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Has anyone done business with Calbria I'm trying to buy some stummels and they don't answer there e-mails are they still in business? Or mabey closed for the summer? thanx Bob Clark

I've tried contacting them a while back and received no reply also. It probably helps if you speak Italian. I've heard there's a language barrier with them but that's unconfirmed.

wonderful, Iguess that bilingual web site feature came with the package

I dealt with them about seven or eight years ago. Back then they would print out my email and go down the street to have someone translate it. We arranged a phone call, and I had a buddy who speaks Italian talk to them.

I have had no interaction with them since, but it wouldn't surprise me if language issues are the challenge.

Tyler

You don't speak Italian, Bob?

Hope this helps,

TJ

It's been a few years now but I ordered from them three times. It worked out fine in the end, but it was a huge hassle each time. Our deals were made via E-mail, and communication involved long delays and terrible translation problems. Payment was by bank wire, and difficult to arrange due to the translation issues. Shipping was another issue. I had a UPS shipping account at the time, otherwise it might have been impossible. Quality ranged from fantastic to average. The cutting is awkward, and you've got to work harder to locate pipes in the blocks. They didn't really have different grades or sizes. I paid the same for all the plateaux cuts, which ranged from small and barley usable to stunning and very large. Shipping costs were much higher than when dealing with Mimmo, and I ended up having to pay dutty on top of them, which has never been an issue with Mimmo.

Mimmo has great briar, knows all the ropes, is great with communications and logistics, and his pricing is fair. His sizes and grades makes sense, and he delivers on them. With Calabria it's much more of a crap shoot.

Man, I really want to order a batch from Mimmo, but I'm daunted by the logistics of it all. And you say it's easy?

The Smoking Yeti wrote:Man, I really want to order a batch from Mimmo, but I'm daunted by the logistics of it all. And you say it's easy?

Yes, very easy. Just E-mail him with what you're looking for and he'll get back to you with prices and availability. If you're just looking for a small order (under $600 USD), check out his Briar shop packages: http://www.romeobriar.com/briarshop/us.html

The Smoking Yeti wrote:Man, I really want to order a batch from Mimmo, but I'm daunted by the logistics of it all. And you say it's easy?

Very easy for me, I send him my list, he gets back to me in a few weeks when he has it all picked and boxed for me, lets me know the total, I paypal him and a week or so later boxes arrive at my door. Alternativly I can send him a list and book a flight out to see him.

as others have mentioned... Mimmo is easy to work with.. paypal..address.. arrive a few days later for me.. someday (hopefully in the spring) I'll just drive down there on vacation w/the wife and stop by to pick up an order

james

jogilli wrote:as others have mentioned... Mimmo is easy to work with.. paypal..address.. arrive a few days later for me.. someday (hopefully in the spring) I'll just drive down there on vacation w/the wife and stop by to pick up an order

james

I can really recommend this, Mimmo lives in a beautiful area of Italy.