Bad luck, huh?
I have smoked Thompson products on and off since the 70s and have never received any bug-infested nor stale products. Maybe I don't buy enough from them.
As I noted elsewhere, I just bought 20 Perdomo Reserve Maduro perfectos, selling elsewhere for $6 each (in quantity packs) for under $2 each.
I've recently purchased RP Vintage '92, Gurkha, A. Fuente, La Gloria Cubano, CAO Brazilia and Italia (and other primo smokes) essentially as singles (a sampler) for 1.85 each. As opposed to being more, that is actually much less than generally paid elsewhere.
Within the last year CI haas advertised for sale mazos of 12 Gurkha Centurian #1s for $99. Thompson has advertised full 24 count boxes of Gurkha Master's Select #1s for $160.
And yes, the box is their primary unit - but that's the cigar business, isn't it?
Sure, most of their prices are high compared to other major catalog retailers (not all), but they are competitive with traditional cigar shop prices.
My point is you shouldn't run screaming (or laughing) from any seller, because you can find deals everywhere. I have also noted I have had some problems with Thompson, but they have been very minor - certainly nothing in the nature that you describe and I have purchased hundreds of cigars from TCC (and no, I'm not ashamed to admit it).
I don't expect to change the minds of those who have already made them up, but I don't want to discourage other readers from the open-minded (not saying you are closed-minded) cigar shopping philosophy that I have found to serve me best.