I placed an online order AND received an e-mail confirmation. Came in today and found this:
Mr. Evanoff;
Your order was never processed prior to this moment in time! It was sent and received buy not processed.
Please review the webpage. The price is no longer $165.00 and we must ask you use our website ordering system! Prices were raised due to our wholesale clients complaining about our retail website price being too low to compete!
Since our main business is wholesale distribution to 100s of merchants across the US, we were forced to raise our price on the retail website.
If it will help, I will throw in two samples of our specialty coffees and three discount coupons for future orders. I hope this helps.
Our next order of Carlos Torano Tribute cigars is due in two weeks. Our wholesale order must go in within the next 36 hours or we will not get any. All orders at this point are pre-ordered, or you will not be able to obtain them. I was on the phone just now with the sales rep from Torano cigars and they are requesting I raise the prices of their other cigars, or we stand the chance of loosing our right to distribute them.
We are sorry you were caught in the middle of the price change, but the new prices will stand and are listed on the webpage.
My reply:
That seems odd since I received 2 confirmation e-mails stating my order was processed. I believe you should honor the advertised price. I placed my order at that price. Your offer is appreciated but declined. I can get the torpedos at your price at a multitude of retailers. You are really damaging your credibility. You should check out some of the cigar forums where you are not receiving praise.
And they said:
We were told by Torano to raise our prices, we will continue to provide the same service and prices we previously offered and still list the prices that Torano cigars rep asked us to list. Now, about your cigar forums, tell them that they can get the original prices and also tell them it is our right as an independent company to raise or lower prices at our descretions.... They don't buy from me or offer to pay my bills! If someone wants to get the original price, then email me directly. I am tired of all the time wasted over one line of cigars. We are wholesale distributors serving 100s of shops and merchants throughout the continental US. We have families to support and would like to keep our distributorship with Torano. We have also been in business as XXXXXXXXXXXX since 1997 and before that as XXXXXX Tobacco & Candy, operated by my grandfather, Michael J. Adams, Sr. since 1934!
We are in the business of selling cigars at great prices to whomever wants to buy them. If you want them, we'll get them and we carry 100s more brands than we list on the website! 100s more!
NOW IN 18 Pt FONT
Therefore, Mr. Evanoff; If you still want Torano Tribute cigars we'll put in an advanced order for you and give you and anyone else that contacts me the original prices. But in order to retain our distributorship via Torano we will run the increase pricing on the website.
The next shipment will be in two weeks! Do you still want Torano Tribute cigars at the original price? I have been writing these notes all morning and all yesterday and I am done, the prices will remain on the website and we will sell/ charge the original prices at just over wholesale!
This is because we are in the business of selling cigars and not writing emails!
Please forward this to every person you speak with, including cigar forums, etc. And tell the almighty forum chatters that if they want cigars order! If I go to one of their businesses and I say, Hey; your prices are high....I seriously doubt if any of them will lower their prices! Do you get my point! We are pressured on both sides of the business and we will continue to sell at OUR Descreet Original Prices! Ok, now do you or don't you want your original order?
James H. Baker, Sr. - Founder
