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craig61a

craig61a

Lifer
Apr 29, 2017
6,164
52,948
Minnesota USA
GH&Co Black Cherry Twist in an Erik Stokkebye (Neerup) Dark Porter Churchwarden.

37-A00-F20-4241-4516-9-F52-B93-B2-E1450-A4.jpg
 
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Birddog66

Birddog66

Lifer
Nov 29, 2020
2,997
53,386
Newhaven England
Gus said:
excuse me, but I think this comment is wrong.

Esterval has been proving for many years that it is a completely serious company and that it DOES NOT SCAM ANYONE.

Another thing is that the current circumstances have changed a lot for the shipment of tobacco and will change even more in the future and they are encountering problems to buy or send that they do not know how they can solve.

But from there, to say or insinuate that Esterval is doing a scam there is an abyss and it seems to me unfortunate and unfair.

It is only my opinion without acrimony and without wanting to enter in other people's polemics that I don't know, I only know the treatment that Esterval has always had with mefor years, excellent.
Click to expand...

Forgive me if I’ve been a little harsh on them but I don’t believe that customer service stops when the purchase has left the building. I made many enquires when my order didn’t show up with DHL and had to find out from a fellow member that they hand it straight over to Parcelforce. And ignoring a customers statutory rights because they are in a different country is unacceptable imo.
I’m glad you have found them to be reliable and I agree that to accuse them of scamming is taking it a bit far but my experience has been a nightmare. I don’t hold them to account for my ridiculous Customs charges, that’s just avarice on the part of HM C&E but their service and communication leaves a lot to be desired. In my case at least.
If I’ve caused offence to any of their customers I apologise, it wasn’t my intention.
That said, they are fully aware that there’s a multitude of problems and expenses their foreign customers could encounter (as other members have also mentioned) and give no warning or advice on the matter. When spending the sort of money we all pay for our tobacco I think we have a right to expect a better service.
I take full responsibility for my actions however and accept that I’m $100 out of pocket, but I don’t have to like it.
No hard feelings I hope Gus. ?
 
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Gus

Gus

Lifer
Oct 16, 2009
1,180
17,150
Birddog66 said:
Forgive me if I’ve been a little harsh on them but I don’t believe that customer service stops when the purchase has left the building. I made many enquires when my order didn’t show up with DHL and had to find out from a fellow member that they hand it straight over to Parcelforce. And ignoring a customers statutory rights because they are in a different country is unacceptable imo.
I’m glad you have found them to be reliable and I agree that to accuse them of scamming is taking it a bit far but my experience has been a nightmare. I don’t hold them to account for my ridiculous Customs charges, that’s just avarice on the part of HM C&E but their service and communication leaves a lot to be desired. In my case at least.
If I’ve caused offence to any of their customers I apologise, it wasn’t my intention.
That said, they are fully aware that there’s a multitude of problems and expenses their foreign customers could encounter (as other members have also mentioned) and give no warning or advice on the matter. When spending the sort of money we all pay for our tobacco I think we have a right to expect a better service.
I take full responsibility for my actions however and accept that I’m $100 out of pocket, but I don’t have to like it.
No hard feelings I hope Gus. ?
Click to expand...
of course there is no resentment and I have not felt offended at all.

I fully understand your problem and how desperate the lack of communication can be...but I didn't think it was fair to say that Esterval seemed to be running a scam. Nothing more.

For many years they have proven to be honest and very reliable.

The problems they are encountering seem to be increasing, with more and more buyers from non-EU countries complaining and losing their shipments. And we are sure we only know of a few.

These problems will surely increase, there seems to be an "all out war" all over the world by governments, shipping agencies and multiple businesses or institutions against tobacco.

(here, I ask myself, where would they get the billions a year that we spend in taxes on tobacco if we all stop buying tobacco in the whole world).

It is true that they must or should inform of the possible risks, update their page to do so and whoever buys, that is the one who assumes the risk knowing all the consequences that can lead to the purchase and shipment of tobacco to a country outside the EU. It would be the responsible and fair thing to do in my opinion.

But it happens with everything...look...a month and a half or two ago, my wife ran out of a hair gel, she needed it...it had to be that one and in the stores in Spain it was out of stock...it seems to be highly sought after. She only found it on ebay in UK...she bought it, 2 jars, cost about 40 euros, which is a usual price for two jars in Spain...when it arrived, it came with an invoice for importing from UK for more than 28 euros...it came out for about 70 euros...almost as much in taxes as the cost of the product.

Now everything seems to be going that way...to collect taxes, which are necessary, I am the first one to say it, but at least, if you pay them, you should know beforehand that you are going to pay them, so that they do not surprise you later and you decide about it, purchase or not
 
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Birddog66

Birddog66

Lifer
Nov 29, 2020
2,997
53,386
Newhaven England
Gus said:
of course there is no resentment and I have not felt offended at all.

I fully understand your problem and how desperate the lack of communication can be...but I didn't think it was fair to say that Esterval seemed to be running a scam. Nothing more.

For many years they have proven to be honest and very reliable.

The problems they are encountering seem to be increasing, with more and more buyers from non-EU countries complaining and losing their shipments. And we are sure we only know of a few.

These problems will surely increase, there seems to be an "all out war" all over the world by governments, shipping agencies and multiple businesses or institutions against tobacco.

(here, I ask myself, where would they get the billions a year that we spend in taxes on tobacco if we all stop buying tobacco in the whole world).

It is true that they must or should inform of the possible risks, update their page to do so and whoever buys, that is the one who assumes the risk knowing all the consequences that can lead to the purchase and shipment of tobacco to a country outside the EU. It would be the responsible and fair thing to do in my opinion.

But it happens with everything...look...a month and a half or two ago, my wife ran out of a hair gel, she needed it...it had to be that one and in the stores in Spain it was out of stock...it seems to be highly sought after. She only found it on ebay in UK...she bought it, 2 jars, cost about 40 euros, which is a usual price for two jars in Spain...when it arrived, it came with an invoice for importing from UK for more than 28 euros...it came out for about 70 euros...almost as much in taxes as the cost of the product.

Now everything seems to be going that way...to collect taxes, which are necessary, I am the first one to say it, but at least, if you pay them, you should know beforehand that you are going to pay them, so that they do not surprise you later and you decide about it, purchase or not
Click to expand...
I couldn’t agree more with you on this subject. There’s a certain irony that the taxes on UK tobacco go towards saving thousands of lives in their funding of the NHS.
I have contacted estervals to ask what the next step will be, it gets sent back if I don’t pay in twenty days.
That’s a lot of money for hair gel. I’ve never had anything I’ve purchased on eBay get extra charges and thought it was taken care of in the transaction. Perhaps I’ve been luckier than I’ve been complaining about and should count my blessings instead. ?
 
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J

JimK

Lifer
Feb 11, 2021
1,363
26,691
Good morning all! Following the threads on the UK customs debacle, made me think of what our side of The Pond would be without G&H and SG. On second thought, I don't want to think about it. Starting with a home team blend: Wilke Lizzie Blood Red English in a Nachwalter Straight Grain BIlliard with tapered pearlescent stem.
 
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LotusEater

LotusEater

Lifer
Apr 16, 2021
4,391
58,500
Kansas City Missouri
jiminks said:
Did a bit of snacking, and am half way through this bowl of Watch City Simply VOriental in a straight smooth medium brown 1930s Wilshire 5 bulldog (Comoy’s second) made for John’s Pipe Shop in Los Angeles with a black vulcanite saddle stem. More Community Coffee, neat, for my drink. Still working.
View attachment 84751
Click to expand...
This is a tobacco I am looking forward to trying. I read your excellent review and it sounds awesome.
 
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