Reminded why I won't order from online retailers

[Martin3203]

Had some spare time at work this morning and I went on an online retailer I don't usually frequent. My gfs step dad told me to go on and check out the deals they run. I use my iPhone to access the site and I see boxes of La Aurora 1495s for $34.95.

I never had them before but I know they are a good brand and the stuff I had smoked was good. I click on the robusto size to add them to my cart and the price in my cart is $64.99???

I call them up and after 15 minutes of searching the lady tells me it's the wrong price. The price of the mobile site and the full web site is different!

They didn't care and didn't want to honor the price that I saw. Oh well lol

 

[jmartins]

If you call and continue to argue and picker with them from past experience you will win cause the price is being promoted and you have proof of it.

That is just my opinion I stand very strong on what is advertised as I am an accountant.

Cheers,
JM

 

[Martin3203]

If you call and continue to argue and picker with them from past experience you will win cause the price is being promoted and you have proof of it.

That is just my opinion I stand very strong on what is advertised as I am an accountant.

Cheers,
JM

Haha. What I don't understand is how they can tell me that's not the price when it's clearly visible and it shows the date of the sale on the page.

I got the excuse that it was yesterday's sale.

 

[YodisMatt]

I am surprised they didn't honor that price for you, then get on their web and correct the problem. They should be happy you brought it to their attention because they may have lost other sales due to this.

 

[Clint]

With all of the competition online retailers face, they should honor that price...Hold them to it!

 

[jmartins]

That is exactly my point if that's just a gimmick it would have lost me right away cause I would have no interest in paying a 60% markup from what it said that's a joke really.

Cheers,
JM

 

[E.J.]

When I walk into my local B&M, I am reminded why I order online.....:halfgrinw

That said, sorry for your troubles....

 

[jmartins]

When I walk into my local B&M, I am reminded why I order online.....:halfgrinw

That said, sorry for your troubles....

Oh really why is that?

 

[Mickeymorris626]

When I walk into my local B&M, I am reminded why I order online.....:halfgrinw

That said, sorry for your troubles....

Oh really why is that?

Taxes.. For me at least. MN taxes are up to 70% I believe.

 

[Martin3203]

My local B&M is usually good on matching or coming close to online prices. I've gotten away from ordering online for just that reason. I'd rather see the local B&M get the business.

IMHO I don't consider places like CI and Famous a B&M. I think a true B&M is a mom and pop cigar store that relies on their local customers. You get to know the owner and after a while you get discounts just like you do online.

 

[E.J.]

When I walk into my local B&M, I am reminded why I order online.....:halfgrinw

That said, sorry for your troubles....

Oh really why is that?

There is a list, but let me sum it up shortly....

Last 4 boxes I have purchased(Illusione Rothchilde, Tatuaje CQ1, Quesada Espana Robos, Headley Grange E's) all aren't even carried by my B&M, let alone the fact that they wouldn't be able to come CLOSE, not even ballpark, to the pricing I got on all four.... The Tatuaje Cohete's that will be coming shortly....nope, no chance at those locally....

That is not to say that my B&M doesn't have a great selection, they do....but yea....I am VERY HAPPY I have the opportunity to shop online.... That isn't even mentioning other online cigar purchases.....:nodlaugh:

 

[Master Shake]

When I walk into my local B&M, I am reminded why I order online.....:halfgrinw

That said, sorry for your troubles....

I meet up with my friends at least once a week to smoke at a local B&M in MI. While I understand that its a business, it always does bug me a bit paying full retail for a stick that I have a box of at home...and I only paid a fraction of the price for it at that.

 

[E.J.]

When I walk into my local B&M, I am reminded why I order online.....:halfgrinw

That said, sorry for your troubles....

I meet up with my friends at least once a week to smoke at a local B&M in MI. While I understand that its a business, it always does bug me a bit paying full retail for a stick that I have a box of at home...and I only paid a fraction of the price for it at that.

It must be nice to have a B&M that you can smoke in. That alone, would make it worth a regular visit.

 

[Clint]

When I walk into my local B&M, I am reminded why I order online.....:halfgrinw

That said, sorry for your troubles....

Oh really why is that?

There is a list, but let me sum it up shortly....

Last 4 boxes I have purchased(Illusione Rothchilde, Tatuaje CQ1, Quesada Espana Robos, Headley Grange E's) all aren't even carried by my B&M, let alone the fact that they wouldn't be able to come CLOSE, not even ballpark, to the pricing I got on all four.... The Tatuaje Cohete's that will be coming shortly....nope, no chance at those locally....

That is not to say that my B&M doesn't have a great selection, they do....but yea....I am VERY HAPPY I have the opportunity to shop online.... That isn't even mentioning other online cigar purchases.....:nodlaugh:

I do understand completely that pricing online offers ( in most cases) great selection and very competitive pricing versus the local shop. Having said that, I respect the fact that the local shop owner had the balls to open up a shop, and is trying to stay in business DESPITE the online monsters. He took the risk, and I have no problem giving him my business because of that respect.

 

[mdwest]

I do my best to support my local B&Ms.. a couple of them get a decent amount of business from me.. I belong the the club/lounge at one of them.. and every time I walk through the door at any of them (usually in one of them at least once a week or so) I end up picking up 2 or 3 sticks at a minimum...

but.. that said... I do the vast majority of my purchasing online..

TN tobacco tax isnt bad at all... just 6.6% of the wholesale cost.. but.. The local B&Ms still cant compete with the prices I get online for most of the stuff I buy.. they simply cant compete with the economy of scale that the big online retailers can capitalize on and take advantage of..

I often find things online for anywhere from 20-40% less than the B&M price.. even when I factor in the discount I get for club membership (15% on singles, and 20% on boxes) at one of the B&Ms.. Its still cheaper to go online almost 100% of the time..

So "big" purchases almost always happen online..

Im fortunate that between the three local B&Ms that I shop at (2 much more than the other).. just about every brand, line, etc.. I like to smoke is available.. Ive got a very diverse selection to choose from...

What it really comes down to for me... is price..

 

[SDShark]

Yes, like Clint said, they have to honor it! Even if its a bug in their system, they have to honor the advertised price if they are reputable of course!

 

[Martin3203]

If you can get it at the local B&M and you really want it, you have no other choice than to find it online, understandable. I also understand if your state has outrageous cigar tax.

I've built a good enough rapport with my local B&M owner that he doesn't mind if I bring a stick to smoke there that he doesn't sell. We've even traded sticks, stuff he doesn't currently carry for stuff that I want to try that he has.

If your lucky enough to be hanging out when a Rep comes in you might get hooked up with a free stick or 2.

 

[Rupe]

I have a double whammy.....70% cigar tax (at wholesale) in Minnesota and only 1 B&M in my area that has a VERY poor selection. The nearest B&M to me with a lounge is 2 hours away. If I drive 1/2 hour there is one B&M with an OK selection and decent pricing (it's in Wisconsin) but the amount of time and gas spent to get there makes it unrealistic to go there unless I am already in that area for other reasons.

In other words it's very idealistic to support your local B&M but not real practical or economically feasible in my situation. 95% of my purchases are made online with the other 5% being made at B&Ms and lounges while I am travelling.

 

[Martin3203]

I have a double whammy.....70% cigar tax (at wholesale) in Minnesota and only 1 B&M in my area that has a VERY poor selection. The nearest B&M to me with a lounge is 2 hours away. If I drive 1/2 hour there is one B&M with an OK selection and decent pricing (it's in Wisconsin) but the amount of time and gas spent to get there makes it unrealistic to go there unless I am already in that area for other reasons.

In other words it's very idealistic to support your local B&M but not real practical or economically feasible in my situation. 95% of my purchases are made online with the other 5% being made at B&Ms and lounges while I am travelling.

Ouch, that hurt me just reading that. I wouldn't wish that on anyone.

 

[MattSRoss81]

I'm assuming OP was trying to be from JR - such a shit show. I smoked the other day with a few guys who work for them - they had nothing good to say about the way that company is run!