From the Boswell's Website - Buckle-Up, It's About to Get Bumpy

[mso489]

When I visited the Boswell site, they seemed to have sold everything but one churchwarden, so maybe the

credit card issue hasn't inhibited sales much for them. You can't even try to put it on a card if someone

else got there first. To tell the truth, if I wanted a pipe, I'd be happy to phone them and have them hold

the pipe I wanted while I sent them a check, pronto. If that was what it took. But I guess I'm a quill pen and

parchment kind of guy anyway.

 

[peckinpahhombre]

I personally would never buy from a vendor that wanted cheques rather than a credit card or paypal. No doubt this will hurt their sales, but it is up to them. Maybe they don't care. Clearly they could find another processor if they wanted to since other vendors don't have this issue.
With respect to Just for Him - they only take Visa and won't take Mastercard. On their website they say: "Due to credit card company policies concerning tobacco sales we are no longer able to accept payments by MasterCard over the internet."

 

[peckinpahhombre]

And by the way, up until recently a two tier pricing strategy (ie charging a customer a surcharge if they use your credit card) was simply not allowed under Mastercard or Visa rules. They could refuse to process for that reason alone. This was recently struck down in the US, but such fees are still rare because customers act very negatively in the face of such explicit fees. See http://business.time.com/2013/01/25/a-4-surcharge-for-using-a-credit-card-legal-but-not-likely/

 

[rickpal14]

I am actually in the area and will be stopping into Boswells Wed morning. Can't wait to see what they have to say about it!!! All I know is that I will NOT be walking out of there empty handed!!!

 

[dhizzy]

I feel like I am about to blow an effin' gasket. I just can't take this commie bullshit anymore. Welcome to the USSA where folks are punished for doing well while the derelicts live large. Prevent underage purchases my foot. How many 16 year olds smoke a pipe? Maybe a long time ago, but not this generation. Its just another excuse to further the agenda...

 

[zonomo]

I am SO SO SO SO SO SO disappointed to read about this. I just buzzed over to the Boswell site. There's the bottom line. These ridiculous policies HURT business, hurt families and are nothing more the political correctness run amok. If I would have started smoking a pipe today, I would not have spent the HUNDREDS of dollars at Boswells because I wouldn't have taken a chance with a company that only sells via old school mail order. Of course I will now. In fact, I want to go out of my way to support their business. Gentlemen and Laides here, be prepared for the same nonsense with our guns and ammo. Its coming up next.

 

[pipinho]

Or they could just accept orders via paypal

 

[matchstickman]

Did anyone happen to notice the little blurb on the site that says that "Additionally,we will be listing pipes on our Ebay store under gb586.
For customers who enjoy the convenience of Ebay, these Boswell pipes will be listed
using the BUY NOW feature."
Does this mean maybe JM is not as stubborn as we thought and may try going the paypal route? Possibly. Would I be upset if I had to send in a money order to get a pipe from Boswells? Not necessarily. Does that mean this whole thing is not total bulls**t? Not by a long shot. I am just as pissed as anyone else, but at least it seems like JM is looking for a way around the problem. I personally love Boswell pipes and tobacco so much that if it came down to it, I would mail them a money order and wait a few days longer in order to get a pipe from them if thats what it took. In the mean time, hopefully JM can get this mess sorted out and stick it to the credit card processing companies in the process.

 

[ssjones]

JM's daughter runs the Ebay site, or at least she did.

 

[lazybugger]

This truly sucks ... fantastic site and people ... I have never had anything except stellar service from ... I call in my orders from nz and use a credit card and they really looked after me ... very sry to see this happen and wee bit worried we wont be able to order from them. I hope they get it sorted soon so I can order again .

 

[sjfine]

I haven't thought this through, so it may not be feasible, but what if we sent them a physical debit card - the kind you can get at the drug store? Load it up when you want to place an order, and they could run the physical card through the reader? No one would dispute the signature, right?
And, on the other hand, there has got to be a lawsuit here. Just sayin'.

 

[yazamitaz]

And by the way, up until recently a two tier pricing strategy (ie charging a customer a surcharge if they use your credit card) was simply not allowed under Mastercard or Visa rules. They could refuse to process for that reason alone.

Peck - in the States just about EVERY gas station advertises a higher price for cc transactions over cash. There are also some (small mom and pop) shops that tack on a fee for cc, or even more effectively, offer a small discount if you pay with cash

 

[pruss]

This is interesting... and apparently the decision not to process payments is completely up the discretion of the credit card processor. My wife works for a national association of retailers here in Canada and has seen this happen many times with B&M stores that retail items which could be considered "Adult" (with the capital "A" and a "winkwink").
Apparently many of the large and mid-size processors have "decency" policies which provide an immediate out clause for the processor if they believe that the retailer is selling items that contravene that policy. Further, they also look to limit liability where risk of retailing restricted items to minors is an issue. Hence the likely hesitation about processing online tobacco purchases.

I just can't take this commie bullshit anymore

At the risk of waxing too close to the political... I'd argue that this kind of decision is actually a purely capitalistic response, as what we're seeing here is a corporation making an economic decision to either a) mitigate risk or b) arbitrarily determine their business partners. Both decisions necessitate a cost benefit analysis from which the processor will build a business strategy for the sole benefit of the processor versus the benefit of a collective (or larger business community, or state, or...).
$0.05 in the bucket (we don't have pennies in Canada anymore)
-- Pat

 

[zonomo]

I'd argue that this kind of decision is actually a purely capitalistic response, as what we're seeing here is a corporation making an economic decision to either a) mitigate risk or b) arbitrarily determine their business partners.

With all due respect sir, this has nothing to do with capitalism. Every economic system bends to reduce business and financial risk. This is 100% about Commie BS. There are MANY other types of business that produce more risks than B&Ms If I were to see statistics that indicate that B&M have higher "rejection rates", "fraud rates", then I could see this. But I just don't believe it. If that is the case, then outlaw Online purchases of concert tickets. Or Online purchases of consumer electronics. I've been the victim of ID Theft and those are were the perp spent my money. I do agree however that a business in a capitalistic system will determine their own business partners based upon what's in their best interest. Nothing wrong here. Again, if B&M's has different (ie: Lower) attributes than other types of businesses, then so be it but I just don't believe it. If tobacco is so horrible, then just ban it all together. Go to every tobacco plantation in the world and destroy the fields and make it a felony to possess or use tobacco product. After that, we see what's next on the list to take away from the citizens. Rant over. I am upset by this bull crap + Internet Sales Tax. Time to go get some more caffeine... while I still can.

 

[pruss]

Hey Zonomo, I totally understand and respect your perspective. I guess we're playing with different definitions here.
Cheers,
-- Pat

 

[tennsmoker]

Friends and neighbors, this is another example of taking the handle off the pump (see Pipe Love Blog on this site).
I love Boswells pipes and tobaccos. I now own several of JM's great smoking pipes. I just posted a photo of my most recent Boswell PAD the other night.
The pipes are just so well made, smoke like a charm from the get-go and I really enjoy the light tobacco (just plain, old-fashioned goodness, not too strong, not too weak, just right in my book).
So, whatever JM thinks is best for his business and his family, I'm all for. I don't care if I have to travel to Chambersburg by dogsled, I will continue to purchase Boswell pipes and tobacco.
Nuff said.

 

[peckinpahhombre]

Peck - in the States just about EVERY gas station advertises a higher price for cc transactions over cash. There are also some (small mom and pop) shops that tack on a fee for cc, or even more effectively, offer a small discount if you pay with cash

Yes, as I posted above, these surcharges are now allowed in the US as a result of a recent court decision there. Currently they are not allowed in Canada however. That said, retailers are trying to overturn these restrictions up here under our competition laws. If they succeed, then we will be seeing more of those surcharges here as well.

 

[pruss]

Currently they are not allowed in Canada however.

True story. I also express my displeasure when retailers try to slide these costs in by charging for debit/credit transactions by leaving my purchases on the counter and walking out the door. The irony is, if the retailer simply adjusted their SRPs, instead of adding on a debit/credit sur-charge, I would never know the difference.
-- Pat

 

[pitchfork]

Gentlemen, I would humbly suggest that terms like "capitalism" and "communism" really aren't the best terms for understanding the political challenges we face as pipe smokers.
Big Government and Big Business are so tangled up with one another that it makes no sense to treat either one in isolation. Generally speaking, neither entity gives a rip about our hobby or our rights. As we were discussing yesterday about the online tax, it's Amazon, et al. who are pushing it, in addition to politicians (of both parties).
Outside of N. Korea, I don't know where you'd find actual "commies," but the only genuine "capitalists" I see these days are people like Jim Boswell -- the little guy who wants to make an honest buck. The big corporations, meanwhile, are happy to lobby Big Gov for special legislation and subsidies that favor them against their smaller competitors.
For a humorous take on this, see George Carlin's monologue about the "big club."
EDIT: I had embedded a video earlier, but I'm afraid it would just muddy the waters.

 

[zonomo]

Well I am exercising my right at this very moment. I am smoking a beautiful Boswell Power packed with yummy Boswell Paradise tobacco. 8) For the aro guys/gals out there.. its a must try.