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| - I was visiting Scottsdale the week of Christmas and found Riteway Smoke's ad in their in-room brochure. I visited the store and was happily surprised to find they sold the loose tobacco I use, not to mention that it was much cheaper than where I live. So, like any smoker who's come upon such an occasion, I buy a couple canisters (~$100).
Fast-forward to a week later, when I get home. I open up the one canister ($50) to find that the tobacco is so dry that it literally disintegrates in my fingers when I try to pick it out. I turn over the canister and see what seems to be a date stamp--dated over a year ago. I am upset, but confident justice will prevail and the store, which obviously values tourist business based upon their marketing, will rectify the situation.
So, I call the store. A young man answers. I tell him the situation. He is surprised and apologetic, but says that I need to call back and speak with the person who sold it to me. Why? I have no idea. But, fair enough. I thank him (drily) and hang up, still confident in justice.
I call back today and the person who sold it to me answers. I tell her the situation. She is surprised and apologetic, but says that tobacco products cannot be returned by law. Great. At one point she even says they would have no idea if a tobacco product were stale because they can't open them to check. Obviously this store has no inventory control if this is their idea of it (again, the canister seems to have been dated). Okay, how about a store credit? No. Why? She gives no explanation, only says that it is not possible. I thank her (sarcastically) and promptly hang up as she continues to repeat herself.
This concludes my story, the moral being that justice does not exist and that this business, apart from maintaining its products effectively, has little concern for rectifying a problem caused by their own negligence.
Now, my opinion on the matter: this is unfair. There may be a law against returning tobacco products, but there's no law against making an effort to satisfy your customer. I travel to Scottsdale semi-regularly, to see family, and, while at first I had thought that this would be my go-to smoke shop when I travel there, after this situation I now prefer paying more at home where I can patronize a business I have confidence in.
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