Harris I know you've bought a ton from P&C and been a big advocate for them. You buy like most people, best price being a major factor. You and Peck (and others) buy large amounts and when you place an order it's big and they'll take great care of you. That's business 101. I know in my business's when certain people called they got the golden treatment because they made a difference on my bottom line. The SP problem was being put in a corner where they charged my CC and sent me an Email three days later telling me the item was out of stock. When I called and was told to pick another tin and they would hold my order until I did, or it came in. When I asked when, the answer was she didn't know and had no control of it. We are in way different situations in life as you know, and it bothered me that the CC charge was on hold unless I picked something else, with no ideal when it would be filled, which would have made a big difference. The only option given was to cancel the order. I'd never had that happen before and honestly was never talked to like that. I did call the next day and asked to talk to the manager, it may have been Ted I don't remember. But he did say that should not have happened, and he would talk to the girl. Both of us at that time never had been treated like that from P&C, and yes my orders are small and steady, and had been trying them. Bad luck, maybe but a good reason in my book not to buy from them. Now pipes, hands down they're the best and will do great into the future having branded themselves so well.
I just think it was inappropriate as he said, to highjack the thread and make a large post about his business. Same with Rich, I'm not bashing what he did only when and where he did it. You have a special relationship with Rich and probably Ted which is cool, but other than a couple others on the board, we don't. As I was just reminded many posters just +1 or repeat what someone else said or heard, not putting themselves out there. I'm passionate about the hobby first and want all my brothers to get the most tobacco they can before it starts to be too much for their budget.
Do I think that setting a small brand wide price increase across the board on something they make a few bucks on was a dumb move? Sure, the stock they're sitting on is the same everyone else is, and other than two they don't even sell that much. I've yet to see the new prices for this latest shipment of Stonehaven or Penzance online yet. So we'll see, like you, I don't smoke the stuff its just an investment in tobacco for us. On Ebay two "scalpers" just got $127 for Penzance which is crazy. Many of us know what a great return on investment tobacco is. We are going to clean up in less time than other commodities, whether it's profit or hedging against price increase. Hell gold took me 10 years to get the return we'll get in just a few, and I couldn't smoke it. Not to mention pipes, which your sitting on a gold mine :P That's where the big bucks will be in the future.
So the horse has been beaten enough, P&C's only hit was the loss of International sales bump and other than some hurt feelings, especially one person, there sales are going through the roof like all vendors with all the cellaring going on. 90+ percent of people buy on price, policy and make $100 orders. If I remember correctly they did 3 million pounds last year, I'm sure that's with cigars. So I'm peace out on this whole issue my friend, too much time and I've some gaming to do.