Cornell & Diehl Small Batch: Carolina Red Flake

[jmatt]

I post this question in the hopes it saves 10 or 50 of us from asking the same question: Do we return all tins through smokingpipes.com, regardless of where they were purchased? I bought 10 from pipesandcigars.com, because they were the first I saw to put it for sale on their website. Then later in the day I bought 6 more from smokingpipes.com. Price per tin was identical. I'm sure others of us bought from other locations, including local b&m tobacconists.
So return to site of purchase? Or return all via smokingpipes.com?
Thanks. And I hope most of us can chalk this up to stuff happens. There's no way anyone of us feels half as bad as Jeremy, Ted and Sykes.

 

[deathmetal]

C&D are handling this like professionals. Consider me impressed by their response and the gentleness of their interaction with customers on this and other forums.

 

[andrew]

I'd love to know if baking the tin, or microwaving the tobacco would remove any smoking risk. I have already smoked a bowl of CR (the day it arrived) from a tin that has mold. I actually noticed it looked odd, but blew it off and loaded it up anyway. That was five days ago.

If you didn't notice any ill effects and it tasted okay, and it was 5 days ago, perhaps it's okay. I think the best way to prevent further mold would be to keep it in the freezer.

All in all though if there's a total recall the most honest thing to do is offer a full refund, or replace it if another batch of red flake is made, and adjust the amount of tins accordingly that are produced. It's kind of like when concerts are cancelled, ticket holders can get a refund or usually the band will come at a later date. Overall I think most people bought this because they wanted red flake, so the option of switching to another tin of C&D isn't exactly a fair deal. I'm sure not many people would of bought ten tins etc. of regular production C&D, they bought 10 tins because this was a limited run. It would be like finally getting your hands on stonehaven or penzance, it being recalled and then being offered one of the more readily available Estorica offerings, to put it in perspective.

 

[pipesmokingtom]

From what I understand, vendors will take back the returns or you can contact Laudisi directly and they will send you a UPS label. Since you bought from multiple sources and have so much, I would just contact them directly and have them send one call tag for all the tins. After they receive them, they'll send a comparable number of tins of your choosing or a refund.
They responded to my return request within a day and I'm currently awaiting my shipping label.

 

[zitotczito]

Just another question on the return, if I return my 5 tins directly to Laudisi and just get a refund, will I also be reimbursed for the 6% sales tax since I got mine from P&C and live in PA.

 

[pipesmokingtom]

The email I got (and the statement by the COO) gave the distinct impression that they aren't going to argue with accommodating anyone that needs accommodation. They recommended contacting them and they'll make it right.

 

[peckinpahhombre]

Damn, could it be that Harris was right about those Red virginias after all?
4 tins on the way to North of The Wall. Have not received them yet.

 

[foolwiththefez]

Damn, could it be that Harris was right about those Red virginias after all?

What did Harris say about them?

 

[bigpond]

What did Harris say about them?

I believe he said the Red's give him epic 'roids.

 

[leacha]

I've finally got around to sending them my email.

Hello,
I have 10 tins of Cornell & Diehl's Small Batch Carolina Red Flake, from Order# xxxxxx, that I would like to return for a refund of $95.60 (10 x $9.56 = $95.60) to my PayPal account.
I would also like to exchange 1 tin from a PipesandCigars.com order for 1 tin of Cornell & Diehl's Opening Night.
Additionally would it be possible to receive a 1oz. sample of Cornell & Diehl's Pegasus for my inconvenience?
Please let me know if you can accommodate these requests and to instruct me on how to proceed forward.
Thank you,

 

[tennsmoker]

I have ordered pipe tobacco from C&D since they arrived in North Carolina. I have known the late Craig Tarler, a splendid tobacco blender, and his wife Patty Tarler for a long time. So, I know this problem of mold is an isolated case.
I, too, was looking forward to smoking the red flake, knowing full well that it would be special. I am sad that the tins have arrived with mold. I am returning six tins, unopened.
I called Laudisi this morning and got a nice customer relations person on the phone. Shorty there after, I received the shipping label and instructions by email.
This is the kind of customer service you expect and receive from both C&D and SP.com. It's excellent on both ends of that spectrum.
I have long been a fan of both SP.com and C&D and will continue my support. They are topnotch professionals and I very much appreciate their reaction to this problem of mold in a tobacco blend.
I hope that in the future, Jeremy will be able to find more of that great Old Belt tobacco and redo his small batch red flake.
These things happen. SP.com and C&D have responded correctly. Let's move on.

 

[zitotczito]

Well as usual, things have to be a hassle. Called Laudasi and was told either they could handle it or I can call P&C and possibly get a store credit. If Laudasi handled it, I needed to send an email and attach a copy of my purchase invoice so they could see what I paid. I called P&C and was told to call Laudasi as P&C was not handling it.
So I probably have 5 tins of defective tobacco, they recalled them and I have to work at sending them back. It's a shame as I was going to select 5 tins just to make things easier for them. Well I have not decided yet what I will do at this point, I have to think about it!

 

[mcitinner1]

Nothing's easy.

 

[samcoffeeman]

I never liked C&D tobacco's very much. I've seen more issues with mold from them than anyone else. This is a damn shame. Glad I didn't get any 'cause I don't like their baccys.

 

[jvnshr]

After reading the whole thread I have realized that all 2400 tins were bought by the PM forum members

 

[jon11]

C&D (includes GLP) remains one of my top 3 tobacco houses. Love a good bit of their blends. It's just unfortunate that this happened. For what's it's worth I've never opened a C&D tin prior to this with mold. And I'm sure others have had the same experience.

 

[hawky454]

I never liked C&D tobacco's very much. I've seen more issues with mold from them than anyone else. This is a damn shame. Glad I didn't get any 'cause I don't like their baccys.

I used to feel the same way but I have slowly come to love their blends. I honestly think most of their selections are geared towards the more experienced pipe smoker who like bold, strong and full bodied blends. Old Joe Krantz is one of the best everyday, any scenario type blends I have ever come across. I highly suggest you don't write them off for good, I'm sure glad I didn't. Their burley blends are unparalleled.

 

[jon11]

+1 on Old Joe Krantz hawky

 

[pipesmokingtom]

That's what I'm trading my Carolina Red for. Haven't tried it. Pretty excited about the OJK.

 

[deathmetal]

I have sent the following message to Laudisi Group:

Dear Laudisi,
I read from your recent message that you accept returns of defective items in exchange for new C&D tobaccos. Enclosed find a list of the material contents of my life, all of which are defective, which I would like to trade for tins or bulk of Old Joe Krantz.
Thank you for your attention in this matter.