Alternative to Briarville for Stem Replacement

[sablebrush52]

If that link is meant to go directly to Mark Tinsky, it doesn't (the person who owns the business at that link is listed as Mary Ann Keller, whose profile says she used to work with Mark).

She was Mark's wife and she did the repair work, so the link is what it's always been, as she's always handled the repairs.

 

[irishearl]

I was satisfied with the stem Rich did for me, wide and thin bit I did select the color from his website. Sorry your experience was so bad.

Yeah, I used him for the first time in November to put in a stock replacement stem. I chose the color. Enormously satisfied with how it turned out.

 

[Piping Abe]

I’ve have some rough estates repaired by Briarville and the work has always been great. I haven’t had a complete stem replacement. I’d still recommend them.

Sorry the repair did not meet your requests, but he still refunded your money. So that says a lot about the business.

 

[sablebrush52]

Apologies if it came across that way. The stem replacement sucks, given what you asked for. As you say, Jesse has provided a good list and you already know some artisan carvers.

I don’t know briarville, but I see them recommended here regularly. It is helpful to get a clearer picture of some of their work. It is also helpful to know that you were refunded.

Which reminds me that Ryan Alden has done some amazing restoration work for Ashdigger. If Ryan is open to doing repair, he's be high on my list. Ryan learned quite a bit from George Dibos when he was learning his craft.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

Perhaps the problem is or rather was, that you did not communicate correctly what you wanted. There is a big difference in requesting a replacement stem that is as close to the original as possible and wanting a new handmade stem with matching color and specifications for the bit.

The pattern in the replacement is close with the exception of the wide decoration in the middle.

Additionally, if you looked at the price list posted on his site you would have seen that you were simply getting a stock replacement. It plainly states that hand cut stems start at $100.

The estimate I got from Rich was $70.00 and the final price was $82.00. Does the $59.00 include shipping? That was the extra $12.00 for me.

If it was miscommunication, that takes two people.

No, it doesn't. I clearly communicated what I wanted when I filled out the work order. It looks like a standard stem. If it's hand cut, why wouldn't be duplicate the original stem exactly? I didn't look at the price list because I didn't care. You apparently aren't reading what I've posted.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

I’ve have some rough estates repaired by Briarville and the work has always been great. I haven’t had a complete stem replacement. I’d still recommend them.

Sorry the repair did not meet your requests, but he still refunded your money. So that says a lot about the business.

What does it say really? I spent almost an hour packing the pipe, going to the post office and waiting in line. I spent over $10 in postage. I went two weeks without one of my favorite pipes, one I've smoked every single day since receiving it over two months ago. You recommend him all you want but don't be surprised when he smudges your character with his crap work.

 

[Piping Abe]

What does it say really? I spent almost an hour packing the pipe, going to the post office and waiting in line. I spent over $10 in postage. I went two weeks without one of my favorite pipes, one I've smoked every single day since receiving it over two months ago. You recommend him all you want but don't be surprised when he smudges your character with his crap work.

Every repairman or business has had bad work. We even see members recieve estate pipes from SPC that are not cleaned. They still sell thousands of estates. Sometimes one makes it through the cracks.

I’d bet for every bad job that Briarville does theres a hundred great jobs. It’s your right to not use them and great thing you don’t have to. But thousands of satisfied customers will continue to use them and recommend them.

We even have comments above about positive stem replacements.

I’m not saying it’s ok that the stem wasn’t what you expected. But you did recieve a refund. He could of kept your money but they were honest and refunded the money, so they obviously care about their reputation.

 

[DotAndBang’sPipes]

I’m really glad Briarville refunded you the money.

It was, unfortunately, also Briarville that took a pristine cross stamp off of a Barling Quaint original stem a few years ago. I sent it for basic aesthetic clean up because I was afraid I would ruin it…

I was flabbergasted when I got it back with only the faintest cross Barling logo still left because I assumed (to my own shame obviously) that taking any stamping off any stem was a bare minimum standard of pipe repair practice.

But this was a Barling Q and for me me the disappointment wasn’t about owning a pristine museum piece… it was about my love for the hobby of pipe smoking and my excitement over the sheer good fortune I had undeservedly experienced in finding such a sweet pipe.

I wish Briarville the best. I don’t know them, just their work. And I want to add that other pipes I have sent them for repairs have been adequately treated. But that was a major loss for me, and a completely unexpected one.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

Every repairman or business has had bad work. We even see members recieve estate pipes from SPC that are not cleaned. They still sell thousands of estates. Sometimes one makes it through the cracks.

I’d bet for every bad job that Briarville does theres a hundred great jobs. It’s your right to not use them and great thing you don’t have to. But thousands of satisfied customers will continue to use them and recommend them.

We even have comments above about positive stem replacements.

I’m not saying it’s ok that the stem wasn’t what you expected. But you did recieve a refund. He could of kept your money but they were honest and refunded the money, so they obviously care about their reputation.

You'd lose that bet. Look at the other negative comments on this thread.

 

[Piping Abe]

You'd lose that bet. Look at the other negative comments on this thread.

No I wouldn’t. Forums make up the minority of pipe smokers. And most people never comment either way what they do with their pipes and tobacco.

Briarville has been restoring pipes since 2012 and has a lot of reviews and positive comments elsewhere.

We can agree to disagree on this topic and there are others who can make you a new stem. And I hope it turns out well next time.

If I ever have bad service from Briarville then I may change my mind but as of now they are the ones who get my business.

 

[Sjmiller CPG]

No, it doesn't. I clearly communicated what I wanted when I filled out the work order. It looks like a standard stem. If it's hand cut, why wouldn't be duplicate the original stem exactly? I didn't look at the price list because I didn't care. You apparently aren't reading what I've posted.

And you are obviously avoiding answering questions that might shed more light on the subject. 1) Did you ask for a hand cut stem? Rich apparently didn’t think so since hand cut stems start at $100, not $35. 2) Are you counting shipping in the $59?

You got your money back but you are acting like some great tragedy has befallen you. If a bad pipe repair is, to you, a tragedy that deserves such condemnation and out cry, then you are a lucky individual for never having to have faced a true tragedy.

 

[MCJ]

She was Mark's wife and she did the repair work, so the link is what it's always been, as she's always handled the repairs.

No worries, just clarifying that the link was not directly to Mark (since your post said to contact him for repairs not his ex-wife).

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

No I wouldn’t. Forums make up the minority of pipe smokers. And most people never comment either way what they do with their pipes and tobacco.

Briarville has been restoring pipes since 2012 and has a lot of reviews and positive comments elsewhere.

We can agree to disagree on this topic and there are others who can make you a new stem. And I hope it turns out well next time.

If I ever have bad service from Briarville then I may change my mind but as of now they are the ones who get my business.

We will just have to agree to disagree and that's fine. I'm fine with people making mistakes but his effort on this one was pure negligence IMHO.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

And you are obviously avoiding answering questions that might shed more light on the subject. 1) Did you ask for a hand cut stem? Rich apparently didn’t think so since hand cut stems start at $100, not $35. 2) Are you counting shipping in the $59?

You got your money back but you are acting like some great tragedy has befallen you. If a bad pipe repair is, to you, a tragedy that deserves such condemnation and out cry, then you are a lucky individual for never having to have faced a true tragedy.

I didn't ask for a hand cut stem. I had no idea whether it would be hand cut or not. I asked for a stem of similar appearance with a wider and thinner mouthpiece. What he provided fulfilled none of those requests. Nowhere did I state any cost expectations, limitations or concerns. I made the mistake of trusting him to pay attention to my requests. What pisses me off is I clearly stated what I wanted and he couldn't take 30 seconds to send me a photo to see if it would be okay when there was such a stark difference between what I asked for and what he was providing.

You obviously know nothing about me or you wouldn't be making such stupid comments.

 

[Sjmiller CPG]

I didn't ask for a hand cut stem. I had no idea whether it would be hand cut or not. I asked for a stem of similar appearance with a wider and thinner mouthpiece. What he provided fulfilled none of those requests. Nowhere did I state any cost expectations, limitations or concerns. I made the mistake of trusting him to pay attention to my requests. What pisses me off is I clearly stated what I wanted and he couldn't take 30 seconds to send me a photo to see if it would be okay when there was such a stark difference between what I asked for and what he was providing.

You obviously know nothing about me or you wouldn't be making such stupid comments.

If you didn’t ask for a hand cut then you got, at least to some degree, what you asked for, a stem of similar appearance.

In regards to my “stupid comments”, you can only insult someone if they value your opinion. I do not.

Finally, I do know something about you. I know for certain I don’t want to know you, so this interaction is at an end.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

If you didn’t ask for a hand cut then you got, at least to some degree, what you asked for, a stem of similar appearance.

In regards to my “stupid comments”, you can only insult someone if they value your opinion. I do not.

Finally, I do know something about you. I know for certain I don’t want to know you, so this interaction is at an end.

Perhaps English comprehension isn't your strong point but I didn't specify a pre cut stem either. I have specific parameters of what I wanted and mistakenly presumed a Perhaps would attempt to follow those instructions. The stupid comments wasn't meant as an insult, just a statement of fact.

 

[georged]

FWIW, I don't think that hoosierpipeguy's expectations were unrealistic, or his reaction to what was returned to him as a "completed job" was unjustified.

 

[craig61a]