-1 for Missouri Meerschaum

[OSOBUCO]

I received a new MM Country Gent from Amazon. It arrived packed well and unmolested but with a decent sized split along the shank. See pic. I contacted MM and they said to put super glue on it. Now these are dirt cheap and a bottle of glue is almost as much as a new pipe. Anyway, no returns of pipes on Amazon and manufacturer doesn’t make it right either ?.

 

[workman]

That's why they're cheap.

 

[OSOBUCO]

That's why they're cheap.

Are you suggesting I should accept a defective pipe...even if cheap? I thought they are cheap because they are cheap to make.

 

[Casual]

Are you suggesting I should accept a defective pipe...even if cheap?

When buying online from a place that doesn’t take returns, umm, yes.

I’ve had a couple MM pipes that needed some glue here and there. I luckily have been able to fix them all with stuff I have on hand. I hope you get it working.

 

[OSOBUCO]

When buying online from a place that doesn’t take returns, umm, yes.

I’ve had a couple MM pipes that needed from glue here and there. I luckily have been able to fix them all with stuff I have on hand. I hope you get it working.

Well, umm...I disagree. Just roll over and take it attitude is why manufacturers get away with poor QC. It's a matter of principal - I don't care about the $12. I do care about how a company backs their product.

 

[didimauw]

It would cost more to ship it than it would to fix it. I get it, it's brand new and broke. But if it were me I'd glue it. I usually end up messing with my cobs in one way or another. The last legends I got from Amazon had an obnoxious amount of stem going into the bowl. The draft hole was allllllll the way in the back of the bowl instead of front. I just took a drill bit to it, and opened her up.

 

[workman]

Are you suggesting I should accept a defective pipe...even if cheap? I thought they are cheap because they are cheap to make.

That would be my suggestion, yes. When you buy something way too cheap, it may turn out to be exactly that.
Of course the pipe ought to be in working condition when you receive it. But then it ought also to cost 3-4 times as much.

 

[OSOBUCO]

Of course the pipe ought to be in working condition when you receive it. But then it ought also to cost 3-4 times as much.

So by your logic I should be paying $36-48 to "guarantee" I receive an MM country gentleman in "working" order???

 

[MattRVA]

That sucks. I bought a legend once through Amazon but I usually buy my cobs from a reputable pipe tobacco retailer. I don’t understand why Missouri Meerschaum is responsible if you bought it on Amazon.

 

[workman]

So by your logic I should be paying $36-48 to "guarantee" I receive an MM country gentleman in "working" order???

Not exactly. You can't just pay above the set price and get treated like a princess, that's not how it works.
I'm saying that when you buy the absolute cheapest product on the market through the absolute cheapest shipping company on the market, you should accept a certain risk.

 

[OSOBUCO]

That sucks. I bought a legend once through Amazon but I usually buy my cobs from a reputable pipe tobacco retailer. I don’t understand why Missouri Meerschaum is responsible if you bought it on Amazon.

Manufacturer defect = Manufacturer responsible.

 

[warren]

Sad as may be, "Let the buyer beware." The pipe may not have shown it's crack when it left the factory. But, there is a risk when buying via mail. I readily admit the correct and best business decision MM could make would be to suck it up and send you a replacement though. There's no accounting to what a business considers to be best practice. Obviously, MM thinks saving moneys or customer satisfaction is their proper course. I do believe you are stuck with a pipe you can quickly and efficiently repair yourself.

Manufacturer defect = Manufacturer responsible.

Can you cite a an act or law? If so, sue for your costs if such should prove economically feasible.

 

[MattRVA]

Manufacturer defect = Manufacturer responsible.

I understand and I’d be disappointed too but the defect may have occurred after it left the factory. I’m extremely picky about my cobs and found The Pipe Nook to be a great retailer for cobs not to mention SmokingPipes and TobbacoPipes. I had a problem with a cob once that I purchased from Missouri Meerschaum and they made it right, but I definitely agree that quality control can be an issue.

 

[OSOBUCO]

I understand and I’d be disappointed too but the defect may have occurred after it left the factory.

very true

 

[OSOBUCO]

I used to sell stuff I made by hand. I live by a code and is quite high...honest, integrity, sacrifice and all that...I sometimes forget many people and business do not. I know how I treated people when I was a seller of my handmade items and sometimes took a loss to make them happy. Now it seems more and more people sort of demand less and less and retailers get away with it. Again, it is more of a principal than the loss of $12.

 

[MattRVA]

I used to sell stuff I made by hand. I live by a code and is quite high...honest, integrity, sacrifice and all that...I sometimes forget many people and business do not. I know how I treated people when I was a seller of my handmade items and sometimes a took a loss to make them happy. Now it seems more and more people sort of demand less and less and retailers get away with it. Again, it is more of a principal than the loss of $12.

Absolutely! I’ve had to return more pipes than I’d care to admit. Nothing exceptional but when I pay any amount of money, especially $100 I expect the product to match my expectations in the least. Too many flaws get passed off on the customer and it’s not right. We need to hold the companies accountable.

 

[frozenchurchwarden]

I'm surprised they didn't immediately offer to send you a new one, this should have gone in a bag of factory seconds.

I have to wonder if buying off Amazon has something to do with it, it doesn't look like Missouri Meerschaum has a presence on Amazon and it is not uncommon for companies to deny warranty on any item not sold through official channels.

The prices on Amazon aren't any better than factory direct either: Missouri Meerschaum Company - CornCobPipe.com - https://corncobpipe.com/

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

Why call MM? Amazon should take it back.

 

[kschatey]

I have had issues with 3 of 6 MM cobs that I have ordered from various stores, including direct from MM. I will now only buy them if I can pick them out. The last time I did that at an actual tobacconist, it took a bit of digging to find one with a properly aligned stem/bowl hole and firm shank. YMMV.

 

[kschatey]

The issue with the order from MM they said that I could return at my cost for replacement or credit. Of course the cost of shipping was more than the pipes.