Before I begin I will say I received written permission to post my experience with smokingpipes.com.
Some of you may have read my initial disappointment with a pipe I purchased in my new member post. I want to conclude that issue here with much happiness.
I purchased a Peterson Irish Harp 221 bent billiard. I love that these models have sterling bands and acrylic stems. I have bought and sold dozens of Pete's over the years but I have always had an affinity to the Irish Harp series in sandblast which by the way has been increasingly difficult to find the different models so that I have duplicates.
For the first time in 35 years of buying Pete's I received a pipe with a gap about a fingernails width between the stem and stummel where the acrylic meets the silver band. Thr stem was crooked because of it. I couldn't believe it. Guess once in 35 years is to be expected. Peterson has great quality overall in my opinion.
I went to chat online with the sp.com rep and sent pics. I assumed since both are now owned by Laudisi, I believe, this should be easy to return. The person on chat agreed to the return and sent me a return authorization email. The person also took a SKU to reserve the replacement.
About an hour or so later I noticed there was no prepaid label sent to ship back considering shipping was included in the price of the original pipe. I felt considering everything sp.com should pay the return on principle. I contacted support in email and was told the return was discretionary and they do not pay return shipping since the pipe is smokeable. Ugh. What about aesthetics?
That was when my hackels were raised. The issue certainly was not as they said and after a few back and forth emails with no resolution I came here to the pipe community and posted my complaint generically. I needed to vent. Maybe I missed something?
After some private messages with a couple people here, I once again sent in my pictures to smokingpipes.com.
Turns out they didn't see the pictures from when I sent then in their chat room. I never figured. Once they saw the issue again they agreed and quickly issued a return prepaid label to ship back. I was very happy.
I have to say that in all our exchanges between myself and smokingpipes.com we were polite and respectful. They were extremely responsive and returned my emails within a day or so, sometimes same day. They stand behind what they sell and are a credit to the community.
All in all a happy ending.
So now currently I await my new pipe and most likely will break it in with some Orientals considering this will be yet another dedicated pipe to that genre. As if I need yet another pipe.
And yes since I'm here now I'll continue to post and add to the community.
Thanks to all!
Some of you may have read my initial disappointment with a pipe I purchased in my new member post. I want to conclude that issue here with much happiness.
I purchased a Peterson Irish Harp 221 bent billiard. I love that these models have sterling bands and acrylic stems. I have bought and sold dozens of Pete's over the years but I have always had an affinity to the Irish Harp series in sandblast which by the way has been increasingly difficult to find the different models so that I have duplicates.
For the first time in 35 years of buying Pete's I received a pipe with a gap about a fingernails width between the stem and stummel where the acrylic meets the silver band. Thr stem was crooked because of it. I couldn't believe it. Guess once in 35 years is to be expected. Peterson has great quality overall in my opinion.
I went to chat online with the sp.com rep and sent pics. I assumed since both are now owned by Laudisi, I believe, this should be easy to return. The person on chat agreed to the return and sent me a return authorization email. The person also took a SKU to reserve the replacement.
About an hour or so later I noticed there was no prepaid label sent to ship back considering shipping was included in the price of the original pipe. I felt considering everything sp.com should pay the return on principle. I contacted support in email and was told the return was discretionary and they do not pay return shipping since the pipe is smokeable. Ugh. What about aesthetics?
That was when my hackels were raised. The issue certainly was not as they said and after a few back and forth emails with no resolution I came here to the pipe community and posted my complaint generically. I needed to vent. Maybe I missed something?
After some private messages with a couple people here, I once again sent in my pictures to smokingpipes.com.
Turns out they didn't see the pictures from when I sent then in their chat room. I never figured. Once they saw the issue again they agreed and quickly issued a return prepaid label to ship back. I was very happy.
I have to say that in all our exchanges between myself and smokingpipes.com we were polite and respectful. They were extremely responsive and returned my emails within a day or so, sometimes same day. They stand behind what they sell and are a credit to the community.
All in all a happy ending.
So now currently I await my new pipe and most likely will break it in with some Orientals considering this will be yet another dedicated pipe to that genre. As if I need yet another pipe.
And yes since I'm here now I'll continue to post and add to the community.
Thanks to all!
