Bad B&M! Tobacco World in Marietta, GA

[itsme_timd]

Not sure the best forum to post this in, feel free to move it if it needs to go somewhere else! I'd really like others to hear this story!

I know some others on here will share my sentiments on Tobacco World!

I'm only posting this up after several experiences with this B&M, it really stinks that they guys aren't more helpful as they have a great selection. I actually think that may be part of the issue.

I've been in several times looking for new items - Illusione mj12 and Cuchillos Cubanos. I asked if they carried the Cuchillos Cubanos and the guy there barked "WHAT!" at me, I repeated myself and he repsonded with "NO! NO!" and swung his hand in a GTFO motion, like he was shooing away a fly - he then turned and walked out of the humi.

They are having an event on Saturday and Eddie Ortega is going to be there. I've been looking to score a box of Cubaos so I called to see what time the event was and how much the cigars were per box. I was told "Man, I'm with 2 customers right now." when I asked the box price.

These guys have been around a while and they make it obvious they don't give a damn - that's too bad.

I wanted to post this as a note to others looking for a B&M and also to see if anyone can recommend a B&M on the NW side of Atlanta that has a great selection - Tat, Illusione, Pepin, Fuente - most every popular brand. I really would prefer not to continue giving these guys business.

THREE STRIKES FOR THESE GUYS!!!
WARNING - There's foul language in the text below - used to relate the story as it happened!


You guys will not even believe this story it's so over the top. I'll try my best to relate it as close as possible to the exact events....

I called Tobacco World today to see if they had the Nub Maduro, Paulie answered the phone and told me that they did. I was using this as kind of a test - I wanted to see how they acted when I called based on the last couple times - Paulie was helpful and mostly friendly this time (he was the same guy that brushed me away last week) and I told him thanks and headed over there at lunch today.

I get to the shop and Paulie comes in the humidor and asks if I need help, told him I was there for the Nub Maduros and he said they just got them in, he even took the time to find them in the shipment and get them for me. I grabbed 4 of them and 2 Los Imperialistas and headed to the checkout.

Put them on the counter and as he was ringing me up I asked if they'd gotten anything else in today and then specifically asked if they had the Illusione mj12. Paulie kind of looked at me and said, "Huh"? I told him it was a new size from Illusione, a foil wrapped cigar. This is where it gets interesting...

There's a guy sitting behind the counter at a computer, with his back to me. I am 99% positive that this is the owner and his name is Robert. When Robert heard me ask about the mj12 he blurted out "I can't have EVERY F$$$ size!"... I wasn't sure if I heard him correct so I said, "Excuse me"... At this point he spun around in his chair and started shaking his hands as he spoke, he said "I've got 12 F$$$ sizes of Illusione in there, almost every size and I can't have every one they carry - I can't turn this into a F$$$ Illusione store!" Damn. I was literally shellshocked and stood there for maybe 3 seconds before it really hit me that he just went off because I asked for a certain size cigar.

At this point I took my fingers and flicked all of the cigars in the floor and said, "You guys have a horrible reputation around town for being jerks, and I sure see why. Keep your cigars, I'll never shop here again!" His reply... "F$$$ you, you fat F$$$ slob! I don't need your F$$$ business and I don't care what my reputation is!" I swear guys... this is exactly the way this happened.

Now I'm out the front door and another customer is coming in, I told him "Don't give these guys any business! This guys in here cussing and calling me a fat slob just because I asked for a cigar he didn't have!" The guy said "No, are you serious" and I said "Oh, yeah, dead serious."

I was parked along the sidewalk just in front of the store so I'm now getting into my truck. This guy literally followed me out to my truck in order to cuss me out some more, he was pissed because I told the guy coming in not to shop there. He went on about "sure buddy, tell eveyone!" and I told him "I'm a member of several online communities and I'm going to share this story on every one." He told me he didn't give a damn what I did and even said "Why don't you get your little friends together and come here and picket the store?"

I told him he was a jerk and a jackass and he didn't need to act that way, I even said - "You could have just said, no - we don't have that size" to which he replied "Yeah I could have, but I didn't, that's not my personality. You either like me or you don't and since you obviously don't get the F$$$ outta here you F$$$ redneck!" I can honestly say that's the first time I've been called a redneck. I said, "What's your name?" of course he said he wasn't going to tell me and said "I don't know your name, why should I tell you mine" I said "My name is Tim Dennis." He still didn't give his name...

At this point I am fuming mad... I haven't been this mad in a long time. So, I walked calmly over to the front of the store where he had a card table full of empty cigar boxes and flung the table and boxes down the sidewalk. Normally I'd think, "man, I should go flip over that table full of cigar boxes" but then I'd walk away. This guy pushed my buttons and I had to do it. After that, I calmly walked to my truck and got my cell phone and went to take a picture of him and the boxes, he stepped aside so I got a pic of the boxes. Then I calmly waled to my truck and drove away - I didn't say another word to him - the whole time I'm pulling out he's cussing and shaking his fists.

Whew... this was one crazy experience. I was planning to go to an event there Saturday and getting a box - that won't happen now.

B/SOTL... I really want to show these guys they can't act like this. If you're in the Atlanta area I urge you to boycott Tobacco World. I'd also like it if people would call them and tell them that they won't stand for situations like this, feel free to use my name if they want it. I'd love for them to know that burning a good paying customer can have a backlash - whether he thinks it can or not.

Here's their contact info:
Tobacco World
700 Sandy Plains Rd # A
Marietta, GA 30066
678-290-1255

Employees that I know of:
Paulie - (Paulie's 50/50, he's not friendly but he's OK sometimes)
Red - (Red is a decent guy and will usually be friendly and helpful
Robert - (The owner and one of the rudest people I've ever met)

[Sweet_Cigars]

Damn that's horrible Tim. I will give them a call!

[DSturg369]

Note to self: Never, never, NEVER go there!!!

I would indeed consider his "picket" suggestion, perhaps during the afore mentioned "event". The Bastid'!!!

[itsme_timd]

Originally Posted by Sweet_Cigars

Damn that's horrible Tim. I will give them a call!

Thanks! I appreciate the support!

[slyder]

WOW! I think they teach that as the "what not to do" in Business 101!!! Ive been there before with bike shops. They think you should have the same knowledge as them and if you ask a stupid question they instantly turn on you. Maybe all the members here should fire them some hate mail.

[joncaputo]

thanks for sharing this...

[itsme_timd]

Originally Posted by slyder

WOW! I think they teach that as the "what not to do" in Business 101!!! Ive been there before with bike shops. They think you should have the same knowledge as them and if you ask a stupid question they instantly turn on you. Maybe all the members here should fire them some hate mail.

One of the other BOTL's on here is intending to get a petition together and take copies of it to the reps on Saturday at the event. He's going to seal it in an envelope and ask them to read it.

We'd really love to get a TON of 'signatures' on the petition... he'll post in here in a bit what the text will be and if you'd like your name included please feel free to post here or PM one of us.

Originally Posted by joncaputo

thanks for sharing this...

My pleasure, for sure. Very glad to have a forum where this can reach so many people!

[Cigary]

I know this place that Tim is talking about and this is totally unacceptable behavior on the owners part to do this. There are a lot of good brothers who have read about this and share the same feelings,,,this is something that needs to be shouted from the rooftops as it truly does affect those who love this hobby. I am going to start a petition that underscores the story that Tim wrote and give it to the Cigar Reps on Saturday and I would love to have as many names ( ID's) as possible to have on this petition so that they will bring pressure on this B&M to start being true to the nature of being a place that caters to BOTL/SOTL. Everyone's help will be appreciated and there is truly strength in numbers,,,,a simple bump would suffice.

[Sweet_Cigars]

I'm in just tell me what to do!

[Jack Straw]

I'll sign.

You should write the store's brand reps (Illusione and whatever else their big brands are) and tell them what an "ambassador of the brand" they have.

[bdw1984]

show me where the dotted line is

[Cigary]

Originally Posted by Sweet_Cigars

I'm in just tell me what to do!

Thx,,,you've already done it. If you call the store directly and tell them your displeasure as to how they treat good BOTL that would be great as well as some of the brothers have done that already. We readily understand the reluctance of some to call directly and a statement by you in this thread or a PM to me is very helpful to give to the Reps on Sat.

Originally Posted by Jack Straw

I'll sign.

You should write the store's brand reps (Illusione and whatever else their big brands are) and tell them what an "ambassador of the brand" they have.

Thx Jack,,,this is being done as we speak. Again, this is not being done with antagonistic tendancies but rather as a reaction to some very rude and offensive behavior exhibited by a B&M that has a very bad reputation and it's time this kind of activity stops.

[Cigary]

Originally Posted by bdw1984

show me where the dotted line is

Thx Ben,,,,all you need to do is what you just posted and that is telling us you agree and I will add your ID on the petition.

[d_day]

Glad I'm not on the east coast. I'd probably go in there just to waste their time.

[Acesfull]

Thats odd... Every single B&M owner that I have encountered have been some of the coolest cats that I've known.. from my local tinderbox guy to Dan at newhavanacigars.com... I've been in Dan's warehouse and smoked with him as his warehouse is literally around the corner from my civilian employer. This just seems odd someone who is into cigars acts like this much less owns a cigar business....

Luckily because of the internet you places like newhavanacigars, ci, cbid famous-smoke etc... give those guys your money because they all have awesome customer service and deserve your business and im sure have much better prices