Aristocrat THC - making its way!

[PTownshend]

Well gang, let me be the first of many to state that the cabinets we have ordered in the past several months are going to start making their way to their respective homes around the continental US.

Last week I spoke with Bob S and he personally assured me that my Aristocrat Plus THC unit was being completed in the coming week, tested, and on its way shortly thereafter. Sure as his word, my credit card was charged today and I'll be awaiting the email giving me the contact information for the delivery service and its estimated time of arrival.

... and not a moment too soon for the heat that will settle on Buffalo NY like a wet blanket of humidity and steam from hell!

I'm so excited I could almost cry.

COMMENCE PEE PEE DANCE!!

Dirwood

 

[Brickhouse]

That's some great news right there. It goes without saying that pics will be required right?

 

[BlindedByScience]

.....congrats...!!

Hopefully, mine will show up....someday...... :whistling: ...... :laugh:

 

[Lkyman]

Congrats on the Aristocrat. Bob did a great job on mine. Perfect shipping.

 

[PTownshend]

That's some great news right there. It goes without saying that pics will be required right?

Without a doubt! As soon as I have it up and running, the photos will be here for all to see!

Darren

 

[tone-ny]

Congrats and yes pictures are needed!

 

[Mike33]

Congrats Darren :thumbs:

 

[RPB67]

Congrats.

You definately bought the best from the best !!

 

[Marcos]

Great news! Please post some porn when it arrives. Pics of the humi would also be nice

 

[Marcos]

Damn double post.

 

[Shooter]

Bring the pics!!

 

[PTownshend]

Bring the pics!!

Well, I have an update and its not that good. Bear with me as I'm a bit pissed off at the moment.

As of 6/26 my credit card was charged the remaining balance. Being as its now July 6th, and remembering that Bob stated that the cabinet would be in transit by the time he charged the balance, I called Bob. I spoke with his business manager who told me (to my surprise and angst) that the cabinet was shipped to an incorrect address. Just got off the phone with Bob now and he said that he was checking into it for me. I trust him, but $2950 later and 14 weeks of waiting time, I'm feeling a bit frazzled by this whole experience. :angry:

Sorry guys.... I wish I had photos of this cabinet, but I'm fearing that this will not end well (with the cabinet having been sent to Indianapolis, and here I live in Buffalo, NY).

Most definitely disappointed, ???
Darren

 

[smokelaw1]

Argh. Sorry to hear that. I know it is frustrating to wait for them (and even more so when there is a screw up, and you then have to wait MORE) but just know that it'll be worth it. Then you get to play humidor tetris and load that bad-boy up!

 

[PTownshend]

Argh. Sorry to hear that. I know it is frustrating to wait for them (and even more so when there is a screw up, and you then have to wait MORE) but just know that it'll be worth it. Then you get to play humidor tetris and load that bad-boy up!

I'm certainly hoping this will be the case. With the fact that its got more mileage on it than I'd wanted it to have, with it being transferred to various trucks, etc.... lets just hope that it doesn't have even but a scratch on it. That would be unacceptable.

Sorry, but right now I'm thinking the worst because of whats befallen me up to this point.

Darren

 

[seadub]

.....congrats...!!

Hopefully, mine will show up....someday...... :whistling: ...... :laugh:

x2

 

[PTownshend]

.....congrats...!!

Hopefully, mine will show up....someday...... :whistling: ...... :laugh:

x2

Well, I didn't hear back from Bob with regards to where my Aristocrat THC Plus is, so I called him just now. The story is this:

* my unit is STILL in Indianapolis and will be until next Monday :angry:
** a corner of the packaging its shipped in has been banged up, supposedly slightly :angry: :angry:
*** the unit will be sent back to Bob S first to be inspected (thankfully), and then sent to me (hopefully correctly this time) ... to be delivered by July 18th, nearly 16 weeks since I put in my order. :whistling:

In one regard, I'm happy to know where it is and that I will (at some point in time) get it; sadly, its taken me a long time and a lot of frustration to get this unit. I purchased from Bob primarily because of his craftsmanship and, just as importantly, for the turn around time. My puros are currently in a hot house, and I wanted to beat the heat by ordering early. Sadly, just a couple of days ago, I found a number of my puros with beetles hatching in them. I've quaranteened some, thrown away many others, and now this.

Man, I'm probably the most unlucky person with regards to this thus far.

Hope everyone else gets theirs in a timelier fashion than I did.

Peace,
Darren

 

[BlindedByScience]

In one regard, I'm happy to know where it is and that I will (at some point in time) get it; sadly, its taken me a long time and a lot of frustration to get this unit. I purchased from Bob primarily because of his craftsmanship and, just as importantly, for the turn around time. My puros are currently in a hot house, and I wanted to beat the heat by ordering early. Sadly, just a couple of days ago, I found a number of my puros with beetles hatching in them. I've quarinteened some, thrown away many others, and now this.

Man, I'm probably the most unlucky person with regards to this thus far.

Hope everyone else gets theirs in a timelier fashion than I did.

Peace,
Darren

...You're not the only one, Darren. While I haven't seen any bugs, I have been watching the temps in my humi and coolers inching into the low 70's and I'm not happy about it.

My deposit cleared on 3-16-07. On 4-15 I sent a "how am I doing" mail and on 4-17 I got this reply:

Hi Tom,
No problem with questions. All is moving along nicely although a little hectic. There is a group of cabinets that are all due out about the same time. We are approx 2 weeks from completion.

I will try to remember to take some photo's & send on.

Cheers,
Bob Staebell

By 5-23 with no word, my concerns were that the humi would ship while my wife and I were in Vegas. I sent a message telling Bob that we couldn't take delivery the last week of June. Sent mail on 5-23 and got this reply the next day:

Hi Tom,
Not to worry re the last week of June. I will note the date on your file, so we don't ship. I would hope that we are able to complete your piece before then. Things are hectic around here. Have had some employee issues that has really bolloxed up my schedule & slowed down production. I would rather be late than try to send out a cabinet that is not the best that we can build.

Cheers,
Bob Staebell

And....no humi yet. Sent a question along and got this on 6-17:

Hi Tom,
Sorry I have been so slow in communicating. It's been some very long hours, getting things back on track. Bringing new employees up to speed, has been pulling me away from getting the more custom pieces completed.

We will be assembling the case for your new baby early next week & moving forward with the doors & other elements as well. Things will move forward pretty quickly at this stage. Approx 10 days-2 weeks to completion & shipping.

Cheers,
Bob Staebell

Nothing heard yet, so I called and left a message today. My take aways;

- Bob was very honest with me on the phone when he told me that he had lost a number of key employees and his schedule was hammered.
- Bob is doing his best to get caught up. I hope....
- His quality is legendary, well spoke of by all, but his delivery time and ability to forecast completion is perhaps a bit "optimistic". If he'd have said "six months" I'd have most likely said ".....OK..." but missed commitment after missed commitment is extraordinarily frustrating.

I'm not going to rail on the guy, but I do think the "heads up" is that his schedule appears bad at this time and lead times have really stretched out. My hope is that six months after I get my cabinet, every time I open it, I'm going to smile and think "it was worth the cost and wait". I sure hope so....

Good luck to my friends "in the queue" with me - B.B.S.

 

[PTownshend]

Nothing heard yet, so I called and left a message today. My take aways;

- Bob was very honest with me on the phone when he told me that he had lost a number of key employees and his schedule was hammered.
- Bob is doing his best to get caught up. I hope....
- His quality is legendary, well spoke of by all, but his delivery time and ability to forecast completion is perhaps a bit "optimistic". If he'd have said "six months" I'd have most likely said ".....OK..." but missed commitment after missed commitment is extraordinarily frustrating.

I'm not going to rail on the guy, but I do think the "heads up" is that his schedule appears bad at this time and lead times have really stretched out. My hope is that six months after I get my cabinet, every time I open it, I'm going to smile and think "it was worth the cost and wait". I sure hope so....

Good luck to my friends "in the queue" with me - B.B.S.

Hey BBS,
I'm not going to rail either... at least not yet. Things are still unfolding and I won't be unfair in my feelings towards Bob. However, I think certain things could have been handled a bit better, and I'm hoping for a happy resolution. PM on its way to you.....

Nuff said until this gets resolved....
Darren

 

[chado]

Sorry to hear about the trouble you are both having. It sounds like Bob is swamped and he is having some issues with new employees. This probably entails training them, which means Bob is working harder and longer to get his humidors out with the same quality that he is known for and that we expect. I received my A+ about a year ago and there is not a day that goes by that I don't admire the incredible craftsmanship of it. I also know how anxious you both are as I still remember the pee-pee dance in waiting to get it! :laugh:

On the bright side, soon your dream humidors will be in your possession and it sounds like Bob is unwilling to compromise his craftsmanship to stay on his timeline, yes the waiting is frustrating but I am sure you will be more than pleased with the final product!! :thumbs:

PTownsend - that is really unfortunate it was sent to the wrong address and the box it is being shipped in has a ding in it. I know that would absolutely freak me out. However, I would be REALLY surprised if there is any damage to the THC though - the way Bob packs those things up, I think you could drag it down the highway and it would be fine...LOL

Can't wait to see the pictures, gentleman!!!

Chad

 

[PTownshend]

PTownsend - that is really unfortunate it was sent to the wrong address and the box it is being shipped in has a ding in it. I know that would absolutely freak me out. However, I would be REALLY surprised if there is any damage to the THC though - the way Bob packs those things up, I think you could drag it down the highway and it would be fine...LOL

Can't wait to see the pictures, gentleman!!!

Chad

Hey Chad,
I will keep what you've said tucked nicely away in the back of my mind; my cabinet is still due to ship to Bob (in Texas) from the shipping depot (in Indianapolis) next week and then to me (Buffalo, NY) the week after. I'll reserve my final opinions of this extreme misadventure until I see how this is handled and the quality of the unit as it arrives on my doorstep.

I have no doubt that Bob is a great craftsman as bore out from the posted photos of others purchases here on CP, and the concomitant reviews that came with those cabinets ..... the amount of "misfires" if you will, that have accumulated for the 14 weeks I've had to wait for this cabinet have become a bit too much to bear at certain times. However, I will wait this out and see how things end up before I make my decision on viewing the finished product as being worth all the hassles and the price along the way.

Darren