Bad Experience Sharing?

[Dshift]

Before sharing anything, I just want to ask the admins and moderators if such a thread is at all acceptable.
@ssjones ?
Although I find it crucial that we point out shady and scammy retailers, I can also see how such a thread could go really off course with hateful comments and unjust criticism or how someone could be put on a "blacklist" , just because of an honest mistake.

 

[greeneyes]

There was a thread elsewhere and I think the guidance of the administration is that you must have made a reasonable effort to contact the retailer in search of remedy before posting such complaints.

 

[Simmerdown☕️]

Once exhausting all reasonable efforts from a buyer or trade partner…I’d first hit up the admins to o let them know your thoughts. After the explanation, see if they feel it to be prudent to post a “buyer beware” notice. Best of luck! ️

 

[anotherbob]

Before sharing anything, I just want to ask the admins and moderators if such a thread is at all acceptable.
@ssjones ?
Although I find it crucial that we point out shady and scammy retailers, I can also see how such a thread could go really off course with hateful comments and unjust criticism or how someone could be put on a "blacklist" , just because of an honest mistake.

Basically if you have a bad experience with someone or a retailer you have to give them a chance to make it right before stinking up the forum with experience.
And yet it's not uncommon for someone to rant and rave about what a crook someone is and how they didn't answer e-mails in two or three days. Or how many the package isn't here yet they ripped me off....
And the more shocking part is how rare it is for the o.p. to come back and reveal their mistake or over reaction. Which seems like the least one could do. Sometimes we have to press the o.p. to see what the outcome was.
But if you've tried to get things corrected then it becomes a public service. I guess one way to look at it, is you have to have prove of maleficence or incompetence before throwing around accusations. Like the police not pressing charges until they have a solid case.
Though as always when in doubt chatting with a mod first to find out if you're allowed to do something isn't the worst idea.

 

[Dshift]

Basically if you have a bad experience with someone or a retailer you have to give them a chance to make it right before stinking up the forum with experience.
And yet it's not uncommon for someone to rant and rave about what a crook someone is and how they didn't answer e-mails in two or three days. Or how many the package isn't here yet they ripped me off....
And the more shocking part is how rare it is for the o.p. to come back and reveal their mistake or over reaction. Which seems like the least one could do. Sometimes we have to press the o.p. to see what the outcome was.
But if you've tried to get things corrected then it becomes a public service. I guess one way to look at it, is you have to have prove of maleficence or incompetence before throwing around accusations. Like the police not pressing charges until they have a solid case.
Though as always when in doubt chatting with a mod first to find out if you're allowed to do something isn't the worst idea.

I knew this was going to be complicated and probably not worth the trouble...or the time put in all the details..
Anyway it's more for you guys from the US - just be careful and pay extra close attention when buying "brand new/ unsmoked" pipes from somewhat big and famous US ebay pipe dealer. For most of us it will be pretty obvious(if we pay enough attention to details), but for less experienced people, it might not be so obvious. A friend of mine bought a 300$+ pipe which turned out to be slightly used... The seller even doubled down on it being unsmoked. At the end of the day he sent a a small refund, but that's hush money at this point.
If you don't have much experience and you are suspicious about something like that - feel free to ask here in the forum before pulling the trigger. Also you can always pm me directly and will try to help.

 

[sablebrush52]

I knew this was going to be complicated and probably not worth the trouble...or the time put in all the details..
Anyway it's more for you guys from the US - just be careful and pay extra close attention when buying "brand new/ unsmoked" pipes from somewhat big and famous US ebay pipe dealer. For most of us it will be pretty obvious(if we pay enough attention to details), but for less experienced people, it might not be so obvious. A friend of mine bought a 300$+ pipe which turned out to be slightly used... The seller even doubled down on it being unsmoked. At the end of the day he sent a a small refund, but that's hush money at this point.
If you don't have much experience and you are suspicious about something like that - feel free to ask here in the forum before pulling the trigger. Also you can always pm me directly and will try to help.

Most of the eBay sellers I have bought from have been honest in their dealings with me. There are a few who are, ahem, less than honest and a few who are completely delusional.

I've known several of the high end sellers away from the platform, as I'm sometimes asked to provide information on some piece of Britwood that they're going to list, and those are straight shooters.

The bottom line with buying estate pipes is to know what you're bidding on. Contact the seller to ask for extra images if they will help you better understand what the offering is, and never buy from a "no returns" seller, even though you can force a return and a refund due to eBay policies. Anyone who writes that their photographs are sufficient to equal the experience of holding the pipe in one's hand and examining it, are full of it.

People get in trouble because they don't know what they're doing.

 

[jpberg]

People get in trouble because they don't know what they're doing.

Story of my life, old boy.

 

[bootlegpipes]

I would show the chamber of the pipe in question and ask people to chime in and say if they think it’s unsmoked or not. If there’s an overwhelming consensus then I'd reveal the seller.

 

[doctorbob]

I would note several makers actually carbonized their bowls, such as Sasieni. Can make it hard to tell if it's unsmoked unless you REALLY know what you are about.

 

[Dshift]

I would note several makers actually carbonized their bowls, such as Sasieni. Can make it hard to tell if it's unsmoked unless you REALLY know what you are about.

That was the case here too, but there was light darkening on the rim and teeth marks on the stem

 

[Chris T]

This thread took me a while to figure out. I was expecting something like "I once offered an alpaca a draw at my pipe, but it ate my new MM Wizard Cobbit and then spat the tobacco into my face. What an ungrateful wretch."

 

[woodsroad]

I knew this was going to be complicated and probably not worth the trouble...or the time put in all the details..

Getting stiffed is always complicated, but if you are diligent with engaging the seller about the issue, and you don’t feel they give a shit, by all means, let loose here.

Just be prepared that not everyone will agree with you.

 

[greeneyes]

eBay generally defaults to the buyer during disputes, for better or worse depending on which you happen to be. Unfortunately this type of buyer protection defaults back to the seller if what you want is to keep the item but haggle for a lower price. When I receive an item I think was advertised deceptively, I make a choice--keep or return. Negotiating a rebate leaves you at the seller's mercy.

They having been said, identifying a particular eBay seller is a risky proposition. It's likely to be a friend of several forum members who will feel obliged to pile on in their defense with pages full of "I've had nothing but good experiences" posts.

 

[Dshift]

eBay generally defaults to the buyer during disputes, for better or worse depending on which you happen to be. Unfortunately this type of buyer protection defaults back to the seller if what you want is to keep the item but haggle for a lower price. When I receive an item I think was advertised deceptively, I make a choice--keep or return. Negotiating a rebate leaves you at the seller's mercy.

They having been said, identifying a particular eBay seller is a risky proposition. It's likely to be a friend of several forum members who will feel obliged to pile on in their defense with pages full of "I've had nothing but good experiences" posts.

Exactly that's why I will just leave it as a general caution advice when buying brand new pipes

 

[sablebrush52]

Story of my life, old boy.

That’s what she said.

 

[sablebrush52]

That was the case here too, but there was light darkening on the rim and teeth marks on the stem

The light darkening is a bit of a problem, teeth markings on the stem aren’t necessarily.

I’ve bought a couple of unsmoked pipes whose previous owners had done a bit of beavering on them.

None of them had been listed as unsmoked, so it was quite a surprise to discover that the chambers and airways were completely unsmoked.

Teething seems to have been their only purpose.

 

[xrundog]

eBay generally defaults to the buyer during disputes, for better or worse depending on which you happen to be. Unfortunately this type of buyer protection defaults back to the seller if what you want is to keep the item but haggle for a lower price. When I receive an item I think was advertised deceptively, I make a choice--keep or return. Negotiating a rebate leaves you at the seller's mercy.

They having been said, identifying a particular eBay seller is a risky proposition. It's likely to be a friend of several forum members who will feel obliged to pile on in their defense with pages full of "I've had nothing but good experiences" posts.

I agree. I have bought a few pipes advertised as unsmoked. I used to get pretty bent out of shape. Now I either return them or keep them and say nothing.
If I paid a premium for it being unsmoked it would Probably go back. Depends on the pipe and what I paid.
EBay is impossible to police. And it isn’t worth the raised blood pressure.

 

[AJL67]

Story of my life, old boy.

No shit where was he with this advice before i got married.

 

[ssjones]

Getting stiffed is always complicated, but if you are diligent with engaging the seller about the issue, and you don’t feel they give a shit, by all means, let loose here.

Just be prepared that not everyone will agree with you.

Agree with Woodsroad. Any, no knocking forum sponsors, contact them privately to resolve any issues.

We don't want an ongoing thread dedicated to bitching about vendor issues. Hopefully they were isolated enough to only require the occasional thread.

And I believe the ever popular ebay seller "Shiny Pipes" has closed their account.

 

[theTomTom]

Agree with Woodsroad. Any, no knocking forum sponsors, contact them privately to resolve any issues.

We don't want an ongoing thread dedicated to bitching about vendor issues. Hopefully they were isolated enough to only require the occasional thread.

And I believe the ever popular ebay seller "Shiny Pipes" has closed their account.

Thats an issue of supressing the truth. Just because a paying vendor sponsor person can pay to get special privilege like that policy is a joke.


The fanboyism will destroy anyone who had anything bad to say about a particular company or product no matter what.