[need advice] social smoking?

[floydpink]

I meet a group of friends most Tuesdays at Corona.

We sit around talking and smoking and one of the guys is extremely knowlegeable and constantly handing out cigars like Cohibas and Partagas Lusitanas. He's hard to keep up with but I make sure to at least try.

On the opposite side is a guy who is a newer smoker and feels that Rocky Patel vintage seconds are as good as it gets. he hands them out and I take them as graciously as the others, although I don't normally smoke them and pack them up for the mechanics at the Harley shop who love them.

I have a tight group of friends and a mechanic who throws in freebies, and feel pretty good about it.

I am also a pushy salesman type except on Tuesdays at around 6 pm. I've also been called a prick more than once, but my boss calls me darling.

[bigloo]

You always take the offering. You dont have to smoke it, a simple "I really had my heart set on smoking <whatever>, but I will have yours sometime this week and let you know" would have worked. If you dont want it, toss it when you get home. A real touch of class is "I will take yours if you try one of mine I think you would like". My

[Bear]

Originally Posted by bigloo

You always take the offering. You dont have to smoke it, a simple "I really had my heart set on smoking <whatever>, but I will have yours sometime this week and let you know" would have worked. If you dont want it, toss it when you get home. A real touch of class is "I will take yours if you try one of mine I think you would like". My

Very well put bigloo.

[lightning9191]

I definitely would have accepted. You could always say that you'll save it for another day. You never know if you never tried it. Sharing a drink or a smoke with someone can go a long way in future encounters and respect.

[Cozy]

Originally Posted by Darrell

It's not about "saving face" it's about recognizing that common courtesy goes a LONG way in this world.

[seegarfan]

Accept it and throw it away when you get home. Say: Thanks for the stick, but I really had my heart set on smoking ________this today.

[Homebrewer]

Accept the cigar. Than go into the bathroom and slip that band on to your Ashton VSG. Go back out, light up, and then thank him for the wonderful smoke.

[longknocker]

Originally Posted by NCRadioMan

That's what it's all about. You don't want to be an "elitist", do you?

I would have said, "Thanks, I'll try it later but I have had my mind set on smoking some of the cigars I brought with me. Want one?" Or, "Thanks, I'll smoke it later after it acclimates to my humidors environment."

I would at the very least thanked him and taken the stick.

[SHOE]

Just as a courtesy I would have taken it and acted as though I was excited to try it later but said "I've got one here that I've been looking foward to all day, but I'll smoke yours tonight and let you know what I think. Here, I'll trade you one."

My father-in-law tells a story of a family reunion where one of the crazy aunts made a cobbler without putting the sugar in it. Everybody was gagging and he picked up on it rather quickly just as she was coming at him with a dish of it. Everybody behind her was laughing hysterically as she approached him so he thought quickly and said to her "Oh, my goodness, that looks really good. I think I'll wrap that up and take it home with me to have later. Do you mind?" In the trash it went when he got out of site. She never knew.

[Rolando]

You should have taken in, said thanks, and immediately started smoking it. After a few draws you start wheezing, coughing, and screaming that you are going to die.

If he was really the obnoxious type I would have probably said something like "I am sorry things are going so poorly for you that you must smoke cheap cigars. You better save it. You never know when you will be able to afford more."

But then I am a jerk so you might not want to follow my lead.

[mugen910]

Originally Posted by Darrell

Taken it and said thanks.

Just take it, say thanks, and smoke like half if it's really bad...

He may have been right...you never know it might have been the best $1.50 cigar you'll ever have.

[kansashat]

I suppose I would have told him that I'd tried the Don Mateo before & it was not to my taste. (I have & it tasted like a musty old laundry hamper to me).

When he called me a snob I would have informed him that I have some 60c cigars in my humi at home that I like just fine.

The risk of insult wouldn't be to his budget then, but perhaps to his palate.

This wouldn't bother me because I am an obnoxious salesman type.

[ActionAndy]

Originally Posted by Mullet

He wasn't mad at all because he's an obnoxious prick, salesman type (no offense).

That made me laugh out loud. Not sure if I have much to add...I've just noticed that those types always seem oblivious and invincible all at once.

I probably would have at least taken it if not smoked it, and to be honest after seven or eight beers I can probably convince myself to muscle through almost anything....

[sanfrantreat]

I woulda smoked it with him or saved it and said hmm I'll give it a try, then for a second cigar, smoke one of yours with him. Then try to evaluate the difference. Or just smoke a second one with him and let him figure it out =] However that being said. 1.50 cigar may not neccessarly be all that bad. The CFO cigar at 50 cents were amazing, the only problem with them is shipping takes forever...

Originally Posted by Mullet

I went to a Labor Day picnic with my wife's family on Sunday afternoon. One of her uncles (he's a semi-successful person, but still a redneck at heart) tries to push his $1.50 cigar on me.

I thought ahead and brought a bunch of cigars for all the men, in case anyone wanted to smoke with me.

Well, he's already given one of his $1.50 cigars to another one of my wife's uncles.

He says to me, "here, try this -- it's the best $1.50 smoke you'll ever have." And of course, I told him no thank you, I brought a few cigars in case there weren't enough to go around.

He says, "c'mon stop being a snob, try this cigar it's great I promise."

I finally told him, "I don't want a $1.50 cigar -- I brought a bunch of cigars, i'll just pick something from my lot."

He wasn't mad at all because he's an obnoxious prick, salesman type (no offense). But I wondered how I could have handled it differently.

Anybody with any suggestions based on experience?

FYI, his "awesome" cigar was a Don Mateo

[Rolando]

Originally Posted by mugen910

He may have been right...you never know it might have been the best $1.50 cigar you'll ever have.

But then he would have to live with himself knowing he likes buck-fitty cigars. That is really not a risk worth taking.