Cigar Hut- What a way to run a company.

[Full Bodied Bruce]

I bought a super bundle from Cigar Hut early last month, itwas marked "out of stock available for backorder. They immediately debited my checking account.After waiting 2-3 weeks I e-mailed them inquiring when my order would be shipped. They replied they could not track orders from that e-mail address and gave me additional e-mail addresses which provided me with no additional information. The phone number provided at their web page was answered by a recording from the companies presidents office. I called many times, no calls were answered.
Yesterday I e-mailed them again and got a lengthly explanation why my order has not been shipped. They made some snyd remarks about me never e-mailing them b4,made no references to the unanswered telephone calls and stated that it was their policy to immediately process debit and credit cards as the order is received.
Out of curiosity I quick scanned their site this afternoon. They show inventory on every item listed for sale on their site. Their on special section showed 86 items,72 indicated 10 or fewer items in stock,6 were either out of stock or available for backorder, Humidors I don't recall more than 2 in stock of any of them. Cigars-most had very low inventories.
It would appear to me that these folks like to operate on our money-nice interest free way of raising operating capital.
I checked with all the rest of my current cigar suppliers:Famous,Thompson,C.I.,JR,andcigar.com. None will take money for your order until they ship.

[jovenhut]

Sorry to hear about your troubles. I can relate as thompsons did me wrong with a bundle section. Thats why i only order from good comapnies now like TNT, CI and famous. They hav all done me right in ordering online

[c2000]

Thanks for the heads up.........


Jerry in Minnesota.

[DriftyGypsy]

Time to contact your Credit Card company or bank. Also; I do not know if it holds true with internet retailers, but when I worked for MicroWarehouse which was mail order catalog sales it was illegal for the company to actually charge your credit card before the product shipped.

[drawfour]

Originally Posted by DriftyGypsy

Time to contact your Credit Card company or bank. Also; I do not know if it holds true with internet retailers, but when I worked for MicroWarehouse which was mail order catalog sales it was illegal for the company to actually charge your credit card before the product shipped.

I believe it is against policy for all credit card companies for a retailer to charge the account before actually shipping. I _thought_ it was a law in the US, but it's possible it's just policy. Either way, they are in the wrong on this, and you should contact your bank to find out what to do.

[Full Bodied Bruce]

Originally Posted by DriftyGypsy

Time to contact your Credit Card company or bank. Also; I do not know if it holds true with internet retailers, but when I worked for MicroWarehouse which was mail order catalog sales it was illegal for the company to actually charge your credit card before the product shipped.

Here is a quote from the e-mail I received from them.

"Cigar Hut uses a real time credit card processor and your card is debited at the time you place your order as clearly stated on our Policies page etc.,etc.,"

I must admit I did not thoroughly read their Policies page.

[DriftyGypsy]

Originally Posted by Full Bodied Bruce

Here is a quote from the e-mail I received from them.

"Cigar Hut uses a real time credit card processor and your card is debited at the time you place your order as clearly stated on our Policies page etc.,etc.,"

I must admit I did not thoroughly read their Policies page.

Yes, but it does not give them the right to hold your money without shipping the product.

[kansashat]

I have never ordered from Cigar Hut.....sounds too much like Finger Hut.

[smokinpoke]

thanks for the heads up...probably never order from them.

[Teninx]

No matter what Cigar Hut says on the 'policies' page, charging your credit card without shipping the item is fraud. Period. Dispute the charge and call the Attorneys General in your state and in whatever state Cigar Hut operates.

[TideRoll]

Interestingly, their web site is NOT cigarhut.com, which can be had for the low price of only $5,000, it is cigarsforless . com. I have seen that link before while doing internet searches about stogies but never bothered clicking on it. Good thing, as it turns out.

I notice their main office is in Sosua, Dominican Republic, though they do at least have offices in the U.S. Maybe you can get your credit card company/bank to reverse the charge, might be difficult to get satisfaction from the DR authorities. Sorry you had bad luck on this one Bruce.

[Baric]

Sorry about your bad luck, im sure things will right themselves. however, judging by the number of people who have crossed this vendor off their list just due to your thread, i think you have had your revenge!

[papajohn67]

Originally Posted by drawfour

I believe it is against policy for all credit card companies for a retailer to charge the account before actually shipping. I _thought_ it was a law in the US, but it's possible it's just policy. Either way, they are in the wrong on this, and you should contact your bank to find out what to do.

I don't know squat about credit card legalities but I received an order today that had the item that was most expensive back ordered but the full charge is reflected on my current credit card bill...just checked online. While I will not name names the vendor is well know and respected on CS. I have found that some do it, some don't...I guess my feelings on how I look at it depends on my past experiences with the vendor or perhaps I'm just a chump. I can see how it could put a burr in the backside of people, especially if it is the 1st time they have dealt with the vendor or have received the giant run around by them.