Problem Meerschaum Pipes: Myth or Legend?

[jcats]

Originally Posted by Mister Moo

That is very unfortunate. While I'd like to believe they would replace or refund on request it's a shame that a delivery could be that much of a let down in the first place.

I highlighted the problems to the vendor. He said that he never guarantee that the pipes would look like the photos.

The whole experience has left a sour taste in my mouth and I found it exasperating dealing with such vendors.

" Never order a pipe that will be made to look like the photo leaves room for disappointment."


Lesson learned.

And my wife has the last laugh

I am glad this post has let me get it off my chest.

[cherrymax]

jcats,
Might wanna tell us the place so some of us newbies don't get the same "customer dis-service" as you have received.

[Blaylock]

Originally Posted by jcats

Based on my past experience, I will never buy from Altinok pipes again, ever. Some people may have better luck with him, but not me.

Originally Posted by cherrymax

jcats,
Might wanna tell us the place so some of us newbies don't get the same "customer dis-service" as you have received.

He stated that it was from Altinok. In defense of this vendor, I have purchased from them and had a positive experience. The pipe smokes great and the quality met my expectations. BTW...I'm wondering why you just didn't return it if you were unhappy with the quality?

They do have a 7 day customer return policy.

[jcats]

Originally Posted by Blaylock

...I'm wondering why you just didn't return it if you were unhappy with the quality?

They do have a 7 day customer return policy.

I quote his email
"... never guarantee that the pipes would look like the photos. ..."

When the parcel arrived, I was not in town, and it was already over a week. My first 2 pipes from him were okay. It was unfortunate that the second batch of pipes (7 pipes) were problematic.

My main peeve is that he would not take responsibility and offer an alternative or solution.

Anyway, hope you have better luck with your meer shopping.

As for me, I am done with meer pipes.

[Sinan Altinok]

I don't think it is about 'meer purchasing' at all. It is more about personality. My intention is not to start an argument here and sorry if it sounds rude. But, that's enough already. You have mentioned about it in every forum you are a member without requesting my plea. And now, you are saying the 7 (seven) pipes you bought were problematic!?? Sorry my friend, I cannot believe this. I have sent thousands of pipes to all over the world to date, none of my customers so far mentioned that the pipes were problematic. May be only a few would have liked to change the shape, stem etc, that's all. Besides, they all know that I'm definitely willing to fix any problem or change the pipe with a better one or refund in full if any of my pipes is problematic in the purchase.

To be exact, it was not 7 pipes in the order. Six pipes and one item was 0.5kg wax. You also requested for a private discount and 9mm filter modifications on all pipes. You got $87.34 discount and the filter rooms modification for free. After you have got the order in the mail, you sent me an email stating that one pipe didn't have a spare stem which should have been (my fault) and three others didn't have the exact dimensions as shown on the site. That's all what you had complained, hadn't you? I still have got all the emails you sent.

After long discussions, you have got my refusal to refund all four pipes(!) you bought, just because one spare stem was missing and three pipes didn't match the exact dimensions as shown the site. In every product page on my site, visitors can read the same notice: "Please note that the pipe measurings are not strict and may slightly vary". This is because, if the pipe was not in stock, we hand make the pipes to order using the best available block at that time. A meer block is NOT like a briar block. It's totally amorphous and the carver has to carve a pipe out of it. That's why we can't promise about the dimensions to be so exact. You, Mr Jcats, should have known this already because you bought another two pipes three months before a second order you placed.

After six months that our discussions had stopped, I wanted to stop my inner disquiet with you and show my goodwill too, I sent you an email and offered one of my classic pipes of your choice for free. You kindly refused it which is understandable. Right after that, in the Smokersforums board, you sent me a friendship request and I accepted happily. I thought we are making a good restart. But, for a while, I'm watching that you will never stop broadcasting it in one way. Remember, you put the same meal on the table again in Smokersforums recently. Then I posted in the same thread asking if you want to explain more. You chose to be silent.

Dear Jcats, please return all unused pipes. I'll refund in full after deducting the discount I gave you and 10% restocking fee. Sorry for the inconvenience anyway.

I apologize for wasting anyone's time who had to read all these. But, I had to jump in and say a few words for a defence of my business as it is based on promises and mutual understanding.

Best regards,
Sinan A. Altinok

[Mister Moo]

Originally Posted by Sinan Altinok

I don't think it is about 'meer purchasing' at all. It is more about personality... ...I had to jump in and say a few words for a defence of my business as it is based on promises and mutual understanding. Best regards, Sinan A. Altinok

I never heard a bad word about Altinok pipes or unresolved service issues before Jcats comments; what you said about personality is true - sometimes things just don't go right. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.

So, problems with meerschaum pipes? Back to it...

[RJpuffs]

Originally Posted by Mister Moo

I never heard a bad word about Altinok pipes or unresolved service issues before Jcats comments; what you said about personality is true - sometimes things just don't go right. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.

So, problems with meerschaum pipes? Back to it...

Has anyone 'xperimented and tried to put a "military" mount with a normal (i.e. larger airway) stem on a cranky meer? Eliminating the microscopic-airway tenon/mortise may make a world of difference.

[Mad Hatter]

Originally Posted by RJpuffs

Has anyone 'xperimented and tried to put a "military" mount with a normal (i.e. larger airway) stem on a cranky meer? Eliminating the microscopic-airway tenon/mortise may make a world of difference.

I did that to one of my cheap pressed blocks I bought early on in my pipe smoking career. Predictably, without the restriction of a smaller than 1/8" airway, it smoked much better.

[Sinan Altinok]

Originally Posted by RJpuffs

Has anyone 'xperimented and tried to put a "military" mount with a normal (i.e. larger airway) stem on a cranky meer? Eliminating the microscopic-airway tenon/mortise may make a world of difference.

For a while, we got rid of the tiny white plastic tenon/mortise fittings and start using German made briar teflon/delring fittings in our classic pipes. They provide a huge difference in smoking comfort as they have 4mm bore when compared 3mm plastic one.

Regards,
Sinan

[RJpuffs]

Originally Posted by Mad Hatter

I did that to one of my cheap pressed blocks I bought early on in my pipe smoking career. Predictably, without the restriction of a smaller than 1/8" airway, it smoked much better.

Pictures? How-to? My meer is being neglected due to asphyxiation.

[RJpuffs]

Originally Posted by Sinan Altinok

For a while, we got rid of the tiny white plastic tenon/mortise fittings and start using German made briar teflon/delring fittings in our classic pipes. They provide a huge difference in smoking comfort as they have 4mm bore when compared 3mm plastic one.

Regards,
Sinan

Thats good to know, something else to look for in selecting my next meer

[Mad Hatter]

Originally Posted by RJpuffs

Pictures? How-to? My meer is being neglected due to asphyxiation.

Honestly RJ, being a cheap pipe I just removed the mortise insert and then cut the tenon on my stem to fit. True, the way it is could be delicate but it seems to be holding up pretty well. If a guy had tool experience or machining experience you could easily make a wooden insert with a tap and die set by tapping the shank and using the die to thread a wooden plug, glue and screw it in the shank and then drill the mortise afterwards to accommodate the proper tenon size. For that matter you could make the fitting from vulcanite, ie the remains of a stem that was cut down and reshaped, or you could buy the vulcanite inserts yourself. They sell them at pipe making etailer websites.

For that matter you could use one of the larger tenon/mortise setups of the usual sort and drill it out to a larger diameter. I have some of those and just went out to the shed and drilled one to a 9/64. It'll take a fluffy pipe cleaner now. If you have the know-how to remove the old set from your shank and stem I can send this to you as a replacement. The mortise insert has about a 7/16 thread and the tenon insert has about a 5/16 thread, might be metric but they fit my dies well enough to know we're in the ballpark (just so we know we're talking apples and apples).

[MarkC]

Originally Posted by Mister Moo

Thank you for sharing your thoughts.

Amen. You almost never get to see both sides of the issue in these internet discussions.

[indigosmoke]

I know it's a little off topic but I couldn't resist posting this when I came across it today. Sorry if you've all already seen it.

[RJpuffs]

Originally Posted by Mad Hatter

Honestly RJ, being a cheap pipe I just removed the mortise insert and then cut the tenon on my stem to fit. True, the way it is could be delicate but it seems to be holding up pretty well. If a guy had tool experience or machining experience you could easily make a wooden insert with a tap and die set by tapping the shank and using the die to thread a wooden plug, glue and screw it in the shank and then drill the mortise afterwards to accommodate the proper tenon size. For that matter you could make the fitting from vulcanite, ie the remains of a stem that was cut down and reshaped, or you could buy the vulcanite inserts yourself. They sell them at pipe making etailer websites.

For that matter you could use one of the larger tenon/mortise setups of the usual sort and drill it out to a larger diameter. I have some of those and just went out to the shed and drilled one to a 9/64. It'll take a fluffy pipe cleaner now. If you have the know-how to remove the old set from your shank and stem I can send this to you as a replacement. The mortise insert has about a 7/16 thread and the tenon insert has about a 5/16 thread, might be metric but they fit my dies well enough to know we're in the ballpark (just so we know we're talking apples and apples).

Removing the old tenon thingie is easy, I remove it to scrub out the gunk sometimes. Getting something else into that space, now that may be a challenge. I have pipe bits laying around from experimentation, will do a frankenstein assembly attempt