PipesAndCigars.Com: Are They Trustworthy?

[The Novice Piper]

In recent months I've seen some blends available on Pipesandcigars that weren't available anywhere else at that time, or at least not for a comparable price. So far I've not needed to use them, but going forward I would like to have that option.

However, I've also seen some posts here that mention trouble ordering from P&C and advise avoiding them. I can't seem to find those posts now, and I want to get a clearer idea of what the (apparently) ongoing issue is with this retailer before I make some upcoming purchases.

Could anyone tell me what the rub is regarding this site? They look very well established and have positive reviews, generally speaking.

What's been your experience using these guys, and/or what warnings would you offer?

 

[MattRVA]

I’ve had good and bad experiences with them. The packaging isn’t that great and they have missed items in my order before but promptly corrected the issue. It’s safe to order from them but be aware that you may have issues, more so than Smoking Pipes.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Oh boy... here comes the can of worms.

I've never had a bad experience with them, but apparently they've pissed off a bunch of other members. I wouldn't hesitate at all buying from them; however, I would prefer to support businesses that sponsor this forum. So, YMMV

 

[Kobold]

It’s obviously a roll of the dice with them. I personally stick with our site sponsors because they are excellent.

 

[mikethompson]

Oh boy... here comes the can of worms.

My thoughts exactly.

I prefer to support SP myself, because they are good forum sponsors.

 

[Richmond B. Funkenhouser]

Yes, they are a legitimate business.

I would choose Smokingpipes or Tobaccopipes first, if the price and availablity was nearly the same.

That being said... I use whichever place has the stuff I'm looking for.

I've had a couple of bumps along the way with P&C, but nothing I couldn't live with.

 

[The Novice Piper]

I had a feeling this would be a touchy subject; I didn't know that sponsorship was an element of that conversation.

This being the case, could you guys please let me know who are the sponsors for this forum? If I understand SEO correctly, live ads and a designated page would only give a partial picture.

Thanks

 

[The Libertine]

Inky place I order from. Never had a bad experience.

 

[Richmond B. Funkenhouser]

But, I'm pretty sure there are a couple of members who hate their guts.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

please let me know who are the sponsors

You can find them on the left hand side of the forum.

 

[khiddy]

I have had good experience with P&C, even when I've had slight issues with my order. Just know that their online tracking system is shite, and in order to get customer service you need to call rather than rely on their online form.

For the record, I also order regularly from forum sponsors Smoking Pipes, Tobacco Pipes, Missouri Meerschaum, PipeStud, and TinBids, all of which I've also had excellent service from.

Other reliable online sources that I've ordered from include CigarBid, Cup O' Joes, Boswell Pipes, and Pipe Shoppe. I even just placed an order from Germany, from Estervals. If you're gonna grow your cellar, you've got to shop around and go where the desirable blends are available.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

I don't believe P&C will outright steal your money. If you have a problem though, count on spending a lot of time trying to get customer service to fix it. And their customer service is horrible. Their incident rate for problems is much higher than is acceptable these days for online purchases. The problem incident rate with TP AND SP is almost non existent. And if there is a problem, their customer service is excellent and prompt.

 

[woodsroad]

Pipes and Cigars Online Store. Never Again. :: General Pipe Smoking Discussion

Beware of Pipes and Cigars, or DBA Cigars Bethlehem. I ordered a pipe and two tins of tobacco. They did not process it for a while so that made me wonder why since most online retailers have a quick turn around. Next a girl calls me and wow she was out of it. Sounded like an air head space case...

pipesmagazine.com

 

[woodsroad]

My Experience:

You can start reading this thread from the beginning and get the full story , or you can skip ahead to the juicy bits and be wowed by the idiocy that is PipesAndCigars.

 

[sablebrush52]

Poor P&C! Perennially getting beaten up. I‘be ordered from them many times over the years with no serious issues. Once, they sent me a tin of the wrong tobacco. Big deal.
Their packaging is crap. That seems to be largely the standard with online tobacco retailers.
The hate really set in a few years ago when they installed new order tracking software that was engineered by a retarded chimp that seriously messed things up for several weeks and the hate has never stopped.

 

[AroEnglish]

I've only had two relatively good experiences with them but because of others' experiences I don't go to them unless it's something significant like when there was a 25% off of everything sale.

 

[ThomasS]

I haven't had trouble with the three orders I placed with P&C, but I am quite willing to believe that it was luck. My deepest sympathies to Woodsroad - that's awful and well worth considering making me stay away from P&C in the future.

But I also say do not trust PayPal at all. Never keep money there, and only use them if you're really really sure - they will happily steal your money, and when you complain they send you their Terms and Conditions that say they can do it. PayPal is just short of a scam in its own right.

 

[BlueMaxx]

Never had a problem other than I prefer sponsored sites here.
I wouldn’t be too scared, you can roll the bones and see what ya get.
As always, caveat emptor

 

[fireground_piper]

I think their inventory system is historically bad. Aside of the the poor customer service, I think the big roll of the dice is you just never know if something you bought was properly in stock. No idea if that's a thing anymore, I stopped chancing it after 2 or 3 successful orders a number of years ago.

 

[The Novice Piper]

My Experience:

You can start reading this thread from the beginning and get the full story , or you can skip ahead to the juicy bits and be wowed by the idiocy that is PipesAndCigars.

Not what I was looking for, but exactly what I was hoping to find.

Thank you to all for your responses.