If it's too good to be true...

11-08-2010, 11:12 AM

Last week I noticed a ridiculously low price online for a well known, well respected cigar (#10 on Aficionado's '09 Top-25 with a 92 rating). This was from a trusted overseas site I've ordered from before. I couldn't resist, and ordered 10 boxes (of 10 each) at what would net to about 1/10th of standard pricing with the shipping charge added in.

I figured the price was probably a mistake, but imagined it could be a crazy, but legitimate loss-leader... or there because something was wrong with the cigars. Thought I'd take my chances either way... like even if the vendor found problems, maybe they only spot checked and I might get lucky and get good ones... and if the price was a mistake the order would be canceled and refunded instead of shipped. If I got them but they were crappy... well okay, my mistake... tough luck. DYODD. No carping allowed when you think you're getting an edge. Right?

I got a shipping notice on Friday that said my order had been shipped (in several packets). Since the vendor seemed happy enough and had shipped my first order, temptation took over and I placed another order for 15 more boxes.

Well, I got an email today saying that the price was, in fact, a mistake, but that 4 boxes had been shipped. They noted what the price was supposed to be, about 16x the invoice price. They asked if I would like the orders at the normal price, not really making clear whether they intended to honor the original price on the ones they'd already shipped. I answered that I only ordered them because of the advertised price and that I'd expect a full refund on the unshipped boxes including pro-rated shipping charges.

This vendor has a flat-rate shipping fee regardless of how many boxes are ordered, and it works out more than the advertised price of the 4 boxes that were shipped. It's also part of the reason I ordered as many boxes as I did. Might have gone for a test order first otherwise. I only order from this vendor when I'm getting enough at once to mitigate the high shipping fee.

More than that, I fear the vendor will refuse to refund any of my money. The total charge on the two orders works out to about 1/2 of the regular cost with shipping for the 4 boxes already on the way. No doubt, that would still be a good deal and they may try to claim that's sufficient penalty for their mistake. However, my cigar budget for the month was already blown and I would not have ordered any at this time, not even 4 boxes at 1/2 price.

So, am I wrong?

Was I wrong to jump on a price I knew might be a mistake?

Am I wrong to expect to get those boxes that were shipped at the price I was originally invoiced and charged?

Am I wrong to expect the vendor to pro-rate the shipping fee on the partially shipped order?

11-08-2010, 11:12 AM	#1
Jack-of-Diamonds Guest Posts: n/a	If it's too good to be true... Last week I noticed a ridiculously low price online for a well known, well respected cigar (#10 on Aficionado's '09 Top-25 with a 92 rating). This was from a trusted overseas site I've ordered from before. I couldn't resist, and ordered 10 boxes (of 10 each) at what would net to about 1/10th of standard pricing with the shipping charge added in. I figured the price was probably a mistake, but imagined it could be a crazy, but legitimate loss-leader... or there because something was wrong with the cigars. Thought I'd take my chances either way... like even if the vendor found problems, maybe they only spot checked and I might get lucky and get good ones... and if the price was a mistake the order would be canceled and refunded instead of shipped. If I got them but they were crappy... well okay, my mistake... tough luck. DYODD. No carping allowed when you think you're getting an edge. Right? I got a shipping notice on Friday that said my order had been shipped (in several packets). Since the vendor seemed happy enough and had shipped my first order, temptation took over and I placed another order for 15 more boxes. Well, I got an email today saying that the price was, in fact, a mistake, but that 4 boxes had been shipped. They noted what the price was supposed to be, about 16x the invoice price. They asked if I would like the orders at the normal price, not really making clear whether they intended to honor the original price on the ones they'd already shipped. I answered that I only ordered them because of the advertised price and that I'd expect a full refund on the unshipped boxes including pro-rated shipping charges. This vendor has a flat-rate shipping fee regardless of how many boxes are ordered, and it works out more than the advertised price of the 4 boxes that were shipped. It's also part of the reason I ordered as many boxes as I did. Might have gone for a test order first otherwise. I only order from this vendor when I'm getting enough at once to mitigate the high shipping fee. More than that, I fear the vendor will refuse to refund any of my money. The total charge on the two orders works out to about 1/2 of the regular cost with shipping for the 4 boxes already on the way. No doubt, that would still be a good deal and they may try to claim that's sufficient penalty for their mistake. However, my cigar budget for the month was already blown and I would not have ordered any at this time, not even 4 boxes at 1/2 price. So, am I wrong? Was I wrong to jump on a price I knew might be a mistake? Am I wrong to expect to get those boxes that were shipped at the price I was originally invoiced and charged? Am I wrong to expect the vendor to pro-rate the shipping fee on the partially shipped order? Last edited by Jack-of-Diamonds; 11-08-2010 at 11:21 AM.