigar goodies. So on Wednesday I dragged wife 'n'
> kiddies along and had a look at it. Very slim selection and very high
> prices. Generally double to triple what I would expect to pay ordering
> from the web. Drugstore pipe tobacco pouches ran 800-1500 yen, and
> tins were 1000-1500. Zippo pipe lighters were about 3,500 (compared to
> under $20). A $3 folding pipe stand was about 750 yen.

Absolutely gunmadicrous.

> Their cheapest cigars started at about 1,000 each, with the most
> expensive being a Cohiba in what looked like a robusto size at 2,400.

"my place" starts at 350 yen. About 50 different brands usually.

> It will be a dire tobacco emergency before that shop gets any of my
> trade.

I doubt that any shop in Japan (or at least one with a reasonable
shopfront) would have prices to compete with an reasonably good online
store or wholesaler. I like the Nagoya distributor because they add a
little extra - especially the "we'll take back anything you have
trouble selling" policy. Buying unusual whiskies from the place might
also be a contributing factor.