Did Pepin sell his soul?

[Lok17]

Originally Posted by alanf

I don't know what the real story is but taking it at face value, I have a slightly different take. As someone who has been "screwed" by a business partner, this simply wrong. What is important here are people and relationships, not some "stupid" cigars or more money. If you can't meet your obligations, for whatever reason (and I've been in that situation), you sit down and discuss options and come to a equitable solution. You just don't "blow someone off", especially a friend. I really hope this is all one big misunderstanding and that the two parties restore their friendship. True friends are rare and precious.

I think Alan said it better right there then I ever could..

[Lighthouse]

Originally Posted by MMarsden

Well, my opinions pretty well recorded on the comments of the rebuttal, but I thought that what Black Cat did (informing everyone about what Pepin did on the pages of all Pepin's products) was completely unprofessional. He should have posted news that Rey Miguel's would be no longer sold at this time and left it at that as he tried to contact Pepin and get the reason for dropping the product. He has now burned any bridge with Pepin, and if I were a cigar producer, I would be wary if Black Cat wanted a blend made for their store.

Now Pepin's company could have handled it better by giving a reason for the product drop. My belief is that with the expanded interest in Pepin Garcia from the industry, he's now producing more and more cigars and has reached the point where he has to, for quality assurance purposes, drop production of some lines to keep the more popular brands (The DPG series, Tatuajes, and Cristobals) in supply.

Of course, that's optimistic, and it could just be him being a jerk for the hell of it, but why the heck would he do that?

I agree with Mike. I read the material on the BC site too and I must admit my first though was 'how unprofessional!' If BC had such a close relationship with Pepin over the past several months, why couldn't BC sinmply pick up the phone and make a direct call to Pepin to get an explanation from the man himself. This has happened to me when I was the messenger that had to deliver negative news to a business partner that had direct ties to the CEO. The next call the guy made was directly to the CEO for an explanation. Pepin's sales manager is in the same position.

There are ALWAYS two sides to every story, and we've only seen/heard one side. I don't profess to know the inner workings of the cigar manufacturing business, but I have been intimately involved with decisions to continue or discontinue doing business with a business partner. In every case, there was some level of conversation prior to the change or there were things that occured during the normal course of business that either tipped the hand or were indicators change was afoot. No matter what the situation is, you don't air your dirty laundry in a public forum - least of all to potential customers - PERIOD!

What does this say for BC's business acumen? It's not too comforting to know you're doing business with someone who doesn't hesitate to go to an extreme to deliver a payback. This to me ranks right up there with a guy that rents an aerial banner to fly over a business or an event the business attends to attempt to convey to the public he was wronged by the business in some fashion. It typically has minimal to no effect other than to publicly convey the guy is most likely a jerk that will go to the extreme to get his point across.

As Mike suggested, who in their right mind would take a chance doing business with BC if there was the possibility this could happen to them. The reality is, any growing business is at times faced with altering their business model to maintain viability and keep up with an ever changing marketplace - especially when the company is experiencing exponential-type growth like Pepin.

Bottom line is that it's an unfortunate situation for both. No doubt some will bring the hot dogs and fixin's for smores to take advantage of the burning bridge (as in buying the DPG product at fire sale prices)!!! JMHO!

[BagfullofPings]

Originally Posted by Lighthouse

I agree with Mike. I read the material on the BC site too and I must admit my first though was 'how unprofessional!' If BC had such a close relationship with Pepin over the past several months, why couldn't BC sinmply pick up the phone and make a direct call to Pepin to get an explanation from the man himself. This has happened to me when I was the messenger that had to deliver negative news to a business partner that had direct ties to the CEO. The next call the guy made was directly to the CEO for an explanation. Pepin's sales manager is in the same position.

There are ALWAYS two sides to every story, and we've only seen/heard one side. I don't profess to know the inner workings of the cigar manufacturing business, but I have been intimately involved with decisions to continue or discontinue doing business with a business partner. In every case, there was some level of conversation prior to the change or there were things that occured during the normal course of business that either tipped the hand or were indicators change was afoot. No matter what the situation is, you don't air your dirty laundry in a public forum - least of all to potential customers - PERIOD!

What does this say for BC's business acumen? It's not too comforting to know you're doing business with someone who doesn't hesitate to go to an extreme to deliver a payback. This to me ranks right up there with a guy that rents an aerial banner to fly over a business or an event the business attends to attempt to convey to the public he was wronged by the business in some fashion. It typically has minimal to no effect other than to publicly convey the guy is most likely a jerk that will go to the extreme to get his point across.

As Mike suggested, who in their right mind would take a chance doing business with BC if there was the possibility this could happen to them. The reality is, any growing business is at times faced with altering their business model to maintain viability and keep up with an ever changing marketplace - especially when the company is experiencing exponential-type growth like Pepin.

Bottom line is that it's an unfortunate situation for both. No doubt some will bring the hot dogs and fixin's for smores to take advantage of the burning bridge (as in buying the DPG product at fire sale prices)!!! JMHO!

Outstanding response!!

[iloveclmore]

Business is business. Thats all there is to it.

[Ehlonya]

LOL, now if pepin had dropped the Tats outta the loop then you guys will all be whining up the river.

[hayward_tenney]

Originally Posted by Lighthouse

Bottom line is that it's an unfortunate situation for both. No doubt some will bring the hot dogs and fixin's for smores to take advantage of the burning bridge (as in buying the DPG product at fire sale prices)!!! JMHO!

Agreed, an outstanding response. That last sentence is pure brilliance!

[baboruger]

See now this on Black Cat's site is what i find to be wrong...

"[SIZE=-1]When Pepin Garcia came to the United States, he had nothing and might as well have been "Don Nobody". A mutual friend in the industry, Paul Palmer from Tabacalera Tropical introduced us. I was asked to buy cigars from Pepin to help him out. Pepin came to Philadelphia, sat on my floor, and rolled cigars on a stool so we could sample blends. I would bring back great duty-free scotch from trips and we would drink the bottle in his small office in Miami. I considered him a friend and his cigars were fantastic. I loved one of the blends Pepin made and he started to sell them to me for my personal use.

Around 2005, Pepin began to make a brand for us exclusively called Rey Miguel. I think it's one of the best cigars in the world. We began spreading the word of this terrific cigar maker along with a select few others who were with Pepin since his early days here in the U.S. Pepin became an overnight sensation and his cigars and popularity have reached unprecedented levels.

As a thank you, in March I received a very sad phone call. A man I've never met, John Gonzales, who has some kind of title in Pepin's organization informed me that Pepin's factory would no longer make cigars for me or make the Rey Miguel. I was and still am upset as I considered Pepin a friend. I was blown off.

Enjoy these cigars at rock bottom prices as I no longer wish to help my former friend. I hope that one day soon our relationship can be reconciled. As my good friend Jose Blanco once said to me. " Never forget who brought you to the big dance because just as fast as they built you up..." "
[/SIZE]

[Slow Triathlete]

The fact that he still has it on his website says a lot about the man.

Also, I don't think that the prices are all that low.

[cigardaddyo]

Would all the US smoking bands taking affect across country... would manufactures be cutting back for loss of sales? Take the online poker industry...the gov basically whipped it out.

[Lighthouse]

Originally Posted by Slow Triathlete

Also, I don't think that the prices are all that low.

The prices are not that low at all, but I only looked at the price on Tat's. In fact, Silo has a 10% off promo going right now for Tat boxes that bring the prices to lower than or within a dollar or two of BC's supposed giveaway prices.

I just placed an order with Silo. It's a pleasure to do business with Kevin at Silo as he has ALWAYS been professional and customer oriented!!!!!!!!!!

[brianhewitt-cl]

I think this ugly public scene could have been prevented with better customer service. I understand that Pepin may not be able to continue to produce these cigars with his increased load, a solid customer of that length of time deserves to hear the bad news from the man himself. I think that's what really chaffed the retailer. He was handed off to a complete stranger to be dealt with. Business is business, but it's important not to forget customer service, even when you're a star. Just my 2 cents.

[boxer757]

I do think that the retailer should have attempted to reconcile the situation in private before throwing it all over the internet. Whether he is right or wrong it makes him appear very unprofessional imho. The whole bit about him basically bringing DPG into the business and being the reason for is success seems to be a bit over the top. It may be the case but it is just hard for me to believe that he was such an integral part of DPG's success. I personally had never even heard of the black cat brand until this thread.

Granted it would have been more appropriate for Garcia to call this man and talk it out with him rather than have a rep do it. But two wrongs don't make a right as they say, and slandering him over the web is pretty petty and pathetic looking for someone who is supposed to be running a reputable business. He may have ruined any chance he had with reconciling with Garcia.

I understand DPG wanting to focus on his big money-makers. I too have been a bit miffed lately because it seems like half the brands I see being brought to market are tied to Garcia and it just makes me worry about quality. Everyone is trying to cash in on his name imo and he is right by stopping that now. I am not taking his side. I'm not saying what he did with black cat was right or wrong (other than not handling it himself) but that I can understand and appreciate his perspective (or at least what I believe that perspective to be).

[slimm-cl]

IMHO, I have to agree with everyone on the loyalty issues. We all understand the business aspect of things too but no one wants to feel stepped on for any reason especially with someone you call "friend." Be it beneficial more to either party, the fact is as much as it helped Black Cat, they helped Pepin establish himself as a household name when it comes to cigars. I haven't personally tried one but according to many here and elsewhere, the guy makes a great smoke.

Isn't that what cigars are about to us? Comradarie, fellowship, good times with friends, etc.? I know at the end of the day you have to make money and that's cool...I think we all know that it would not have killed Pepin to perhaps gave the guy a legitimate reason or maybe give him a Limited Release for certain times in the year. I don't care how high you get, you just don't forget where you come from.

Yes, it was unprofessional to air it out but the guy is obviously hurt. There are some ills on both sides that hopefully for the enjoyment of us the consumer will be able to have the best of both but that may not happen...

[Slow Triathlete]

Mo' Money, Mo' Problems.

RIP Biggie

[hayward_tenney]