Pipe Not Received from Retailer (Site Sponsor)

[OzPiper]

I bought an estate pipe - a Tsuge Ikebana (so not a cheap, beater pipe) over 3 months ago from a retailer and a Forums sponsor, whom I had previously praised and recommended to Forums members for their great service.

The retailer is NOT SmokingPipes, TobaccoTreasures, Mkelaw Pipes, PipeStud, Danish Pipe Shop, Pipes2Smoke, Al Pascia, Tabaccheria Corti or LePipe.It.
I will not name and shame them publicly. If anyone wants to know, they can PM me.

The pipe was never received. I contacted them a couple of days ago to resolve the issue, suggesting a store credit equal to the cost of the pipe.

I was very disappointed when they replied that they were would not refund or extend a store credit, but MAY consider a discount on a future purchase.
Considering that payment was made promptly by me, and that the delivery/carrier was chosen by the retailer, I thought this was a totally unreasonable response.

Needless to say I will not be dealing with them anymore

 

[romaso]

File a dispute with your credit card company, and also with paypal if you used them.
You could also file a complaint (probably online) with the state attorney general in both your state and the company's state.
If you're not in the US, check with your different levels of governments (local, national etc) for help.
If it was shipped, also file a complaint with the carrier.
Credit card companies are usually very helpful.

 

[OzPiper]

Thank you for your suggestion and file a complaint with my credit card company and PayPal

 

[wyfbane]

Hope that works out for you. Those kinds of things, though smallish compared to health or love or career, really piss me off with a capital P.

In this modern age, there are tracking numbers and records in plenty. They would know if they sent it, and should be sending it insured. If not, it's on them and you should get a refund.

 

[warren]

You might PM the site owner with the company's name. He has a bit of a vested interest in how the vendors handle complaints from members who abet his enterprise by shopping advertisers.

 

[OzPiper]

You might PM the site owner with the company's name. He has a bit of a vested interest in how the vendors handle complaints from members who abet his enterprise by shopping advertisers.

That's a good suggestion
Thank you

 

[mikethompson]

I will definitely second the suggestion of going right to the credit card company and PayPal. Sorry this had to happen to you, and from a forum sponsor no less.

 

[pantsBoots]

I bought an estate pipe - a Tsuge Ikebana (so not a cheap, beater pipe) over 3 months ago from a retailer and a Forums sponsor, whom I had previously praised and recommended to Forums members for their great service.

The retailer is NOT SmokingPipes, TobaccoTreasures, Mkelaw Pipes, PipeStud, Danish Pipe Shop, Pipes2Smoke, Al Pascia, Tabaccheria Corti or LePipe.It.
I will not name and shame them publicly. If anyone wants to know, they can PM me.

The pipe was never received. I contacted them a couple of days ago to resolve the issue, suggesting a store credit equal to the cost of the pipe.

I was very disappointed when they replied that they were would not refund or extend a store credit, but MAY consider a discount on a future purchase.
Considering that payment was made promptly by me, and that the delivery/carrier was chosen by the retailer, I thought this was a totally unreasonable response.

Needless to say I will not be dealing with them anymore

If the vendor refuses to make it right after obviously making some sort of shipping error, I would absolutely name them. If they stole your money, they'll obviously do it to other folks as well.

Agreed contacting PayPal and your card issuer is the right avenue at this point. Usually, if either gets enough complaints, they may elect to mark the company as a fraudster and disallow future payments.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Maybe they just don't like you,. ha ha. I kid, I kid. I hate to hear this, and I hope your credit card company gets it sorted out. But, keep in mind, if they did have tracking, and the carrier is that lying sack of excrement FedEx, or it was delivered to the wrong address, then they may be able to pull off a claim to keep your money.
You might want to check the tracking also. Have I mentioned how much I hate FedEx lately? I hope they go bankrupt and send the heirs of each board member and CEO spiraling down into debt that lasts for generations.

 

[admin]

I have information that the Australian post tried to deliver the pipe on 4 separate occasions.

 

[pipestud]

I have information that the Australian post tried to deliver the pipe on 4 separate occasions.

And thanks for the information, Kevin. As a vendor myself, over the years I've had purchasers who either gave me the incorrect shipping address, or attempts at delivery were unsuccessful for a variety of reasons (including one buyer I sold a pipe to on eBay who refused to sign for the package and later said he forgot he had bought the pipe). I humbly advise that if you make a purchase for anything, if you can't afford the loss, at least get insurance. Although even then it can still be a battle getting your money back if you don't receive what you purchased through no fault of your own. But hey, at least you have a shot at it.

 

[Ahi Ka]

Hope your pipe still turns up Ray, I know you were looking forward to that one.

 

[kcghost]

So the pipe got to Australia and they tried to deliver it four times and failed for some reason. I wonder what the problem was??

 

[cosmicfolklore]

It's those kangaroo mailmen. They always bounce back.

 

[Ahi Ka]

So the pipe got to Australia and they tried to deliver it four times and failed for some reason. I wonder what the problem was??

This could have something to do with it…

 

[OzPiper]

I have information that the Australian post tried to deliver the pipe on 4 separate occasions.

I got that information as well, when I checked the tracking information.

What is very strange is that my delivery address is my office, which is open Monday to Friday from 8.00am-5.00pm. There is always 1-3 staff on reception duty at all times. Also my office is a stand alone building, not a cubby hole stuck in a huge tower block. I'm on the Main Street of in the city and right next door to the Parcels Office.

I went personally to the Australia Post Parcel Depot to check, and was told that the parcel was sent back to the vendor. Even if the stuff up was made by Australia Post, the fact is that an item was paid for and not received.

I did not demand a refund. I politely asked for store credit, so the money would still be with them. But that was refused.

 

[OzPiper]

And thanks for the information, Kevin. As a vendor myself, over the years I've had purchasers who either gave me the incorrect shipping address, or attempts at delivery were unsuccessful for a variety of reasons (including one buyer I sold a pipe to on eBay who refused to sign for the package and later said he forgot he had bought the pipe). I humbly advise that if you make a purchase for anything, if you can't afford the loss, at least get insurance. Although even then it can still be a battle getting your money back if you don't receive what you purchased through no fault of your own. But hey, at least you have a shot at it.

A shipment of baccy which I bought from you didn't arrive. It had been delivered to an address in the USA - I'm not aware of a Sydney, USA.
I contacted you and was told a parcel had been returned and eventually I got the parcel.
So at least one story with a happy ending, even if I had to pay for postage twice.

Postal carriers do make mistakes. If the parcel does NOT reach me - perhaps it is the vendor who made the mistake when writing down the address.

As the purchaser, my responsibility ends as soon as the payment is made.
It is out of my hands after that.

 

[peregrinus]

As the purchaser, my responsibility ends as soon as the payment is made.
It is out of my hands after that.

I am sorry to hear you didn’t receive your shipment. This is a no-win proposition for you and the seller.

IfI understand it, the issue is who owns the product while it is in transit, the seller or the buyer?

e.g. : “FOB shipping point or origin” (the buyer is at risk after goods are shipped) or “FOB destination” (seller assumes risk up until the goods reach the buyer.

 

[macaroni]

I dropped in on this thread today because I was curious how someone is dealing with a troubline issue (since I'm having a slight one now, altogether and happily unrelated to the joys of pipes and tobacco)!

Now, as I read through these posts, I'm spellbound. Cosmic--you're cracking me up (again!)--stop!! Sorry to laugh amidst others misfortunes--and frustrations--buyers and sellers perhaps. Unknown grimlins in the system somewhere--a bracelet I bought for my better half spent 3 months this last Christmas at various places between Detroit and Dallas and USPS tracking was often wrong (sometimes incorrectly showing it had been delivered) and crazy (sometimes showing it going back and forth between these big US Postal Service "hubs") while it likely just sat in a USPS warehouse in Detroit (USPS final resolution and explanation, as I recall). Happily my present was delivered, better late than never! At one point, a USPS rep told me on one of my many lengthy phone calls--that the Detroit area has USPS semi-trucks backed up at their warehouse in a 1 mile long queue--they had a photo that USPS was sharing internally showing the back up! Holy cow! What a mess!!
Hope it all works out well.
kindly,
mike
ps--I sure wish Hoosier or Brobs had time to weigh in on this with their pithy observations -- meanwhile, Cosmic--don't stop now, please--gimme' more!! And gosh--I thought Fed Ex was "gold"--really!! Now I'm having second thoughts, really!

 

[macaroni]

. . . : “FOB shipping point or origin” (the buyer is at risk after goods are shipped) or “FOB destination” (seller assumes risk up until the goods reach the buyer.

Thanks for posting this. These phrases are new to me and I'm glad to know them and what they mean. There's much for me to learn at pipesmagazine, as usual. It's why I stop in daily and nightly! Thanks, and thanks to pipesmagazine for an amazing place to learn.
kindly
mike