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Anyone Used This Vendor Before?


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They do not answer their phone at 10:00 a.m. their time, and an attempt to send an email comes up with a server malfunction. So not off to a promising start. And I happen to love one of the Syrian's on the website and would order it in a heart beat if I thought they were trustworthy.

Anybody who manages to get in touch with them, see if they're willing to come here and introduce themselves. If they're likely a decent vendor, they're going to be willing. And if not, then we know they belong on the "don't bother with them" list, huh?

'Rani
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Yeah I noticed the same thing, their email threw an error, I snagged their email addresses off of their site though and send them an email so we will see if they respond. I really like 2 of their Syrian stems that would make a very nice addition to the collection ... fingers crossed!
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[quote name='mattarios2' timestamp='1334077227' post='544475']
Yeah I noticed the same thing, their email threw an error, I snagged their email addresses off of their site though and send them an email so we will see if they respond. I really like 2 of their Syrian stems that would make a very nice addition to the collection ... fingers crossed!
[/quote]

I also have an email in to Mahir about one of his Farida's that I really like.....So we shall see..... It would be nice though for Arabica to be a decent vendor because they also have Amaren tobacco, which I've never tried but has excellent reviews here.

'Rani
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Possibly, i really like

[url="http://www.arabicastore.com/productsdetail.aspx?id=1&pid=353"]http://www.arabicast...px?id=1&pid=353[/url]

and

[url="http://www.arabicastore.com/productsdetail.aspx?id=1&pid=355"]http://www.arabicast...px?id=1&pid=355[/url]

and the prices are wonderful too! But who knows about the quality ... :-/
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[quote name='mattarios2' timestamp='1334080996' post='544483']
Possibly, i really like

[url="http://www.arabicastore.com/productsdetail.aspx?id=1&pid=353"]http://www.arabicast...px?id=1&pid=353[/url]

and

[url="http://www.arabicastore.com/productsdetail.aspx?id=1&pid=355"]http://www.arabicast...px?id=1&pid=355[/url]

and the prices are wonderful too! But who knows about the quality ... :-/
[/quote]

That second one is the one I keep looking at. Since Syrians are machine made, I'm less concerned about quality of the pipe itself. But I'd still go with Mahir if he gets back to me first, lol.... I love one Farida he's got on his website, and him I KNOW we can trust.

'Rani
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Yeah, I already have a farida and most of them from the heart to the the start of the shank look soooo similar (btw I LOVE my farida I wonder if Mahir will get more in stock. It rips like a beast, it's solid, designs are good, and is nearly perfect) So I am trying to make the last 5-6 stems I need to finish off the collection different from the rest of the stuff I have. Which is why it would be great if they came through!
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Well my email just kicked back their email address, I guess next step is to give them a call a couple times throughout the day to see if they answer at some point. If not then ... oh well :-(

It would be nice if vendors started bringing back nawras/nours again I unfortunately only own one of them :-(
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[quote name='skeetsak' timestamp='1334078760' post='544480']
[url="http://arabicastore.com/productsdetail.aspx?id=1&pid=275"]http://arabicastore....px?id=1&pid=275[/url]

this one looks like a remake of a ?nawras/nour? maybe
[/quote]

That's a Chinese one no doubt since I've seen it in a Chinese manufacturer's catalog before. For some reason the Chinese really like to remake those Syrian screw-on ones.
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[quote name='KasbahBazaar' timestamp='1334081859' post='544487']
[quote name='skeetsak' timestamp='1334078760' post='544480']
[url="http://arabicastore.com/productsdetail.aspx?id=1&pid=275"]http://arabicastore....px?id=1&pid=275[/url]

this one looks like a remake of a ?nawras/nour? maybe
[/quote]

That's a Chinese one no doubt since I've seen it in a Chinese manufacturer's catalog before. For some reason the Chinese really like to remake those Syrian screw-on ones.

[/quote]

That Lebanese you have on the website is really tempting too especially since I don't have a Lebanese yet.....

'Rani
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[quote name='Rani' timestamp='1334081437' post='544484']
[quote name='mattarios2' timestamp='1334080996' post='544483']
Possibly, i really like

[url="http://www.arabicastore.com/productsdetail.aspx?id=1&pid=353"]http://www.arabicast...px?id=1&pid=353[/url]

and

[url="http://www.arabicastore.com/productsdetail.aspx?id=1&pid=355"]http://www.arabicast...px?id=1&pid=355[/url]

and the prices are wonderful too! But who knows about the quality ... :-/
[/quote]

That second one is the one I keep looking at. Since Syrians are machine made, I'm less concerned about quality of the pipe itself. But I'd still go with Mahir if he gets back to me first, lol.... I love one Farida he's got on his website, and him I KNOW we can trust.

'Rani
[/quote]

Mahir, answer your damned email and PM's!

:D

'Rani
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[quote name='Rani' timestamp='1334082354' post='544489']
That Lebanese you have on the website is really tempting too especially since I don't have a Lebanese yet.....
'Rani
[/quote]

It's a very nice pipe and I'm surprised no one has picked it up yet, I guess there is a reason no other vendors carry Leb pipes :(
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[quote name='KasbahBazaar' timestamp='1334085201' post='544492']
[quote name='Rani' timestamp='1334082354' post='544489']
That Lebanese you have on the website is really tempting too especially since I don't have a Lebanese yet.....
'Rani
[/quote]

It's a very nice pipe and I'm surprised no one has picked it up yet, I guess there is a reason no other vendors carry Leb pipes :(
[/quote]

Likely it may be the male bowl that Lebanese pipes have. You can't just pop on a phunnel bowl. But.... I understand male bowls actually have better seal because the weight of the bowl pushes down. I'm still think about it for certain.

'Rani
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I cant believe how much trouble you all are going through to try to order a pipe from folks you are trying to convince yourself are reliable, even though their email doesnt work and no one answers the phone. If they suddenly coem here and say "yes we are relaible" you all goign to fall over yourselves to order from them?

Give it up. :)
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[quote name='mushrat' timestamp='1334086215' post='544494']
I cant believe how much trouble you all are going through to try to order a pipe from folks you are trying to convince yourself are reliable, even though their email doesnt work and no one answers the phone. If they suddenly coem here and say "yes we are relaible" you all goign to fall over yourselves to order from them?

Give it up. :)
[/quote]

There you go being logical when hookah madness is in full bloom, lol.... I'm talking to Mahir so I'm good!

A pity in a way though because I'd really like to try that Amaren tobacco!

'Rani
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It's a real store, some pix on yelp. or at least they are pix of a real store. Illinois corp db has the address listed, and there is a retail tobacco license for Mumtaz A. Khan at that address.

It would appear that it's a real place, but I gotta agree with mushy - if they don't answer the phone or their cheesy go-daddy email server is a failure, why the hell would you want to give them your credit card number? Good grief, people. You gotta be nuts.
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Kasbah.us is going to be carrying three of those Syrian models I'm pretty sure... These three:

http://arabicastore.com/productsdetail.aspx?id=1&pid=286

http://arabicastore.com/productsdetail.aspx?id=1&pid=287

http://arabicastore.com/productsdetail.aspx?id=1&pid=343

The last one I personally own now as many of you already know. I highly recommend it: http://www.hookahforum.com/topic/45409-af-large-solid-look-alike-all-brass-syrian-review/page__pid__544364#entry544364

But yeah, if you're having problems with Arabica, maybe wait and see what Kasbah gets in and then decide.
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[quote name='mattarios2' timestamp='1334094561' post='544511']
Yeah I like the stem you have Chreees I would like to see the others close up that Kasbah gets then make a decision.

We don't know a manufacturer or name for these right?
[/quote]

I asked many people what they thought about the manufacturer of these... Out of the people I asked, everyone thought they were most likely made by the Al Nawras company, except for one person... Eric (Skoozle told me this, I PMed Eric myself and he did not reply). :lol:

I personally think they are made by Al Nawras because I know Nawras made the old Al Fakher Solid line of hookahs, and my model looks so identical to the the AF Large Solid. The other two models have the same hoseports, purge vavles, and hearts as the AF Solids did (same as the model I purchased), and the same tray rest part as many of the confirmed Nawras models (often referred to as the "snap-on" trays). Therefore, I think these three models are most likely made by Nawras, but don't want to claim as such because I am not 100% sure. I'm pretty sure that the Syrian companies over there imitate each other (as is the case in Egypt and many other countries, Turkey, etc.) and end up making identical-looking hookahs. For example, many people think that Al Nawras makes those "Nour" Syrian hookahs (the ones with tiny hoseports and purge valves) that HJ had available that come from Karabetian Importing. I don't think they are made by Nawras, but are rather made by another Syrian company and they just look identical the Nawras models. Really, who the hell knows. I think the brand isn't as important as the overall quality of the pipe. This pipe I would rate slightly below my other Syrian pipe that I know for a fact is made by Nawras. That's all I can tell you guys with certainty. Also that these three Syrian models are quite old, but clean up well and you should enjoy no problem. The etchings are not as deep as I'd like, but still look nice. Polishing definitely helped them "pop" more.

Here is the AF Large Solid for you to compare to my all-brass model to see the differences/similarities: http://www.alfakheronline.com/AF_Large_Solid_Hookah.htm

Closeups of mine:

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p40/INCUBUSRATM/Hookah/IMG_1746.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p40/INCUBUSRATM/Hookah/IMG_1747.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p40/INCUBUSRATM/Hookah/IMG_1745.jpg

Hope this helps.
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