Yes, unfortunately, the time has come that we must increase the prices on all Missouri Meerschaum products, effective October 1st.
Our last increase was on January 1, 2011, so it has been almost 4 years since we last had to increase our prices. Regardless of what the Federal government has been saying about inflation, we are seeing increased costs in most materials, supplies and services that we purchase to make our pipes. Even though it looks like our harvest this year will be much better than average, the cost to grow our corn was high.
In addition to the cost of growing the corn, the cost of maintaining the 1970s vintage machinery we use for picking is expensive. We have seen hefty increases in the cost of the wooden components of our pipes, which affects both our corn cob pipes and our hardwood pipes. We have also seen large increases in the cost of shipping supplies and in the cost of shipping itself.
From the very beginning, the mission of Missouri Meerschaum Company has been to produce great smoking pipes that everyone can afford. That will always remain our mission, and we pledge to raise our prices only when the cost of producing our pipes forces us to do so.
Thanks for understanding, and thanks for being a customer of Missouri Meerschaum Company!