I made my usual 4 pack purchase of Antonio y Cleopatra Grenadier cigars from the above vendor. The sales girl told me there is a "Special 2 Pack Pricing", so I took the promotion receiving a total of 4 twin packs, paying the standard price. (Note the 2 packs were wrapped together in cellophane). Upon leaving the store, a different employee whom I've never seen, told me I would have to return 2 pf the packages. Asking why, he said "there is no sale or promotion and doesn't care what the package says". Without making a seen, I returned 2 of the twin packs. The following day, I went back to make another cigar purchase and see what would become of this purchase. I saw the packages marked the same and asked for 4 packages. I observed that the cellophane wrapper that contained 2 packs had now been removed, and that they were selling individual packs with the marking "Special 2 Pack Pricing". This time I dealt with the store manager and questioned him on the markings, which he said there is no special pricing. I further questioned, 'who separated the twin packs' and he denied any knowledge of this. He further remarked, "if I don't what to pay the register price, I should leave". I gave him the money, but still had bad feelings on this. I wrote the customer service line for B/P, and advised them for what happened. They gave me a complaint # saying that the local field rep and the store will respond directly back to me with 3-5 business days. Well I have not heard back from either of them, this 6th business day so far. So my decision has been made to take this matter to the next level. I have contacted the BBB; Consumer Complaint Agency; and now you. I have since returned to the local B/P for purchasing 12 individual packs now, with all of them being marked and sold separately. I've kept the used packs should a question rise. I make the purchases there cause they are a few blocks away; best pricing ($. 40 cheaper); and I always get my coffee there to go. I just want to know, how can a vendor separate a promo sale from their distributor/manufacture, and not extend the sale to the consumer? They tampered with the manufactures seal and most likely, are benefiting from the reduced sales charge to their distributor. This is not to say if they are paying the taxes from this sale either. Aren't tabacco products sealed by the Feds for tax purposes? I have since purchased 12 packs of these cigars, all with the original twin pack cellophane removed, with all packs marked "Special 2 Pack Pricing" and all with paying the original standard one pack price. The old packs vs. The new special pricing packs have a different SKU#. Originally, they din't have the promo in there computer system, and had to use a similar package to ring up the price. They have since changed this. I haven't seen this promotion offered at any other stores, so I can't comment on how THEY are handling this, to offer support. I'm upset most of all, cause the manufacture extended a reduced price for guys like me, and this vendor is unwilling to agree with them. Whatever the special pricing would have been, i would have been happy to pay any reduced price. But I have a feeling, the only one who is benefitting from this promotion is the individual store.
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