No clue, I smoked one bowl and didn’t like it. Tried to give it another chance and decided it would be better off in a care package to friend of a friend that lives where idiots make the laws…
PipesAndCigars.Com: Are They Trustworthy?
- Thread starter The Novice Piper
- Start date
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I've never had a smooth transaction with PipesandCigars.com – After 3 failed attempts, I stopped using them altogether. There are plenty of better options out there like Smokingpipes and Tobaccopipes. And I recently discovered a place out of the Boston area called Watch City Cigar that has an excellent selection of tobaccos you won't find on the major sites. They shipped quickly and have reasonable prices.
I rolled the dice some more to hoard War Horse and snag some HH; each order I've placed with them over these few years has had less packing material than the last and more advertisements for other business.
Judging by the tins all just clattering about unimpeded in the box that last shipment, I'm sure I'm only one or two orders away from the enterprising lads at P&C figuring out how to ship tobacco without using a box.
Or maybe it'll be mixed in with a neighbor's Chewy order, with a note to please finish the delivery for them.
TobaccoPipes is being shut down in a few days as will Cup of Joe’s. Both web stores were owned by Mac Baren and are being folded into Pipes and Cigars.
No issues with P&C.
Always had good customer service (for me at least)
Going forward after Sutliff/Mac B crash I don’t think there is much I would order from them.
I’d prefer to support other companies though.
Someone correct me if I’m wrong but was Hearth & Home exclusive to P&C
I never looked elsewhere to buy it and don’t recall seeing H&H elsewhere.
Always had good customer service (for me at least)
Going forward after Sutliff/Mac B crash I don’t think there is much I would order from them.
I’d prefer to support other companies though.
Someone correct me if I’m wrong but was Hearth & Home exclusive to P&C
I never looked elsewhere to buy it and don’t recall seeing H&H elsewhere.
No, you could buy Hearth and Home products from other stores like SmokingPipes but I think P&C offered the entire H&H line.
In my time smoking (started 2011-ish), no one could beat the clearance sales at P&C. Not perfect, they sent me a lb of Shannon (meh) instead of Limerick when it was temorarily being discontinued. Their packaging is rough. as long as you buy 5+ tins, they wrap them, in my experience.
Will I use them post Mac Baren betrayal? Maybe. But their appeal was having the best sales and the more robust selection of H&H and Sutliff sourced stuff. It looks like SP will be my guys moving forward.
Will I use them post Mac Baren betrayal? Maybe. But their appeal was having the best sales and the more robust selection of H&H and Sutliff sourced stuff. It looks like SP will be my guys moving forward.
I've only went through them a couple of times and haven't had any issues with them. I do still prefer Smoking pipes because they take the time to actually give a description of what you're buying. and give more information before you buy.
Over the years I've never had any issues with them, other than thier less than stellar packing. I recently put an order in so I hope their packing has improved.
I placed an order for the 'Lights Out' combo on P&C. The page said Only 4 Left! - So I had to get them. I topped off my order to get the shipping discount and placed the order.
The combo went out of stock so P&C only sent me the 4oz bulk that I added.
I have called twice and both times they said that they only charged my PayPal for the 4oz bulk since the combo item was no longer available. My PayPal currently shows that they charged me for the full amount. The second time I called, P&C said that the full amount is only a hold amount and that it COULD take 45 days for the remainder of the charge to drop off. Well that sucks. It's now been 48 days, no change. I guess I'll need to call them again.
The combo went out of stock so P&C only sent me the 4oz bulk that I added.
I have called twice and both times they said that they only charged my PayPal for the 4oz bulk since the combo item was no longer available. My PayPal currently shows that they charged me for the full amount. The second time I called, P&C said that the full amount is only a hold amount and that it COULD take 45 days for the remainder of the charge to drop off. Well that sucks. It's now been 48 days, no change. I guess I'll need to call them again.
I might have said this before. I would say the biggest problem with them is customer service. It's lack luster. Sometimes when they make a mistake, which every single company ever will do because to err is human. And while they do fix it. Many of the stories sound like once they have your money they're not going to prioritize your satisfaction.
What really makes the difference is that merchants are always competing with each other. When there are other merchants with decent prices and great above and beyond customer service, then that extra mile makes all the difference.
So if they have something I truly want that isn't available I won't hesitate to order from them or if they have an exceptional sale (mostly what I've I bought from them are discontinued blends or cigars that they still have in stock, including older Seattle Pipe Club made by Lane that were great examples of aromatics). But I won't assume that the packing will be great or that the shipping will be timely or that if I contact them about issues that it won't be frustrating. If you accept that then they're great. But the bottom line is other tobacco sellers have given me a better experience.
What really makes the difference is that merchants are always competing with each other. When there are other merchants with decent prices and great above and beyond customer service, then that extra mile makes all the difference.
So if they have something I truly want that isn't available I won't hesitate to order from them or if they have an exceptional sale (mostly what I've I bought from them are discontinued blends or cigars that they still have in stock, including older Seattle Pipe Club made by Lane that were great examples of aromatics). But I won't assume that the packing will be great or that the shipping will be timely or that if I contact them about issues that it won't be frustrating. If you accept that then they're great. But the bottom line is other tobacco sellers have given me a better experience.
Sounds par for the course for them. I've been through the ringer with them on credit charges, incorrect items being sent, refund disputes, you name it. In fact, I'm still dealing with an unresolved problem that started late LAST YEAR, and that's why I've stopped using them altogether. I recommend smokingpipes and my new favorite watch city cigar – they're based out of Boston and have a great selection. And they ship your order the same day you place it.
Hope your case with P&C is resolved soon!
Okay, so I called P&C this morning and talked with a CS Rep. I was told that the hold could take UP TO 45 days to fall off from my PayPal account. The 45 days does not include Saturdays or Sundays.
I wish that I would have learned this earlier in my conversations. Will try again in 2 weeks and report back.
Interesting. This same exact scenario happened twice in the last month with TobaccoPipes due to their stock dwindling down. Both times with TP, my PayPal
P&C sicked a lawyer on me for what they claimed was failure to pay. I found the receipts and sent them to P&C, but they still pursued the matter. I talked to the law firm, sent them the receipts, case closed. The lawyer intimated that this was a common tactic of P&C. I guess enough people just pay the bill (twice) rather than go around in circles with their customer service and collections law firm.
Is STG/P&C/CI just inept, or is this intentional?
Is STG/P&C/CI just inept, or is this intentional?
Jeez... That's next-level. And I thought my experience was bad. They must do this regularly as part of their standard operating procedure. Literally never ordering from them again. Support small businesses.
I ordered some 7oz tubs of Half & Half from them a week or two ago as I had a birthday credit to use up. When I got the package last Thursday, I discovered that 3 of the 7 tubs were banged up near the rims, with broken seals/lids and tobacco leaking out into the box. The shipping box was perfectly fine, however, and there was sufficient packing material to keep them from rolling around in there. Obviously the cans had been placed in the box in that condition. I called their customer service and they are sending replacements free of charge (which was more than I expected from them). Still, wtf P&C?
It really seems like it's hit and miss with P&C to me. As I've said, other than less than stellar packing procedures, I've not had problems with them before. But I understand others have had awful experience with them. It's almost as if 50% of thier staff are trustworthy and the other 50% is not. Being one of the few major online retailers of pipes and tobacco, they have an opportunity to restructure thier staff and seriously upgrade their customer service. If not, well they'll just continue to lose more customers to Smokingpipes and it's on them. As it is, even though I've personally had very little trouble with P&C, I always go to Smokingpipes first and usually only consider P&C if they have something I can't find at Smokingpipes or elsewhere. There was a time I never would have felt uncomfortable shopping P&C, but over the years that has changed considerably. It's really a damn shame. If I were running the place, I'd be looking at the problem areas and strongly considering a restaff.
I will say my last order through P&C went through without any major problems as usual, but the packing job for all those lovely tins of Black House was, as usual, shoddy at best.
I will say my last order through P&C went through without any major problems as usual, but the packing job for all those lovely tins of Black House was, as usual, shoddy at best.