Arnolds Tobacco - 2 Strikes (not 3) and your out

[Starz26]

So we all remember the fiasco last time Arnolds put on a "Sale" with the Tatuaje SW Reservas as $160 a box. Many placed an order, most got an email a few days later and said they "Ran out"...

Last week Arnolds was at it again, sending emails out offering LFD Cameroon Cabs #4 for $220 and #1 for like $230 or something. So I placed an order for the #4's.

Got order confirmation immediately. Have not heard a thing since.

Called today and they could not find it in the UPS system (why they checked there first I do not know) and would have to call me back after looking up my order. At this point I knew the deal and what the return call would be.

Call was returned within 10 minutes and they told me sorry "We ran Out"....

Now this is where I get pissed off:

I said "Could you remove me from your email list since this is the second time this has happened and it is not worth the time invested if nothing ever gets shipped.

Response: "Well they are specials, we only have a few boxes sometimes as little as 5 and if 5 people order before you then your order will not be filled."

I Said "Well most sites I order from have real time inventory, otherwise I tend to not order from them"

Response: "Our regular stuff is real time inventory, specials are not because they are specials"

Say What?? Does that make sense to anyone? After the last fiasco, worst case just put a link under the sales page to a regular inventory item then so that the inventory can be managed.

At this point there was no point in arguing, he did not get it, tried to make it sound like "its a special, what did you expect"...

Even at that they never even notified me that my order was not being filled.

This is my last and final attempt at ordering from Arnolds. I used to recommend them, not any longer....

Thanks for the opportunity to rant.....

 

[AlohaStyle]

That sucks... sorry man. I almost ordered a box too but glad I didn't!

 

[twenty5]

There is no reason for poor communication...

 

[elderboy02]

Screw them. Just order from The Party Source. They most likely have better prices anyways.

 

[AlohaStyle]

Screw them. Just order from The Party Source. They most likely have better prices anyways.

I know the Party Source is well respected by many people... but believe me that anyone can screw up. I won't go into details, but I will never order from there as my first & only order got screwed up with absolutely no communication or offer to make it up to me...

 

[r3db4r0n]

This is just an example of poor customer service, basic business ethics are to try and please the customer - not argue with them, especially over a simple request.

 

[Alwayslit]

kick them to the curb......worthless customer service.

 

[jwintosh]

unfortunately, it sounds like he truly believes what he's saying. move on!!

 

[Jammerjoe]

At the very least the retailers need to post that quantities are limited...even smarter to list how many...and here is the thing (from an experience marketer mind you)

If I have a cigar that is very popular and only a few boxes I won't blow it out on sale. I might blow it out with a "Only 5 left of these hard to find smokes...etc" but that would be the extent of it.

Not just bad customer service, it's bad business. Tell people the truth ... let them know when there are limitations... and then let them fight it out in the octagon!

 

[pfm721]

Sorry to hear about the problems with Arnolds. As for Party Source I wouldn't write them off. They are good people. I've always called though so maybe that's why I haven't had a problem.

 

[AlohaStyle]

Sorry to hear about the problems with Arnolds. As for Party Source I wouldn't write them off. They are good people. I've always called though so maybe that's why I haven't had a problem.

I did call to place my order... no cigars and no contact in 2 weeks. I had to call to figure out what was going on... didn't get what I ordered on the phone with barely an apology.

But like I said, I know many people have good luck with them... everyone can make mistakes. Just that I won't go back after my experience...

 

[Greyghost]

Some folks just never get it, till its to late. Although they left themselves open to attack great job on handling your composure.


Earl

 

[KINGLISH]

Sorry my man that sucks!!

 

[xddco]

I've had great luck on sale items with Arnold's...but I have called as soon as the list came out and then I call back again a couple hours later to confirm. I have missed out once or twice on some of the sale boxes, but they let me know that when I called. On my last order, they included a freebie Prometheus ashtray and three pack of AF Rosados.....

On a daily basis, it is hard to beat Party Source prices, but I have had a couple orders from them that took awhile (2+ weeks) to fill.

My customer service benchmarks are New Havana and Good Karma..... both provide unreal follow-up and are a pleasure to deal with. Gotta like shops that go out of their way to locate something you are looking for.... and then lets you know when they have it.

 

[LiLo]

That sucks man. And i will say i was among the people that never got a box os SW maduros last year!! That pissed me off so much.

 

[Starz26]

The thing I do not get and what really irked me is when they said they have real time inventory on everything EXCEPT specials. That does not make any sense and tells me two things: 1. They were lying or 2. They were lying.

I mean if you have real time inventory on the site it should be for all items, if not, structure the sale so it works with the real time inventory you have....

Oh well, over it, just another reason to stick to personal sources.......

 

[perfecto66]

I always tell my customers to simply call me.

 

[smokinghole]

Well I'm glad you said something the other night I contemplated trying to order as well.

 

[Virtuoso]

That is a shitty deal. Sounds like Best Buy and Walmart for Black Friday deals where they sell laptops for $199 (but in the fine print it says "very limited stock" or "only 5 available", etc).

If they are pulling crap like that, they definitely need a disclaimer at the bottom of the offer as to avoid situations like this (or at least try to avert them).

Sorry bro.

 

[TravelingJ]

Having run an e-commerce site, I know there is no good reason for this. If you can put an item for sale on your site, you can put a limit on that item. They shouldn't be accepting orders and taking money for an item like that.

If they physically have all stick in the store, then even the simplest storefront should have an accurate quantity for sale.