BellHopCigars - Review
Posted: Tue Jul 21, 2015 6:12 pm
[b]This thread is posted with permission from Wade.[/b]
BellHopCigars.com
This is my recent experience with this company. I tried to make it as short as possible and stick to the facts and what was said and done.
In my recent order from this company I received a moldy box of RA Super Ramon, and 2 boxes of 1999 VR Classicos. The Classicos boxes were stamped CCNN (11/99), and there were yellow non-Habano stickers all over the boxes say “Millennium”. The website didn’t indicate the production date of those boxes nor states they were vintage. The Classicos were hard as a tent peg. I assumed I was getting recent production of Classicos.
Upon receiving the shipment, I contacted Anthony - the owner. He immediately went on the defense. First he asked if I were sure that those boxes were his, then he said the Classicos are super aged and vintage and demand even higher price. I explained to him about the plugged and discounted boxes from this era. He pretended that he didn’t know anything about that. He stated that he has been in the cigar business for 5 years and never heard of it. The white spot on the RA are not mold. He called them “Whit Spots”. He told me that my standard for cigars is too high.
He refused to neither take the boxes back nor issue store credit. His offer to me was I should smoke them, and he will credit me for the number of plugged cigars I found. I refused his offer and insisted that he takes those boxes back. He agreed and said he would provide me with a US address. I waited a week, and I didn’t receive anything from him. Then, I sent him an email reminding him to provide me a shipping address.
He called and was very nasty and aggressive on the phone. Telling me that I am breaking the law and I’d be fined and imprisoned. I stood my ground and punched back at him. At the end of the conversation, he apologized and said he want to keep me a customer and will email me an address. He said that he doesn’t take anything back, because on a group-buy, many people returned counterfeited boxes to him.
He provided me with a Canadian address with instructions. Per his instructions, I shipped the boxes to him. The tracking number showed that the package went to Canada, back to the US, then back to Canada again. I called USPS, and they told me that it was undeliverable address. But, for some reason, USPS decided to try again. The package then stuck in the Canadian Border.
After looking up the address he gave me, Google Maps shows it as an empty lot of land. I talked to his son (Rejean), and he said it is a mail box address. After many phone message and emails, Anthony decided to call me. First he said he can’t refund my money unless he receives the package. He denied that the address he provided me is a bogus address.
After couple more phone calls, he offered to ship me a package of cigars of his choice of equivalent retail value. I reluctantly agreed, so I can end this.
I waited 3 weeks, and I didn’t receive anything. I contacted him, and he said he has been very busy. He received new shipment of Classicos, and he was going to send me a replacement. I said OK great.
2 more weeks, and I didn’t receive anything. I tried to contact him repeatedly, but to no available. Someone named Raffi answered the phone, and he acted as a contact point between me and Anthony. He went back on his offer and said his partners need proof that I sent the package. I provided him with the Canadian Border letter, and then I didn’t hear anything from him.
Through this entire ordeal, I have been cordial and patient, and hoping he would make it right. I’ve never threatened him nor told him that I’d post a review online.
After 15 minutes looking this guy online, he owns a holding company called L.L.B.D. He owns few bogus websites and he channels the payment through them.
For full disclosure: In the past, I have received two very damaged boxes of Bolivar B2 from him. Over 36 cigars sustained severe damage due to the mediocre packaging. He made it right by sending me a box in my following order.
BellHopCigars.com
This is my recent experience with this company. I tried to make it as short as possible and stick to the facts and what was said and done.
In my recent order from this company I received a moldy box of RA Super Ramon, and 2 boxes of 1999 VR Classicos. The Classicos boxes were stamped CCNN (11/99), and there were yellow non-Habano stickers all over the boxes say “Millennium”. The website didn’t indicate the production date of those boxes nor states they were vintage. The Classicos were hard as a tent peg. I assumed I was getting recent production of Classicos.
Upon receiving the shipment, I contacted Anthony - the owner. He immediately went on the defense. First he asked if I were sure that those boxes were his, then he said the Classicos are super aged and vintage and demand even higher price. I explained to him about the plugged and discounted boxes from this era. He pretended that he didn’t know anything about that. He stated that he has been in the cigar business for 5 years and never heard of it. The white spot on the RA are not mold. He called them “Whit Spots”. He told me that my standard for cigars is too high.
He refused to neither take the boxes back nor issue store credit. His offer to me was I should smoke them, and he will credit me for the number of plugged cigars I found. I refused his offer and insisted that he takes those boxes back. He agreed and said he would provide me with a US address. I waited a week, and I didn’t receive anything from him. Then, I sent him an email reminding him to provide me a shipping address.
He called and was very nasty and aggressive on the phone. Telling me that I am breaking the law and I’d be fined and imprisoned. I stood my ground and punched back at him. At the end of the conversation, he apologized and said he want to keep me a customer and will email me an address. He said that he doesn’t take anything back, because on a group-buy, many people returned counterfeited boxes to him.
He provided me with a Canadian address with instructions. Per his instructions, I shipped the boxes to him. The tracking number showed that the package went to Canada, back to the US, then back to Canada again. I called USPS, and they told me that it was undeliverable address. But, for some reason, USPS decided to try again. The package then stuck in the Canadian Border.
After looking up the address he gave me, Google Maps shows it as an empty lot of land. I talked to his son (Rejean), and he said it is a mail box address. After many phone message and emails, Anthony decided to call me. First he said he can’t refund my money unless he receives the package. He denied that the address he provided me is a bogus address.
After couple more phone calls, he offered to ship me a package of cigars of his choice of equivalent retail value. I reluctantly agreed, so I can end this.
I waited 3 weeks, and I didn’t receive anything. I contacted him, and he said he has been very busy. He received new shipment of Classicos, and he was going to send me a replacement. I said OK great.
2 more weeks, and I didn’t receive anything. I tried to contact him repeatedly, but to no available. Someone named Raffi answered the phone, and he acted as a contact point between me and Anthony. He went back on his offer and said his partners need proof that I sent the package. I provided him with the Canadian Border letter, and then I didn’t hear anything from him.
Through this entire ordeal, I have been cordial and patient, and hoping he would make it right. I’ve never threatened him nor told him that I’d post a review online.
After 15 minutes looking this guy online, he owns a holding company called L.L.B.D. He owns few bogus websites and he channels the payment through them.
For full disclosure: In the past, I have received two very damaged boxes of Bolivar B2 from him. Over 36 cigars sustained severe damage due to the mediocre packaging. He made it right by sending me a box in my following order.