I got treated with disdain....

jd50ae

.....at "Ye Olde Pipe Shop" in Jackson, TN. The shop is very near my liquor store of choice (on Wednesday they give a senior 10% discount) and a customer was having a discussion with the owner about Rocky Patel cigars, and I was interested since every Rocky Patel I have tried sucked. So I said, as a question, that every one I had tried fell apart and had a bad taste. Waiting for a helpful reply he immediately jumped on me for buying cigars off the internet and what did I expect. Who mentioned the internet..? Now, I am standing there with a handful of cigars to purchase an it was all he could do to ring them up, and you could feel the tension. I held my tongue, thanked him, and left. I am going to have to think real hard about going back to that shop.

Gray4lines

I don't think cigars can tell if they're sold online or not.... Sure, if you buy a cigar that hasn't been stored correctly, the construction will suffer, but let's talk about all the mold (sorry! "plume" ) problems that some B&M's have.

Yes, it's great to support your local B&M, I always buy a handful of sticks when I visit mine...but if I bought only from them, I'd be broke! To shame you for buying online is a dumbass move, and is a great way to chase off otherwise good customers!

You must've really hurt his feelings with that Rocky comment! lol!

perkinke

Always surprises me when a business owner in an industry like this doesn't realize that they only advantage they have over online sales is personal, face to face relationships. One of the shops I like actually told me where to get something online that he can't carry competitively. Left there with a lot more than I intended, largely based on that kind of service.

CharlieHeis

perkinke:

Always surprises me when a business owner in an industry like this doesn't realize that they only advantage they have over online sales is personal, face to face relationships. One of the shops I like actually told me where to get something online that he can't carry competitively. Left there with a lot more than I intended, largely based on that kind of service.

That guy gets it.
I had an experience with a local sporting goods store. I told him I researched what I was looking for online and he all but ignored me after that. Hello, I'm standing in your store right now, and I know what I am looking for because of my online research. I left and haven't been back since.

Gray4lines

CharlieHeis:

perkinke:

Always surprises me when a business owner in an industry like this doesn't realize that they only advantage they have over online sales is personal, face to face relationships. One of the shops I like actually told me where to get something online that he can't carry competitively. Left there with a lot more than I intended, largely based on that kind of service.

That guy gets it.
I had an experience with a local sporting goods store like that. I told him I researched what I was looking for online and he all but ignored me after that. Hello, I'm standing in your store right now, and I know what I am looking for because of my online research. I left and haven't been back since.

Absolutely. I think some retailers are scared to death of online sales and they forget that they can still have a huuuuge advantage in personal and great customer service.

ckrddsmke

There is one Shop here where the customer service is great even if you aren't one of the regulars they will talk cigars with you. There is another one that they act like you don't know anything and they barely have time to ring you up. I've only been in that one twice. I always buy more than I intend in the first one. They have any Pappy in that liquor store of choice?

jd50ae

ckrddsmke:

There is one Shop here where the customer service is great even if you aren't one of the regulars they will talk cigars with you. There is another one that they act like you don't know anything and they barely have time to ring you up. I've only been in that one twice. I always buy more than I intend in the first one. They have any Pappy in that liquor store of choice?

Don't know...will find out.

Bob_Luken

I hate to hear that JD. I've been in there a half a dozen times in the past few years an they always have been helpful and friendly with me. Was it an older guy or a guy in his 40s? How did he know you got them online? That's bizarre. Was it this past Wednesday? Or Saturday? I've only ever been on a Saturday? Either way if they treat you like crap they don't deserve your business.

allsmokedup

jd50ae:

.....at "Ye Olde Pipe Shop" in Jackson, TN. The shop is very near my liquor store of choice (on Wednesday they give a senior 10% discount) and a customer was having a discussion with the owner about Rocky Patel cigars, and I was interested since every Rocky Patel I have tried sucked. So I said, as a question, that every one I had tried fell apart and had a bad taste. Waiting for a helpful reply he immediately jumped on me for buying cigars off the internet and what did I expect. Who mentioned the internet..? Now, I am standing there with a handful of cigars to purchase an it was all he could do to ring them up, and you could feel the tension. I held my tongue, thanked him, and left. I am going to have to think real hard about going back to that shop.

Screw them, even if they have real Cubans. The cigar business is hard enough with all the bullshit bans on smoking and whatnot, so if they can't treat customers right, then let their business fail. In a similar vein, I visited a cigar store by a friend's place that I make a pilgrimage to every year. I found that they had changed ownership and had become a chain. The woman at the register decided to follow my friend and I into the humidor to watch our every move as if we'd steal something. I bought the cigars and left, and will never return because of the treatment.

jd50ae

Bob Luken:

I hate to hear that JD. I've been in there a half a dozen times in the past few years an they always have been helpful and friendly with me. Was it an older guy or a guy in his 40s? How did he know you got them online? That's bizarre. Was it this past Wednesday? Or Saturday? I've only ever been on a Saturday? Either way if they treat you like crap they don't deserve your business.

He was the only guy I have ever seen in there..tall and dark hair (salt and pepper..?).

SleevePlz

Sorry, but bad customer service means no business from me. Too many other places would love my business. There are a few B&M's that I won't frequent anymore because of the customer service.

alienmisprint

I miss my old shop in Lake Charles, Louisianna. It was called The Cigar Club, if you are ever in the area, check it out. Fantastic service, very friendly and knowledgable employees. I went from that to the two shops in Killeen. The one actually in Killeen isn't bad, but their selection leaves something to be desired. They are always friendly at least. I'll never shop at the one in Harker Heights again.

A buddy and I were looking around in their walk-in. The lady working the counter came in with another woman who was looking to buy her husband some stuff. The lady said her husband had only smoked Cubans, so she wanted something similar. The worker proceeded to tell her to get Cohiba Red Dots, RyJs, and Partagas. The worker left, and the lady asked out advice. Of course, we recommended totally different cigars, which she picked up instead of the stuff the worker suggested. We all walked out of the walk-in at about the same time, and the lady went to the counter to pay. When the worker saw she had different cigars, in a very hostile tone she told the lady, "Well, you asked for Cuban brands, and the ones I showed you are the old Cuban brands. These brands were never Cuban." The lady replied, "No, ma'am, I said my husband had only smoked Cubans, so I wanted something similar tasting. But its okay, those gentlemen helped me." Man, when we went up to pay for our cigars, she was pissed. She literally threw my change on the counter and left the register.

Rhamlin

No way I'd go back unless he carried a certain brand you can't get anywhere else. I just can't tolerate bad service. If the guy was just an employee I'd find out when the owner works and let him know how I was treated. So I guess I'd go back for that:)

Amos_Umwhat

perkinke:

Always surprises me when a business owner in an industry like this doesn't realize that they only advantage they have over online sales is personal, face to face relationships. One of the shops I like actually told me where to get something online that he can't carry competitively. Left there with a lot more than I intended, largely based on that kind of service.

bingo!

twistedstem

Yeah I had a similar experience when I first started.there's a b&m just a few miles from my house,when I started switching from machine modes to real cigars I stopped in there to ask questions .stopped in after work in my work uniform.owner pretty much ignored me til I got right in his face.started asking some questions .told what I was smoking and he pretty much told me I wouldn't appreciate finer cigars and asked me if knew his cigars where more then abuck or two a piece.....so I left.ended go to a shop that is a 30 to 40 minute drive from home.the owners son walked me around the walk in explained some things to me picked out 3 cigars from mild to full bodied forms to try .even gave me one for free.needless to say I go thereaT least once a month!!!!

brianetz1

Been to 6 shops in the area. 4 of them i was treated like *** by the people who worked there, one of them the owner was great but the patrons were all ass holes, and one treated me awesome but is way too far away for me to frequent. It happens.....now i drive 20 minutes out of my way to go to the 1 shop where the owner is an awesome guy. When i am in the area of the other shop i always stop in and try to have a cigar with them.

for me i think it revolves around the fact that i am young for st. louis cigar smokers. Everyone in the lounge areas in 5 out of the 6 shops are in their 50s and above. The only exception is the one that is too far for me to frequent. the guys in there were all my age, and the owners are a little younger than i am.

Lee.mcglynn

I'm lucky enough too make my self present at all the b&m's I go to a tad too much! All the management knows who I am and are very pleasant too me. If I had come across a place as stated I would have simply put everything down and walked out! It's actually funny though since most of the managers I deal with would never suggest a rp and if someone said how great his whole line was they would just bite the tongue and smile.

jsnake

I like hard to find stuff at the locals. Lucky for me I have great ones like Cigar and Tabac, Outlaw, and Diebel's to name a few big ones. Not that the original poster said anything about online cigars but any mention of that in a B&M is like pouring salt on a wound. I love having a B&M around where you can hang out and relax with friends in a nice lounge. So going in and buying a stick or two to enjoy the services is no big deal. If you do not like throwing away money you would be crazy to make all your purchases in a B&M when the online deals are so incredible.

By all means support your local B&M so you help keep them in business and have a place to go locally. Lounges and events are great fun. My rule is B&M for hard to find singles and online for samplers and boxes. But sometimes you may want to call Ccom and ask about HTF sticks because they are great and working with you and giving you some incredible deals.

I have met a few B&M owners who are complete a$$hats. If you can't respect me or other customers you don't deserve a dime of my money. Lucky for me the one closest to me is great and so are the ones in the KC metro. Haven't run into any jerks here. Some high prices yes but I really like all the owners around here.