Puff Cigar Discussion Forums

Giak · 09-19-2007, 03:59 AM

I agree, when I bought my first habano in a cigar shop in Rome I asked for a not full one but a midlight one (considering that pretty all cubans are full compared to non-cuban cigars, but they have an own scale of strenght); well what did he gave me? A HdM Petit Robusto, med-full one....and when I came back for telling him I was confused he told me "Oh probably because it was too light, take a Partagas P2".....no answer and changed shop

bobbyg29-cl · 09-19-2007, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by louistogie

Now I'm a lot more knowledgeable about cigars so I tent not to ask
any more but I do listen to peoples opinions.

Same here Lou. I do so much of my own research and reading now that I rarely if ever get any useful information/recommendations from B&M workers, even those that I consider to be trustworthy and knowledgeable. I am sure there are exceptions out there (including some notable one's like Gatormoye here) but most B&M owners/employees I have come in contact with are not plugged into the online cigar community at all so they are just not up-to-date on the latest info and buzz. I think the one's that are would really benefit and be able to give the best recommendations.

For example, here is a conversation my favorite local B&M owner and I had a few weeks ago that is typical:

Owner: "Just got back from RTDA and have a fantastic new cigars you have to try: the Oliva Serie V" (he knows I like strong cigars)

Me: "Thanks for the recommendation!" (I didn't have the heart to tell him I have already tried this cigar 5 times). "When will you be getting the new 601 green label?"

Owner: "The 601 what?"

Labman-cl · 09-19-2007, 09:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Giak

I agree, when I bought my first habano in a cigar shop in Rome I asked for a not full one but a midlight one (considering that pretty all cubans are full compared to non-cuban cigars, but they have an own scale of strenght); well what did he gave me? A HdM Petit Robusto, med-full one....and when I came back for telling him I was confused he told me "Oh probably because it was too light, take a Partagas P2".....no answer and changed shop

Wow, that shopkeeper didn't have a clue did he? An HdM too light??

Giak · 09-19-2007, 09:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Labman

Wow, that shopkeeper didn't have a clue did he? An HdM too light??

Yeah a totally crap....and the bad thing is that he have a walk-in humidor with all the cubans imported, all the shape and brands. So sometimes I go there to take some cuban cigars but only if I already know what I want

BeerAdvocate-cl · 09-19-2007, 10:28 AM

For the most part I like my B&M. But a few things that bother me is that they never tell me a cigar is bad. If I ask about any cigar I never get any negative comment then he moves right in and suggests that I buy a whole box.
I just wish I could get an honest opinion.

Giak · 09-19-2007, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BeerAdvocate

For the most part I like my B&M. But a few things that bother me is that they never tell me a cigar is bad. If I ask about any cigar I never get any negative comment then he moves right in and suggests that I buy a whole box.
I just wish I could get an honest opinion.

Yeah, they are dealers after all so they cant say a cigar is not good or nobody will purchase those. The only chance is became friendly with the dealer so if he thinks a cigar is not worth the purchase he'll advice you and let new customers to get it instead of you

Bullybreed · 09-19-2007, 12:37 PM

i always go into a B&M with a X-files mindset"trust no one!, Like most everyone here i get ideas for diff smoke from people posting pics and given reviews of diff smokes they picked up from here. people are genuinly brutaly honest, and from the diff posts you know what types of smokes people on here like, so you can easly gp checkout there pics and reviews wich is cool. That way I limit my time and Q&A with the store keeprs, I can just walk in ask where are your such and such, thanks nice shop and be on my way. It is a total turn off when I have a 9 o'clock shadow especially in a 25 x 25 humi. I also hate it when you walk into a place for the first time and they give you that your obligated to buy something look just for coming in(its a cross between a sad puppy and i just found out my wife is cheating on me look) especially when you walk outta the humi with nothen to buy. Fortunately seriuose cigars i go to doesnt do that, they just say hi when you walk in and leave you to your own mental dilima on what to buy. this is a another cool topic, I love reading threads when every body relates to the same subject.

mikejh-cl · 09-19-2007, 12:58 PM

i have so many specific sticks i want to try and the closest thing to a b&m is about 45 minutes away so when i go there i know what im looking for and i dont want anythig else. last time i was there he recommended some gurkha the size of my arm, but i didnt bite

thegraduate-cl · 09-19-2007, 01:02 PM

being from NYC there are so many B&M's and they all bring something different to the table. because i am originally from Long Island our local B&M is great, the guys there are so nice, they hangout and talk and really recommend rather than push into buying, they dont want to sell me and my friends something we dont like.
However in NYC, we had a bad experience at J&R's where the salesmen did not give me and my friend the time of day to help us. granted we are young and we walked in with T-shirts and Jeans on while everyone else seemed to have been getting back from work in their suits and ties, there were more than enough staff on hand to help everyone equally. When we asked them questions they walked away, and one guy tried to get us into buying some real expensive cigars that we didnt ask for.
But i dont really see much of the 'car salesmen' stereotype when i walk into a B&M which is why i always go back to those places and am glad to give my business.

JTokash-cl · 09-19-2007, 01:05 PM

I have only gone to 2 B&Ms. One is in town and you'd be lucky to get the owner to get off his lazy rear and put down his newspaper to come over and help.

The other one I deal with is about 45 minutes out of town, but it has a guy working there that I've become good friends with and I'm lucky since we have similar taste in cigars and he has years more experience than I do, so I trust his suggestions.

Regards,
-Justin

Labman-cl · 09-19-2007, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheScienceGuy

The other one I deal with is about 45 minutes out of town, but it has a guy working there that I've become good friends with and I'm lucky since we have similar taste in cigars and he has years more experience than I do, so I trust his suggestions.

You should try and get him to join CL. We could always use more retailers.

Skystorm82 · 09-19-2007, 02:33 PM

I have two near me. The closest one is open 24 hours and in addition to the humidor filled with cigars...has probably every known magazine you can think of. It even has a little walled off "adult" section. Hell...sex sells and if it brings in money, I want the place to stay in business.

The owner is a really nice and helpful guy and he's always telling me about cigar events they have at a local restaurant. Several weeks ago, I asked him if he had any of the new CAO America's for sale. He told me no and that they haven't been released yet. He then reached deep behind the shelf, pulled out a bag and gave me a free CAO America that he got at the RTDA convention. He also talks to me at length about various cigars to help me find new ones to try that I might like. Super good guy who I trust and try to patronize whenever I need some more cigars.

The other B&M is slightly farther away...and I don't know about them. I had asked them if they had any Hemingway Work of Art Maduros because I keep hearing people talk about them...I just can't find them anywhere (someday though). Well he told me he's never heard of them. I don't know...I guess that it's not that abnormal and can't expect him to know every cigar.

I had asked another question (I forgot what about as it was a couple of months ago) but I remember his answer going against everything I've been learning from cigar forums. While I have yet to have any kind of "horrible" experience there, I still haven't made up my mind as to whether they are a good place or not. Maybe I just wasn't talking to the owner. The guy at the other B&M introduced himself to me, told me he was the owner and handed me his card.

Reverend Mike · 09-19-2007, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BeerAdvocate

For the most part I like my B&M. But a few things that bother me is that they never tell me a cigar is bad. If I ask about any cigar I never get any negative comment then he moves right in and suggests that I buy a whole box.
I just wish I could get an honest opinion.

I will tell you if I don't like a cigar in a NY second. For instance, I try to get people away from Macanudos because I really don't like them. We carry what we like for the most part, although you have to carry some stuff that people just want no matter what. But, if a Macanudo smoker is open to my suggestion, he'll walk-out with a Oliva or something in the same price range that tastes better.

Suggesting a box is only done if (1) the customer has 12 or 15 sticks in theri hand (we do a 10% off for box and mix-and-match 20 packs) or (2) if I've noticed they are buying a large number of the same cigar over several visits (again, it saves them money.)

As for monitoring my customers. My humidors are free access for all. I never know who's got a wad of C-Notes in their pocket and who can't rob two nickels together. I don't want anyone to steal from me, but I don't watch people like a hawk. Frankly, if you need a cigar that bad, maybe you need it more than I need the money.

I don't have much theft (knock on wood). You have to walk through my crowded lounge to get to the humidor, so that cuts down on the riff-raff quite a bit.

And, when women come in, they get the walk of the store -- regulars jump-up to help them! Our only "special" rule for women is to leave the toilet seat up when they're done with the bathroom.