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smithbw Offline
#1 Posted: Wed, Jun 18 2003, 7:34 AM EST
Joined: 09-01-2001
Posts: 2,444
Wooo Hooo What A Ride!

I have loved this site and all the people associated with it. It has been an overwhelming experience for me over the last 5 years. I have made some good friends and Some Great Friends here. With all of that said, I am departing CI/CBID. I have reached irreconcilable differences with the customer service department (I Know The Best In The World) and I will not participate in the future here.

This does not mean that I won't finish my obligation to the Birthday club. As a matter of fact, I am packing up the boxes this week and weekend to mail to everyone! I hope that you all can understand my personal choice. Nor does it mean that I will go around badmouthing this site. I am above that.

I am sure that if you look around "Different Cigar Websites" that you will be able to easily find smithbw.

Smoke em if you got em!

With Sincere Respect and Best Regards to All,



B



Lowman Offline
#2 Posted: Wed, Jun 18 2003, 7:39 AM EST
Joined: 12-03-2002
Posts: 6,982
Billy,

Say it's not so !!! Come on... Can't things be worked out???

If cust serv is the issue, if you choose not to purchase anymore and deal with them, then so be it... but why not stay on the forum??

The choice is yours... hope you decide to stay !!

Low
Lowman Offline
#3 Posted: Wed, Jun 18 2003, 7:41 AM EST
Joined: 12-03-2002
Posts: 6,982
Now, I really bummed !!! :o(
lenny4z Offline
#4 Posted: Wed, Jun 18 2003, 7:48 AM EST
Joined: 10-29-2002
Posts: 297
Billy, we'll all be sad to see you go. I'm just glad to have been able to make your acquaintance and I hope to keep in touch with you through other means.

-Lenny
rayder1 Offline
#5 Posted: Wed, Jun 18 2003, 7:54 AM EST
Joined: 06-02-2002
Posts: 2,226
Sorry to hear that. You might be the only person in the history of CI who has had an irreconcilable difference that CI couldn't fix (that was the fault of CI).

Hate to see you go just because of that, must be something really major league. Would probably take a major embezzlement from my bank account to make me bail out on CI. But to each their own.

Take care and happy hunting on the other sites.

Ray
donutboy2000 Offline
#6 Posted: Wed, Jun 18 2003, 7:59 AM EST
Joined: 11-20-2001
Posts: 25,000
You have been a true gentlemen in our limited dealings. I cannot imagine what happened to push you to this point. Best of luck.
Fatshotbud Offline
#7 Posted: Wed, Jun 18 2003, 8:04 AM EST
Joined: 03-31-2003
Posts: 782
Sorry to hear this also Billy. Hope to catch up with you elsewhere.
BUD
Robby Offline
#8 Posted: Wed, Jun 18 2003, 8:10 AM EST
Joined: 10-30-2002
Posts: 5,067
not the only person.
choner Offline
#9 Posted: Wed, Jun 18 2003, 8:17 AM EST
Joined: 02-04-2003
Posts: 876
Billy, sorry to hear about the circumstances. It was a pleasure to deal with you. did you ever get my package? Well, I'll look around for you on other sites.

choner
(wiping a tear from my eye)
chuckler Offline
#10 Posted: Wed, Jun 18 2003, 8:23 AM EST
Joined: 08-14-2003
Posts: 4,238
Wow, This is a very sad day.

I may have to stop purchasing here as a sign of solidarity...

(Hell, my wife is ready to kill me anyway, with all the money I spend here. Its an addiction ya know)

Billy, please reconsider!

PT
Tobasco Offline
#11 Posted: Wed, Jun 18 2003, 8:24 AM EST
Joined: 02-08-2003
Posts: 2,809
smithbw

Hey man, Dont leave! You are one of the "good" guys around here. If you do, well, good luck and best wishes, but DONT!.... :>(

Mag

divnmyk Offline
#12 Posted: Wed, Jun 18 2003, 8:35 AM EST
Joined: 06-07-2001
Posts: 461
My sentiments match the others here Billy. We look forward to seeing your name on the boards.

If you do not feel you can buy/bid/work with the staff at CI/CB, that's one thing, but to leave all of us over them... Billy, you can distinguish between the two.

C'mon brother...

divnmyk
deadeyedick Offline
#13 Posted: Wed, Jun 18 2003, 8:36 AM EST
Joined: 03-13-2003
Posts: 17,140
Bill,
I too hope you will reconsider. At least drop in on the forum. You will be missed here man.
(head down/sholders sagging)
DED
Spiny Norman Offline
#14 Posted: Wed, Jun 18 2003, 8:51 AM EST
Joined: 09-04-2002
Posts: 899
}:-(
Slimboli Offline
#15 Posted: Wed, Jun 18 2003, 9:04 AM EST
Joined: 07-09-2000
Posts: 16,139
It very hard for me to believe that you, "reached irreconcilable differences with the customer service department ..."

Like someone else said, it must have been something 'major' to get you to resort to leaving the forums.

We are all your friends here ... and I also find it difficult to believe that you would 'drop' us all for something that couldn't be worked out with CS ...

... it doesn't seem fair ... to do that to all the good friends you have made here over the years.
Robby Offline
#16 Posted: Wed, Jun 18 2003, 9:22 AM EST
Joined: 10-30-2002
Posts: 5,067
Billy was the first person I ever traded with, and a good trader too.
JustDanD Offline
#17 Posted: Wed, Jun 18 2003, 10:09 AM EST
Joined: 02-27-2003
Posts: 748
What a first on this board. I agree that if you don't want to buy from CI/CBid, then consider just staying on the forum. Think of it as getting even by eating up their server time and not buying from them.

If not, it has been great reading your posts. Never traded with ya, but know you will be missed by all.

Dan (JustDanD)
Mr.Mean Offline
#18 Posted: Wed, Jun 18 2003, 10:09 AM EST
Joined: 05-16-2001
Posts: 3,025
Best of luck Billy. Sorry to hear of your troubles. See you elsewhere!
lenny4z Offline
#19 Posted: Wed, Jun 18 2003, 10:31 AM EST
Joined: 10-29-2002
Posts: 297
Robby, Billy got my trade cherry too. And what a great experience it was.

To all those trying to convince Billy to stay: I'd like him to stick around too, but we should respect his decision. I personally am happy with CI/CBid service, but when I have had problems with other companies in the past, I have stopped doing business with them. And while continuing to post here doesn't support CBid directly with his hard earned cash, it does add value to CBid. If it didn't none of us would be sorry to see him go. So I can certainly understand his decision and will not hold it against him.

divnmyk, Slim, he's not doing it to his friends - he's doing it to a business that he no longer has a satisfactory relationship with. Don't take it personally. And as he said, you'll be able to find him elsewhere so he's not abandoning his friends.

-Lenny
chuckler Offline
#20 Posted: Wed, Jun 18 2003, 10:49 AM EST
Joined: 08-14-2003
Posts: 4,238
Very well said lenny4z...

Billy was my first trade as well. I owe him... big time!

I will respect his decision, and look for him else where on the web.

PT :-(
xibbumbero Offline
#21 Posted: Wed, Jun 18 2003, 11:12 AM EST
Joined: 01-25-2002
Posts: 12,535
Billy,You will be missed. Thanx for the great trades. BTW,that Cohiba RS Piramide was awesome. I'll be on the look out for you on other forums. X :(
JustDanD Offline
#22 Posted: Wed, Jun 18 2003, 11:45 AM EST
Joined: 02-27-2003
Posts: 748
lenny4z, No disrespect to you or smithbw intended, but I believe I can respect his opinion and still ask him to reconsider. I have never traded with him but was looking forward to any future interaction, as with all you good folks.

Asking him to reconsider his abscence is a sign that we like him, not that we don't respect his choices. I know it is inevitable, but I don't want to see any of the great posters leave this forum if it can be prevented.

I only hope that when I need to leave, someone askes me to stay.

IMHO
Dan
lenny4z Offline
#23 Posted: Wed, Jun 18 2003, 11:51 AM EST
Joined: 10-29-2002
Posts: 297
Actually Dan, I agree with you 100%. Some people seem to be taking it as if he's dumping all his friends though and I don't see it that way.

And I certainly hope you never need to leave Dan. While we haven't traded directly (yet?), I did get a great b-day package from you and am looking forward to returning the favor in September.

-Lenny

-Lenny
Gonz@CigarBid Offline
#24 Posted: Wed, Jun 18 2003, 1:18 PM EST
Joined: 03-30-1999
Posts: 222
Man I just got my feathers in tizzy when I read this thread and ran over to customer service to figure out what happened. smithbw has been a longtime customer, friend, comrade, and smokin' buddy to many over here at CigarBid. I haven't had personal contact with him, but after hearing all the praise from our reps, they're all scratching their heads as to what exactly happened. I hope smithbw will fill us in a bit more b/c we're a little confused over here as well. As you all know, if we're in the wrong, we're going to bend over backwards to make it right.

- Gonz
turnberry Offline
#25 Posted: Wed, Jun 18 2003, 1:33 PM EST
Joined: 12-11-2002
Posts: 915
Now there is an offer to take seriously. Come on Billy, let's work this out with these guys. I haven't done a trade with you yet and would like the opportunity at some point.
Robby Offline
#26 Posted: Wed, Jun 18 2003, 1:42 PM EST
Joined: 10-30-2002
Posts: 5,067
Gonz, here's a little tiny way customer service could help me. I've spent a big a$$ pile of money over the last 6-8 months with you guys. I've asked repeatedly for a 5 cent pack of cbid matches to be included occasionally in my shipments. I've received "one" pack.

When I went back and looked, I've had multiple shipments, at least one per month and in many cases multiple shipments per month. Now I know you guys are kinda cute with the whole match thing, but seriously, does it make sense? I added it up and it;

In six months, it came to:

$72.50
$95.50
$310.45
$30.45
$123.50
$53.95
$58.95
======
$745.30 (total)

Now is it really worth jeopardizing that kind of a customer for a few packs of stupid matches? It wouldn’t seem to make good walking around sense…

I just received a box of Don Tom’s from someone else (read competitor) and I’m about to order another box of something else from someone else (read competitor). I need to fill a new cooler. So with that type of potential revenue out there, why in the name of God would Cbid play games with matches? It seems weird…
Gonz@CigarBid Offline
#27 Posted: Wed, Jun 18 2003, 1:51 PM EST
Joined: 03-30-1999
Posts: 222
That was one of the funniest posts I've ever read, I think it was meant to be funny? You are kidding, right? If you are kidding, I think Lowman has your matches. If you're not kidding, you should be kidding, but if you wish I can personally baby sit your next order and make sure you get some matches.

Let me know.
- Gonz
JustDanD Offline
#28 Posted: Wed, Jun 18 2003, 1:57 PM EST
Joined: 02-27-2003
Posts: 748
I think that guy in Chicago bought all the matches up for $100. Probably aren't any left to give Robby. Hey, if matches would bring smithbw back, I'll send some.
smithbw Offline
#29 Posted: Wed, Jun 18 2003, 2:04 PM EST
Joined: 09-01-2001
Posts: 2,444
Gonz, I think that after all the time that I have spent here on Cigar bid the least that I can do is explain my reasoning for leaving. I apologize in advance for the lengthy note but it is the only way to explain it.

Background: I ordered a box of one of my favorites Bucanero Classico Maduro. What an Awesome Smoke! After waiting three weeks for the arrival of the box, which did not come, I contacted the "World Famous" customer service and was advised " We must give the Post Office up to 75 business days to deliver those packages before we can start an inquiry. So, what can you do? Basically just hold tight, and give the Post Office time to get that package to you." Not a good answer for me - did I mention that the Bucanero Classico Maduro is one of my favorite everyday cigars and I was completely out?

I explained that I was not willing to wait 75 business days for my shipment. Therefore, I was immediately mailed another box as a replacement. Awesome! I loved it! Great customer service.

However, the plot thickens - the other box finally reared its ugly head. When I say ugly I mean ugly. It was totally damaged. Only 5 smokes from the box salvageable. Did I mention that I love this gar? Contacted again the World Famous Customer Service and asked if I could get another box mailed as a replacement for this box (or a box of equal value suggested Fuente) and the answer was: "Can’t do it, it’s an auction......Remember, you originally won one box, not two. That’s why I can’t do it. I would love to, but I gotta stick to our policy." .

Bottom Line: I was offered only one solution - credit card reimbursement. This is not a satisfactory option and very agitating but I accepted it and packed my bags. Thus, ending our long standing relationship and my time here at Cbid.

BTW: Thank You All for the notes! It really shows that you care! Awesome - my brothers - Awesome!

Regards,



B
kccody Offline
#30 Posted: Wed, Jun 18 2003, 2:20 PM EST
Joined: 03-19-2007
Posts: 610
I’m confused here. Did you have to pay for the second box they sent you?
eleltea Offline
#31 Posted: Wed, Jun 18 2003, 2:21 PM EST
Joined: 03-03-2002
Posts: 4,562
Hope this can be worked out. Sounds like a communication problem, or a rep having a bad day, or SBW havign a bad day, or something. ;o(
sketcha Offline
#32 Posted: Wed, Jun 18 2003, 2:32 PM EST
Joined: 03-26-2003
Posts: 3,238
Must've been a rookie customer svc. rep. Did you take it to Keith or anyone on the high-up?
sketcha Offline
#33 Posted: Wed, Jun 18 2003, 2:33 PM EST
Joined: 03-26-2003
Posts: 3,238
BTW I think 75 days may be just a wee bit long for Bucs to go un-humidified. How freekin' stupid!
Gonz@CigarBid Offline
#34 Posted: Wed, Jun 18 2003, 2:46 PM EST
Joined: 03-30-1999
Posts: 222
Please forgive me if I don't understand the issue, I too am trying to understand this in attempt to remedy the situation. So let me summarize so I understand:

1. 1st box didn't show, so we sent a 2nd box out. I see you paid the winning auction price on the 2nd box as a replacement until we determined that the 1st box didn't "officially" didn't show up.

2. You indicated that the 1st box did indeed show up. We sent that 2nd box as a replacement of the 1st box, so technically, the 1st box could've been returned for a complete refund. However, you decided to salvage the 5 sticks of the 1st box and return the damaged ones.

3. You have received your completed order from the auction winning.

Help? I'm having trouble understanding the issue. Where have we gone wrong? I want to help.

- Gonz
rck_1 Offline
#35 Posted: Wed, Jun 18 2003, 2:50 PM EST
Joined: 01-28-2003
Posts: 656
Billy my brother,
I will gladly send you a box of bucs if it will keep you on the boards! You dont have to purchase from C-bid to stay on the forum!!! :o(

Rob
mrtelcom Offline
#36 Posted: Wed, Jun 18 2003, 2:51 PM EST
Joined: 03-25-2004
Posts: 2,255
I don't get it either.
There must be a communication problem here..
Slimboli Offline
#37 Posted: Wed, Jun 18 2003, 2:55 PM EST
Joined: 07-09-2000
Posts: 16,139
sketcha --- wouldn't it be nice if CigarsInternational (CigarBid) had the power and control over the polices of the Post Office?

I agree that is a long time for cigars to go unhumidified ... but what is it that you expect them to do when it is out of their hands?

smithbw --- not to minimize the trouble you went through, but did you really expect them to send you another box ... after they replaced the one that was missing in action, just because your original one showed up damaged?

I'm confused here ... how did you come to the conclusion that they 'owed' you another box, when you only won one box?

Sometimes it seems that many here forget that this is an auction site ... and that is unheard of on any auction site.
smithbw Offline
#38 Posted: Wed, Jun 18 2003, 2:57 PM EST
Joined: 09-01-2001
Posts: 2,444
Here is my issue in a nut shell. I have "Already" paid 152.00 for two boxes of Bucs and only have 25 smokable sticks. Hmmmm, can't be right.

Like you stated I can return the second box for a complete refund but why?

I would like a replacement for the second box too. Am I asking too much? I even suggested a box of equal value as a replacement - Is that too much?

Regards,


B


mrtelcom Offline
#39 Posted: Wed, Jun 18 2003, 2:59 PM EST
Joined: 03-25-2004
Posts: 2,255
ahhh, so you've Paid for 2. I did not glean that from your posts.


smithbw Offline
#40 Posted: Wed, Jun 18 2003, 3:08 PM EST
Joined: 09-01-2001
Posts: 2,444
Forgive me it is late here and my off the head math figures were incorrect I paid 173.00 for the two boxes.

Regards,


B
chuckler Offline
#41 Posted: Wed, Jun 18 2003, 3:10 PM EST
Joined: 08-14-2003
Posts: 4,238
smithbw,

I am going through all my humidors as we speak and sending you every Buc I own. Hell, I probably owe you more than that anyway!

Cbid... Help the guy out already!?!?!? What the heck is a box of 'gars to the loyality of a long standing customer, no matter what the reason.

Oh yes, one last thing, SEND ROBBY SOME C-BID MATCHES!!!

Respectfully,

PT :-(
Slimboli Offline
#42 Posted: Wed, Jun 18 2003, 3:11 PM EST
Joined: 07-09-2000
Posts: 16,139
In other words ... you paid anywhere from $4 to $17 BELOW the 2002 dealer pricing (at an auction win at $76 for one box) ...

... and you expect them to give you another box at that price, and you keep the one that you claim is damaged.

Not to say you are dishonest, which I'm sure you are not ... but why can't you understand that they have to follow their policies (any auction must have certain policies in place), or think of how many folks could take advantage ...
Iceman219 Offline
#43 Posted: Wed, Jun 18 2003, 3:14 PM EST
Joined: 07-13-2002
Posts: 204
Man this is starting to suck. A customer like smithbw that has been on Cbid for five years is about to leave because of poor customer service. He
is an asset to this web site! He was around when Cbid
was just starting up(he probably knows Hupcap),when there was only a couple of members. They did low volume but he still supported the site. With the volume Cbid does now, they must be getting so many price breaks and freebees from these cigar companys and suppliers it would make our heads spin. I do enjoy Cbid a lot but, I can't blame smithbw for leaving. All it takes is one bad customer service experience and you look at a company totally different. Good Luck Smithbw, I always enjoyed reading your post.

Ice

P.S. Robby, I feel your pain :(
Gonz@CigarBid Offline
#44 Posted: Wed, Jun 18 2003, 3:15 PM EST
Joined: 03-30-1999
Posts: 222
OK, I'm starting to understand and here are a few "standard" policy items that might help - unfortunately this case doesn't fall under just on (and trust me, our CSRs have been drilled on these):

1. If an item is missing in transit, they need to wait the prescribed period as stated by UPS and USPS. To an APO location like smithbw's, the wait is longer, unfortunately. Our carriers set these rules, not CBID.

2. If the customer requests a replacement before the end of the prescribed period, offer to send a replacement, but the customer will be charged the replacement until we receive confirmation that the first package is lost. Then, a full credit is applied. If the first package shows up, it is to be returned and upon return a refund is issued.

3. In the auction environment, a customer cannot purchase additional items for the winning bid price. For example, if you win a box of 5 Vegas Robusto for $50 and you want 2 more boxes later, sorry, you need to bid again.

Unfortunately, it sounds like you are attempting to get a second box for your winning bid price. I see where our CSRs would have objected here. I don't see how extending this part of the policy would be fair to other bidders and other customers who attempt to do the same thing every day.

I welcome your agreement or disagreement here. I believe these policies are pretty fair.

- Gonz
kccody Offline
#45 Posted: Wed, Jun 18 2003, 3:16 PM EST
Joined: 03-19-2007
Posts: 610
I also had a shipment that went missing as well. UPS claims they left it on my front porch at 3:30 p.m. but when I arrived home at midnight it wasn’t there. I contacted customer service and they said they would have to place a trace on the package. Once that was complete, and if the package didn’t turn up, they would reship my order. That was last Monday and they emailed me today to say my replacements are being shipped. I can’t complain with that at all. It kind of sucked having to wait the extra couple of weeks to finally get my cigars but after all it was UPS’s fault not there’s. I also had the option of getting my shipment sent out that day, but they would have to recharge my card for the replacements until the trace was complete, at which time they would credit my card for they original shipment if it didn’t turn up. I chose to wait. You apparently chose not to wait. That was your choice. No you expect them to give up a second box to you? Sounds to me like you are trying to weasel your way into getting a second box for the price you won the first one for. That’s just not the way an auction works. You won one box, you received one box. What else do you want?
smithbw Offline
#46 Posted: Wed, Jun 18 2003, 3:19 PM EST
Joined: 09-01-2001
Posts: 2,444
Slim - Insurance (As You Know) which is charged to boxes over 50.00 if exactly for that purpose. To cover the damaged products. Like I said 5 sticks are salvageable and can be resold by Cbid.

I will gladly return the contents of this box for a "Replacement"!

As for MSRP - Get Real - NoBody pays that - Unless they don't do their homework.

Regards,


B
jd1 Offline
#47 Posted: Wed, Jun 18 2003, 3:27 PM EST
Joined: 02-14-2001
Posts: 3,118
For crying out loud!
Send him another freakin box! A refund? A credit reimbursement for a freakin box you put on auction almost daily? Are you running that low on supply? On top of that, you let it escalate to this level? CS 101 should dictate that the "rules" of engagement with customers are only a guideline. You need to do a better job with the rep that handled this instead of giving someone a customer service handbook that they undoubtedly followed to the freakin letter! This is what makes an outstanding site come down to the level of most other sites. Fix it Cbid. Your still the best out there and now's the time to prove it.

We'll miss you Billy, but I have ways to keep in contact brother. And by the way, I have a box of churchills and a box of robustos you can pick from to hold you over till you get a box. Just let me know.
churchhill Offline
#48 Posted: Wed, Jun 18 2003, 3:29 PM EST
Joined: 12-03-2002
Posts: 64
I agree with Bill, Customer service here is not what it cracked up to be. I too had a similar experience with c/s. I will not go in to details, I also will keep bidding here. for now.

Regards Ray
smithbw Offline
#49 Posted: Wed, Jun 18 2003, 3:29 PM EST
Joined: 09-01-2001
Posts: 2,444
Gonz - I paid for two boxes and expect to get two boxes. I am not trying to Circumvent policy, or get over on the system. Simply expected to receive an intact product for the price that I paid.

I am returning the second damaged box for a refund and as previously stated "Leaving CBid."

I thank everyone for the fond memories. Like I said in my initial message - What A Ride!

God Speed to you All and Blow Some Smoke to the East!


Regards,


B
tailgater Offline
#50 Posted: Wed, Jun 18 2003, 3:33 PM EST
Joined: 06-01-2000
Posts: 26,185
I, too, am surprised by this news.
But we must respect Billy for his decision. Perhaps he'll come to terms (and peace) with CBid. Or maybe not.
But to sound incredulous at his situation does nothing to change his mind, and may actually further his resolve to stay away.

Myself, I think Billy and CBid will come to a solution in private. As it should be.

Good luck, brother Billy.
You should be getting your smokes anytime now if not received already. Let me know if they arrive OK, because I've got a few more with your name on them.

Peace.
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